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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Washer dryer argument with DH

295 replies

Magnoliamarigold · 05/10/2021 09:57

Me: We need a washer dryer, it saves space
DH: There is no such thing as a proper washer dryer, they all dry shit. We need a separate washing machine and a separate dryer. Everyone I know agrees with me.

AIBU?

OP posts:
sashh · 05/10/2021 10:40

I've only ever had room for a washer dryer, I have heard the mantra, "you are better off with separate" so many times but you are only better off if a) you have room and b) you don't mind lifting a full load of wet washing out.

Yes they only dry half a load but I don't dry everything.

CurzonDax · 05/10/2021 10:40

I had a washer dryer once. Thought it was a great idea - saved space, put a load in once and then would be able to remove it all already washed and dried.

I was very wrong. Clothes were always clean, but very damp/soaking wet. I ended up buying a separate dryer anyway (I still kept the washer dryer to wash with, but when it needed replacing, I just replaced with a normal washing machine).

KingsleyShacklebolt · 05/10/2021 10:41

We do not have a washer dryer, or a dryer. But we have stayed in lots of self-catering holiday properties and they generally have one or the other.

A separate dryer is way, way, WAY more efficient than a combination machine.

Haiyaa · 05/10/2021 10:41

90% votes/comments “YABU DH is right, they are awful, buy separate washer/dryers”

10% votes and handful of comments “I love my washer/dryer”

OP “Oooh what washer/dryer do you have?”

Classic AIBU.

ErrmWTAF · 05/10/2021 10:42

Also, if you get a condenser dryer, you can get creative about where you have "space" to put it. Doesn't have to be the kitchen.

FWBNC · 05/10/2021 10:42

As much as it pains me to say this...

Your DH is right.

They are utter crap.

HermioneAndRoger · 05/10/2021 10:42

Sorry OP, DH is right. We have our dryer stacked over our washing machine, which works very well if you have the height.

Sahgah · 05/10/2021 10:42

I don’t have space for both so we got a washer dryer.
If I had space I would have both a washer and a dryer separately but if space is an issue then i would get a washer dryer.
Mine works perfectly fine, it dries well and I do like that you can set it to wash and dry immediately after it is very handy.
The downside is you can’t rush through loads of washing as it takes time to wash and dry but if you had them separate you could wash your 2nd load while the first load is drying.
Another downside is that the drier is often smaller capacity than the washing machine. My wash cycle is 8kg and dryer is 5kgs. I would like bigger but it was the only one that would fit in the space. If you try to dry a full 8kg wash it doesn’t work so well. But with the 5kg it works fine.
When I first looked at it everyone told me not to get one and that they don’t work well etc etc but that would leave me with no dryer at all and after ignoring their advice I got the washer dryer and so so glad I did.

I compare it to our automatic car. Everyone in our family were against it so was my husband listing all the wrong information why they aren’t a good idea. I ignored them and got my auto car and love it. And so does my husband.

Washer dryers today are much better than they were 10-20 years ago and work perfectly fine.

Erictheavocado · 05/10/2021 10:42

I have had several over the past 30+ years. I am very pleased with mine. The worst was my second, a Bosch which was expensive rubbish. Luckily I pay a breakdown insurance and after ten months they replaced it as it was costing them so much to keep repairing it. My current one is about 7 years old and washes and dries very well. I wouldn't waste the space on having two separate machines unless I had a huge kitchen or utility room and had space available.

borntobequiet · 05/10/2021 10:43

I’ve been happy with my washer dryers for the last 30 years or so but you do use them differently from a separate washing machine and dryer. If you have limited space and can adapt your routine they’re fine, and do save energy if as a result you do more line drying.

Hoppinggreen · 05/10/2021 10:45

@Hoppinggreen

Mine is really good. It’s a Hoover and I’m really happy with how it dries
But it looks like I’m in a very small minority.
ImustLearn2Cook · 05/10/2021 10:48

@Magnoliamarigold I looked at the link and I can see why you want it. It looks promising. However, I can only go by knowing one person who bought a washer/dryer years ago and it didn’t dry clothes very well at all. It was next to useless. I don’t know if they have improved much.

I considered it once because I had no room but ended up buying separate washing machine and dryer and putting the dryer in the kitchen because washer/dryer has a bad reputation.

Original poster
Magnoliamarigold · 05/10/2021 10:49

@Haiyaa

90% votes/comments “YABU DH is right, they are awful, buy separate washer/dryers”

10% votes and handful of comments “I love my washer/dryer”

OP “Oooh what washer/dryer do you have?”

Classic AIBU.

And that is how I muddle through life also
OP posts:
TintinIsBack · 05/10/2021 10:49

YABU because washing should be dried on the line, not in a tumble dryer Wink

MMAMPWGHAP · 05/10/2021 10:50

DH is right. Washer dryers are also known for being the most unreliable of the white goods.

LittleMysSister · 05/10/2021 10:50

Just wanna qualify my previous comments based on some of the others I've read.

We have a Hoover washer-dryer, the washing part is great, works fine. The drying part DOES dry, but it just takes 3+ hours purely for drying, which is loads longer than a separate dryer. Which is why I don't like it as much.

Also if you do the wash and dry program you can't set the dryer to 'cool' which is what I want with clothes in case of shrinking. So I only ever get to use the wash + dry in one go for towels and bedding.

TintinIsBack · 05/10/2021 10:51

Tbf @Haiyaa, some machines are better than others and it is also possible that only a few have managed to blend the two well....

HowDareYouStealThatCar · 05/10/2021 10:52

The only time I would ever advise a washer-dryer is if you have to choose between a tumble dryer and a dishwasher.
I live in a flat and so have a washer-dryer but I only use it in an emergency (e.g. need to wash and dry bedsheets in one day).

Oldtiredfedup · 05/10/2021 10:52

He’s right. Mine was so awful (snd it was an expensive one) that I gave up all together sbd used the base laundromat

OldTinHat · 05/10/2021 10:53

Your DH is absolutely correct. Washer dryers are crap.

Justforphoto · 05/10/2021 10:53

My washer/dryer is fantastic, it's on a sensor dry so they come out at exactly how dry I want them. I don't have a lot of clothes that will tumble dry anyway so we do have to use airers too. I set a wash once it's finished I sort into hang or dryer then set it to dry. I can also do towels or bedding straight through, my machine is big enough to cope. However 1. I don't have space for separate machines, 2. there are only 3 of us so not a horrendous amount of washing. 3. I do a load a day rather than doing it all on a weekend so the long wash/dry time isn't an issue.

Whoopsmahoot · 05/10/2021 10:55

Husband is right

thecapitalsunited · 05/10/2021 10:55

I had an AEG washer/dryer when I lived in a flat. It was ok because it had quite a high capacity for drying but I prefer my separate washer and dryer. With separates I can get more done in a day because the next load can be on while the first one goes into the dryer and I never get hot, damp washing now with a heat pump dryer.

I rarely used the wash and dry in one cycle function of my washer dryer because I always seemed to have something that could be tumbled in a load. So it wasn’t even more convenient because I had to come back to remove any non-tumble items and start the drying cycle off.

PigeonLittle · 05/10/2021 10:58

@Magnoliamarigold

DH was actually like: Put it to mumsnet and show me. Now I might have to admit defeat
You lost.

I really hate the bad reputation of washer dryers because some people literally have no space for separate tumble dryer. It's a bit like continuing to complain about how shit washing up sponges are, because it's better to use a dishwasher to wash your plates.

If there is literally no room for a dryer, a washer/dryer can be useful and have function. Especially for things like bedding and towels. But they are phenomenally shit compared to an actual tumble dryer!

bouncydog · 05/10/2021 10:58

Absolutely agree with your DH - washer dryer's OMHO are rubbish. DD also agrees with me!

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