If you have room for just one floor-standing appliance and want to dry your clothes mechanically, a washer-dryer fits the bill – as long as you match the load to its drying capacity. If you can air-dry your laundry in a suitable room, a washing machine on its own avoids electric drying. And if you have enough height and compatible appliances, stacking lets you keep two separate machines. To compare cycle times and energy use fairly, look at the figures for the complete cycle on a like-for-like basis: Que Choisir Ensemble measures these separately from washing alone.
You want to wash and dry your clothes mechanically, but can’t fit two machines side by side. The drying capacity and appliance dimensions matter: Que Choisir Ensemble notes that the load you can dry may be smaller than the load you can wash.
You have room for a washing machine and could use a drying rack. For drying clothes indoors, ADEME recommends a large, well-ventilated room or one with suitable ventilation.
You’re short on floor space, but can check the available height and make sure the two appliances and stacking kit are compatible. Bosch Home Appliances France recommends checking that your chosen models can be stacked.
Consider this if: you have room for just one floor-standing appliance and want to dry your clothes mechanically without moving them between machines.
Bear in mind: the complete cycle keeps the drum occupied, and the drying capacity may be lower than the washing capacity.
Consider this if: you can air-dry your laundry in a suitably large, well-ventilated room, or one with suitable ventilation.
Bear in mind: the drying rack takes up space while your clothes dry, and drying indoors adds moisture to the air, as ADEME points out.
Consider this if: there’s enough height to stack the appliances using a compatible kit.
Check that: the model numbers of both machines and the kit are suitable for this set-up. Bosch Home Appliances France notes that compatibility can’t be taken for granted.
When comparing models, Que Choisir Ensemble measures the duration and water and electricity use of consecutive cycles in relation to the weight of laundry processed. Figures for washing alone therefore don’t tell you how the complete cycle performs.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Space required | Overall dimensions, doorways, door clearance and access to connections. For a stacked set-up, check that the appliances and kit are compatible. | If I only have room for one floor-standing appliance, I want a solution that fits in my home without blocking access. Around 33% of consumers put saving space first. |
| Drying capacity | Compare the stated washing and wash-and-dry capacities, in kg, with the amount of laundry you want to dry. | If I want to dry a full load without taking some of the washing out, I look at the drying capacity rather than just the washing figure. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Complete cycle time | Check how long a wash-and-dry cycle takes at full capacity and how many loads you need to run one after another. | If I need to run several loads in a row, I check how long the drum will be occupied. Around 20% of consumers prioritise the time it takes to get their laundry done. |
| Energy use and air-drying | Compare electricity use per 100 cycles and water use per cycle separately for washing alone and for the complete cycle. Also check whether your home lets you ventilate the room where you’ll put the drying rack. | If I want to limit the energy used for drying, I compare the complete cycle with the practical possibility of air-drying my laundry at home. Around 20% of consumers put this trade-off first. |
For the models with published specifications, washing and wash-and-dry capacities differ. For example, Bosch’s WNA13401FR product sheet lists 8 kg for washing and 5 kg for a combined cycle.
If you want to dry a load without having to remove any laundry, size it according to the model’s drying capacity, not its washing capacity alone.
Energy use and cycle times may be listed separately for each mode. For the LG F964V41WRSA, the French product sheet gives separate figures for washing alone and the complete cycle.
Compare like for like: the same operations, capacities and measurement basis. Make sure you distinguish the manufacturer’s stated figures from independent test results.
Indoor drying requires suitable ventilation, while stacking depends on the compatibility of the appliances and the kit you choose.
Before you decide, check your home’s ventilation or the compatible model numbers for a stacked installation.
These examples relate to specific models and features; they’re not an overall assessment of the brands.
The WNA13401FR is an 8/5 kg example to consider if its drying capacity suits your loads.
The F964V41WRSA is a 9/6 kg model that lets you compare capacities and see how the stated figures differ by mode.
The PerfectCare 700 EW7W3916DA is a 9/6 kg example for comparing the capacity and overall size of a specific model.
The WD90DG5B15BHEF is a 9/6 kg example to compare based on the specifications of this particular model.
These two-in-one models are worth considering if you can’t fit two separate appliances side by side. Compare their drying capacity with the amount of laundry you want to process in one complete cycle.
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This combined model could suit you if you only have room for one appliance and its drying capacity matches your load.
Stated capacity: 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. Class D.
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This two-in-one model is worth considering if there isn’t room in your home for two separate machines.
Stated capacity: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. If you want to run both stages without removing any laundry, bear the drying capacity in mind.
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This combined model gives you a single floor-standing appliance, as long as its drying capacity suits your loads.
Stated capacity: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying.
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This two-in-one model could suit you if you’re looking for a single appliance and 6 kg is enough for the amount you want to dry per cycle.
Stated capacity: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying.
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This washer-dryer is worth considering if space calls for a combined appliance and your load fits its stated drying capacity.
Stated capacity: 8 kg for washing and 5 kg for drying.
Because washing and drying capacities are different. The French product sheets for the LG F964V41WRSA and Electrolux EW7W3916DA list 9 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. If you want to run both stages without removing any laundry, stick to the stated 6 kg drying capacity.
For each model, compare the figures for washing alone and the wash-and-dry cycle separately: electricity per 100 cycles and water per cycle. The French product sheet for the LG F964V41WRSA lists these modes separately. An energy label alone can’t predict your bill, which also depends on how you use the appliance and your tariffs.
No. Check the instructions, the compatibility of both model numbers and the stacking kit before choosing a stacked set-up. Bosch Home Appliances France says the appliances must be suitable for stacking and that you should check the kit is compatible.
Choose a suitably large, well-ventilated room or one with suitable ventilation. For indoor drying, ADEME recommends these conditions to help manage the extra moisture in the air.
Follow the instructions for the model you choose. For the relevant appliances, Electrolux recommends leaving the door and detergent drawer slightly open after a cycle to allow air to circulate and the inside to dry.