In a small home where there’s no room for two appliances or even a clothes airer, a washer-dryer handles both jobs in a single drum. First, check the drying capacity and how much space you’ll need with the door open. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the drying load is smaller than the washing load, and that drying can make the cycle longer and use water.
A washer-dryer is ideal when you need to dry your laundry but don’t have room for a second appliance or a clothes airer.
You want to wash and then dry your laundry in the same drum. To run both cycles without taking any clothes out, keep the load within the stated drying capacity from the start. According to UFC-Que Choisir, this is usually lower than the washing capacity.
The machine needs to fit in its space with enough room to open the door. Measure the available depth, allowing for protruding parts and connections, rather than relying on the width alone.
You want dry laundry without having to set up a clothes airer in the room. Compare the time, water and electricity used by a wash-and-dry cycle. If you often dry large loads and can fit two machines, consider a separate tumble dryer too.
First decide whether integrated drying is essential. Then compare machines by their actual drying capacity and the space needed to install them.
Worth considering: when fitting two appliances and a clothes airer isn’t practical, provided you load the drum according to its drying capacity.
The trade-off: UFC-Que Choisir highlights the lower drying capacity and longer drying time, as well as water use during drying on many models.
Worth considering: if depth is very limited and you have a well-ventilated place to dry your laundry.
The trade-off: the machine won’t dry your laundry, and ADEME notes that air-drying releases moisture indoors.
Worth considering: if you can install a washing machine and a tumble dryer, and regularly need to dry large loads.
The trade-off: you’ll need to find space for and install a second appliance, then transfer the laundry between the two machines.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Drying capacity | Compare both capacities in kg: washing alone and wash-and-dry. Check the load allowed for a combined cycle. | I want to run both stages without taking out damp laundry, so I’ll load the machine according to its drying capacity. |
| Available space | Measure the total height, width and depth. Check space for connections and protruding parts, and allow room to open the door. | In my kitchen or bathroom, the machine needs to fit without blocking the walkway or the door. |
| Full cycle | Check the full-load cycle time, water per cycle and electricity use per 100 wash-and-dry cycles. Don’t confuse these with the figures for washing alone. | If I need dry laundry by a certain time, the full cycle time matters just as much as being able to start it and leave it to run. |
| Everyday use | Check that you can easily access the filter, detergent drawer and door seal. If the machine is near a living area, compare its stated spin noise level. | I’ll use this appliance often, so I want to be able to load it, set a programme and maintain it in the space I have. |
An 8/5 kg machine can wash up to 8 kg, but its maximum load for a wash-and-dry cycle is 5 kg. A larger load will need to be reduced or split before drying.
If you want to run both stages without having to intervene, size your load from the outset according to the model’s drying capacity.
The door and protruding parts can affect the space you need. For example, LG France lists a depth of 565 mm for the F964V50WRS, or 620 mm including all its components.
Check the total depth of your chosen model, allow for connections and make sure there’s enough clearance to open the door.
Figures for washing alone don’t tell you what to expect from a cycle that also dries your laundry. UFC-Que Choisir specifically draws attention to the time and water used when washer-dryers dry clothes.
For the models you’re considering, compare the wash-and-dry figures on the energy label: cycle time, water per cycle, electricity per 100 cycles and the corresponding energy rating.
A compact washing machine frees up floor space around the appliance, but your laundry will need to dry elsewhere. ADEME notes that air-drying releases moisture indoors.
Choose this option only if you can genuinely set up a clothes airer and ventilate the room while your laundry dries.
These examples are intended to help you compare the specifications of particular models. They don’t guarantee that a model is available or reflect the performance of an entire brand.
Bosch Electroménager France lists the WNA13400FF at 8/5 kg and 848 × 598 × 590 mm, while the WNG25402FR is listed at 10.5/6 kg with the same stated dimensions.
For the 9/6 kg F964V50WRS, LG France lists 90 L of water and a cycle time of 7 h 50 for a full-load wash-and-dry cycle.
Electrolux France describes the EW9W1166RB as a heat-pump washer-dryer with a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity.
Retailer listings from Darty and Fnac give the Candy CSWS485TWMBE-47 and CSOW5854TWMC-47 models a washing capacity of 8 kg and a drying capacity of 5 kg.
These four appliances combine washing and drying in one machine. To choose between them for a small home, start with the amount of laundry you want to dry, then check the installation dimensions and full-cycle figures for the version you’re considering.
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To run a wash-and-dry cycle without taking out any laundry, keep the load to 6 kg.
This model is listed with a washing capacity of 10 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg, and measures 600 × 850 × 590 mm. Before installation, check the depth including connections and allow room for the door to open. Also compare the wash-and-dry cycle time, water and electricity use on its energy label.
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This model has an 11 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity, so a full washing load can’t be dried completely in the same cycle.
Before comparing the energy figures or stated depth, make sure they apply to the WD11DG6B85BEU3 version: the model code suffix differs in the description. Also check the space needed for connections and the open door.
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The stated capacity is 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. If you want to run both stages in one go, keep the load to 6 kg or less.
The product name mentions automatic dosing, app control and the LintClear system. To check whether it suits your home and schedule, look up its full dimensions and the time and energy use of a wash-and-dry cycle.
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For a wash-and-dry cycle without taking out any laundry, use the stated drying capacity of 5 kg as your guide, not the 8 kg washing capacity.
The dimensions given for this model don’t match between the title and description. Check the width, total depth and order of the measurements before deciding where to put it. Also check the energy label for the time and energy use of a full cycle.
No. The 8 kg figure is the washing capacity, while 5 kg is the drying capacity. To run both stages without taking out any laundry, limit the load to 5 kg from the start. The same applies to a 9/6 kg model, with a 6 kg drying limit.
Measure the available width, height and depth, then allow for connections, protruding parts and the open door. The casing dimensions aren’t always enough: for example, LG France lists a depth of 565 mm for the F964V50WRS, or 620 mm including all its components.
Compare the wash-and-dry figures: the energy rating, electricity use per 100 cycles, water per cycle and cycle time. The European Commission lists these separately from the washing-only figures, which don’t describe a complete cycle that includes drying.
Only if you have enough usable space and can ventilate the room. ADEME notes that air-drying laundry releases moisture indoors, so in a small home without a suitable spot, a clothes airer may not meet your drying needs.