If you usually dry your laundry indoors, start by considering ventilation and the space available. ADEME recommends drying laundry in a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan, and paying attention to spin efficiency. A separate tumble dryer is a good option if you dry laundry frequently and the room is suitable for installation. A washer-dryer saves space, but its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If you regularly dry laundry indoors, consider the washing machine’s spin performance alongside where you’ll hang your laundry. ADEME highlights the moisture that drying laundry adds to indoor air and recommends using a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan.
A washer-dryer combines both functions in one appliance if finding space for two machines or a permanent drying rack is a problem. However, you’ll need to allow for a smaller drying load than washing load, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
If you do frequent laundry or regularly wash towels and bedding, compare a separate tumble dryer’s drying capacity with its dimensions, noise level and eco programme duration. Also check the installation requirements in the manual for the model you’re considering.
Consider this if: you have a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan where you can hang your laundry.
Bear in mind: drying laundry on a rack releases moisture into your home. An effective spin cycle doesn’t replace adequate ventilation, according to ADEME.
Consider this if: you dry laundry often and have space to install the appliance in line with the instructions.
Bear in mind: the appliance needs its own space, and you’ll need to manage condensed water and carry out maintenance as instructed.
Consider this if: having washing and drying functions in one appliance matters more to you than drying a large load at once.
Bear in mind: drying capacity is lower than washing capacity, and programmes can be long, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
| Criterion | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Humidity and ventilation | The washing machine’s spin efficiency class and whether you can dry laundry in a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan. | When I have to dry laundry in a small, poorly ventilated room, I first look for a setup that takes account of the moisture added to indoor air. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Space available | The dimensions and clearances specified in the manual; for a washer-dryer, check the separate washing and drying capacities. | If two appliances or a permanent drying rack take up too much space in my home, I prefer an option that occupies less room, even if I have to dry laundry in smaller loads. Around 25% of consumers share this priority. |
| Amount of laundry to dry | The rated drying capacity in kg and the duration of the eco programme at full load. | When I’m drying bedding, towels or frequent loads of laundry, I want to be able to plan for larger loads without relying on the washing capacity alone. Around 25% of consumers put this first. |
| Energy use and maintenance | The energy-use information shown on the relevant labels and the maintenance required for the model; for a washing machine in France, check its durability index if displayed. | If I plan to use the appliance for a long time, I want to compare its energy use and the maintenance it requires. Around 19% of consumers prioritise these aspects. |
A load that fits in the drum for washing may exceed the permitted drying load. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the two capacities are different.
Compare both figures in kg with your usual loads, and be prepared to remove some laundry if needed to stay within the drying limit.
Even with a heat pump appliance, the room setup and maintenance affect how it can be used. In its advice on moisture around the appliance, Electrolux specifically advises against installing a tumble dryer in an unventilated, closed cupboard.
Check the model’s manual for clearance requirements, room temperature, water management and filter cleaning.
Two appliances with the same capacity may have different programme durations and energy-use figures. The European product information sheet includes details such as the duration of the eco programme at full load.
Consider this duration alongside the energy-use information and maintenance instructions, taking into account how often you dry laundry.
In France, the durability index provides an additional way to compare washing machine models that display one. The French ministry responsible for ecology says it has been gradually replacing the repairability index since 8 April 2025.
Check the index displayed for the exact model, along with the available information on maintenance and spare parts.
These examples relate to specific heat pump tumble dryer models. Check the features of the model you’re interested in rather than assuming they apply to every appliance from that brand.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a separate 9 kg tumble dryer.
A brand to compare if you’re looking for a 9 kg heat pump tumble dryer.
A brand to look at if a separate 8 kg tumble dryer suits your typical loads.
These products offer three ways to manage laundry at home: combine washing and drying in one machine, install a separate tumble dryer, or choose a washing machine before deciding where to dry your laundry. For washing machines, check the model’s spin efficiency class if you’ll be drying laundry indoors.
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Combines washing and drying in one appliance. The drying load must stay within the stated 6 kg capacity, even though the washing capacity is 10 kg.
The model name mentions Zeo-Cycle drying, the LintClear system and automatic dosing. Check the label and manual for energy-use information, programme durations and installation requirements.
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For drying laundry in a separate appliance, if you have a suitable space for it. The product title lists an 8 kg capacity and a C energy rating.
Compare the eco programme duration and energy-use information on the model’s label. Check the dimensions and installation requirements in the manual.
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For washing laundry before air-drying it or using a separate appliance. The product title lists an 8 kg capacity, a maximum spin speed of 1,400 rpm and an inverter motor.
Maximum spin speed is not a substitute for the spin efficiency class. If drying indoors is a priority, check the class on the label. Also check the dimensions and clearances specified in the manual.
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For washing loads of up to the stated 9 kg capacity before choosing how to dry them. The product title lists a maximum spin speed of 1,600 rpm.
To compare its spin performance for indoor drying, check the model’s spin efficiency class on the label. Maximum spin speed alone isn’t enough. Also check how much space you’ll need for installation.
Yes, as long as your drying area allows you to manage the moisture added to indoor air. ADEME recommends using a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan. Drying a large load in a small, enclosed room doesn’t meet this requirement.
No. You should also check the model’s spin efficiency class on its label. ADEME recommends choosing class A if you plan to dry laundry indoors or use a tumble dryer afterwards. The maximum spin speed in rpm doesn’t tell you the class by itself.
Not necessarily. Its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, according to UFC-Que Choisir. To run both functions one after the other, stay within the model’s stated drying limit or remove some laundry after washing.
Check the model’s installation requirements in the manual, particularly the ventilation, clearances and permitted temperature. In its advice on moisture, Electrolux advises against placing a tumble dryer in a closed cupboard without ventilation. Guidance for certain appliances doesn’t replace the manual for your model.
Check the durability index if one is displayed for the washing machine you’re considering. The French ministry responsible for ecology says this index has been gradually replacing the repairability index for washing machines since 8 April 2025. Also check the model’s maintenance and spare-parts information.