I've been told not to get a washer/dryer as they are problematic

[Kittykat86]

Moving into a new house and don't have room for a dryer and washing machine so was going to get a washer dryer but my friend said she knows a few people that have had bad experience with them, not washing clothes properly, breaking down etc.
What is your experience if you have one? Would you recommend getting one? Thanks

Ive found the washing machine part works fine. The dryer is rubbish but ok in emergencies

Mine has broke down several times so ive found worth it to take appliance cover

Stayed in an air b&b with one last week and the dryer didn’t actually dry !!

Always had them and they work just fine. You obviously can’t overload them for the dryer part, that’s all

I have a top of the range Bosch washer-dryer.
I've had no problems with it. The drying isn't as good as a separate dryer but it dries properly and I don't have issues with the washing still being damp. I would much rather a bit of a compromise on drying quality than have no drying at all.

It seems to be something where it is better to get a more high end model rather than the cheaper ones.

My relative moved into a place that didn’t have room for both, and got a washer dryer. I think I looked up the Which? reviews for them. The one they bought works absolutely fine.

I have a Candy washer dryer. I love it - works fine!

Washer is fine, dryer has broken about 200 times. Appliance maintenance guy we had our said they’re often problematic and to not get another in the future.

I had one in a rented flat. Hated it, mainly as there are loads of things I won't tumble, so you have to haul it all out and put the dryer stuff back in.
You can also only do one load at a time, not back to back washes.
The one we had also seemed very hot and had few options, but obviously, I didn't choose it, so it may just have been crap!

We have a Hoover dynamic.

it works just fine for us although we don’t dry all that often. And you can’t put as much in when drying as you can when washing (up to 10kg washing vs 6kg drying.

no issues with it breaking down and have had it quite a few years now.

what’s your alternative?

From what I understand you have to take half the washing out for the drying bit to work, so need to do it in batches rather than just turn on the fryer with everything in it.

I would go for separate machines though so if one goes the other doesn't, so would look at stacking them. My tumble dryer lives in the old water tank cupboard raised up on a piece of kitchen worktop so no bending required and storage underneath I just leave the door open when in use so it gets properly ventilated. So there maybe a space you aren't aware of yet.

I had one where the washer was great but the dryer was far less efficient than a stand alone tumble dryer. Fine for occasional use.

Same. Was converted in 2002, but only use the dryer for towels anyway.

I’ve always had a washer/dryer, all fine if you look after it properly, you need to descale it regularly as scale builds up and then the dryer won’t work. I’ve had hotpoint, zanuzzi and Bosch, family of 4 and each have lasted about 4/5 years and it’s the dryer that goes wrong first.

My parents had one due to space - but did have problems so told us to get two sperate machines if we could - and they later made space so they could and they say it's better with fewer issues.

If its a choice between washer dryer and no drier - get the washer drier.

I've got one. The washer is ok, the dryer function is a bit rubbish to be honest. But the alternative is no dryer at all so it's better than nothing!

We have a Bosch. It's been fantastic and has been used loads. You just need to not overload the dryer and it will dry very effectively.

Ours has lasted 6 years so far, through 2 small kids and is still going strong

We have one, it's fine but we only use the dryer occasionally.

I had a Samsung one and it was great. Just follow the instructions.

It’s not as good as a separate dryer but it’s 100x better than a house full of damp laundry in winter.

Have had two and they have both been fab, current one is 8 years old and still going strong. Candy is great.

I got one for the same reason. I’d heard they were rubbish, but thought ‘surely not in this day and age’. Everyone was right, it was rubbish. Well to be fair the washing machine part still works fine, but it doesn’t dry anything at all, even a tiny load.

I do highly recommend the cookology table top dryer though. It’s smaller than a normal one, and lightweight enough to move around if necessary. Works just as well as a full sized dryer too. Love mine.

The capacity is small.

I have a half size tumble dryer on a shelf in our shed.

Is there an option to locate it anywhere else? I've had both but I'd say even a half size separate tumble dryer is more effective.

If you go for combined then you need to take out the quicker drying stuff and hang it so you reduce the load by at least half, if not more.It needs sufficient circulation room or you'll be there all day.

Best thing I’ve bought…

amzn.eu/d/6oLrI8K

Ours is OK. I very seldom use the dryer. I think clothes smell a bit funny when they’ve been tumble dried, not unpleasant, just odd. DH loves to tumble dry, he always has the dryer overloaded so it takes eons and everything comes out completely crumpled.

Mine is good, not expensive.. I don’t get the fuss. Just don’t overload it.

@ChunkyMunky we came to say the same thing!

I have the White Knight version and it's now over a decade old and has lived in our shed for all of that time.

I tend to peg out most of the time so it's actually a handy location for the finishing off or chucking in all the socks if it's a bottom of the wash basket load that is about 60% sock and I'm not pegging individually.