If you can dry your laundry in a well-ventilated room and a clothes airer suits your washing routine, start by looking at your washing machine’s spin performance and the drying conditions. If you do laundry regularly and your airer takes up space for too long, a dedicated tumble dryer may be a better fit. A dehumidifier, on the other hand, can help when you dry clothes on an airer and need to manage the room’s humidity too. If there’s no room for two appliances, check the washing and drying capacities of a washer-dryer separately.
If you don’t have an outdoor space or utility room, you’ll need to consider both the space your airer takes up and the humidity it can create. ADEME describes air-drying laundry indoors as a significant source of indoor humidity. ANSES recommends drying clothes outside where possible, or in a well-ventilated room if not.
If your airer is still full when it’s time for the next load, it may be worth considering a dedicated tumble dryer. To see if one suits you, compare its capacity and eco programme duration rather than assuming every cycle will fit your routine.
A washer-dryer combines two functions in one appliance. However, check its drying capacity separately from its washing capacity, as well as the details of the full cycle.
Start with where you dry your laundry and how often you do a wash, then compare capacity, installation requirements and usage information for each type of appliance.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Room humidity | If you use an airer, check that the room is well ventilated. For a dehumidifier, look at the water tank or continuous drainage option, and the conditions used to determine its stated extraction capacity. | I dry laundry indoors and want to avoid leaving it in a poorly ventilated room. ADEME identifies indoor air-drying as a significant source of indoor humidity; a dehumidifier is not a substitute for the ventilation recommended by ANSES. |
| How often you do laundry | Look at spin performance, not just the speed in rpm. For a tumble dryer, compare the rated capacity and eco programme duration shown on the product information sheet. | When I have loads one after another, I need to know whether my airer will be free in time or whether a dedicated drying appliance would better suit my routine. |
| Energy consumption information | For tumble dryers covered by the new EU A–G energy label, in force since 1 July 2025, compare weighted energy consumption per cycle and eco programme duration, as advised by the European Commission. For a washer-dryer, check the information for the wash-and-dry cycle. | I want to compare clearly defined cycles and loads, without treating an old energy rating as equivalent to a rating on the new scale. |
| Space and drainage | Measure the available space and access routes. Depending on the model, check how to empty a tumble dryer’s condensate or a dehumidifier’s tank, and whether continuous drainage is available. | In my flat, the appliance needs to fit, and I need to be able to deal with the collected water without assuming that a drainage connection is included. |
| Combined appliance | Compare the washing and drying capacities in kg separately, then check the duration and consumption information for the full cycle. | If I can only install one appliance, I want to know how much laundry it can actually dry after washing. |
| Bathroom | Check where the appliance would sit in relation to the shower or bath, and have the electrical installation checked before placing an appliance there. Promotelec highlights, among other requirements, 30 mA residual-current protection for bathroom circuits. | If the only possible location is in the bathroom, I need to confirm that it’s suitable for the appliance I’m considering. |
The European Commission says that the A–G label has applied to tumble dryers since 1 July 2025. A rating from the old scale cannot be directly translated to the new one.
For models carrying the new label, compare factors such as weighted energy consumption per cycle, capacity and eco programme duration.
A washer-dryer may have two different capacity figures. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests also distinguish its drying performance from that of a dedicated tumble dryer.
Check the drying capacity and the details of the wash-and-dry cycle for the model you’re considering.
If the load you need to dry exceeds this capacity, you’ll have to split it across several cycles.
Extraction capacity depends on the conditions in which it’s measured. For example, De’Longhi gives the DD230P a capacity of 30 L/24 h at 30 °C and 80% relative humidity. This figure alone doesn’t tell you how it will perform in your room.
Check the test conditions, then look at the noise level, tank and drainage options for the model.
If the appliance will be near a shower or bath, you’ll need to check its position and the electrical installation. Promotelec highlights the need for 30 mA residual-current protection on bathroom circuits.
Measure the available space and have the installation checked if you plan to put the appliance there.
Bosch offers heat pump tumble dryers in France, including 8 kg models.
Miele’s range includes the 8 kg TWC640WP heat pump tumble dryer.
Rowenta dehumidifiers are worth considering if you dry laundry on an airer and also need to manage the room’s humidity.
De’Longhi offers domestic dehumidifiers, including the Tasciugo Ariadry DD230P.
These Joybuy options reflect several of the choices discussed here: dedicated drying, a washer-dryer, help managing humidity near an airer, and washing before air-drying. Compare each appliance in the context of how you plan to use it.
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A dedicated drying option for regular laundry loads. The product name gives a capacity of 8 kg and a C rating. Before deciding where to put it, check the model’s dimensions, condensate management and cycle energy consumption information.
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This combined appliance is a practical option if you don’t have room for two machines. Its stated capacity is 11 kg for washing but 6 kg for drying. Use the lower figure when planning loads, and check the information for the wash-and-dry programme.
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Worth considering if you’ll still be drying laundry on an airer and want to manage the room’s humidity too. The product lists a laundry mode, a 2.8 L tank and a continuous drainage hose. Its stated 25 L/day capacity depends on the test conditions and doesn’t replace the need for a well-ventilated room.
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Another dedicated 8 kg drying option, listed with a D rating. Before comparing it with another tumble dryer or deciding where to put it, check its dimensions, noise level, condensate management and stated energy consumption per cycle.
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If you plan to continue drying laundry on an airer, this model has a stated washing capacity of 8 kg and a spin speed of 1,400 rpm. Spin speed alone doesn’t tell you how much moisture will remain in your laundry, so make sure you have a well-ventilated room for drying too.
For tumble dryers covered by the new EU energy label, which has applied since 1 July 2025, compare the A–G scale and the model’s information, including weighted energy consumption per cycle, rated capacity and eco programme duration, as set out by the European Commission. Don’t directly compare a rating from the old scale with one on the new scale.
Not necessarily: washing and drying capacities are different. Check both load sizes in kg on the model’s product information, then look at the wash-and-dry cycle details if you plan to use it regularly.
A tank should be fine if you can empty it as often as needed. For longer periods of use, check whether the model supports continuous drainage and whether there’s a suitable drainage point nearby. Also check which accessories are included.
Choose a well-ventilated room rather than an enclosed space. This is ANSES’s recommendation when drying laundry outside isn’t possible. ADEME notes that air-dried laundry adds moisture to the air indoors.
The location must meet the electrical safety requirements for bathrooms. Promotelec highlights the need for 30 mA residual-current protection on bathroom circuits. If the machine needs to go near a shower or bath, have the location and installation checked before putting it there.