to be considering buying a washing machine without an integrated tumble dryer?

[Trazzletoes]

My washing machine has washed its last load. Looking at getting a new machine, obviously.

I was always under the impression that if you get a combined washer/dryer (sp?!) it will be a jack of all trades, and therefore master of none, unless you pay an awful lot of money for it. Which I don't have.

Since we've lived in this house (about a year) I haven't used the drier part of the current machine anyway as the machine was always very dodgy and I was slightly nervous that it might catch fire so we have survived with an airer and dehumidifier.

I do like having a tumble dryer and very much appreciate the convenience. I would also use it (and have done in the past) if we had one because it would be new.

There is no space in our house for a separate tumbler.

WIBU to get a plain old common-or-garden washer? Or am I over-thinking this and a washer/dryer would actually be just as good?

[InfinityWelcomesCarefulDrivers]

I always thought the same, but apparently these days yiu can get good washer driers...not speaking from experience - ours are still separate. |But also, imagine bunging the bedding in it in the morning and coming back to find it clean and dry?

[FamiliesShareGerms]

We have separate machines because never found a combined one that is any good (you might be right about needing to spend ££££), and because when it is washing you can't also dry (and vice versa) and we need to be able to have both on at once to keep vaguely on top of the laundry mountain.

[scurryfunge]

I have separate washer and a dryer. We keep the dryer in the garage and use it sparingly. I can't get a big load in any washer dryer combo.

[Bert2e]

I've only got a washer - no dryer - but I do have a walk in airing cupboard so drying stuff in the winter isn't a problem. If you've coped for a year you'll be fine. Dry out on the line in the summer and inside on an airer in the winter and feel that you are doing your bit for saving the environment and reducing your fuel bills!

[MoreBeta]

If you have the space get a separate washer and dryer.

The reason is that with a family the washing plus drying cycle takes too long. If you have a washer and a separate dryer you can put another washer load on while the last one is drying.

Two DSs that play rugby require a lot of washing.

[Pandemoniaa]

I've only had a combined washer dryer once and wouldn't again. When doing multiple loads of washing it was a complete pain to have to wait until a load dried before another wash could be put in. The alternative being to drag all the washing out and pile it up ready for drying later. If you've got the room, it makes far more sense to have a separate washer and dryer.

[Trazzletoes]

We really really don't have the space, unfortunately. Plus the garage is an entirely separate building at the end of the garden (makes us sound posh but we aren't!) and it leaks so i wouldn't be particularly comfortable leaving an electric appliance in there for any period of time, plus I can't imagine wanting to toddle off down there in snow/wind/rain to get the drying on.

[scurryfunge]

Trazzle, our garage is nowhere near the house too. If you don't need to use it too often, it's fine.

[Emsmaman]

Having had both (being a renter) I would say get 2 separate machines if you have the space. Our current combo one doesn't make things nice and smooth (and unnecessary to iron) in the same way the separate dryer does.

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

I agree that washer driers never seem to be great, at least at drying. The washing is usually fine.

In your situation I'd go for another washer drier. When I lived without space for both I had one and although I didn't use the dryer often, on the occasions that I did I was very glad to have it. And it's nicer for towels.

[McHappyPants2012]

my current machine is a washer drier and i paid alot for the machine, it is rubbish after 3 hours it's still on the 1st load.

with 4 people in this house and a son who wets his bed, i have a seperate condenser dryer ( so i didn't need a place to vent the stream)

[diddl]

Problem with a washer drier of course is that if one bit goes wrong you lose both things.

I would only get one if you only intended to use the drier on high days & holidays.

Usually though you have to take some of the washing out to use the drier, don´t you?

You can´t just wash a load & then dry it?

Unless a small load?

Otherwise we´d all have one??

[Lueji]

I have had two combined washer driers, due to lack of space.

It works well for me, as I dry most clothes outside anyway, but it is convenient when it rains for days and we do need dry clothes
Better than nothing.

Sometimes it helps to get the clothes warm just to speed up drying.

The washing is fine, but that will depend on brand and model.
Both of mine have been Hotpoint.

[dementedma]

Never had a drier of any sorts. Just get a washer and save the energy

[forevergreek]

We have a washer/ dryer. It's fantastic, throw in dirty stuff, set on a wash and dry and in 2 hours everything is clean and dry and rest to be put away/ or ironed

[forevergreek]

• and ready

[ILoveOnionRings]

We had a washer/dryer and would never have one again. The dryer hasn't worked for 2 years now but the washing machine still works. Also as posters have said upthread, they are very slow to dry and ours would only dry 4kg but can wash 5kg so we would have to take washing out. I think 2 or 3 towels used to take 2 - 3 hours in the dryer.

We did take out the 5 year extended warranty luckily as they did not tell us at the time when we bought the washing machine that to clean the filter for the dryer you had to call in the engineers. The filter is inside the machine and it took the engineers 1 hour to dismantle, clean and replace the parts. It ould need to be done at least twice in the winter to keep the dryer running efficently.

We did buy our washing machine 6 years ago s maybe they have improved now.

[JellyBellies]

I have a washer dryer. It's brilliant. Everything comes out superdry. This one www.appliancesonline.co.uk/product/WDL520P-Hotpoint-Aquarius-Washer-Dryer-White-13884.aspx?cm_mmc=Froogle--FS%20washer%20dryers--Hotpoint-_-WDL520P_WH

I didn't even buy it new. Got it off gumtree and it was atleast a year old. It works brilliantly.


Seriously OP, get a washer dryer. I would never get just a washer. Mine runs atleast once a day if not more.

[Trazzletoes]

Argh

[MmeLindor]

My parents have one and it is useless.

My theory (as an absolute non-washing-machine-expert) is that you spend the first hour drying out the actual machine before it even starts drying your clothes.

It takes hours and hours to dry anything, and then you can't wash anything while it is drying.

I think if you go for a Miele, then you would be ok, but they are ££££

[Rattitude]

I had a Hotpoint washer-dryer. The dyer never worked well for me (worked well for other users though).

I think I only used it a handful of times in the 15 years or so that the machine lasted.

I now have a Bosch washing machine which is great. I dry clothes outside when the weather is goo and inside at other times. It works for me!

[Rattitude]

grrr... my strikethroughs did not work!

[Startailoforangeandgold]

I'm the proud owner of a nice new washer. It takes lovely big loads.

After two very expensive combination machines I have got fed up. The old one managed to rip things if it was full.

As others have said you can't dry whole loads and can't be washing the next lot while its drying which takes ages.

I'm lucky I have a garden, a kitchen with a rayburn and a line in the ceiling and a sunny conservatory. I can get stuff dry without.

[TheSydenhamSet]

We went on holiday and stayed in a cottage in April. It had a washer-dryer. Utterly useless. It took literally hours to dry a few clothes and towels! Our condenser dryer at home drys a huge amount in two hours at the most! Not much use to you, i know, since you don't have the room for a separate dryer. But just want to tell you do not waste your money!! I'm sure that that the ones that efficiently dry must cost a packet.

[dikkertjedap]

Not long ago I bought a very expensive integrated washer drier (because I used to have a separate drier which had broken). It was useless, it didn't wash well, it took ages to dry the clothes and it had much smaller drying capacity than a standalone drier.

I have actually dumped my new washer drier at the tip as I was so fed up with it. I now have just my washing machine (Bosch) which is brilliant. I dry the clothes either outside or inside on drying racks (they dry overnight apart from thick cotton double duvet covers - they take slightly longer).

Save yourself some money (both in purchase and running costs) and just go for a good capacity and energy efficient washing machine.