to swap my washing machine for a washer drier?

[FedoraTheExplora]

Went to view a house to rent yesterday. It's lovely, in our price range and they accepted us! Can definitely see us staying here for 4+ years until I've finished uni and can look into buying a property together.

At the moment, I live in a flat with just a washing machine and have to air dry everything. I find airers so ugly and space consuming so I only have one. My washing pile is shameful with a 9 month old refluxy DD and a DP in manual labour who needs clean work clothes every day. Now I'll have a garden, so I can hang things out to dry (heaven), but I still dream of having a tumble drier.

Our house comes with a washing machine. I asked the estate agent if I could take it out, stick it in the loft and buy a washer drier instead. Obviously when I leave I'll take my washer drier and have the original washing machine put back in. He said no he didn't seem too clued up.. Didn't actually know if the loft was boarded up or not. But am IBU to think this is a fair request?

Or you can get a vented tumble dryer for not much more than £150, position it ear a window and stick the hose out when in use. I have mine in an upstairs bedroom.

You'd really be better off getting separates if you can. Washer dryers can generally only dry half the amount of washing they can wash so you end up having to hang some of the load up anyway. It also means that you have to wait for a load to dry (which takes longer in a washer dryer than a normal tumble dryer) before you can wash the next load.

That said I do have a washer dryer but that's because I live in a flat and can't have separates. Mine works reasonably well but I only use the drying cycle to fluff towels or dry the mattress and pillow protectors so they can go straight back on the bed. Everything else goes on a rack to dry.

So shall I get a vented or condenser tumble drier? This is honestly a whole new world to me

If I get a vented one, do I have to cut a hole in the shed? Not sure I would want to do that! But they're supposed to be better?

Any recommendations on make/ model? Around £200ish if possible

Like many others I'm not a fan of washer dryers. Gave up with ours in the end. Have you also considered a heated airer? Yes they take up space but they are great, I love mine

If you have a vented drier inside you need to have an outlet to get rid of steam, when we had one on the shed, leaving the shed door open while it was on was sufficient.
Condensers are more portable so better in the long run if you might move. When we moved house we then had room for a drier inside but nowhere to vent so had to get a condenser.

It seems like they are still prone to going wrong, they always were, even years ago.
However, dryers have been safe until recently and now we have one of the models that could be affected.
I would line dry and then hang over rads.
You can get those smaller ones that hang over so clothes aren't actually on the radiator.
Pound shops usually.

I have a washer/dryer but the dryer bit packed up within months of having it. Fortunately I kept my lovely, ex showroom, beat-up mess of a vented dryer. It lives in the bathroom and I just pop the pipe out of the window when it's running.

I have a tumble dryer its good for towels bed sheets, clothes you don't mind shrinkage or colour from vests, kids pants socks? But if you want your best clothes to remain like that dryers are crap.

They shrink your clothes, reduce colour vibrancy. To me the worst part is the shrinkage. ive tried reducing drying times so I'm not over drying but still happens.

If it wasn't for the british weather and stupid amount of people in my house id stick with airers when its raining and line drying spring-autumn. but ive got too much washing, wouldn't work for me, I do 3-4 washes everyday to keep on top id have to have big airers in every bedroom and keep an eye on all clothes so I could rotate dry ones for more wet ones, would be so much stress :o

since you don't have a huge family if I were you id stick with airers, ok theyre not pretty but outsiders don't see them who care, your clothes wil last longer and look good for longer too. I know you can get electric airers too Lakeland do one, and I'm sure there are other companies too, ive heard theyre really good?

or if you're lucky enough to have lots of radiators or really long ones get those racks that hang off the rads use them in evening no one needs to see it.

As your family grows you may need a dryer but right now don't do it. plus cleaning out the fluff, and condenser is a pain. also creates lot of heat, so can create mould if not in a well vented area.

if you still think youd rather have a dryer. get separate washer dryer. my mum had washer dryer, ive had one just as washer, but decided to test dryer one day, it was very poor. After 4 hours stuff was still soaking wet, really too much energy used for zero output id hate to think of the bills.

They shrink your clothes, reduce colour vibrancy
Some fabrics shrink in the dryer but most don't. When I empty my washer I separate out a few things that need to hang up to dry, but most goes in the dryer. I've only had a few things that have shrunk. The label tells you if it is dryer safe. I have never had colour fade - you're more likely to get that from your washing powder and line drying in the sun.

plus cleaning out the fluff, and condenser is a pain. also creates lot of heat, so can create mould if not in a well vented area.
Cleaning out the fluff takes about 3 seconds and is very simple.
You wouldn't use a tumble dryer if it wasn't vented or condensed so there really isn't a problem with mould. Drying clothes inside is a far greater problem in terms of mould spores - even more so if you use the radiator.

Unless your going to buy top of the range don't bother even mid rage are not good ours cost 800 it's the best on the market

I have had three washer driers in total, one came in a rental.
They are fine, but I rarely use the drier function. It's still useful for large items when it's raining, or loads of washing and not much space to dry them.

A lot of tumble dryers are sensodry now, so stop when the washing is dried, rather than guesswork, and less likely to shrink things. It is best not to bone-dry them. Cotton socks shrink.

We looked at washer dryers over 10 years ago. The only one worth buying was the miele which was massively expensive. The others were too unreliable and didn't last. You still have to pay much more than separate machines would cost. There is also the problem that they dry smaller loads than they wash.

If you have a cupboard where you could stash the washing machine, you may as well stash a tumble dryer and get it out when needed.

I got a washer drier recently, and it's changed my life. No kidding. I love it more than is humanly right. It's a Bosch (sp?)

I think they're better than they used to be.

I'd have got seperate if I'd had space.

I have a washer dryer that is eight years old.
It doesn't take a full washing load.
It takes 2 hours to dry towels (2 bath towels Max at a time or it groans and they don't dry properly.)
The dryer packed up quite quickly although after a period of not using it, have got it working again because we have a repair contract.
The washing doesn't come out as soft as in a separate dryer.
I would rather have a separate dryer any day. (Used to have stacked washing machine and dryer).

I had a similar dilemma and after umming and anhing about it I ought a high end ae washer drier. It is brilliant. I use it every day, and love not having to hang clothes out. I was inspired by a friend who has three boys and a sport mad husband who has had a Bosch one for 6 years! So my advice is if you want one, invest in a very good one

We have a washer dryer, a Miele. No venting needed. Six years old and always worked perfectly. (perhaps that's tempting providence).
Saves having to decant wet washing to another machine
DP loves it!

What's with all the dryer hatred?

Amazing for sheets, towels etc.

Great for giving normal clothes a bit of a dry and then you can hang hem up for a little bit to finish off - avoids shrinkage but reduces time you have washing in the way.

Get separates if you have space.

If you don't, then a combined is better than no dryer.

Is this the type of condenser dryer? My mum has one, had if about 2 years and has hated it since she got it. Says it doesn't dry anything properly. Maybe a dryer in the shed will be best idea. We have a freezer in our garage.

If you already have a washer just find a corner for a dryer. We have a condenser dryer that lives in the dining room.

Separate machines mean one load washing while ones in drying. Also if washer breaks you can hand wash anything that isn't truly nasty and still put in dryer after. If a dual machine breaks it can be expensive to repair/replace... And you cant use either function til its mended.

If you have the space in your house a drying cabinet is fantastic. And, unlike a tumble dryer, it doesn't damage your clothing. Where do you think all that fluff comes from?

Washer dryers are crap. Even the expensive ones.

Much better to buy a small vented dryer and stick it in a bedroom, then put the hose out of the window when it id in use.

I decided to change my separate washer and dryer for a combined one in my new kitchen. I went to John Lewis but the salesman told me I was mad and wouldn't sell me one. True.

I have a condenser tumble dryer in an outhouse in the garden. All it needs is an electric power point. It's a Bosch and is approaching it's 10 th birthday so its outdoor life clearly hasn't done it any harm!