First, choose according to the space needed to open the machine, then according to how much laundry you need to wash. A slimline front-loader is best if depth is limited, while a top-loader can work when width is limited, as long as its lid can open. A mini washing machine is a useful back-up if it’s impossible to install a standard machine. If you’re also short on space to dry your laundry, a washer-dryer combines both functions. However, its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, and drying cycles take longer, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
If your machine needs to fit in a kitchen, shower room or alcove, measure its width and depth, as well as the space needed to open the door or lid. For one or two people, UFC-Que Choisir suggests a capacity of 5 to 7 kg as a guide; adjust this to suit the laundry you actually wash.
Before choosing a format, check the space, water supply, drainage and electrical connection. In a shower room, the safety requirements for the installation matter just as much as the appliance’s dimensions.
A washer-dryer lets you wash and dry your clothes in the same appliance. However, according to UFC-Que Choisir, its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, and drying takes longer than with a separate tumble dryer. Plan your laundry around the drying capacity.
Start by checking the available space, including openings and connections. Then compare washing capacity and, if needed, drying capacity.
| Consideration | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Width and depth | Measure the space and allow room for the hoses. UFC-Que Choisir generally puts slimline front-loaders at between 33 and 45 cm deep, while keeping a width close to 60 cm. A top-loader is around 40 cm wide, but you’ll still need to check the depth of the model you choose. | “I’m mainly short on depth” points to a slimline front-loader. “The space is too narrow for a front-loader” points to a top-loader, if its depth works for you. |
| Opening clearance | Allow enough space in front of a front-loader door or above a top-loader lid. Also check that nearby doors and cupboards can still be opened. | I want to load the machine without blocking the way. If it’s going under a fixed worktop, make sure you account for the top-loading lid. |
| Washing capacity | Compare the stated capacity in kilograms of dry laundry with your usual loads. For one or two people, UFC-Que Choisir suggests 5 to 7 kg as a guide. Slimline front-loaders have different capacities depending on the model. | Considering my clothes, bedding and towels, I want to avoid a drum that means I have to run extra cycles. |
| Installation | For an automatic washing machine, check the water supply, drainage and electrical connection against the model’s instructions. For a mini washing machine, check the filling, drainage and electrical requirements separately; don’t assume they’re the same for every model. | If I can’t install a standard machine, I could consider a mini washing machine, provided its operation suits my home and the amount of laundry I have. |
| Integrated drying | Compare washing and drying capacities separately, then check the dimensions and combined-cycle details for the model. UFC-Que Choisir notes that washer-dryers have a lower drying capacity, longer drying cycles and use water during drying. | I’m also short on space to dry my laundry. Combining washing and drying could help, as long as I keep the load within the drying capacity. |
A machine may fit in the space but leave too little room to open its door or lid. You’ll also need to allow for the hoses behind or beside the appliance.
Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the clearance needed to open the machine, before comparing models. In a shower room, also have the location checked against the electrical safety requirements.
UFC-Que Choisir says that a machine with insufficient capacity can mean more cycles. A machine that’s too large and isn’t filled properly can also lead to unnecessary consumption.
Use 5 to 7 kg as a guide for one or two people, then consider how often you do laundry and whether you wash bulky items.
With a washer-dryer, a load washed at the maximum stated capacity may be too large to dry. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that drying cycles can be long.
Compare the two capacities for the exact model and, if necessary, plan to remove some laundry before drying.
A mini washing machine may be a solution when it’s impossible to install a standard machine, but filling, drainage and spin-drying vary by model.
Check the instructions for the load capacity, electrical supply, filling and drainage requirements before deciding where to put it.
Electrolux France features slimline front-loaders and top-loading washing machines, two formats suited to different space constraints.
Candy France’s product information for the CSWS 4852DWE/1-S gives an example of a freestanding washer-dryer measuring 600 × 540 × 850 mm.
The Bosch WGE03207FR front-loader is a useful reference for comparing the space taken up by a machine that isn’t presented here as a slimline model.
These models show two options for a small home: top-loading when width is limited, and integrated washing and drying when it’s difficult to hang laundry out. Check each model’s dimensions and clearance requirements against the space you have.
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Consider a top-loader if width is limited and the lid can open freely. Its stated capacity is 6 kg, within the 5 to 7 kg guide UFC-Que Choisir gives for one or two people. Check the depth, space for the hoses and clearance above the machine.
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This top-loader could be a good option if width is limited, as long as you can still access the lid. Its stated capacity of 7 kg is at the top of the 5 to 7 kg guide UFC-Que Choisir gives for one or two people. Check the depth and allow space for the connections, too.
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Integrated drying is useful if you don’t have space to hang laundry out. The stated capacities are 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying, so you’ll need to reduce a full washing load before drying. Measure the space, including room for the door to open and for the connections.
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This washer-dryer combines both functions when there’s no practical space to hang laundry out. Its stated capacities are 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying, so adjust the load if you want to run both cycles one after the other. Check the overall dimensions, door clearance and space for the hoses.
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This model combines washing and drying for homes without a dedicated drying area. It has a stated washing capacity of 10 kg and drying capacity of 6 kg, so plan a load that suits the lower capacity. Before deciding where to put it, check the dimensions and installation clearances in the product details or instructions.
Check the electrical supply, water supply and drainage: Bosch’s washing machine instructions list these three connections. The instructions for your chosen model will then specify requirements for its hoses, drainage and power supply. Don’t rely on the information for a different model.
It depends on the model. Check its instructions to see whether it’s filled manually or connected to a water supply, how the water drains away and what the electrical requirements are. UFC-Que Choisir presents a mini washing machine as a back-up option when it’s impossible to install a standard machine, rather than an appliance with a standard installation method.
Yes, provided you follow the safety conditions set out by Promotelec for a shower room or bathroom. The appliance must be outside zones 0, 1 and 2 and the concealed zone, connected to earth and powered by a circuit protected by a 30 mA residual-current device. If you’re unsure whether the location and electrical installation meet these conditions, ask a qualified professional to check them.
Yes, as long as the load is within the model’s drying capacity. UFC-Que Choisir notes that this is lower than the washing capacity. If you wash a larger load, remove some laundry before drying or dry it in batches.
Consider a washer-dryer if you also lack somewhere to hang your laundry and its dimensions suit the room. It saves space compared with having a separate appliance, but UFC-Que Choisir notes that its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, drying cycles take longer and water is used during drying.