To give up on a washer dryer?

[MotherOfBeagles]

So first is an apology, i'm posting for traffic out of desperation!

Our crappy zanussi washer dryer has finally given up the ghost leaving us in the lurch. I'm now frantically trying to find a replacement and my dh is freaking out at the cost of a halfway decent washer dryer. So now i am wondering if we should just give up on the dryer and just get a decent washing machine!?

We have a tiny new build house with absolutely no room for two seperate units so needs to be either all in or just a washing machine. We also have two beagles which add greatly to our washload and are currently expecting our first child. We do have outdoor space to dry and a pretty decent airer (not heated but willing to look at these if theyre any good) but dh is worried about heating costs spiralling if we dont have a dryer.

Can anyone offer any help or advice? Do you have a fantabulous washer dryer you can recommend or am i crazy for thinking about giving up on a dryer with our first kid on the way?

I don't understand how having a heated airer is easier than having a small tumble dryer.

I know that the airer folds down when it is not in use but still surely it takes up a lot of room when ithe s in use.

I did think about buying our own little dryer but like you there's just no room
Is this a possible way of having both for some of you?

You could put something on top of doors to hang clothes on as well - on hangers to make more space
You seem to be doing an awful lot of washing and for that you have my sympathy.

If you are thinking of a heated airer instead, the Lakeland one is good. I bought one for dds some years ago when they were in a house with no means of drying anything indoors in winter.
Dd1 now has two very little ones - loads of washing - and uses it all the time. The taller one takes a lot of washing and doesn't need a big footprint, esp. if you use it half width.
It's not cheap but theirs has certainly been well worth the money.

An inverter heat pump tumble dryer (not condenser) needs no venting and can go in a bedroom without causing damp problems.
More expensive to buy and repair but cheaper to run.

I bought one and put it in the garage after I replaced my LG washer/dryer with an ordinary washing machine plus a 2800 rpm spin dryer- you know, the one your granny had!

You might consider an inverter tumble dryer for your garden office, OP.

Re: the Lakeland dryer, yes it does take up space. We have a weird open plan downstairs and it does take room. But I load it just before we sit down for the night. we run it for a few hours, DP is a night owl and flicks it off before he comes to bed. The cover seems to keep the heat in and loaded properly this will dry a full load of washing overnight easily.

Honestly if it broke down today I would replace it in five minutes.

PersianCatLady

Er... thanks for your 'sympathy'

Yes I do have a fair amount of washing and like I said, no garden and no radiators so needs must when you do towels, bedsheets, uniforms and work clothes for yourself and teenagers

Does the cover on the heater dryer not just keep moisture in?
We have a mountain of washing all year round and no space for a tumble dryer (although that picture of them stacked on top of the washing machine is making me squint at my kitchen hopefully - there is no room above my washing machine but I think I could get one elsewhere if I found a strong enough shelf...)

I have a Miele washer dryer and absolutely love it! Had it about 6/7 years and never had any trouble with it (Touch wood!)

I have had washer driers since 1981. I bought my first one from John Lewis and was told it is only worth buying the best ones available. I currently have a Siemans one which is very effective, they have a life of about 10 years if you get a decent one. My last one cost between 700 and 800 pounds.
I would say if you can't afford a "good" one don't bother.

Any space in the bathroom for drying clothes. Just leave the fan on? Find it works quite well.

Er... thanks for your 'sympathy'
Perhaps sympathy was the wrong word.

What I meant was doing washing is a never ending task as it is and it can't make it any easier when you have to hang it up all round the house to get it dry.

I'd never have a washer dryer again. I was glad we paid for insurance for it because we kept having to get it repaired, and waited up to 2 weeks each time for the engineer to come so having to take washing my family etc- it was a nightmare. We now have just a washing machine, I dry clothes on the washing line whenever possible, or on the radiators and a big clothes airer (hate having clothes hung around the house but needs must.) I do occasionally wish we had a tumble dryer but not often.

I had a zanussi washer/dryer. It was terrible, back to regular washing machine.

I think I could get one elsewhere if I found a strong enough shelf
The picture I posted of the stacking system doesn't need a shelf.

The washer and dryer are stacked together using the kit.

However this only works if you have space above your washer to stack the dryer on top of.

no space for a tumble dryer
What about the small 3kg dryer??