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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask you what you think about washer/dryers?

68 replies

pippa999 · 26/10/2018 20:13

I have a decent washing machine, (had it 3-4 years,) and although our washing has dried beautifully all over the summer, I don't want another winter of towels and jeans and jumpers and thick t-shirts hanging round the house (trying to dry!)

Causing the windows to steam up, blocking the heat (when it's cold) with the radiators covered in clothes, having to put the heating on to dry the washing, (when it's wet outside but still warm..) Both situations waste gas!

DH suggested a washer/dryer, but I have heard some negative things about them. Varying from taking waaaaay too long to dry the stuff, to not being able to do another load over the 2-3 hours that the machine is drying, to causing messy creased clothes, to causing high running costs.

There are 2 adults in our home (the kids have left home,) and I do maybe 6 or 7 medium sized loads a week.

Does anyone have any opinions and views about washer/dryers please? And if they are a good idea?

I mean like can you wash a load, and then pull it out and hang it outside if the sun comes out, or does it always go through the full wash and dry cycle?

I just wondered, if they're so amazing, why doesn't every single home have one? Why have a washing machine (to wash!) and a tumble dryer to dry? Why not just have the one?

Also, my (current) washing machine is great, and I'm a bit loathe to get rid of it for something less adequate. So wondered whether to keep it and just get a tumble dryer?

Thanks for reading. Hope someone can advise.

OP posts:

Mrsfs · 26/10/2018 20:17

I hated our washer/dryer, although this was about ten years ago. There was only me and my husband so not heavy loads, but they took forever to dry. A towel load took hours to dry so it was just constantly on, the noise could drive you mad.

DaysOfCurlySpencer · 26/10/2018 20:21

I have had them in rented and they went wrong a lot. In the end I didn't use the dryer part, just put stuff on the radiators.

I have seen that people are complaining recently that they can't use the dryer part without washing first, not sure which make it was though, I know someone that bought one and was having this problem.

They do take an age to complete a cycle, even worse if it is a 3 hour wash followed by drying.

I have a dryer in the garage (until we re-organise the house) and it is much better than a washer dryer.

Celebelly · 26/10/2018 20:22

We had one in last house. It was pretty crap, I'm afraid. Washer dryers tend to dry a lot smaller loads than they dry so you have to take stuff out after a wash before you dry. Ours also resulted in super creased clothes that you could barely even iron out, even just on the wash cycle.

If you can fit it in, get a separate tumble dryer, especially if you've already got a good washing machine.

StinkySaurus · 26/10/2018 20:22

Rubbbbbishhhhh! I don’t use the dryer, instead got a Lakeland heated airer

OhDoGrowUp · 26/10/2018 20:22

I’ve had two. One in rented, one in our house.

They’re fine but take a long time to dry stuff. Also stuff comes out smelling a bit funny. Not stinky, but a bit metallic. I’ve never noticed that with a normal tumble.

Celebelly · 26/10/2018 20:22

*than they wash, that should be!

8FencingWire · 26/10/2018 20:24

Anybody ever had a Miele washer dryer?
I have the lakeland dryer, but it takes too much space :(

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 26/10/2018 20:25

We had a washer/dryer in our last house and I hated it. It took hours to dry anything, it just wasn't worth the hassle so we ended up hanging clothes up to dry anyway. Definitely get a separate tumble dryer if you have the space for one. Wouldn't be without mine now.

Santaclarita · 26/10/2018 20:25

Not great. I can't wait til I get my tumble dryer on Friday.

theycallmebabydriver · 26/10/2018 20:26

In my experience they tend to wash fine but the drier cycle goes on for about 4 hours at the end of which you get very hot, wet, clothes which you then hang on the radiators to dry properly

TheDHand · 26/10/2018 20:26

I have a Miele from when I was in a flat - you can use the drying function separately. However it is nowhere near as good as a separate dryer and as soon as we moved to a house I bought a separate dryer and now just use it as a washing machine. I was also scandalised to see recently that Miele washer dryers are now ridiculously expensive. I paid about £800 maybe 7 years ago - in John Lewis recently they were well over £1500! Really not worth it for a separate drying function.

Ethelswith · 26/10/2018 20:27

I had one when I lived in a flat. I only ever used the dryer when it was wet and I didn't want to have windows open. It was fine.

It was however a Bosch. I think this is one of the appliances where good brand matters.

LittleBearPad · 26/10/2018 20:28

We have a John Lewis one and its good.

You can wash and dry all in one go; wash and get the clothes out; just use it as a dryer so it’s flexible.

Can’t compare it to separate ones but once we have an extension and space I plan to buy a separate tumble dryer mainly so I can have two loads in at the same time. However in the past three years with only space for one I’m happy.

famishedpotato · 26/10/2018 20:29

They're bad at both washing AND drying.

MrsPeacockDidIt · 26/10/2018 20:29

We’ve had a washer dryer for years and the dryer part is beyond pants. I thought that was the case with dryers until I used a friends recently and realised the difference. We went out and bought a tumble dryer and it’s amazing.

Wanttomakemincepies · 26/10/2018 20:30

I have a samsung one and I like it. You can just wash or just dry. It also has a dry wash cycle which uses heat. I don't have the space for separate washer and dryer. Having had less expensive models whilst renting, I think you get what you pay for.

PiperPublickOccurrences · 26/10/2018 20:31

Never been a fan. Not great at washing, terrible at drying.

EskSmith · 26/10/2018 20:33

I have a dehumidifier that I use in winter, a load of washing well hung will dry overnight in my kitchen with the dehumidifier running. I've had mine for 9 years now and would never go back.

ethelfleda · 26/10/2018 20:33

Get the Lakeland heated airer ‘dry-soon’
If you buy it from QVC, you’ll get a free cover too I think. I got mine recently and I’m really pleased with it. Washing dries over night.

RandomUsernameHere · 26/10/2018 20:34

If you have space for a separate dryer, go for that.
We had a combination washer dryer in our old house and it was not as efficient, especially at drying. Still better than having no dryer at all though. You could use just the wash or just the dry function independently or run them consecutively on our one.

MrTrebus · 26/10/2018 20:34

Just get a separate condenser tumble dryer. It can go anywhere in the house then. Don't get a washer dryer they're so so shit.

oblada · 26/10/2018 20:36

I have an AEG one and its good. Washes well, dries well, does both separately perfectly fine. Certainly works for me. I do a couple of loads per week (large machine) and run the dryer once usually, the rest is line dried in the utility room.

Fluffyears · 26/10/2018 20:37

Have had 3 and I like them. I have a 1 hour washing cycle and a load of towels is dry with a 1 hour cycle. Don’t use the drier much as I don’t like how damaging to the environment they are.

Lamona · 26/10/2018 20:38

If I had room for a seperate I would.
But i love mine. You can use it as just washing machine and hang stuff out, or you can put a load on a bedtime and have dry clothes in the morning.
Ours is 6kg wash or 5kg dry.

WhiteDust · 26/10/2018 20:39

No, don't get a combined washer/dryer. They're rubbish.

I had one for years and my washing/drying took forever.

Get a separate tumble dryer. I've washed & dried 4 loads today.

Wash the first load
Dry first load whilst 2nd is washing
Dry 2nd load whilst 3rd is washing etc. etc...

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