If you use a clothes airer, start by comparing the washing machine’s spin-drying efficiency: ADEME recommends choosing class A to help laundry dry quickly indoors. A washer-dryer saves you from having to fit two large appliances, but its drying capacity and full cycle need to suit your laundry loads. If you have room for a second appliance, a heat-pump condenser tumble dryer lets you dry clothes in the drum without venting air outside, unlike a vented model, according to UFC-Que Choisir. In a damp room, a dehumidifier can help while you dry clothes on an airer, but it won’t replace a tumble dryer.
If you can only fit one large appliance in your home, compare a washer-dryer with a washing machine whose spin performance suits indoor air-drying. Check the space and connections before you choose: ANIL reminds tenants that alterations to rented premises or equipment require the landlord’s written consent.
If you’re keeping your airer, check the washing machine’s spin-drying efficiency class and noise level. ADEME recommends choosing class A for spin-drying when you need laundry to dry quickly indoors. A dehumidifier can help when you’re drying clothes in a damp room, but it won’t dry them in a drum.
If you do laundry regularly, compare the capacity of a separate tumble dryer with your washing machine’s capacity, then measure the available space. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a vented model needs an opening to the outside or access to a duct, unlike a condenser model. You’ll also need to consider the noise and how the appliance handles condensate.
Start with how you dry your laundry, then check the available space, cycle details and installation requirements of the solution you’re considering.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Spin-drying before air-drying | Compare the spin-drying efficiency class, not just the rpm, as well as the noise level shown on the label. ADEME recommends choosing class A for quick indoor drying. | I’m keeping my airer and want my laundry to come out less damp, without adding a second large appliance. |
| Two-in-one appliance | On the label or in the European Commission’s EPREL database, distinguish between the capacity and figures for washing alone and those for the full cycle: energy per 100 cycles, water use and cycle duration. | I only have room for one appliance, but I need to know whether it can dry a full wash load in one go. |
| Separate tumble dryer | Measure the space and compare capacity, noise and condensate handling. UFC-Que Choisir explains that a vented model needs an opening to the outside or access to a duct, unlike a condenser model. | I can make room for a second appliance and want to dry laundry in a drum rather than on an airer. |
| Dampness while air-drying | For a dehumidifier, check the stated room coverage, noise level, tank and whether continuous drainage is available. Rowenta says dehumidification depends in part on temperature. | My laundry dries on an airer in a damp room. I’m looking for an extra appliance, not a replacement for a tumble dryer. |
| Installation | Check the dimensions and connections at home. For a washing machine in a bathroom, Promotelec advises checking the earthing, 30 mA residual-current protection and a position outside zone 2. | Before ordering, I want to make sure the appliance will fit and can be connected where I plan to put it. |
The maximum drying load may be lower, so you might need to dry a full wash in two batches or take some clothes out. The European Commission lists separate figures for washing alone and for the full cycle.
Compare both capacities, then check the energy use, water consumption and duration of the wash-and-dry cycle on the model’s label.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a vented tumble dryer needs an opening to the outside or access to a duct. Don’t assume that an existing ventilation outlet is suitable for this purpose.
Check the route for the vent before buying, or compare condenser models. If installation involves alterations to a rented home, ANIL reminds tenants that they need the landlord’s written consent.
Maximum spin speed doesn’t tell you the spin-drying efficiency class or noise level. Both are useful factors to consider when the appliance will be close to a living area.
For indoor air-drying, compare the spin-drying class on the label. ADEME recommends choosing class A if you want your laundry to dry quickly.
Your laundry will still be on the airer. Rowenta says dehumidification depends in part on temperature, so a model’s advertised results alone won’t tell you how it will perform in your room.
Compare the stated room coverage and noise level, and check how you’ll empty the tank or connect continuous drainage.
These models give you examples of features to compare; their dimensions and capacities don’t apply to every appliance from the same brand.
Bosch Home Appliances’ product information for the WQG2450SFR heat-pump tumble dryer lists a 9 kg capacity, dimensions of 842 × 598 × 613 mm and a noise level of 64 dB(A).
LG France lists the F852SV52IRS washer-dryer as 475 mm deep, with an 8.5 kg washing capacity and a 5 kg drying capacity.
Miele France offers tumble dryers with 7, 8 and 9 kg capacities and recommends choosing one with a capacity close to your washing machine’s, if possible.
Rowenta describes the Extrême Dry Compact+ as a dehumidifier with a laundry mode and a stated capacity of 16 L per day.
These options cover a range of ways to manage laundry in a small flat: a washer-dryer, a separate tumble dryer, a dehumidifier to use with an airer and a washing machine on its own. Compare each appliance against the requirements of the solution that suits you.
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If you want to wash and dry with one appliance, bear in mind its 6 kg drying capacity: don’t assume that a 10 kg wash load can be dried in one go. Check the dimensions, noise level and full-cycle figures against your space and laundry habits.
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Worth considering if you have room for a separate tumble dryer. The product title lists energy class C. Before deciding, compare the model’s label and dimensions, and check how it handles condensate against your installation.
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This model offers tumble drying in a separate appliance. Its product title lists energy class D. Check the model’s label, dimensions, noise level and drainage against the space you have in mind.
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Its laundry mode is designed to help while you dry clothes on an airer, not to dry a load in a drum. The product title lists continuous drainage and coverage of around 32 m². Check that these suit your room, and consider the noise level and drainage requirements.
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If you’ll continue drying clothes on an airer, this washing machine won’t add a tumble-drying function. Its maximum spin speed alone won’t tell you how long your laundry will take to dry: also check the model’s spin-drying efficiency class and noise level on the label.
Only if you have a suitable external vent and the installation is possible in your home. UFC-Que Choisir says a vented model needs an opening to the outside or access to a duct, unlike a condenser model. If work involves alterations to a rented home, ANIL reminds tenants that they need the landlord’s written consent.
Check the position and electrical installation before connecting the appliance. Promotelec recommends earthing, 30 mA residual-current protection and placing the washing machine outside zone 2. If you’re unsure about the installation, have it checked by a qualified professional.
Not necessarily: check both capacities separately for the model you’re considering. For example, LG France lists an 8.5 kg washing capacity and a 5 kg drying capacity for the F852SV52IRS. The European Commission’s label also distinguishes between figures for washing alone and those for the full cycle.
No. It helps with air-drying by reducing the humidity in the room, but it won’t dry a load in a drum. For this use, compare the stated room coverage, noise level and tank capacity, and check whether continuous drainage is available. Rowenta says dehumidification depends in part on temperature.
No, don’t block existing air inlets or outlets. The French decree of 24 March 1982 on ventilation in homes requires general, continuous ventilation to be possible at least during the period when outdoor temperatures mean windows need to stay closed.