Choose a washer-dryer if you only have room for one appliance and the loads you need to dry fit within its drying capacity, which is often lower than its washing capacity. If you can install two appliances, they are better suited to frequent, large loads; an indoor drying rack requires a sufficiently large, well-ventilated room or one fitted with mechanical ventilation extraction.
This option combines washing and drying in a single footprint. However, check that the appliance can be brought through your property’s access points, that there is enough clearance with the door open, and that the drying capacity is suitable, as it differs from the washing capacity. LG and Electrolux product specifications illustrate this difference across their models.
If a large proportion of your laundry needs to be dried regularly, a full washing load may need to be split before drying in a combined appliance. Separate appliances are worth considering when space and installation arrangements allow.
A drying rack can be suitable if the chosen room is large enough and well ventilated, or fitted with mechanical ventilation extraction. ADEME highlights that air-drying laundry indoors releases a significant amount of moisture.
Choose this if: you genuinely only have room for one appliance and the load you need to dry matches the stated drying capacity.
Bear in mind: a washed load may need to be split before drying, and full-cycle times vary considerably between models.
Choose this if: you have two compatible spaces and regularly dry large loads.
Bear in mind: you need to check the installation requirements for each appliance, as well as whether stacking is possible according to the instructions.
Choose this if: you are comfortable with the drying time and have a suitable room in which to hang your laundry.
Bear in mind: ventilation and moisture extraction remain essential in your home.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Actual drying capacity | Compare the washing and drying capacities in kg. Also check the full-load wash-and-dry cycle duration in the model specifications. | I want to be able to dry my laundry without having to remove part of a full wash load every cycle. |
| Installation and space requirements | Measure the alcove, doors, corridors and front clearance. Check the floor stability, water inlet, drainage and the socket required in the instructions. | My appliance must fit into my home and be usable without obstructing the door or access to the room. |
| Wash-and-dry cycle | Review the energy rating, water use, electricity consumption and combined-cycle duration separately. Only compare indicators established under the same conditions. | I want to compare the cost and duration of the cycle I will actually use, not just the washing cycle on its own. |
| Humidity when using a drying rack | Assess the size of the room, its ventilation and whether it has a mechanical ventilation extraction outlet. Plan for the length of time the laundry will remain there to dry. | I am happy to air-dry my laundry, provided I do not concentrate moisture in a small, poorly ventilated room. |
A machine advertised as 9 kg or 11 kg for washing may accept only 5 kg or 6 kg for drying. A load that is too large will then need to be partly removed or dried over several cycles.
Match your largest regularly dried load to the drying capacity, rather than looking only at the washing capacity.
A washer-dryer may display different information for washing alone and for the wash-and-dry cycle. The washing rating alone therefore does not describe how the appliance performs when drying is used.
Compare the rating, water use, electricity consumption and duration specifically associated with the wash-and-dry cycle, using identical bases.
The appliance’s width and depth are not enough to confirm that it can be installed: the delivery route, clearance with the door open and connections also matter.
Measure the alcove, front clearance, doors and corridors before ordering, then check the installation requirements in the instructions.
ADEME states that air-drying laundry indoors releases a significant amount of moisture. A room that is too small or poorly ventilated may therefore move the problem rather than solve it.
Use a drying rack in a large, well-ventilated room or one equipped with suitable mechanical ventilation extraction.
In France, LG offers freestanding washer-dryers with washing and drying capacities that vary by model.
The French range includes freestanding washer-dryers and separate heat-pump tumble dryers, allowing you to compare both configurations.
Bosch offers washer-dryers, including built-in models, as well as separate heat-pump tumble dryers.
Joybuy washer-dryer options for a home where washing and drying need to be combined in a single appliance.
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Worth considering for a household with room for just one appliance and drying loads of no more than 6 kg.
Stated capacities: 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. A full washing load may therefore need to be split before drying.
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This model is aimed at compact homes with the necessary connections in place.
Stated capacities: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. Check the energy label, combined-cycle duration and clearance requirements before choosing.
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An option to consider for moderate drying loads in a home with room for just one appliance.
Stated capacities: 8 kg for washing and 5 kg for drying. Check the model’s dimension diagram before ordering, along with the wash-and-dry cycle information.
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This washer-dryer combines both processes for households with room for only one appliance.
Stated capacities: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. The product description mentions automatic dosing and LintClear; check the dimensions, connections and energy and water indicators before buying.
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This all-in-one option may be suitable when washing and drying need to be combined in a single appliance.
Stated capacities: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. According to the product description, it includes 27 programmes, automatic dosing and LintClear; check the model’s dimensions and installation requirements.
Not necessarily. LG and Electrolux specifications range from 8/5 kg to 11/6 kg, meaning the drying capacity is often lower than the washing capacity. Check both figures for the exact model and be prepared to remove some of the laundry if necessary.
Start with the dimensions, the route into the room, door clearance and the connections required in the instructions. Electrolux specifically recommends a flat, hard floor, so also check the stability and levelling of the installation area.
This option requires some care. ADEME states that air-drying laundry indoors releases a significant amount of moisture; choose a large, well-ventilated room or one with a mechanical ventilation extraction outlet.
Compare the information for washing alone separately from the information for the wash-and-dry cycle. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition explains that the energy label rates appliances on a scale from A to G, while European regulations also cover domestic washer-dryers.