If you only have space for one appliance, a washer-dryer can handle both jobs, as long as you size your loads according to its drying capacity, which is lower than its washing capacity. A separate tumble dryer is a better fit if you need to get through several loads in a row and can meet its installation requirements. For smaller loads, a folding clothes airer is another option, provided the room allows moisture to escape. None of these options will, on its own, solve an ongoing ventilation or damp problem in your home.
If you have room to install a washing machine but not a second appliance, a washer-dryer saves you from transferring laundry between two machines. Compare its drying capacity with the size of your usual loads, then measure its depth, including the door, and allow for the required clearance.
If you need to get through several loads in a row, two separate appliances let you manage washing and drying independently. However, stacking them requires enough height, models that are confirmed as compatible and a suitable stacking kit, as Bosch advises.
If you can put up and then put away a clothes airer, you may not need an additional drying appliance. ADEME recommends drying laundry in a large, well-ventilated space or in a room with mechanical ventilation extraction. Persistent damp needs to be dealt with separately.
In a studio flat with no usable outdoor space, first work out where your laundry can dry. Then check the space available and how often you do laundry to see which option will work for you.
Consider this if: you have just one space with the necessary connections and want to avoid transferring laundry between two appliances.
Bear in mind: the drying load may need to be smaller than the washing load. Bosch lists separate washing and drying capacities for its washer-dryers.
Consider this if: you often dry large loads and have room for two appliances.
Bear in mind: Bosch requires compatible models and a suitable kit for stacking. The tumble dryer’s location must also meet the requirements in its manual, including ventilation.
Consider this if: you do smaller loads and can clear the space once your laundry is dry.
Bear in mind: the airer takes up room temporarily, and you’ll still need to let the moisture released by your laundry escape.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Room to spare | Measure the appliance with its door and clearance, or the airer both open and folded away. For a stacked setup, check the height and compatible kit. | I want my living space back once the laundry is dry, without finding that an appliance sticks out beyond its designated spot. Around 33% of consumers would put this need for space first. |
| Capacity and routine | Compare washing and drying capacities in kg, then check the duration of the full programmes you’re interested in. | When I have several loads to get through, I need to dry them without disrupting my whole routine. Around 27% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Moisture and installation | Find a suitable room for drying and check the ventilation, clearance and water-management requirements for your chosen appliance. | If my room is poorly ventilated or already damp, I need to work out where to dry my laundry before choosing an appliance. Around 27% of consumers would put their home’s conditions first. |
| Managing without another appliance | Check that you can put up and put away a clothes airer, and choose a spin speed that suits your fabrics. | For my smaller loads, I’d rather manage drying without adding another machine, as long as I have a suitable room. Around 13% of consumers would make this their first choice. |
With a washer-dryer, a full washing load may exceed the drying capacity. Bosch lists these two figures separately, while Whirlpool gives a washing capacity of 8 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg for its FFWDB864349BVEE model.
Choose your drying load based on the model’s drying capacity, and check the duration of the full programme that suits your needs.
Two appliances that appear to be the same width won’t necessarily be safe to stack. Bosch advises checking compatible model numbers and the recommended installation method.
Check the manuals for both appliances and make sure the stacking kit is compatible. Then confirm that the whole setup can be installed level.
Also allow for the compatible kit and, if needed, a suitable installation service.
A clothes airer releases moisture into the room, while a long-term problem may also be linked to the ventilation or the property itself. Changing how you dry your laundry won’t, on its own, identify the cause.
Check the ventilation and where the damp is coming from. If the problem persists, get the property checked rather than relying on a different appliance alone.
Electrolux says that a condenser clogged with fluff can increase energy consumption and damage the appliance.
Follow the manual to clean the filters and, if your model has an accessible condenser, check it too.
A useful brand to look at when comparing washer-dryers with stacking two separate appliances.
Worth considering if you want to combine washing and drying in one appliance.
Manufacturer guidance to help you check the positioning and maintenance requirements of a tumble dryer.
Worth considering if you can temporarily set aside some space for laundry with a vertical clothes airer.
These appliances offer two ways to avoid air-drying laundry in your room: a washer-dryer that combines washing and drying, or a separate tumble dryer if you already have a washing machine and a suitable space. Check the dimensions and installation requirements of the model you’re considering before choosing a spot for it.
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Worth considering if you want to wash and dry with one appliance.
Listed capacities: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. Size your drying load according to the latter figure.
Check the manual for required clearance and programme durations before choosing where to put it.
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Worth a look if you want both functions in one appliance without installing a second machine.
Listed capacities: 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. An 11 kg washing load won’t, therefore, fit as a drying load.
Compare cycle durations with your laundry routine and check the installation clearance in the manual.
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Worth considering if you have room for just one appliance and your drying loads are within its capacity.
Listed capacities: 8 kg for washing and 5 kg for drying.
Confirm the exact dimensions before buying: the stated width and the dimensions in the product description contradict each other. Also check the required clearance and cycle durations.
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Worth a look if you already have a washing machine and want to dry your laundry in a separate appliance rather than on an airer.
Listed drying capacity: 8 kg. This tumble dryer doesn’t replace a washing machine.
Measure the space and check the manual for clearance, ventilation and water-management requirements. Don’t assume it can be stacked on your washing machine.
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Worth considering if you have space for a separate tumble dryer beside your washing machine or in a compatible stacked setup.
Listed drying capacity: 8 kg. This appliance dries laundry but doesn’t wash it.
Before deciding where to put it, check the dimensions, clearance and ventilation and water-management requirements in the manual.
Yes, if the room allows moisture to escape and remains usable while your laundry dries. ADEME recommends a large, well-ventilated space or a room with mechanical ventilation extraction, ideally humidity-sensitive. A compact airer alone won’t make a poorly ventilated room suitable.
Don’t plan to put it in a closed cupboard without ventilation: Electrolux advises against this for its tumble dryers. Check the manual for your chosen model to find out what it requires in terms of space, temperature, ventilation and water management.
Not necessarily: its drying capacity may be lower than its washing capacity. Bosch lists these capacities separately, and Whirlpool gives a washing capacity of 8 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg for the FFWDB864349BVEE. Check the figures for your chosen model when planning your loads.
Matching widths aren’t enough to confirm that two appliances are compatible. Bosch recommends checking the model numbers, the correct stacking kit and that the setup can be levelled.
Get the cause investigated rather than relying on another drying appliance alone. For a rented property in France, ANIL notes that the standards for decent housing include adequate airflow and properly working ventilation to remove moisture from normal occupancy and the use of appliances. Keep a record of the situation so you can take the appropriate steps for the property.