If you usually dry your laundry in a poorly ventilated room, first check how moisture is removed: ADEME recommends a large, well-ventilated room or one fitted with mechanical ventilation extraction. If you do frequent loads, it’s worth comparing a separate tumble dryer, provided you have the space. If you only have room for one appliance, check the washer-dryer’s drying capacity, which is different from its washing capacity. A higher spin speed can help before drying, but it won’t remove the need for good ventilation if you’re still using an airer.
If your drying room is small or poorly ventilated, managing moisture matters more than choosing an appliance. ADEME recommends air-drying laundry in a large, well-ventilated room or one fitted with mechanical ventilation extraction.
If you do one load of washing after another, compare the amount of laundry the appliance can actually dry, programme times and energy consumption. UFC-Que Choisir includes programme duration and electricity consumption in its tumble dryer assessment criteria.
A washer-dryer combines two functions in one appliance, but its drying capacity may be lower than its washing capacity. Check whether it can dry your usual loads without you having to split them.
First, check the room’s ventilation and how much laundry will still need to dry on an airer. Then compare drying capacity, installation space and the consumption figures for the way you plan to use the appliance.
Consider this if: you have space for another appliance and regularly need to dry full loads.
Bear in mind: it’s a separate appliance to install and maintain. Compare cycle times and energy consumption for each model.
Consider this if: you need one space to serve for both washing and drying.
Bear in mind: its drying capacity may be lower than its washing capacity, so you may need to remove some laundry before drying.
| Consideration | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor humidity | Check that the ventilation is working and how much laundry will still need to dry on an airer. ADEME recommends a large, well-ventilated room or mechanical ventilation extraction. | If my laundry is left to dry in a poorly ventilated room, I want to know how to avoid adding more moisture to the air. Around 36% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Loads and drying times | Compare the drying capacity in kg with your usual loads, then check the duration of the programme you’re likely to use. | When the washing piles up, I need to be able to dry full loads at a pace that suits my needs. This would be a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Available space | Measure the space and compare the washing and drying capacities separately on a 2-in-1 appliance. | I only have room for one appliance to do both jobs, and I could consider drying a smaller load. Saving space would be a priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Energy consumption and maintenance | Check the energy label figures for the programme you’ll use, and find out how to maintain the filter and manage condensate. | If I use the appliance often, I want to know how much energy it uses and what maintenance it needs. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise these factors. |
According to ADEME, air-drying laundry contributes significantly to indoor humidity. If you still dry some of your washing on an airer, buying an appliance alone won’t improve the drying conditions in the room.
Work out where each load will dry and check the ventilation or extraction in that space before choosing your appliance.
Beko’s product details for the B3D596441M show a 9 kg washing capacity but a 6 kg drying capacity. So a full load of washing may be too large to dry.
Compare both capacities and check the figures for the combined wash-and-dry cycle if you plan to use both functions in succession.
UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between vented tumble dryers, which need an outlet to the outside, and condenser models, which don’t need this connection.
If your home doesn’t have a suitable outlet, check the installation requirements for a condenser model and how its water is collected or drained.
ADEME’s guidance on drying laundry indoors recommends a well-ventilated room or one fitted with mechanical ventilation extraction. A feature labelled “laundry drying” doesn’t in itself mean a dehumidifier does the same job.
Before considering this appliance, check how the room can be ventilated and ask for performance data suited to its volume and the amount of laundry you need to dry.
Bosch France’s range includes 8 and 9 kg heat pump tumble dryers, worth considering if you have room for a separate appliance.
LG France offers heat pump tumble dryers as well as washer-dryers. Compare these two types according to the space you have available.
Beko washer-dryers are worth considering when you need to fit washing and drying into one space.
Electrolux France offers washer-dryers, including some heat pump models, for homes where a single appliance is preferred.
These appliances offer two options for drying laundry indoors: install a separate tumble dryer or combine washing and drying in one machine. Start by choosing according to the space you have and your usual loads, then compare the figures for the programme you’ll use.
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A separate appliance to consider if you have space to dry loads of up to its stated capacity of 8 kg.
The product name indicates a C energy rating. Compare the duration and energy consumption of the programme you plan to use, and check the space needed for installation.
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A combined appliance to consider if washing and drying need to fit into one space.
The product name lists a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity, so you can’t assume that a 10 kg wash load can be dried in one go. Check the dimensions, cycle duration and energy consumption for a complete cycle.
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If you regularly dry a lot of laundry, compare its stated 10 kg capacity with the size of your usual loads.
The product name indicates a D energy rating. Check the programme energy consumption and duration, then make sure you have room for the appliance.
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This 8 kg separate appliance is worth considering if you want to dry laundry without installing an air outlet to the outside.
The product name mentions the OptiSense system. Check the duration and energy consumption of the programme you need, how the condensed water is managed and the space required for installation.
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Compare its stated 8 kg capacity with the size of the loads you want to dry in a separate appliance.
The product name indicates a D energy rating. Check energy consumption, programme duration and dimensions; don’t take the “rapid drying” label to mean that the cycle itself is short.
This isn’t the recommended set-up in the study referenced by ADEME, which advises using a large, well-ventilated room or one with mechanical ventilation extraction, preferably humidity-sensitive. If you need to dry laundry on an airer, check how the room can be ventilated before relying on a new appliance.
A vented model needs a suitable outlet, but a condenser tumble dryer doesn’t need this connection, according to UFC-Que Choisir. Even with a condenser model, check the installation instructions and how the water is collected or drained.
Not necessarily: its drying capacity may be lower than its washing capacity. For example, the Beko B3D596441M product details list a 9 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity. Compare both figures for the model you’re considering, and be prepared to reduce or split the load if needed.