AEG 8000 PowerCare UniversalDose Washer Dryer review: a reliable workhorse packed with useful features

RRP: £1,200 | Buy now from John Lewis

How we tested

Mumsnet editor Poppy tested this washer dryer in her home, over a period of 8 weeks and over 60 loads of laundry for her family of four, including two teens - plus pets. Taking detailed notes on performance, stain removal, cycle times and user-friendliness, she put the washer dryer's myriad features through their paces, cross-comparing it with models such as the Hotpoint ActiveCare Washer Dryer.

Related: Best washer dryers

Our verdict

Performance: 14/15

Quality and durability: 14/15

Ease of use: 13/15

Value for money: 10/15

Noise level: 9/10

Range of cycles: 10/10

Energy efficiency: 8/10

Ease of maintenance: 8/10

Total: 86/100

Having relied on a washing machine alone for several years, I was ready to give my dehumidifier and heated airer a break by switching to a washer dryer this winter.

My previous washer dryer hadn't lasted long due to being overloaded, so I was really pleased with the Pro Sense function on this AEG washer dryer, which weighs your washing and gives a warning if you're over the limit for any given cycle. At the beginning of a cycle the machine takes about 30 seconds to weigh the load, then scores it out of four (four being the maximum weight), so you can add or remove items as needed.

Like all washer dryers, this one has a lower maximum weight for drying than it does for washing, and I found the 10kg washing and 6kg drying capacity plenty for my family of four.

Initially, I planned to use the eco wash and dry cycles consecutively overnight. However, I'm quite a light sleeper and the spin cycle did disturb me when I tried to do this.

Washer dryers have a reputation on Mumsnet for taking ages to dry, and it's true that the AEG drying times are longer than a standalone tumble dryer like the Samsung Series 8 Heat Pump Tumble Dryer. However, with the AEG clocking in at around 3.5 hours for the longest drying cycle and 40 minutes for the quickest, the timings really aren't that different - and you can get a small load clean and dry in 60 minutes flat if you're in a rush.

With a condenser dryer, the AEG isn't as energy-efficient as a heat pump, and has a D energy rating for drying. This, combined with an A rating for washing, is typical for washer dryers at this point in time. While heat pump washer dryers are coming onto the market, such as this one from Samsung, they retail for an eye-watering £3,000 - that's 3 times the price of the AEG. A heat pump might save on your energy bills, but not to the tune of £2,000.

All in all, I'm really impressed with this washer dryer. Its weight indicator takes away any anxiety around overloading and damaging the machine, and its cycles aren't horrendously long. Plus, if your washing weighs less than the maximum, it even shortens the cycle.

Read on for a detailed look at my experience with this washer dryer.

Read next: Best washing machines

What's the AEG 8000 PowerCare Washer Dryer like to use day-to-day?

With a respectable number of cycles and a clear control panel with time and weight displayed intuitively, this washer dryer is really straightforward to use. It's easy to toggle between washing, drying and both, depending on your needs that day.

The feature I like most is the Pro Sense weight indicator. It made me realise I've probably been overloading my washing machine for years, as the 60-minute wash only takes half the weight of a full eco or cottons cycle.

Each time you start a cycle, the machine first tells you the maximum weight, then weighs your washing and tells you whether it's overloaded or not - this will help me take better care of this appliance than I have done in the past, plus it means I get better results.

And if my load of washing is under the max weight, the machine re-calculates the cycle time and gets it done quicker - happy days.

I can't fault the washing performance of the AEG 8000 - it gets my clothes clean and fresh, and I have no complaints in this department. As a dryer, it's equally reliable, leaving towels soft and my laundry dry in a reasonable amount of time. Sure, there's the odd damp patch where a sock is scrunched in the corner of a duvet cover, but I won't take points off for that.

I do have a few minor gripes - the spin cycle is quite noisy, noisy enough to disturb my sleep when I tried running it overnight. It's very quiet up until the spin cycle though, to its credit. On the subject of noises, it does beep when the cycle is finished (and these beeps can easily be turned off), which I appreciate as I like to know when it's ready to be emptied. However the beeps after a drying cycle happen a minute or two before the door actually unlocks, which is pretty annoying.

Finally, I didn't think I'd like the app. Along with many Mumsnet users I was sceptical how an app could help with my laundry, but to my surprise I really like being able to see how long is left on the wash remotely - especially if I want to get it out on my retractable washing line as early in the day as possible. There are also a bunch of secret cycles only accessible through the app - including ones for pet hair, down jackets, duvets, lingerie, running shoes and party dresses. The app does occasionally struggle to connect the machine, but it gets there after a couple of tries, and all the cycles I genuinely need are on the main dial.

Related: Best tumble dryers

Is the AEG 8000 PowerCare Washer Dryer good for families?

With a generous 10kg washing capacity and 6kg for drying, the AEG 8000 is a great size for families, and I have no problems keeping on top of the laundry pile for my family of four with its help.

If you have younger kids, the child lock is particularly good - you can set it from the control panel or on the app, and unlike some appliances, it also stops you (or anyone else) accidentally pausing a cycle if you brush against the play button while doing the washing up.

If you or your children have sensitive skin, there's a steam cycle called 'hygiene' and even a separate steam function you can add to most of the cycles that'll banish nasties from your laundry. And for those inevitable spills and accidents, there's a pre-wash feature to help tackle stains.

When you need clothes clean and dry in a hurry, it's got you covered. There's a super-speedy 60-minute wash and dry cycle, which can handle up to 1kg. I've used it for a PE kit and a double bed sheet and was very impressed with the results.

Read next: Best integrated washer dryers

Is the AEG 8000 PowerCare Washer Dryer energy-efficient?

With an overall energy rating of D, it might seem like this washer dryer is a bit of an energy guzzler. However, this is standard for washer dryers on the market right now, so I dove a little deeper to see how it really compared with other models.

Consumer champions Which? say a washer dryer will cost on average £223 per year to run. AEG estimate the 8000 costs £183 per year, so it's clocking in ahead of the competition there.

What's more, with its drying sensors and flexible cycles that adjust according to the weight of the load, you can rest assured it won't use more energy or water than is needed to get your laundry clean and dry.

It's clear that it's more energy-efficient to have a separate washing machine and heat pump tumble dryer, and the two combined will cost on average £122 per year to run. However, along with plenty of UK families, I don't have the space for two separate appliances in my kitchen, and the AEG 8000 does the job in a relatively efficient way.

Related: Best energy-efficient washing machines

Does the AEG 8000 PowerCare Washer Dryer offer good value for money?

With an RRP of £1,200, the AEG 8000 is one of the more expensive washer dryers on the market. You can pick up a budget washer dryer like the Hotpoint ActiveCare for under £500, however cheaper washer dryers won't usually come with the same useful and energy-saving features, like dry-only cycles, flexible cycle times and weight indicators.

All in all, I think the AEG 8000 is a good investment, and with features that'll help it last for many years.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.

With an MA in Creative Writing and a PGCert in Lifestyle Journalism, Poppy's written about parenting topics for The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Mirror and The Sun. She's a best-selling, award-winning author, and her books for children and parents have been translated into 12 languages.

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