If you regularly dry large loads of laundry and have room for a second appliance, a separate tumble dryer means you can keep using your washing machine while another load dries. If you only have space for one appliance, consider a washer-dryer and plan your loads around its drying capacity, which is generally lower than its washing capacity, according to UFC-Que Choisir. If you’re keeping an indoor drying rack, ADEME recommends considering your washing machine’s spin-drying efficiency. Bear in mind, though, that this won’t dry your laundry completely.
If you want to wash and dry your laundry in one appliance, compare its drying capacity with your usual load size, not just its washing capacity. UFC-Que Choisir points out that these two capacities differ on washer-dryers.
If you can make room for a tumble dryer, a separate appliance lets you use the washing machine while another load dries. Choose a capacity that suits the laundry you actually need to dry.
If you don’t want to add automatic drying, look at your washing machine’s spin-drying efficiency. ADEME lists it as one of the useful factors to consider when laundry needs to dry quickly indoors.
First decide whether you can fit a separate appliance or will keep using a drying rack. Then compare the loads you need to dry, followed by the installation requirements and cycle times of the model you’re considering.
Consider this if: you often dry large loads and have space for a second appliance.
Bear in mind: the space it takes up and the maintenance set out in the manual, particularly cleaning the filter and collecting or draining water, depending on the model.
Consider this if: having washing and drying in one appliance matters more than the amount you can dry at a time.
Bear in mind: its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out, and the appliance is occupied during both stages.
Consider this if: you’d rather continue air-drying your laundry indoors.
Bear in mind: the space and time needed to hang out your laundry; an effective spin cycle won’t leave your clothes dry at the end of the wash.
| Priority | What to check | What consumers are looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Just one appliance footprint | Measure the space and compare washing and drying capacities separately, as well as the figures for a complete cycle. | If I can only install one appliance, I want to dry my laundry without having to remove too many items after washing; around 40% of consumers rank this space-saving benefit as their top priority. |
| Load size and back-to-back cycles | Compare the tumble dryer’s capacity with your usual load size, then check the model’s cycle duration and energy consumption per cycle. | When I have several loads to do, I want to dry one load while freeing up the washing machine for the next; around 30% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Spinning before air-drying | Check the spin-drying efficiency class and the load capacity for the fabric programmes you use. | If I’m keeping my drying rack, I mainly want to reduce the amount of water left in my laundry after washing; around 30% of consumers would make spin-drying their main priority. |
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a washer-dryer’s drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity. So you may need to split a full wash load before drying it.
Check both capacities in the model specifications and plan your laundry around the amount you want to dry in one go.
UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between vented models, which release moist air outside, and condenser models, which don’t need this type of duct.
Check that you can install a vent before choosing a vented model. For a condenser or heat pump model, check the manual for ventilation requirements and how water is managed.
Without a suitable outlet, installing a vented model may require building work or may not be possible in your chosen location.
Similar widths don’t confirm that the appliances are compatible with each other or with their stacking kit.
Check both model numbers and the installation instructions. The Bosch manual consulted specifies a connection kit approved by the tumble dryer manufacturer.
If your chosen stacking set-up requires it, remember to allow for a compatible kit too.
For laundry that will be dried indoors, ADEME recommends taking the spin-drying efficiency class into account. The permitted load can also vary depending on the programme you use.
Compare the class shown on the label and the capacity of the programmes you use, rather than looking only at the advertised revolutions per minute or kilogrammes.
Worth comparing if you’re looking at heat pump tumble dryers in different capacities and want to check the installation requirements for a specific model.
Worth considering if you’re looking at a heat pump washer-dryer and want to compare its washing and drying capacities.
Worth comparing if you want to match a heat pump tumble dryer’s capacity to your household’s usual loads.
These appliances illustrate the three options covered here: combining washing and drying, installing a separate tumble dryer or keeping a drying rack with a washing machine. Compare their capacities with your usual loads, then check the installation requirements for the model you choose.
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Worth considering if you want to combine washing and drying in one appliance.
Advertised capacity: 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. A full-capacity wash load cannot be dried in one go at the stated drying capacity.
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For households with space for a separate drying appliance.
Advertised capacity of 8 kg; energy class C stated in the product name. Check the dimensions and clearances in the manual before deciding where to put it.
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Another all-in-one option if space is a key factor in your decision.
Advertised capacity: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. The product name lists 27 wash programmes, app control and automatic dosing; check the model specifications for the features you need. To dry a load without removing any laundry, stay within the 6 kg limit.
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Compare its capacity with your usual loads if you have room for a separate tumble dryer.
Advertised capacity of 10 kg; energy class D stated in the product name. Check the manual for placement and how water is collected or drained.
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For continuing to dry your laundry on a rack rather than adding a drying appliance.
The product name lists an 8 kg washing capacity and a maximum spin speed of 1400 RPM. Spin speed alone doesn’t tell you how much water will remain in your laundry; check the spin-drying efficiency class on the label.
A vented model does, unlike a condenser model, including a heat pump model, according to UFC-Que Choisir. For a condenser model, check the manual for ventilation requirements and how the water is collected or drained.
Not if the load exceeds the stated drying capacity. UFC-Que Choisir points out that this is lower than the washing capacity. To run both stages consecutively, keep your load within the drying capacity or remove some laundry between cycles.
Check the rating plate and the manual for the model you’ve chosen. The Bosch WQG245A0FR manual specifies, among other things, a properly installed and earthed wall socket; follow the electrical requirements for your appliance.
No. Check that both models and the stacking kit are compatible. A Bosch manual specifies using the kit recommended by the tumble dryer manufacturer; matching widths alone aren’t enough to confirm that the installation is suitable.
Follow the manual’s instructions for the lint filter and condensation water. Depending on the model, this water is collected in a tank or directed to a drain, so cleaning requirements may vary.