A washer-dryer is a good choice if you need dry clothes but don’t have room for an airer or two separate appliances. According to UFC-Que Choisir, its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity. So, size your loads according to the drying capacity if you want to run both stages back to back without having to intervene. Also check the space needed for installation, as well as the duration and energy and water use of the full cycle. If you often dry large loads and have enough room, it’s worth considering two separate appliances.
You want to take out dry clothes without keeping an airer set up or making room for a second appliance. A washer-dryer meets this need, as long as you keep a combined wash-and-dry load within its drying capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If you often wash bedding or several loads in a row, taking some of the washing out before drying can become a hassle. Compare the drying capacity and the duration of the full programme with your usual laundry routine.
You want to compare machine drying with air-drying. Check the figures for the wash-and-dry cycle, and bear in mind that ADEME highlights the moisture released when clothes dry indoors.
Choose this if: you can’t fit two appliances and want to run a wash and dry cycle without transferring the laundry.
Bear in mind: the load for a combined cycle must not exceed the drying capacity, which is lower than the washing capacity according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Consider this if: you often dry several loads and genuinely have room for a washing machine and a tumble dryer.
Allow for: two suitable spaces or, if stacking the appliances, a stacking kit compatible with the models in question.
Consider this if: you can use an airer in a sufficiently well-ventilated room.
Keep in mind: according to ADEME, clothes drying naturally release a lot of moisture into the air indoors.
If it’s difficult to dry clothes in a small home, start by working out how much laundry you need to dry, then compare this with the space you have and the figures for the full cycle.
| Criterion | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Dry clothes without an airer | Capacity of the wash-and-dry cycle and the space needed for installation. | If an airer would take up too much room, I want to run both stages without moving the laundry. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this above all else. |
| Large loads and waiting time | Drying capacity and the stated duration of the full programme for the load in question. | If I often fill the drum, splitting the load for drying or having my only machine tied up for a long time makes laundry more difficult. This would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Energy and water use, and humidity | Water and electricity figures for the wash-and-dry cycle; ventilation if clothes are dried indoors. | I want to make drying less of a hassle without making my home damp. Around 25% of consumers would put this trade-off first. |
A load that can be washed in one go may be too large to dry in the same cycle. The specifications for the Bosch WNG254AQFR and Electrolux EW7IW416DAV both list a 10.5 kg washing capacity, compared with 6 kg for the wash-and-dry cycle.
If you don’t want to take wet clothes out between the two stages, load the machine according to its wash-and-dry capacity.
The overall depth, space for the door to open and access to the connections can all affect whether the appliance will be practical in its intended location.
Compare the model’s full dimensions with the available space, including the area in front of the door and behind the machine.
To get dry clothes, check the energy use and duration of the wash-and-dry cycle. The European Commission distinguishes between cycle information on the labels for the appliances concerned.
Compare equivalent capacities and cycles, checking energy use per 100 cycles, water use per cycle and the stated duration.
ADEME notes that clothes drying naturally release a lot of moisture into the air indoors. This is particularly important if space is limited or poorly ventilated.
Before choosing this option, make sure you have a well-ventilated room or suitable air extraction.
The WNG254AQFR is an example of a front-loading washer-dryer. Bosch lists a washing capacity of 10.5 kg and a wash-and-dry capacity of 6 kg.
The EW7IW416DAV is a freestanding model for which Electrolux lists a washing capacity of 10.5 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg.
The French specifications for the F964V51WRSA list a washing capacity of 9 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg, along with several depth measurements.
These appliances combine washing and drying for homes where it’s difficult to fit two machines or an airer. Focus on comparing their drying capacity with your usual loads, then check their dimensions and the figures for the full cycle.
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Run a wash and dry cycle in one appliance when space is limited.
Listed capacity: 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. A full washing load will need to be reduced before drying. Also check the space required for the door and connections.
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An option to consider if you want to dry your laundry without making room for a second machine.
Listed capacity: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. For a combined cycle, stick to the 6 kg limit. Check the duration, energy and water use, and the clearance needed for installation.
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Consider combining washing and drying in one appliance if a drying capacity of 5 kg suits your needs.
Listed capacity: 8 kg for washing and 5 kg for drying. The width measurements given for this model don’t match, so confirm its exact dimensions before deciding where to put it.
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Wash and dry your laundry in the same appliance, as long as you keep the combined load within the drying capacity.
Listed capacity: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. Before choosing a location, confirm the dimensions, required clearance and duration and energy-use figures for the full cycle.
No. For the Bosch WNG254AQFR and Electrolux EW7IW416DAV, the manufacturers list a washing capacity of 10.5 kg, but a drying capacity of 6 kg. To run both stages without intervention, limit the load to 6 kg; otherwise, take some of the laundry out after washing.
Measure the available width, height and depth, then allow room for the door to open and for the connections. For the F964V51WRSA specifically, LG lists an appliance depth of 565 mm, an overall depth of 620 mm and a depth of 1 100 mm with the door open.
Compare the figures for the wash-and-dry cycle, not just the washing energy rating. The labelling presented by the European Commission lets you check energy use per 100 cycles and water use per cycle, among other things. Compare appliances with a similar capacity that suits your usual loads.
This depends on the bathroom layout and its electrical installation. Promotelec states that a washing machine must be installed outside zones 0, 1 and 2, and outside the hidden zone. Before installation, ask a suitably qualified professional to check the location and connections.