Washer dryer or two separate machines?

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My washing machine is on its way out so we are looking to replace it. We don't have a dryer at the moment although it's getting to the point where it may be best to get one.

We have room for both (just!) but are considering a washer dryer to save space. My mum has one that is constantly playing up though and it is putting me off.

Does anyone have good experiences or am I best to get two separate machines? Also, if anyone has any recommendations, that would be great!

I have a candy washer/dryer combo and love it however I don't have the room for both. If I had the choice I would have got separate appliances. The separate dryers definitely work better and easier for doing multiply washings can have one in and one drying.

Washer dryers are shit. They don't dry properly. Get separate machines.

Washer dryers have a poor reputation, for the drying part. If you can get separates, then I would. If you think you’ll use the dryer though. Would extra hanging space be more useful if so far you’ve managed without?

How much drying do you do?

We are a family of five and I limped along with a washer dryer for years because I couldn’t picture the space for a separate tumble dryer.

I bit the bullet last year and put it in the dining room. It may not look pretty but it’s changed my fucking life.

If you have more than one load a day it’s essential.

Separate appliances every time.

I had a hotpoint combo, it left clothes hot and damp. We bought separate ones, best thing we ever did.

Definitely separate machines if you can.

Separate all the way!

I had a hotpoint combo, it left clothes hot and damp. We bought separate ones, best thing we ever did.

This. Washer dryers leave you with steaming hot but very damp clothes - the dryer function only works if the machine is practically empty.

I’ve got a washer dryer and it’s pants! It seems to take a lot longer to dry stuff and it’s not always dry. Sometimes it’s still a bit damp. If I have loads of washing to do I can only do a load a day. It takes that long for the machine to wash and then dry stuff.

If you have the space stick with separate. Once you’ve washed stuff, straight into the dryer and you can chuck another load in the machine.

Separate if you've got space. That way you can be drying one lot of washing while you've got another load in the washing machine. I often do two or three loads in the same day at the weekend and you can get through it much more quickly.

Two machines it is then! I haven't heard great things but I wasn't sure if they were in the minority.

I don't do loads but having DD means I do more now. We're thinking of trying for DC2 soon as well so that would contribute too. I'm just fed up of having washing hanging up and the weather isn't on my side.

I'd hate to buy one and it not work properly so thank you for your help.

100% seperate machines!

For people with combo's I have noticed that if you take the clothes out straight away when the cycle finishes and separate quickly they don't go as damp I think it's almost like condensation from the machine drops back into clothes ...

But if you can separate appliances always

Washer dryers get a bad rep because people don't use them properly. I've got an 11kg one and it's fantastic but if I had space for two I'd go for that no question. Even a fab washer dryer doesn't do as well as two cheaper ones

We’ve got a washer dryer after having had separate machines. I don’t often use the dryer, when I do it’s not very good. The door locks so I can’t open it to check how dry items are or to unravel large items like sheets. Everything bunches up so you end up with parts still quite damp. As a washer it’s ok, it’s a Neff, but has less choice of programs. I had a Samsung eco bubble before which was far superior, we gave it to a friend when we had the kitchen and utility redone, she loves the washer, said it’s the best she’s ever owned.

I find washer dryers are more washer warmers.. if you can have both, get both, I can barley dry anything in my washer dryer and b 99% of the stuff just comes out almost streamed..! Ours came with our house and I miss our old separate dryer

Two separate machines, for sure. They last longer and one breaks at a time.

We've got washer drye rand haven't had any major problems but the problem is that the drying capacity is always quite limited. Ours is a Hoover that can wash 10kg but only dry 6kg, and that was one of the highest capacity models we could fine. The dryer is absolutely fine, as long as you keep the loads small but if you go over, then it will come out still wet.
If you have space I think 2 machines are better and will save you a lot of time, especially if you have a biggish family and a lot of washing. I thought a combined machine would save time as I could put a load in and use the auto setting so I wouldn't have to think about it again til its dry. Which I can, as long as the load is less than 6kg! But actually most times I need to go and take something out so can't use auto and I forget to go and check the wash has finished just as often as I ever did! And then of course I can't do another wash til the drying has finished.

Two machines are better, if you have the space, but plenty of people don't, and there are very good washer dryers out there.

Ours (Zanussi) does a very good job of drying, BUT it works for us because we don't dry much - only towels and sheets in the winter, really, or "emergency" items needed quickly.

The biggest problem is not the drying capability of a washer-dryer (as I say, many do a good job) - it's more to do with timing, because you can't (obviously) wash and dry simultaneously. So if you are the sort of person who tumble-dries everything, and you need to do four loads of washing that's a good nine hours continuous washing....and you can't dry a whole wash-load at once, so you'd be tumble-drying all night!

I agree two separates is better. I have a washer/dryer due to space issues and yes the washing is damp after the standard dry cycle but I just dry it for longer. Not sure why others don’t do that! But then I only do a couple of washes a week now (just me) so it’s not an issue.