If you can dry smaller loads indoors, choose your washing machine with spin efficiency in mind, but keep an eye on condensation in your home. If you do laundry frequently, a separate tumble dryer lets you dry one load while another is being washed, provided you have a suitable space for it. If you only have room for one appliance, a washer-dryer saves you having to transfer your laundry, but its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity. Also compare the duration, water use and energy consumption of the full cycle, as recommended by ADEME guidance and UFC-Que Choisir analyses.
If you don’t have space for a second appliance, a washer-dryer can wash and dry your laundry in one go, with no need to transfer it. First check that its drying capacity is suitable for your usual load: UFC-Que Choisir points out that it is lower than the washing capacity.
If you often wash towels, bedding or back-to-back loads, having two appliances lets you wash and dry at the same time. To make this work, you’ll need to check that you have enough room for the tumble dryer.
An efficient spin cycle helps remove more water before you hang your laundry up, a factor highlighted by ADEME. If condensation or mould appears, also take the humidity levels in your home into account, as recommended by the QUALITEL association.
Consider this if : you can’t install a second appliance and can dry smaller loads at home.
The trade-off : spinning doesn’t prevent moisture being released as your laundry dries. The QUALITEL association advises against drying laundry indoors if humidity is already a problem.
Consider this if : you do back-to-back loads and have space to dry one load while the next is being washed.
The trade-off : you’ll need to set aside space for a second appliance and check the model’s instructions for installation requirements.
Consider this if : you only have room for one appliance and want to wash and dry your laundry without taking it out.
The trade-off : according to UFC-Que Choisir, the drying capacity is lower than the washing capacity, and full programmes take longer.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Spin efficiency | Compare the spin efficiency class on the label, rather than relying on revolutions per minute alone. ADEME recommends class A if your laundry needs to dry quickly indoors or in a tumble dryer. | I’ll be hanging my laundry up at home, so I want to limit how much water is left in it after washing. |
| Drying capacity | For a washer-dryer, check the washing and drying capacities separately, then look at the full-cycle duration. For example, a 10/6 kg model cannot dry all 10 kg of laundry it can wash in one go. | I want to wash and dry my usual load without having to take some of it out. |
| Space and pace | Measure the height, width and depth, as well as access points and clearance requirements in the instructions. With two appliances, you can start another wash while the previous load is drying. | I do back-to-back loads, so the space the appliances take up must still allow me to keep up. |
| Full cycle | For a washer-dryer, compare the energy and water use, capacity and duration of the wash-and-dry cycle on the model’s product information, rather than looking at washing figures alone. The European Commission’s EPREL register lists these two cycles separately. | If I use the drying function often, the full-cycle figures are what matter when I’m choosing. |
| Indoor humidity | Look out for condensation, laundry that stays damp, stains or mould. QUALITEL advises against drying laundry indoors if humidity in your home is a problem. | I already have signs of damp at home, so I don’t want to rely on a permanent clothes airer in my living space. |
UFC-Que Choisir points out that a washer-dryer’s drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity. If a load is too large to dry, you’ll need to split it.
Compare both capacities, shown as wash/dry, with the amount of laundry you want to dry in one go.
Energy and water use, capacity and duration relate to different cycles. The European Commission’s EPREL register lists washing and full-cycle figures separately for washer-dryers.
When comparing models, check the wash-and-dry cycle figures on a like-for-like basis, including the stated consumption per 100 cycles.
For example, the Bosch WQG2450SFR tumble dryer measures 842 × 598 × 613 mm, according to Bosch. Measuring the floor space alone won’t tell you whether the appliance will fit through the access route or can be installed.
Measure the space and delivery route, then check the instructions for clearance requirements and condensate drainage.
Condensation, stains and mould are signs of damp highlighted by the QUALITEL association, which advises against drying laundry indoors in these circumstances.
If you notice these signs, don’t base your choice on spin efficiency alone. Also consider a mechanical drying option that suits your available space.
Bosch’s range in France includes separate heat pump tumble dryers.
AEG’s range in France includes a heat pump washer-dryer.
LG’s range in France lets you compare washer-dryers with a tower combining a washing machine and tumble dryer.
Samsung’s range in France includes washer-dryers with washing and drying capacities listed separately.
This selection includes two separate tumble dryers and a washing machine with a spin cycle, offering two ways to organise drying without outdoor space.
Image unavailable
This separate tumble dryer is a good fit for households that want to dry one load while another is in the washing machine, provided there’s enough space. The product title lists an 8 kg capacity and a class C rating. Check the model’s dimensions, clearance requirements and energy-use figures before choosing.
Image unavailable
This model lets you dry your laundry in an appliance separate from your washing machine, if you have space for a second one. The product title lists an 8 kg capacity, OptiSense and propane refrigerant. Check the model’s product information for cycle specifications, dimensions and installation requirements.
Image unavailable
If you wash your laundry before drying it indoors, this model takes care of the washing and spinning, but doesn’t dry your laundry. The product title lists an 8 kg capacity and a spin speed of 1,400 rpm. Also check the spin efficiency class, then consider where your laundry can dry without making existing damp worse.
Not necessarily: its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. A 10/6 kg appliance can wash up to 10 kg, but the load you dry must not exceed 6 kg on the appropriate cycle. Compare both figures with your usual loads.
Start by checking the spin efficiency class on the label, rather than relying on revolutions per minute alone. ADEME recommends class A if your laundry needs to dry quickly indoors or in a tumble dryer.
LG and Bosch describe their models as using a closed air circuit, with moisture removed through condensation rather than venting the air outside. However, check the instructions for your chosen model for clearance and maintenance requirements, and details on collecting or draining the condensed water.
If you plan to use both functions, compare the figures for the full wash-and-dry cycle. Depending on the model, the European Commission’s EPREL register lists its energy and water use, capacity and duration separately from those for washing alone.
If you already notice condensation, stains or mould, don’t assume an indoor clothes airer is a trouble-free solution. The QUALITEL association advises against drying laundry indoors in these circumstances. Consider another way to organise drying that’s suitable for your home.