If you can only fit one appliance, a washer-dryer combines both functions, provided you size your loads according to its drying capacity, which is often lower than its washing capacity. If you do laundry frequently, consider stacking two appliances, provided they’re compatible and you have enough height and a stable floor. An indoor clothes airer is another option if you have a sufficiently large, well-ventilated room or suitable extraction.
Your choice depends as much on the space you actually have as on how much laundry you need to dry and how well ventilated your home is.
A washer-dryer takes up just one floor space. Remember to measure its depth, including the clearance needed, and check that its drying capacity suits your usual loads. UFC-Que Choisir points out that drying capacity is generally lower than washing capacity.
If you have enough height and the installation allows it, stacking two compatible appliances means you can wash one load while another dries. UFC-Que Choisir recommends similarly sized front-loading appliances, with the tumble dryer above the washing machine and both on a flat, rigid, solid floor.
Drying laundry indoors calls for careful attention to ventilation. ADEME recommends using a large, well-ventilated room or one with a mechanical ventilation extract vent to remove the moisture released by drying laundry.
First, check what you can install at home, then compare drying capacity, cycle times and the figures for the cycle you’ll actually use.
| Criterion | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Space required | Measure the width, height and depth, as well as the clearance needed for the door. If stacking appliances, check that the instructions confirm they’re compatible and that the floor is stable; UFC-Que Choisir says the tumble dryer should go above the washing machine. | I only have space for one appliance, or enough height to stack two compatible appliances. |
| Drying capacity | Check the washing and drying capacities separately. With a 9/6 kg or 10/6 kg model, you can’t dry a full maximum washing load in the same cycle; also check the load limit for the programme you choose. | Some of my loads include towels or bedding, so I need to know how much can be dried without taking laundry out after washing. |
| Cycle times | Compare the wash-and-dry programme time for the load and fabrics in question, rather than the wash-only time. Bosch’s one-hour programme on the WNG24402FR is for small loads. | When I do several loads in a row, I want to know when the laundry will be dry; with two appliances, one load can dry while the next one washes. |
| Water and energy | Check the figures for the way you plan to use the appliance: washing only or washing and drying. ADEME says the label shows energy use in kWh per 100 reference cycles and water use in litres per reference cycle; compare like-for-like cycles. | If I use the drying function often, the figures for washing alone won’t reflect how I plan to use the appliance. |
| Ventilation | Before choosing an indoor clothes airer, check that you have a large, well-ventilated room or a mechanical ventilation extract vent, as ADEME recommends for dealing with moisture from drying laundry. | I’d rather air-dry my laundry, but my small room needs to be able to remove the moisture. |
A washer-dryer can wash more laundry than it can dry in a complete cycle. You’ll need to reduce the load or take some laundry out after washing.
Plan your loads around the model’s drying capacity and check the permitted load for the programme you’ll use, particularly for towels and bedding.
Figures for washing alone don’t tell you about a wash-and-dry cycle. UFC-Que Choisir particularly highlights the water used during drying by many washer-dryers.
Check the label and product information for the exact model, and distinguish the figures for washing alone from those for washing and drying before comparing appliances.
A quick cycle may be limited to a small load: Bosch specifies this for the one-hour programme on the WNG24402FR.
Check the programme’s duration, permitted load and suitable fabrics together.
Stacking requires compatible appliances and a stable surface. UFC-Que Choisir specifies that the tumble dryer should sit above the washing machine, on a flat, rigid, solid floor.
Check the instructions for both appliances, their dimensions and the stacking requirements before setting aside space for them.
These manufacturer examples show the information to compare for a specific model; they aren’t an assessment of their entire ranges.
Beko France lists washer-dryers including the 8/5 kg BM3DT48501W and the 10/6 kg B3YDFT51044W.
Bosch Home Appliances France lists the WNG24402FR with a 9 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg capacity for a wash-and-dry cycle.
Electrolux France lists the EW9W1166RB, a heat pump washer-dryer with a stated capacity of 10/6 kg.
These three washer-dryers combine washing and drying in a single appliance. They’re an option when it’s difficult to install two separate appliances; compare their drying capacity with your usual loads before choosing.
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Designed to wash and dry with a single appliance, this model has a stated washing capacity of 11 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg. If you use both functions back to back, size your load according to the drying limit. Also check the full-cycle time and the space needed for installation.
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This washer-dryer combines both functions in one appliance, with a stated washing capacity of 10 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg. The product title mentions Zeo-Cycle, app control and LintClear; check the conditions for using these features, as well as the full-cycle time and whether the dimensions fit your space.
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This model combines washing and drying, with stated capacities of 10 kg and 6 kg respectively. To dry laundry straight after washing, keep the load within the drying capacity. Also check the space it takes up and the figures for the wash-and-dry cycle that matches how you plan to use it.
No, not in one complete cycle at the maximum washing capacity: 6 kg is the stated drying capacity. If the laundry needs to stay in the drum, load the machine within this limit, or take some items out after washing.
Not on the Bosch WNG24402FR: Bosch reserves its one-hour programme for small loads. For a larger load, check the permitted load and the duration of the full programme for the fabrics you want to dry.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, the appliances should be front-loading, a similar size and installed on a flat, rigid, solid floor, with the tumble dryer above the washing machine. Check the instructions for compatibility and installation requirements before buying.
Only if there’s enough ventilation to deal with the moisture from the laundry. ADEME recommends a large, well-ventilated room or one with a mechanical ventilation extract vent; check this before relying on an airer regularly.
Compare the figures on their labels for the same type of use, particularly washing and drying if you plan to use both functions. ADEME says energy is shown in kWh per 100 reference cycles and water in litres per reference cycle, so don’t use the washing-only figures in place of those for a complete cycle.