People with space for just one appliance
A washer-dryer lets you wash and then dry clothes in the same appliance. Check its depth and the route to its final position, too: measuring the width alone won’t confirm that it can be installed.
Which option is right for you?
Households that regularly dry small loads
Automatic wash-and-dry cycles are a good fit if your wash load stays within the model’s drying capacity. UFC-Que Choisir points out that washer-dryers have a lower drying capacity than washing capacity.
Households considering an indoor clothes airer
You’ll need to think about where the moisture from your laundry will go. ADEME recommends drying clothes in a large, well-ventilated room or one fitted with a mechanical ventilation extractor vent.
What should you check before choosing?
Start by considering how much space you have and how much laundry you need to dry in one go. Then compare the practical requirements of each option in the context of your home.
Washer-dryer
Consider one if: you can only fit one appliance and your usual loads are within its drying capacity.
The trade-off: you may need to remove some clothes from a full wash load before drying.
Two separate appliances
Consider them if: you have the space and regularly need to dry large loads.
The trade-off: you’ll need space for two appliances and have to transfer laundry between them.
Indoor clothes airer
Consider one if: you have room for your laundry in a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan.
The trade-off: according to ADEME, air-drying releases a lot of moisture into the air indoors.
| What to consider | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Drying capacity | Compare the washing and drying capacities in kg. To run both functions back-to-back without removing any laundry, stick to the lower figure. | I want to start a wash and find it dry without splitting the load. How much laundry do I need to dry in one go? |
| Size | Measure the width, height, depth and door clearance. Also check the packed appliance dimensions and the access route to its final position. | The appliance needs to fit in its space at home, but it also has to get through doors, hallways and, if necessary, the lift. |
| Cycles and consumption | For comparable cycles, check energy use per 100 cycles, water use per cycle and cycle duration. On the model’s label, distinguish between a wash-only cycle and a wash-and-dry cycle. | If I use the dryer often, I want to know how long a full cycle takes and how much it uses—not just its energy rating. |
| Indoor humidity | If you’re using a clothes airer, check the size of the room and whether it can be ventilated or has an extractor. ADEME recommends a large, well-ventilated room or one fitted with a mechanical ventilation extractor vent. | I’m interested in using a clothes airer, but I need to be able to manage the moisture in the room where my laundry will dry. |
| Maintenance | Check the model’s instructions for access to the filter, detergent drawer and door seal, and how to clean them. UFC-Que Choisir includes these aspects in its assessment of maintenance. | I need to be able to carry out routine maintenance in the space where the machine will be installed. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Choosing based on washing capacity alone
UFC-Que Choisir says a washer-dryer’s drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity. If the load is too large, you won’t be able to run a wash-and-dry cycle without intervening.
Start with the amount of laundry you want to dry in one go, then compare the two capacities. For a model rated at 9 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying, the 6 kg limit is what matters for a full cycle.
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Measuring the width only
An appliance may fit the space by width but still be too deep or unable to get through the access points in your home.
Measure all three dimensions of the space, the door clearance and the delivery route. Samsung recommends measuring doors, hallways and lifts to make sure the appliance can get through while still in its packaging.
If the access route is too narrow, you may not be able to install the appliance where you planned.
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Comparing energy ratings alone
An energy rating on its own doesn’t tell you how long a full cycle takes or how much water and energy it uses. The European Commission lists these figures among the information shown on washer-dryer labels.
Compare figures for the same type of cycle across specific models, distinguishing between wash-only and wash-and-dry cycles.
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Using a clothes airer without considering humidity
According to ADEME, air-drying laundry releases a lot of moisture into the air indoors, so a small, closed room won’t necessarily be suitable.
Before making a clothes airer your main drying solution, make sure you have a large, well-ventilated room or one fitted with a mechanical ventilation extractor vent.
A guide to the brands
These examples give you a useful starting point for your checks; the specifications apply only to the models concerned.
Bosch
Bosch’s washer-dryer range in France includes models with capacity combinations of 8 kg/5 kg, 9 kg/6 kg and 10.5 kg/6 kg.
- Both capacities are listed, making it easy to compare the amount of laundry you can wash with the amount you can dry.
- In these examples, drying capacity is lower than washing capacity. Check the figures for the model you’re considering.
Samsung
Samsung lists a washing capacity of 9 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg for the WD90T754DBH/S3, with dimensions of 600 × 850 × 650 mm.
- These published dimensions help you check whether there’s room for this specific model.
- Also check that the packaged appliance will fit through the access route, and look up the specifications of any other Samsung model you’re considering.
LG
LG’s range in France includes washer-dryers and the WashTower, which combines a washing machine and tumble dryer with centralised controls.
- The range lets you compare a single-appliance option with a configuration that combines two appliances.
- Check the dimensions and capacities of each model, as well as the space where it will be installed.
Washer-dryers available on Joybuy
These three models combine washing and drying in one appliance. Compare their drying capacity, size and full-cycle information with the space in your home and the loads you usually wash.
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Samsung WD10HG6U34BEU3 — 10 kg washing, 6 kg drying
To run both functions back-to-back without removing any laundry, limit the initial load to the stated drying capacity of 6 kg, rather than the 10 kg washing capacity.
Listed dimensions: 600 × 850 × 590 mm. Check the access route too, and consult the model’s label for the duration and consumption of a wash-and-dry cycle.
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CHiQ JW85882HG — 8 kg washing, 5 kg drying
This model combines washing and drying, but an 8 kg wash load can’t be dried in one go within the stated 5 kg capacity.
Before planning where to install it, ask the retailer to confirm the dimensions of the model and its packaging: the measurements listed for this appliance conflict. Also check the label for the consumption and duration of a full cycle.
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Roborock Zeo Lite Gray — 10 kg washing, 6 kg drying
To run a wash and dry cycle without removing any laundry, stick to the stated drying limit of 6 kg rather than the 10 kg washing capacity.
This model features automatic dosing and a LintClear filter-cleaning system. Check the appliance and packaging dimensions, as well as the wash-and-dry cycle information, before deciding whether it will fit your space.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 9 kg/6 kg washer-dryer dry a full 9 kg wash load?
No, not in one go within the stated drying capacity of 6 kg. To run both functions back-to-back without removing any laundry, limit the initial load to 6 kg. Otherwise, take some of the laundry out after washing or dry it in batches.
Which figures should I compare on a washer-dryer label?
Compare cycles of the same type. The European Commission lists information including the energy rating, energy use per 100 cycles, water use per cycle, cycle duration and noise level. Check the figures for wash-only and wash-and-dry cycles separately where both are shown.
Is a clothes airer suitable for a small home?
Yes, as long as you can manage the moisture produced by your laundry. For air-drying, ADEME recommends a large, well-ventilated room or one fitted with a mechanical ventilation extractor vent. Don’t assume a small, closed room will be suitable.
What maintenance does a washer-dryer need?
Start by following the model’s instructions for maintenance tasks and how often to do them. In particular, check that you can access the filters, detergent drawer and door seal. UFC-Que Choisir takes their maintenance into account when assessing washer-dryers.