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Original poster

Can I ask for your opinions of washer/dryers

52 replies

Minniem2020 · 09/09/2022 19:00

I've been looking at buying a tumble dryer as I can't stand the thought of another winter of having every radiator in the house covered in washing just to get stuff dry. I do use an airer but it never seems to get 100% dry without finishing it off with a bit of heat.
Obviously I'm concerned about how much they cost so have been looking at heat pump options. I also have the issue of very little space so am now looking at combi washer/dryers. I'm reading everything I can online and info seems to be very mixed with regards to how well they perform and what they cost so I thought I would ask you lovely people.
Does anyone have or has had a washer/dryer that can give me some honest info?

OP posts:
Cynderella · 09/09/2022 19:10

By daughter has one and likes it. But there is only one adult and one child in her house. Here, with four adults, I wouldn't want one.

WeeOrcadian · 09/09/2022 19:12

I remember a washer dryer taking 4.5 hours to do ONE load of laundry. Never again.

Pootle40 · 09/09/2022 19:17

We had a washer dryer for years. The biggest problem I had personally was that you couldn't be washing another load of clothes as you were waiting on the drying cycle. But it did dry clothes. Maybe a bit slower but they did dry. Had a zanussi and it lasted years. Would I go back to one now I have tumble drier? No.

IndigoSkye · 09/09/2022 19:19

I have a washer dryer. I don't use it for drying as the drying programme is 3.5 hours long and it is usually still damp when it finishes. Ended up with a separate tumble as well!!!

Original poster
Minniem2020 · 09/09/2022 19:24

Thank you for the replies
Hmm, there does seem to be more negatives than positives so may have to rethink. Especially around the timings.
@Cynderella thank you, we're a family of 5 which includes a 16 year old, 4 year old and a 5 month old baby so may be not be ideal for us either. Maybe if we had a hell of a lot less washing(if only)

OP posts:
applespearsbears · 09/09/2022 19:26

I have a washer dryer and I use it to finish off the drying rather than full wet loads. It's great for this and mostly takes about 30 minutes

Mxflamingnoravera · 09/09/2022 19:30

They don't do either very well. I've had two and rarely used the dryer because half the load had to be removed. Much better to get a really good washing machine with a fast spin and a cheapo dryer or go back to clothes horses etc which is what I did when my last washer dryer died.

Cynderella · 09/09/2022 19:30

Minniem2020 · 09/09/2022 19:24

Thank you for the replies
Hmm, there does seem to be more negatives than positives so may have to rethink. Especially around the timings.
@Cynderella thank you, we're a family of 5 which includes a 16 year old, 4 year old and a 5 month old baby so may be not be ideal for us either. Maybe if we had a hell of a lot less washing(if only)

I don't think a washer/dryer is for you if your intention is to use the dryer. I am going to try and avoid using my dryer this winter, but even so, I wouldn't want one. When I'm going to use my dryer, it is obviously just after I've used the washing machine. Well, that's only going to work if I only ever wash one load a day.

loopylindi · 09/09/2022 19:36

We had one as we only had a tiny kitchen and no utility room. It did wash OK but drying was a faff as it would only dry half a wash load - so we had to pick out what was urgent. We didn't use it that much I must say, but we did have an airer and a conservatory where stuff could dry and after the curtains were drawn we couldn't see it.

Slushycuppa · 09/09/2022 19:42

We have one. My advice is that is depends on what you want to use it for. For us it's fine but we never had a dryer before and don't rely on it to dry everything.

Original poster
Minniem2020 · 09/09/2022 19:52

Thanks everyone. I know with the cost of things I should stick to the airer but it's like a full time job, I'm forever moving things round on to radiators, turning stuff over so everywhere dries,it's a pain in the arse.
The weather's been rubbish here for 2 days, I did a load yesterday morning and put it on the airer, this morning it had barely dried at all so I've had the heating on just to get the stuff dry then all the windows open to try and stop the damp. And we don't need the heating as although it's rained constantly it isn't cold. I've just checked the left over stuff on the airer and still isn't dry.
I also realise what a moan I'm being about something as ridiculous as washing.
It looks like it'll have to be a separate machine though.

OP posts:
MissMaple82 · 09/09/2022 20:08

I had one amd it used to make everything smell

MissMaple82 · 09/09/2022 20:09

Slushycuppa · 09/09/2022 19:42

We have one. My advice is that is depends on what you want to use it for. For us it's fine but we never had a dryer before and don't rely on it to dry everything.

What's the point of it then?

DawnBreaks · 09/09/2022 20:15

I agree with the smelly comment. Nothing ever smelled fresh and the machine itself was always had a rank odour. This was a while ago and they may have improved. Drying clothes in the winter is always a problem.

Original poster
Minniem2020 · 09/09/2022 20:15

MissMaple82 · 09/09/2022 20:08

I had one amd it used to make everything smell

That puts me off straight away. I've just been whining about the clothes smelling damp😂

OP posts:
Cynderella · 09/09/2022 20:22

Are you overloading the airer? If I put a load on in the morning, it's dry next day. I'm fortunate in that I have a back porch and have a pull out airer on the wall where I can hang socks and other small items. Anything that can got on a hanger, can hang on hooks over the doors. When bedlinen and towels are almost dry, I move them on to the landing and hang over the bannisters.

That said, I haven't dried anything indoors for months. We've had rain here, and the washing is piling up, but I'm planning a laundry marathon this weekend because it looks like two dry days. I use Metcheck to plan my laundry days for the week!

MbatataOwl · 09/09/2022 20:23

You can buy mini tumble dryers that can even fit on a counter top. They work fine for finishing off semi dry clothes.

Original poster
Minniem2020 · 09/09/2022 20:33

@Cynderella I probably am guilty of overloading it. Im the same in that I get the washing out as much as possible. I think it's just with us having 2 days of constant rain I'm remembering what the winter is like.
I also plan my washing around the forecast lol. The joys of being on the north east coast means even on the nicest of days it can still come in feeling damp, I don't mind that though as it doesn't take long to finish in the house. It's just when from fully wet that's the problem. Cue my 16 year old asking if a particular top has been washed 😁

OP posts:
Original poster
Minniem2020 · 09/09/2022 20:33

MbatataOwl · 09/09/2022 20:23

You can buy mini tumble dryers that can even fit on a counter top. They work fine for finishing off semi dry clothes.

I'm going to have a look at these, thanks for the tip.

OP posts:
guessmyusername · 09/09/2022 20:50

I have a washer dryer and mainly use it for towels to keep them nice and fluffy. The dry cycle is just over 2 hours. I set it to automatic and it stops when dry. We don't use it for clothes or bedding unless it is absolutely essential like no clean shirt for work tomorrow.

SBAM · 09/09/2022 20:58

I have a washer dryer, but don’t use the dryer function often. We’re a family of 2 adults, a 5yo and a 2yo. In summer/dry weather I don’t use the dryer, in winter or really wet weeks where all the washing will be hung up inside I use it to get things like towels and bedsheets part way dry before they go on the airer. I have a dehumidifier near my airer too to help things along.

BertieBotts · 09/09/2022 21:02

I've only used the combi ones in holiday homes but I don't like them, tiny drums and I don't think you can get heat pump ones, just condenser. They are meant to work much less well and I think officially the drying capacity is often much lower than the washing capacity which means you can only do tiny washes or sit around taking half of it out?? Fuck that.

I got a heat pump separate one and have never looked back.

This is useful:

BertieBotts · 09/09/2022 21:04

I also have a teen, toddler and baby and I was spending my life moving stuff on airers and despairing at the damp, it's honestly given me so much time back. Best thing I've bought in the last 10 years second to my phone.

DuesToTheDirt · 09/09/2022 21:05

I find the dryer in ours makes everything creased. We only use it occasionally, and just for towels etc, or sometimes for underwear if we are going somewhere and need it dry.

Gr33ngr33ngr4ss · 09/09/2022 21:08

I've no issue with mine. It washes & it dries! Sometimes I wash then take out the stuff I'd rather dry on a hanger abd the rest dries in 180 usually