If you often dry laundry indoors and have space for a separate appliance, consider a heat pump tumble dryer, checking its capacity, installation requirements and how it handles collected water. If there’s only room for one appliance, a washer-dryer combines both functions, although its drying capacity may be lower than its washing capacity. A dehumidifier can be used alongside an airer, while an effective spin cycle helps laundry dry faster. None of these options replaces adequate ventilation in your home.
Air-drying laundry indoors adds moisture to your home, as noted in the Q-WASH study referenced by ADEME. If you don’t have a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor, consider how each option deals with the water removed from your laundry.
A washer-dryer means you don’t need to install two appliances. However, compare its washing and drying capacities separately: they can differ, affecting how much laundry you can dry after a wash.
A dehumidifier can help when drying laundry on an airer. Check the room size recommended for the model, its noise level and how you’ll empty the collected water. It doesn’t replace ventilation in your home.
Start by considering the space available and whether you want to keep using an airer. Then compare the appliance and cycle specifications that suit your laundry loads.
Consider this if: you regularly dry loads of laundry and have space for a separate appliance.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to allow for the appliance and manage the collected water, as specified for the model.
Consider this if: your home only has space for one appliance to wash and dry your laundry.
Bear in mind: the drying load may be smaller than the washing load, and water consumption varies by model.
Consider this if: you want to keep using an airer and remove moisture from the room while your laundry dries.
Limitation: your laundry still dries in the room, and the appliance won’t fix inadequate ventilation.
Consider this if: you’re choosing a washing machine and plan to dry your laundry on an airer or in a tumble dryer afterwards.
Limitation: spinning helps shorten drying time, but laundry hung up indoors still releases moisture into the room.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture in your laundry | Check how the tumble dryer collects the water removed from your laundry, and whether a tank or drain will suit your installation. For a dehumidifier, compare the recommended room size, tank capacity and drainage options. | I dry laundry in a small room and don’t want to rely on an airer alone. The Q-WASH study referenced by ADEME highlights how air-drying laundry indoors adds moisture to the home. |
| Space available | Measure the space and check the appliance dimensions, connections and installation clearances. For a washer-dryer, compare the washing and drying capacities in kg. | If I can only install one appliance, will I need to reduce a full washing load before starting the drying cycle? |
| Energy, water and noise | Compare the energy label information for the model and cycle you’re considering. For a washer-dryer, pay particular attention to the wash-and-dry cycle and condensation technology; Beko says that some of its models use water for this function. | The appliance will run near an occupied room, so I want to compare its noise and consumption figures on a like-for-like basis. |
| Spin performance | Check the washing machine’s spin-drying efficiency class and choose a capacity that suits your loads. ADEME recommends choosing spin-drying efficiency class A when you want laundry to dry quickly afterwards. | I plan to dry laundry indoors and want to reduce the amount of water it retains after washing. |
The Q-WASH study referenced by ADEME identifies air-drying laundry as a source of indoor moisture. In France, the decree of 24 March 1982 on ventilation in homes requires general, permanent ventilation. A drying appliance or dehumidifier is no substitute for this.
If you have persistent condensation, mould or faulty ventilation, ask the appropriate person to assess your home rather than assuming that buying an appliance will fix the underlying problem.
A washer-dryer may take less laundry for drying than for washing. If your wash load is too large, you’ll need to split it or dry some of it another way.
Compare both capacities in kg and check the load limit for the wash-and-dry programme you plan to use.
Drying a load in several batches takes more time and uses more cycles.
ADEME notes that the energy label helps you compare energy and water consumption, as well as noise. For washer-dryers, Beko highlights condensation technologies that use water in different ways.
Compare the figures for the exact model and the same type of cycle, particularly the wash-and-dry cycle on a washer-dryer.
Recommended room size and tank capacity vary by model. For example, Rowenta says its Extrême Dry Compact+ is suitable for rooms up to 40 m² or 100 m³, and has a 3 L tank. These figures don’t apply to other appliances.
Check your room size, the stated noise level and whether you can realistically position a tank or drainage hose.
Depending on how often you use it, emptying the tank manually can become a regular task.
These examples highlight categories and specifications to consider for individual models; they don’t represent every product range from each brand.
A useful reference for comparing heat pump tumble dryers with different capacities.
A useful reference for considering how to install a separate tumble dryer and collect the water it removes.
A useful reference for comparing washer-dryers when space means you need a single appliance.
A useful reference for considering a dehumidifier to use alongside an airer.
This selection includes washer-dryers for homes with space for just one appliance, heat pump tumble dryers for separate drying, and a dehumidifier to use with an airer. Compare each appliance’s specifications and installation requirements with your room and laundry loads.
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Combines washing and drying in one appliance, with an 11 kg washing capacity and 6 kg drying capacity. If you wash a load larger than 6 kg, you’ll need to reduce it before drying. Check the dimensions and connections required for your space.
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This 8 kg freestanding tumble dryer lets you dry laundry in the drum rather than on an airer. Before choosing where to put it, check its dimensions, how it handles condensate and the cycle’s consumption figures.
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This washer-dryer suits homes with space for just one appliance, with a stated capacity of 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. Compare these capacities with your usual laundry loads, then check the dimensions and consumption figures for the full cycle.
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This 8 kg freestanding tumble dryer is an option if you want to dry a load in the drum. Before installation, check its dimensions, how it handles condensate and the consumption figures for the cycle that suits your needs.
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Designed to be used alongside an airer, this model has a laundry mode, a 2.8 L tank and a hose for continuous drainage. Its stated capacity of 25 L/day is based on conditions of 90 % relative humidity and 95 °F; it doesn’t predict how much water it will collect in your home. Check the recommended room size and operating noise level. The appliance doesn’t replace ventilation.
A heat pump tumble dryer is worth considering if you have space for a separate appliance. Miele says that moisture removed by the relevant appliances is collected in a tank or directed to a drain. Check the instructions for your chosen model, its power supply and installation requirements.
Because its drying capacity may be lower than its washing capacity. Compare both figures in kg and check the load limit for a combined programme. You may need to remove some laundry from a wash load before drying it.
No. It can remove moisture from the room while your laundry dries on an airer, but it doesn’t replace the general, permanent ventilation required in France under the decree of 24 March 1982 on ventilation in homes. The Q-WASH study referenced by ADEME describes air-drying laundry as a source of indoor moisture.
For the large appliances covered here, the energy label provides comparable information on energy and water consumption, as well as noise, as ADEME notes. For a washer-dryer, check the wash-and-dry cycle figures. For a dehumidifier, also check the tank capacity and drainage options in light of how often you plan to use it.
Follow the instructions for the model you choose. For a tumble dryer, check the guidance on cleaning the filter and emptying the tank, if fitted. For a dehumidifier, the tank size and whether it has continuous drainage will affect how often you need to empty it.