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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy a washer dryer even though I've heard nothing but bad things about them?

41 replies

DarlingDuck · 11/10/2011 21:54

I know they are expensive and don't come highly recommened but we could really do with one and don;t have space for both, aibu and owuld it be a complete waste of money?

OP posts:
splashymcsplash · 11/10/2011 21:59

I have one and its great. I think its best not going for the cheapest. Ours was a pricy one but washes and dries like a dream!

LaWeasel · 11/10/2011 22:00

We went for it and got one.

It's 6mths old and has been fine so far. No doubt it doesn't wash or dry as quick as seperate ones would but I tend to just use the washing settings as much as I possibly can and save the dryer for when I need something quickly. (so more often now it's colder and the washing isn't drying so fast on the airers.)

If you haven't got the space for 2 machines you haven't got the space!

BatsUpMeNightie · 11/10/2011 22:00

Same as splashy - I loved mine - got 5 good years out of it and only didn't replace it because it was quite expensive and I just didn't have the money at the time.

troisgarcons · 11/10/2011 22:01

I like mine.

I've had one for 18 years (not he same one)

Rikalaily · 11/10/2011 22:02

Complete waste of money if there is more than 3 of you. I got one when I had a new kitchen fitted so I could have the space for a dishwasher too, there are 6 of us and the washing is a complete nightmare, the washing basket is always overflowing. You can't dry as you wash which wastes time and then you have to halve or third the load to dry it. It takes mine 2 hours to dry 4 cotton t shirts (no I'm not joking) it's a 3 year old Hoover. I use a maiden on the landing too and the only way I can keep on top of it is when the sun is shining and I can use the washinglines.

It takes literally all day to do one lot of washing when you need to dry each washload in 2 or 3 batches. I'm planning to get rid of my dining table and putting a breakfast bar along that wall so I can get a seperate condenser dryer to go under there. If you are stuck for space even one of those mini tumble dryers dumped in any spare space you have in the house would be better than a washer/dryer.

If there is 3 or less of you it might be worth it.

spottypancake · 11/10/2011 22:04

I hated mine and my brother hates his.

He eventually got a washing machine only in the kitchen and put a proper tumble drier in a bedroom. Some of them only need a plug socket so you can put them somewhere else (even in an area with carpet) if you have no more space in the kitchen.

wigglesrock · 11/10/2011 22:04

I had always been a bit wary of them, bought a new build with one included (space issues). Have had it two years, been fab and have 3 dds including a baby so lots of use.

pushmepullyou · 11/10/2011 22:04

I've had mine (a zanussi) for 6 years now. I think it was the top recommended Which one when we bought it - about £550 if I remember correctly (wedding present from lovely MIL)

We didn't have room for a washer and tumble dryer, plus I am rubbish at remembering to swap clothes over and would just end up with an empty tumble dryer and a washer full of mildewed clothes.

I love it, everyone advised me against it, but they were wrong wrong wrong Grin

Original poster
DarlingDuck · 11/10/2011 22:06

We are four plus a baby so a lot of washing goes on. I can't stand having wash stand around the house though, even when put next to radiators the stuff sometimes doesn't completely dry. What makes do you guys who recommened them have?

OP posts:
pushmepullyou · 11/10/2011 22:07

I do an average of a load a day (4 of us) at 3:30 hrs per load washed and dried

lostinindia · 11/10/2011 22:08

Mine blew up. Scared the shit out of me. Now have a condenser dryer in the cupboard under the stairs and have thrown away my iron. I love it. It's freed up so much of my life not having to iron (has a ready to wear setting).

pushmepullyou · 11/10/2011 22:08

x-post - I'll have a look on the Which site and let you know what they recommend....

pushmepullyou · 11/10/2011 22:10

What's your budget? They range between £450 and £1000 for the Best Buys

MrsCarriePooter · 11/10/2011 22:11

We've just replaced our old Bosch one with another Bosch one - it's brilliant. If you don't have the space, you don't have the space as said above - and we certainly don't have the space to go sticking one somewhere else in the house. Nor do we really need to - most of the time we're fine with just using the washing facility but it's nice to have the tumble option if needed. If we really want something we can stick it on overnight and wake up to clean dry washing. We have this one

Original poster
DarlingDuck · 11/10/2011 22:11

Thank you! Will check back tomorrow, off to bed now!

OP posts:
Original poster
DarlingDuck · 11/10/2011 22:11

About £450 max

OP posts:
Original poster
DarlingDuck · 11/10/2011 22:12

Seems like people either love them or hate them but anything has to be better than hanging stuff on an airer, right?!

OP posts:
rhondajean · 11/10/2011 22:13

I love mine, I had a Zanussi for years, when we moved I got a Smeg, had that four plus years now, its on constantly with four of us plus all at the gym a lot, only problem as someone said is that you cant wash and dry at once, so you need to plan.

FabbyChic · 11/10/2011 22:13

You do know that whilst you are drying you cannot wash anything don't you, no good for families, you can only dry a 3rd of the load so it takes 4 hours to do one wash and dry, if you had seperates you would wash and dry at the same time, you can buy a decent washer for 250 and a big tumble dryer for 150 now.

rhondajean · 11/10/2011 22:14

Oh and great for baby stuff and wee things like pants and socks, can put them on to wash and dry in one go :-)

squeakytoy · 11/10/2011 22:18

I had one and thought it was crap. You have to do a small load and have to do more loads if you dont want the clothes creased, and you cant have both going at the same time to speed things up either..

No room for a tumble dryer in the kitchen, so I have one down the shed.

pushmepullyou · 11/10/2011 22:19

In that case may I recommend the AEG-Electrolux 14840

The third best and definitely most cost-effective washer dryer on the market according to Which with 68%. The quick drying cycles and water efficientcy are particularly admired.

tyler80 · 11/10/2011 22:20

We had one in a property we rented. No idea of quality but it was a hotpoint. Whilst it did dry things it never dried them like a tumble drier would, always seemed to leave things warm and damp. You couldn't have worn anything straight out the drier.

pushmepullyou · 11/10/2011 22:21

Am i just a slattern then? I just bung everything in and stick it on 'extra dry'. None of this load splitting malarky here!

2rebecca · 11/10/2011 22:22

I like my washer dryer. I don't dry much in them though, drying stuff either outside if nice or inside on metal airers and/or over radiators if wet. They are handy when I need items dry in a hurry though and if I'm washing loads of stuff especially bedding and want it sorted and ready to put back on the beds by night. If it's stuff I don't want creased I iron it. I'm also not one of these women continually washing towels and bedding.
Am surprised some people are anti airers, I grew up with them and am anti wasting electricity on tumble drying everything.