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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for your experiences with Washer / Dryer combos

80 replies

Tweedypie · 17/02/2019 20:09

Apologies, I'm blatantly posting for traffic.
My washing machine has died this afternoon and my tumble dryer went a fortnight ago.
I really only use the tumble dryer for bed linen, pjs, socks etc.....
Could you please give me your pro's and cons of having a washing / dryer combo versus separate machines?
I like the idea of saving the space for perhaps an under counter freezer .....
Or would I be frustrated and annoyed with one and wish I had bought separate machines again.
I need to get ordering quickly hence my AIBU topic post for traffic.
Thanks so much

OP posts:

DontTouchTheMoustache · 17/02/2019 20:12

Sorry i am just here placemarking because i am looking at getting one as well if anyone has any recommendations for relatively low priced ones that would be great

babycatcher411 · 17/02/2019 20:16

I foun with both washer/dryers that I had, was that everything always came out so creased. Sometimes unsalvageable with the iron.
Also, now I regularly run a wash at the same time I’m drying stuff which you can’t, as it’s only one machine.

I would say it’ll partly depend on how much you rely on the dryer now, vs air drying. And also, how much you think you’d benefit from extra freezer space.

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 17/02/2019 20:16

Washer dryers are expensive in comparison to a washer. They take forever to dry a load, so you either have to was a half load, or dry for about 4 hours. They are useful if you want to fluff towels, dry your smalls, dry an emergency item, but pointless IMHO if you want to rely on them.

I have done 4 loads of washing today - no way could I get that all tumbled in a washer dryer combo.

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 17/02/2019 20:16

Our washer dryer (a zanussi) was crap. It took about 3 hours to partially dry two pairs of pjs (no exaggeration) and during that time you couldn't use the washing machine.

makingmammaries · 17/02/2019 20:17

I had one. The dryer function broke fairly quickly. Would not buy another.

EdithWeston · 17/02/2019 20:19

Most people will say that, if you have space, it's better to have the separate machines.

I don't have the space, had just a washer for years (line dried, but awkward during prolonged wet weather, when I wouid just do the minimum and dry indoors).

I've just got a Bosch washer/dryer (a Which? best buy) and I like it.

One limiting factor is that everything is in the one drum, so you can't have one load tumbling whilst the next is washing. that doesn't really matter to me, but it might in households where you need to get everything done in limited time at weekends and it's raining.

MancaroniCheese · 17/02/2019 20:20

I've got one of these:
ao.com/product/ewde7145w-indesit-my-time-washer-dryer-white-41966-2.aspx

It was a rushed purchase and I have heard bad reports about washer / dryers but I am really pleased with it.

My fave thing about it is that it has a 45 min wash & dry cycle for when the DC produce a garment that they need for tomorrow - the cycle can handle about a kilo of washing so not just one item.

The main downside for me is that I don't iron anything and used to rely on the shake and fold method of getting hot clothes out of the dryer - with this the machine is locked for 3 mins after it stops so you lose out on being able to fold whilst it is still really hot.

Oh and it is a bit noisy.

BettaSplenden · 17/02/2019 20:20

We have a hotpoint washer drier. It's shit as a drier - takes forever and the clothes are so creased that no amount of ironing will help with. Also the handle has now snapped off so looks like we are in the same boat. We are going to get a Bosch washer x

rose789 · 17/02/2019 20:22

We had one and it took so long to dry things. You also have to clean out the filter around the door seal really frequently as there is no lint trap like on a standard dryer.
When we had kids we got seperate machines within a week of dd1 being born

Sillybilly1234 · 17/02/2019 20:22

Don't do it

Original poster

Tweedypie · 17/02/2019 20:22

Thanks so much for your replies, can I ask how many people use the washing machine?
We are two adults one teen and one student bringing washing home every few weeks.
When my kids were babies toddlers it was a necessity, now I'm drying school
Uniform and shirts on hangers I don't use the dryer as much......
Needs serious consideration, I don't need the freezer space but also I don't need to run the machine as much as I used to a few years ago?????

OP posts:

Glitteryfrog · 17/02/2019 20:26

Ours is fine. But we are two adults who do about 3 loads of washing a week and one small load of drying (socks and pants).

MancaroniCheese · 17/02/2019 20:27

I will air dry what I can, I don't tumble every load. I do sometimes put dried washing in for half an hour to soften it.

LilaJude · 17/02/2019 20:27

I love mine. Don’t have space for two machines so it’s really convenient.

cazinge · 17/02/2019 20:28

I have 1, no space for separates. The hotpoint has just died (handle, same as Betta) and I've ordered a Beko on reccomendation from the repair man who said go cheap for Beko or expensive for Miele.

I only fluff towels, everything else is aired/ line dried (had the bedding out yesterday). I can't justify the cost of crying everything and I don't like the dryer smell

Figmentofimagination · 17/02/2019 20:30

I wouldn't get a washer/dryer. If you need extra freezer space put a freezer in a shed/ garage. Having a separate dryer is so much easier. I wish I had one. I envy my mum who can wash and dry 3/4 loads of washing a day as she has a separate dryer.
I have a washer/dryer as I don't have space for a separate dryer. I use the dryer for towels, bed sheets and underwear. I wash 1 load a day as either the dryer cycle takes forever or because I am hanging the clothes on an airer and have to wait for that load to dry naturally.
For example, if I wash towels it takes 3 hours to wash the towels on a 60'c cotton wash. I will also add 90 mins drying onto that cycle. Once that has finished, I will then let the machine cool down for 10 mins, and then dry the towels for another 90 mins on the cotton dry cycle. So 6hours total to wash and dry 4 bath towels, 3 hand towels and 2 flannels.

kidsdriveyoucrazy · 17/02/2019 20:31

Don't do it we have one and everything is always creased or still soaked. Ours is a beko from ao. Can't wait to get rid!

Biancadelrioisback · 17/02/2019 20:32

In my experience they have 2 jobs and do neither well.

Dhalandchips · 17/02/2019 20:32

I had one in a rented house, it was rubbish. Stuff took forever to dry and was really heavy on electricity. I'd rather go without a drier altogether and use airers/radiators rather than get another one!

babycatcher411 · 17/02/2019 20:35

@cazinge ‘ I don't like the dryer smell’
I don’t know if you mean the dryer smell in general, but you make a valid point, I would say the ‘dryer smell’ was way worse with a washer/dryer than a stand alone dryer. I never found anything came out smelling fresh.

@tweedypie when I had the two washer/dryers I had, it was me and my son, ages between 2yrs up to 8yrs old. Now there are two adults in the house, an 11 yr old and a baby on the way and absolutely no way I’d have a washer/dryer now.

thumpingrug · 17/02/2019 20:36

Essentially you get what you pay for. We have had a few combos over teh years from cheap bekos/Zanuissi and Hotpoint's that dont last more than a few years. We are now using a Meile which cost double what we had previously paid but has so far lasted 10 years without any issue. If you can afford it get a good one as it will work out cheaper in the longer term.

cazinge · 17/02/2019 20:38

I love the smell of washing that's been in the line. It's my favourite smell, 2nd only to newborn head but I can create clean washing easier than I can newborns

adaline · 17/02/2019 20:40

I have one as we have no space for separates. It works just fine - cost £300.

fiorentina · 17/02/2019 20:44

Having had one i would avoid buying one again unless I really had no option. Just not great, took ages to dry and seemed to crease everything. Also took forever so the ability to get through lots of washing when busy was limited.

Beach11 · 17/02/2019 20:45

We’ve got a hotpoint one & still going strong after 8 years. This downsides are that it doesn’t dry as well a stand alone dryer and it is very noisy. Overall it does the job and no problems. The are 2 adults & 2 dc in our house

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