If laundry is left hanging for a long time in a living space because there’s nowhere suitable to dry it, a heat pump tumble dryer is worth considering for drying loads in the machine—provided you can install one and are happy with its energy use, noise and maintenance. A suitable spin cycle is still a good option if you can then hang the washing in a properly ventilated room or one with an extractor. A dehumidifier can be used as an additional measure, but it doesn’t replace the air renewal provided by ventilation or a working ventilation system.
You hang your washing in a living space because you don’t have a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor. A study by ADEME, carried out with CSTB and IMT Nord Europe, highlights the moisture added to indoor air by drying laundry. Anses recommends choosing a well-ventilated room when drying laundry indoors.
You need to free up space for the next load or get your laundry back quickly. When comparing tumble dryers, match the capacity and programme times to your laundry routine, then check their energy consumption, as recommended in the Que Choisir guide.
You’d like to check your washing machine’s spin cycle first and continue hanging your washing to dry. The room you use still needs to be suitable for this: Anses recommends a well-ventilated room when drying laundry outdoors isn’t possible.
Start by working out where your laundry can realistically dry. If you need to hang it in a poorly ventilated room, consider installing a tumble dryer. If you’ll continue hanging it in a suitable space, look at the spin cycle first. A dehumidifier is an additional measure, not a substitute for ventilation.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who this is for |
|---|---|---|
| Reduce the amount of laundry hung in living spaces | Space for a tumble dryer, a way to drain the condensed water, and the option to ventilate the room where you hang your washing. | When I have to dry laundry in the living room, my main aim is not to leave a damp load there for a long time; around 36% of consumers would prioritise reducing the amount of laundry hung indoors. |
| Keep energy use under control | The A–G energy label and kWh/100 cycles for tumble dryers with a similar capacity and intended use. | If I do laundry frequently, I want to know how much energy a tumble dryer uses before relying on it regularly; around 29% of consumers would put this at the top of their list. |
| Keep up with your laundry routine | Drying capacity in kg, programme times and the appliance’s dimensions for the space available. | When loads come one after another, I need an appliance that can handle my usual amount of laundry without disrupting my routine; this would be the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Look after your fabrics | Care labels on your clothes and the programmes available on the model you’re considering. | With wool, silk or other delicate items, I’d rather check what can go in the tumble dryer than focus only on getting the job done quickly; around 14% of consumers would prioritise caring for their fabrics. |
A dehumidifier doesn’t renew the air. ADEME explains that mechanical ventilation continuously removes moisture and pollutants; it shouldn’t be confused with an appliance used as an additional measure.
Before buying, check that you can still ventilate the room and that air inlets and ventilation outlets aren’t blocked. A persistent ventilation problem calls for a suitable assessment, separate from choosing a laundry-drying appliance.
The two ratings aren’t on the same scale. The European Union’s delegated regulation provides for a revised A–G label for household tumble dryers. The rules for new appliances placed on the market since 1 July 2025 should be considered separately from older product information.
For each model, compare the rating and kWh/100 cycles using labels in the same format, and check the capacity and programme to which the figures apply.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether the appliance will fit through the access route or whether its door will open properly where you plan to put it. Bosch product information for different models also shows that capacity, dimensions and noise levels vary by model.
Measure the space and delivery route, then check door clearance, noise, water drainage and any stacking requirements for the exact model.
Electrolux support explains that using an unsuitable programme or drying an unsuitable fabric can contribute to shrinkage. Having a delicate laundry programme doesn’t override the care instructions for each garment.
Read the care labels before loading the tumble dryer and check that the model you choose has the programmes you actually need.
Worth considering for heat pump tumble dryers. Compare the features of each model rather than assuming they’re the same across the range.
Worth considering if the programmes listed for different fabrics are important when choosing a tumble dryer.
A brand to consider if you’re comparing heat pump tumble dryers with different capacities.
Worth considering if you’re looking for an 8 kg heat pump model, the TEA525WP 8kg Active.
These models represent three ways to approach indoor laundry drying: using a tumble dryer, continuing to hang washing after the spin cycle, or using a dehumidifier from time to time as an additional measure. Your choice will depend on the space available and how well ventilated your home is.
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Worth considering if you’d rather dry loads in a machine than leave them hanging in a living space. The stated capacity is 8 kg and the energy rating is C. Check the dimensions of the space where you plan to install it and the kWh/100 cycles for this model.
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Another model to compare if you want to dry laundry in a machine, particularly if the choice of programmes matters for your loads. The product title states an 8 kg capacity and a D energy rating. Check the dimensions, noise level and kWh/100 cycles for this model before making your choice.
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Worth considering if you’ll continue to hang your washing to dry in a suitable space and want to compare washing machine spin cycles. The stated capacity is 8 kg and the maximum speed is 1 400 tr/min; speed alone can’t tell you how much moisture will remain in each fabric after spinning.
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Only consider this as an additional measure when you need to hang laundry indoors temporarily. It doesn’t replace ventilation or airing the room. The product title mentions a 2.5 L tank and a Dry mode; check how it drains, its energy use and noise level before placing it in the room.
No. A dehumidifier used as an additional measure doesn’t renew the air in your home. ADEME points out that mechanical ventilation continuously removes moisture and pollutants. Anses recommends drying laundry in a well-ventilated room when drying it outdoors isn’t possible. So, first check how well the room can be ventilated.
Compare the A–G rating and kWh/100 cycles for models with similar capacities and intended uses. The European Union’s delegated regulation provides for a revised label for household tumble dryers, so don’t compare an old A+++ rating directly with the new scale.
No. Your laundry still needs to dry in a suitable place. Compare the spin settings allowed for your fabrics, then make sure you can hang the load in a well-ventilated room or one with an extractor, in line with Anses recommendations for drying laundry indoors.
Follow the care label on each garment and choose a programme suited to the fabric. Electrolux support explains that an unsuitable fabric or programme can contribute to shrinkage. A programme described as suitable for delicate laundry doesn’t mean you can tumble dry an item whose care label says not to.
ADEME says that a large appliance can be handed to the retailer or delivery team when it’s replaced, or taken to a suitable collection point. Check the take-back options available with your purchase and local drop-off facilities.