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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:
Clevs · 05/10/2021 10:59

I've only ever had one washer dryer and I'll never buy another. I'd rather have a decent washing machine and no tumble dryer at all than a washer dryer.

GivenUpEntirely · 05/10/2021 10:59

My husband used to repair white goods - he's always said not to bother with washer/dryers because apart from the ballache that is getting your clothes to actually dry both functions operate off the same motor so motor burnout is a frequent issue on those machines. He's frequently proved right when asked to look at friends machines that aren't working I don't defer to my husband on all counts but as someone who spent 15 years repairing white goods I will defer to him on this...just for the benefit of vipers who hate a man's opinion

If you have space get seperate machines.

jay55 · 05/10/2021 11:00

I hate having a washer drier, takes forever and impossible to clean the lint out properly.

DappyApple · 05/10/2021 11:01

Your dh is right, had one in my old house. Took so bloody long to wash and dry one load, had to buy a separate dryer.
Would take about 6 hours in total and I was washing for 7 people with 2-3 loads a day my washing was never done.

Never again!

emmathedilemma · 05/10/2021 11:01

I've had two (in different properties) and after the last one died it didn't get replaced. In the first property I used it more as it was a smaller flat with electric heating and harder to hang up washing to dry so I'd often use it take the "edge" of things like sheets and towels but they still always needed airing to dry properly.

Offmyfence · 05/10/2021 11:01

Team DH here!

TinaYouFatLard · 05/10/2021 11:01

Sorry OP. Your DH is right.

C152 · 05/10/2021 11:01

You're not being unreasonable in wanting to save space by getting a combined washer dryer, but your DH isn't unreasonable either as, in my experience, combi machines are shit. They're ok at washing and really shit at drying.

ImustLearn2Cook · 05/10/2021 11:02

@ErrmWTAF Don't LTB. grin

🤣🤣🤣

PizzaCrust · 05/10/2021 11:04

We only have one as the house (new build) came with one slot and I was pregnant so I’d knew I’d need a dryer, hence getting a washer dryer.

Ours has been fine so far to be fair, but I’d much rather have had two for the sake of convenience. If you have the option, stay with two separate appliances.

PigeonLittle · 05/10/2021 11:04

A big problem with a washer/dryer is the machine can wash, for example, 8kg of washing. But only dry 4kg of washing.

When I had one, if I needed to wash my bedding - I might throw it all in the wash. But then separate out the duvet cover from the sheet and pillow cases. And dry the cover for 2 hours. And then throw the other half of the wet damp load in for another 2 hours.

Total tedium. The OP linked to a washer dryer which can dry 7kg of laundry,

according to this pic that means it can dry a maximum of a double duvet

hernebaydomestics.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Washing-Machine-Drum-Sizes.jpg

queenatom · 05/10/2021 11:05

DH is correct. We had a washer dryer through necessity in our old place (no space for a separate dryer) and if you wanted to dry more than two items at a time it was useless. Moved it with us, the sensors for the dryer element packed in at the start of lockdown and we haven't bothered paying to get it fixed as it was so ineffective. We bought a freestanding dryer last month as we have the room now and it is fab.

sonsmum · 05/10/2021 11:06

washer dryers are not terribly good. You have to have a very light load for them to work properly.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 05/10/2021 11:06

Washer/dryers may have improved since I had one (I didn't choose it, it was in the kitchen of the flat we bought) but I wouldn't risk it. It didn't wash particularly well, it didn't dry at all well so we used airers instead. When ours died at only about 4 years old we replaced it with a washing machine.

Even if you get a really good washer/dryer it will still be inconvenient to only be able to do one wash a day because it will take ages from start to finish.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 05/10/2021 11:06

Dh is right.
Redesigned kitchen I'm last house. Washer dryer in kitchen. Nothing ever felt actually dry. Ended up with tumble dryer in garage.

EmbarrassingAdmissions · 05/10/2021 11:06

[quote Magnoliamarigold]We have both at the moment, but the dryer is on the blink and so we are replacing it. I'm thinking of replacing the washing machine with a good quality dryer, as it frees up a bit of space in the cupboard.

Something like this has really good reviews: www.johnlewis.com/lg-fwv917wtse-freestanding-washer-dryer-10-5kg-7kg-load-1400rpm-spin-white/p5219743[/quote]
It's possible that the new models of washer-dryers are a huge improvement on the previously poor ones.

If you bought it and it became inconvenient, would you be able to live with having to sell it and buy separate ones? Or would your DH be unbearable?

Diverami · 05/10/2021 11:09

Can you stack them? Put the dryer on a strong shelf immediately above the washer?

mumwon · 05/10/2021 11:09

I partially solved this by getting a small dryer which was easy to move round & kept in other parts of the house - I used it to dry heavy or big stuff like jeans, towels, sheets (which it did very well) & used a airer for undies & shirts - (family of 4 adults)

sashh · 05/10/2021 11:09

Can I ask those of you siding with DH, how many of you have used a washer dryer?

It's just that I have had people tell me not to get one but they had not used one.

VouisLuitton · 05/10/2021 11:10

We were advised not to get one but due to lack of space we got one anyway... biggest mistake ever. I would rather just have a decent washing machine and the hassle of hanging out the washing and using the maiden.

user3698741 · 05/10/2021 11:11

Your DH is right.

Our combined washer-drier was shit.

Plus the drier bit of it broke, so we just had a washer in the end.

Get a separate drier. Can put in garage etc

EmbarrassingAdmissions · 05/10/2021 11:11

@sashh

Can I ask those of you siding with DH, how many of you have used a washer dryer?

It's just that I have had people tell me not to get one but they had not used one.

I've had them in places that I rented. They had less capacity than the model OP posted and a load of laundry took forever.

I'd hope modern versions were a big improvement. Even the OP 's model looks like they'd need to split the laundry wash to dry it. This is probably OK if they had a heated airer as well but by the time you've bought that and need to store it…

TheDogsMother · 05/10/2021 11:12

I have one and only use it for the odd item or to fluff towels. If you need to use a dryer regularly you should really get a separate dryer as it dries more quickly and has a bigger capacity.

Mamamamasaurus · 05/10/2021 11:12

My DH would agree with you. I agree with your DH (sorry!)

I've never known anyone have a good experience with a W/D and I've only ever had separate. I don't tumble all our clothes though (jeans always seem shorter in the leg, amongst other things) and I use a horse for the things I don't tumble.

Would you be able to use a shed or similar for the dryer? Even a cupboard if you get a condenser dryer.

HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 05/10/2021 11:13

siding with Hmm Mumsnet phrasing there, can't possibly be actually AGREEING WITH A MAN ffs.

Yes, had two in different flats, one Bosch in the early 2000s, one Miele three years ago. They both worked, but you have to do the split-load thing and they take forever.

They'd be unaffordable now.