To dry laundry indoors, start by comparing the spin efficiency class, a capacity suited to your usual loads and the noise level shown on the energy label. ADEME particularly recommends choosing spin efficiency class A when laundry needs to dry quickly indoors or go into a tumble dryer afterwards. A front-loading model is often suitable if space allows, while a top-loading machine is mainly useful when width is restricted, and a washer-dryer requires a smaller drying load.
If laundry is mainly dried indoors, particular attention should be paid to spin performance, a capacity that matches your usual loads and the noise level. ADEME classifies air-drying laundry as an activity that releases a high level of moisture into indoor air.
A washer-dryer can be a practical solution when there is not enough room for an airer or a second appliance. However, each load must be adjusted to its drying capacity, which is lower than its washing capacity.
When installing a standard front-loading machine is not possible, a top-loading washing machine around 40 cm wide may be suitable. Then check the exact model’s capacity, noise level and spin efficiency class.
Start with spin performance and your usual laundry volume, then check the dimensions, consumption figures and installation requirements of the model you are considering.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Spin performance and residual moisture | Compare the spin efficiency class before looking only at rpm. Also check the decibel level during spinning if the appliance will be used close to a living area. | I want to hang out laundry that is less wet or transfer it more efficiently to a tumble dryer. ADEME recommends prioritising spin efficiency class A when laundry needs to dry quickly indoors or in a tumble dryer. |
| Suitable capacity | Choose the capacity in kg according to your usual dry-laundry loads. With a washer-dryer, check the drying capacity separately from the washing capacity and the Eco 40-60 programme capacity. | I want enough room to avoid repeated cycles, without buying a drum that is regularly underfilled. ADEME states that a 7 kg capacity is usually sufficient. |
| Size | Measure the width, depth, door clearance and access to the connections. A top-loading machine is often around 40 cm wide, compared with approximately 60 cm for many front-loading models. | My space needs to remain practical without blocking walkways or furniture. A top-loading machine can solve a width restriction, but it does not by itself guarantee better spin performance. |
| Water, electricity and programme duration | Compare kWh/100 cycles and litres/cycle using the same programme. For a washer-dryer, read the information for washing only and for the wash-and-dry cycle separately. | I want to be able to run consecutive loads without underestimating the duration of a combined cycle. Washer-dryers have longer programmes, and their drying function can use both water and energy. |
| Durability and stability | Check the durability index displayed in France and consult the repair documentation. Plan for a level installation on a flat, hard floor. | I want an appliance that remains stable during spinning and is easier to maintain. Since April 2025, the durability index has applied to new washing machines sold in France, according to ADEME. |
An oversized drum may not be filled sufficiently. ADEME recommends matching capacity to your needs and states that 7 kg is usually enough.
Estimate your usual dry-laundry loads and your genuine peak loads before choosing 8, 9 or 10 kg, then compare the figures for the Eco 40-60 programme.
A washer-dryer listed as 10/6 kg can wash 10 kg, but it cannot automatically dry that same load in a complete cycle.
When planning the drying stage, use the second figure and check the wash-and-dry cycle values on the label or product information page.
The spin efficiency class and noise level complement the maximum speed. Depending on the model, the speed may also be reduced when a load is unbalanced.
Compare the spin class, the dB rating for the spin cycle and the installation requirements for the exact model, rather than for the range as a whole.
A 2-in-1 appliance saves space, but it has a lower drying capacity and generally longer programmes.
Compare the energy classes for washing only and for the wash-and-dry cycle separately, then check that the drying capacity suits your laundry routine.
The Bosch range includes front-loading washing machines and washer-dryers, making it useful for comparing a washing-only appliance with a 2-in-1 solution.
Whirlpool is a useful reference point for top-loading washing machines when installation width is limited.
Electrolux is a brand worth considering if you are comparing washer-dryers, particularly models that incorporate a heat pump.
Joybuy front-loading washing machine options for laundry dried indoors, with different capacities, depths and spin efficiency classes.
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Worth considering for a home that can accommodate a front-loading model with reduced depth.
8 kg capacity, 470 mm depth, 1400 rpm spin speed, spin efficiency class B, 33 kWh/100 cycles and 38 L/cycle. Its 595 mm width makes it unsuitable for a narrow top-loading installation space.
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This format is aimed at households that regularly wash large loads and have a sufficiently deep space.
10 kg capacity, 1400 rpm spin speed, spin efficiency class B, 68 dB during spinning, 41 kWh/100 cycles and 48 L/cycle. Check that the 611 mm depth and your usual laundry volume are suitable.
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An intermediate-capacity option for regular laundry loads dried indoors.
8 kg capacity, 1400 rpm spin speed, spin efficiency class B, 75 dB during spinning, 576 mm depth, 47 kWh/100 cycles and 43 L/cycle.
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Best reserved for genuinely large loads and a sufficiently deep standard front-loading space.
11 kg capacity, 1400 rpm spin speed, spin efficiency class B, 681 mm depth, 37 kWh/100 cycles and 48 L/cycle. A large drum is only useful if it is regularly filled.
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Worth considering when a shallow depth is the priority while retaining an 8 kg capacity.
8 kg capacity, 450 mm depth, 1400 rpm spin speed, spin efficiency class C, 74 dB during spinning, 47 kWh/100 cycles and 43 L/cycle. Its 600 mm width and the required clearances still need to be measured.
No. An effective spin cycle reduces the amount of water left in the laundry and can shorten drying time, but laundry hung up to dry still releases moisture into the indoor air. ADEME’s Q-WASH study recommends drying laundry in a large, well-ventilated room or in a room fitted with a mechanical ventilation extraction vent.
Compare the spin efficiency class on the label first, followed by the maximum speed in rpm. European regulations base this class on residual moisture, so rpm alone does not allow you to compare the amount of moisture left in laundry directly.
No, not in a complete 10 kg cycle. The 6 kg drying capacity is the limit for drying. You will need to reduce the load before this stage or run several drying cycles.
Yes. ADEME states that the durability index has been displayed for washing machines in France since April 2025. This rating takes reliability and repairability into account; it complements the energy label, which provides standardised consumption and performance information.
Follow the model’s instructions and install the appliance on a flat, hard, level and stable floor, with all feet firmly in contact with the ground. Electrolux recommends these installation conditions to limit vibration, noise and movement during operation.