Washer dryer or separate dryer in the garage?

[WhatWouldTheDoctorDo]

Moving house soon and need to decide whether to take our Miele washing machine with us or buy a washer/dryer for the new house. No space for a separate dryer in new house so if we take our washing machine then we'd look to put a dryer in the garage.

Our washing machine is really good (and not very old) but I'm put off by having to go outside to get to the dryer.

Washer dryers get pretty bad press, but have they improved in recent years? We could spend a decent amount on one (though sadly not Miele washer/dryer prices).

Any suggestions or recommendations?

Do you use a dryer much? I only use one in winter for sheets / towels so it wouldn't be an issue for me and I'd take the Miele washing machine. See how you manage with no dryer and if you need one put in garage?

I'd have one in the garage.

We have a dryer in the garage. I also have a heated airer inside. Works fine, but occasionally a pain.

I've not seen many positive reviews of washer dryers, so I've got a washing machine inside and a dryer in the garage. It can be a bit inconvenient but nothing too bad.

Our house (rented) comes with a washer/dryer but I have my own so that's in the lean to and I prefer to use that. If the washer breaks down we have to replace it so I'd rather not use it. I think separates are definitely better.

We have our dryer in the garage, never been an issue.

We have our dryer in the garage too, no problems

I'd have both the washing machine, and the drier in the garage, next to each other.

We have a dryer in the garage. I only use it in the winter, and for bedsheets when it's pollen season.

I have a washer-dryer. It's perfectly functional, but out of choice I'd have a seperate washer and dryer.
The main issue for me is that the washer-dryer will only dry half a load at a time. So for a load of towels, for example, the wash cycle takes 2.45 hours, then I remove half the towels, dry the ones that are still in the machine for an hour or so, remove dry towels from machine, return remaining wet towels to machine, dry them for a further hour. So one load can take nearly five hours from start to finish - and that's assuming you're always around to move laundry the moment the cycle finishes. All of this five hours, the machine is unavailable to do any more washing. To be fair, my washer dryer does have a "non stop" programme that washes and then dries without any human intervention in the middle, but it only takes half a load on this programme.

If you only use a dryer occasionally, this would not be a problem. I don't use the dryer function all that much so it's ok. I mostly notice it if the children have a vomiting bug and I need rapid turnaround of bedding!

Take your Miele with you. They are fab machines that last. Put a dryer in the garage to use when you really need to. They are expensive to run and we will wash 4 loads of clothes and amalgamate into one dryer load.

A pretty conclusive response! Dryer in the garage it is then. We don't have one at all at the moment, but won't have the same space to hang clothes indoors in new house, so it would definitely be useful to have one. Especially for sheets, towels etc.

If you can, go for a basic vented dryer over a condenser. They're quicker and don't seem to get as hot so less shrinkage. I miss my White Knight vented dryer but we've got nowhere to vent one in this house, so had to get a condenser instead which isn't as good

Is a vented one fine in the garage? I could knock a hole in the wall and put a cover on the outside wall if I needed to.

It's better if you can vent them outside, it stops the dryer sucking the damp air back in again and taking longer to dry

The advantage of using a drier in the garage is that you can just have a hose you stick out of the door while you're using them - obviously this depends on whether that would be visible from the street. Otherwise you might need to put a vent into the kitchen, which would be more work.

Having used a washer/dryer at friends' or holiday rentals - I would say they're utterly useless.

Separate dryer every time. We use ours all year round.

I've got a washer/dryer. I've never had any issues and it starts drying my clothes (if selected) when they have finished washing so there isn't the job of switching between machines :)

meowthecat I've had 1 that was here when we moved in, which was good but took forever & the one I have now which I got from AO when my other one packed in which is the best we've had. 😂

Garage door is at the front of the house, so definitely wouldn't want to leave the door open. The power sockets are at the back too.

Oops, posted too soon - Miaowthecat, which washerdryers do you have?

I've got a washer dryer and the dryer bit of it isn't that great to be honest. I don't have a garage or the space in the house but if I did I would definitely have separate washer and dryer.

Aargghhh, Miaowcat AND SarahS2404!

Most new dryers are condescending ones so you don't need a hose out the window. Washer dryers are rubbish. We have a separate dryer in a shed and it's fine out there. Would never ever have a washer dryer again!!