If you only have room for one appliance, a washer-dryer lets you wash and dry in one go, provided your load fits its drying capacity, which is lower than its washing capacity on the models featured by Que Choisir. If you do laundry frequently, consider a separate tumble dryer if you can make room for one, or stack the appliances using a compatible stacking kit. Indoor air-drying is another option if you have a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan, as recommended by ADEME.
You want to wash and then dry your clothes without moving them to a second appliance. Pay particular attention to the drying capacity compared with your usual loads: on the washer-dryers covered by Que Choisir, it is lower than the washing capacity.
You regularly dry bedding, towels or several loads. A separate tumble dryer lets you start another wash while the previous load is drying, provided you have room for a second appliance or can stack them safely using a compatible kit.
You can make temporary room for an airer. ADEME recommends drying clothes in a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan, to avoid allowing moisture to build up in a small, enclosed space.
Consider it: when you only have room for one appliance and your loads fit within its drying capacity.
Bear in mind: you may need to remove some clothes from a full wash load before drying. Que Choisir also notes that drying cycles take longer than with a conventional tumble dryer.
Consider it: if you dry clothes often and want to start another wash while the previous load is drying.
Plan for: a second space, either on the floor or above your washing machine using a stacking kit approved for both models.
Consider it: if you want to limit machine drying and have a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan.
Bear in mind: your clothes will take up room temporarily and release moisture into the air indoors, as ADEME points out.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Available space | Measure the space, allowing for the clearances specified in the manual. If you plan to stack appliances, check that the kit is compatible with both. | If I only have room for one appliance, I want to wash and then dry without installing two large appliances; around 36 % of consumers would prioritise having a compact setup. |
| Load size and frequency | Compare the washing and drying capacities in kg, then check the full programme duration if you plan to run cycles back to back. | If I do laundry frequently, I want to avoid splitting every load and keep washing while clothes are drying; around 36 % of consumers would put speed and throughput first. |
| Electricity and moisture | For a tumble dryer, check the model’s energy label. For an airer, make sure you have a large, well-ventilated room or suitable extraction. | If I want to limit machine drying, I also need a way to remove the moisture released by air-drying clothes; around 28 % of consumers would prioritise using less energy and good ventilation. |
A full wash load may exceed the drying capacity. The Miele and Electrolux product specifications cited for their 8/5 kg and 10/6 kg models illustrate the difference.
If you want to wash and dry in one go without removing any clothes, size your load according to the drying capacity of the specific model.
According to Que Choisir, a vented tumble dryer needs an opening to the outside or access to an air vent; a condenser model does not require this connection.
Check the technology before choosing a location, and read the installation requirements in the manual.
Whether appliances can be stacked depends on their model numbers and dimensions. Bosch, for example, says its 00717524 kit is designed for a washing machine with a depth of more than 55 cm.
Choose both appliances first, then find a kit that is explicitly compatible with the combination.
Air-drying releases moisture into your home. ADEME recommends using a large, well-ventilated room or one with a mechanical ventilation extract vent.
Before making an airer your regular solution, check where you can put it without blocking ventilation or allowing moisture to build up.
The range includes washer-dryers and stacking accessories: two options worth considering, depending on how much space you have.
The brand offers washer-dryers with separate washing and drying capacities.
The brand offers separate tumble dryers and heat pump washer-dryers, which you can compare according to your space and laundry loads.
These appliances suit either a washer-dryer setup to save space or a separate tumble dryer if you have room to install one. Compare their drying capacity with your usual loads before checking that they’ll fit in your home.
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Wash and dry with a single appliance, keeping consecutive loads within the 6 kg drying capacity. The model features Zeo-Cycle technology, app control and the LintClear system. Check its dimensions and full cycle time against your available space and laundry routine.
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Choose a single appliance while still being able to wash loads of up to 11 kg; drying is limited to 6 kg per load. Check the dimensions, connections and full programme duration before planning to run cycles back to back.
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Wash and dry in one appliance, provided the load does not exceed 6 kg for drying. The stated dimensions are 600 × 850 × 590 mm; also allow for the clearances and connections specified in the manual.
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A single appliance for drying loads of up to 5 kg. The model is listed with a BLDC motor and a spin speed of 1 400 rpm. If you plan to install it in a measured space, confirm the dimensions in the product documentation: the dimensions provided do not match.
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Dry your clothes in an appliance separate from your washing machine, provided you have room to install it. Its stated capacity is 8 kg. If you’re considering stacking it, check that a kit is compatible with both this tumble dryer and your washing machine. Also check the dimensions and clearances in the manual.
No. According to Que Choisir, a vented model needs an opening to the outside or access to an air vent. A condenser tumble dryer does not need this connection, but its installation must still comply with the manual and the requirements for the room.
Yes, as long as it does not exceed the model’s drying capacity, which may be lower than its washing capacity. For example, Miele states that the WTD160 WCS has an 8 kg washing capacity and a 5 kg drying capacity, so an 8 kg wash load needs to be reduced before drying in one go.
No. You need to check that both models and the stacking kit are compatible. For its 00717524 kit, Bosch specifies, among other things, a washing machine depth of more than 55 cm. A matching width alone is not enough to confirm that the appliances can be stacked.
Place it in a large, well-ventilated room or one with a mechanical ventilation extract vent, as ADEME recommends. Avoid making it your regular solution in a small, enclosed room, where moisture from the laundry is harder to remove.