Washer and dryer or washer/dryer?

[Themayorofshitterton]

We're renovating and I'm trying to plan a kitchen. It's only a small galley and I'm having to fit all appliances in as there's no utility room or space anywhere else.

A washer/dryer will obviously take up half the space that two appliances will, and cost less, but I'm not convinced it would do as good a job.

Anyone have any experience of washer/dryers? Seems that you have to take half the washing out in order for the drying to be effective...? What would you do?

Washer and dryer. Washer Dryers are terrible.

I've twice had washer dryers in rented places and would never choose one for myself, they just don't dry effectively. Don't bother in my opinion.

Washer dryers don't wash properly and don't dry properly. Do you have a shed? Lots of people put dryers in the shed.

One of each. Stack them to save space or put the dryer elsewhere.

Washer dryers are ok if it's one load a week or holiday home. Otherwise separate.

Separate washer and dryer.

We had a combined washer dryer once. Never again. It didn't dry the clothes properly and they usually smelt bad after being dried in there. We ended up just using it as a washer and drying the clothes on clothes horses and radiators.

Put it this way: I have a washer/dryer, and the dryer function is so crap that I forgot it existed.

I'm buying a new, separate dryer this winter.

I have a washer dryer and it takes so long to dry the clothes! And most of the time I have to tumble dry twice!
Next time I'll be buying them separately.

The only pro is the space saving!
I see some people stack the dryer on top of the washer but I'd be scared it would fall

Both. I have washer dryer (which washes and drys perfectly well) and a dryer in the garage. Easier to work through the washing with both but being able to throw shirts and school uniform in last thing at night and have it washed and dried by the morning is a boon.

Wow. Not much fence sitting there. Quickly useless crap, I'll go double. Thanks mumsnet!

Clearly, not quickly...

Have you got any space in your bathroom for either the washer or the dryer?

dazzling I thought that the fire safety advice was to never leave tumble driers running while you're asleep overnight?

No, we'll have two, but they'll both be tiny. Terrace, so no garage. Garden to small for a shed. Maybe possibly the spare room, but that will also be DPs office and my dressing room as master bedroom has no room for wardrobe 😳 Under the stairs will be taken up with cloakroom and storage.

My washer and dryer are stacked. I got a kit from eSpares for about £30 and it keeps them steady. It's got a pull out drawer under the dryer which is great for sorting dry clothes on

I had same dilemma this year when designing our valley kitchen.

Went for a washer/dryer.

Just couldn't give up another unit to a separate dryer.

Read all the reviews online and went for one that people said the dryer function was usable

Things seem to have improved in that department

Are you happy with it dilapidated? Does it dry well?

It's never given me any problems even when I had the dodgy hot point dryers that were catching fire all over. Most tumble dryer fires are due to filters not being cleaned out and I'm fairly meticulous about that. That said, I generally don't run the tumble function when I'm out of the house.

Separate! Then you can dry a load while washing another load.

I'd always go for separates unless there was no alternative. I'd find it difficult to manage family laundry without being able to have the washing machine and the dryer going at the same time. Also the notorious unreliability of washer dryers puts me off.

You can join WHICH for a pound this month. You can have a look at all their reviews over the years. Oh, I can save you the bother: almost without exception combined units are rubbish.

Washer dryers have improved loads over the years. I agree with Indaba, get a trial WHICH subscription and get one of their best buys. Bosch are really good ime. If you have a small kitchen (like me!) then a washer dryer is a great option.

One of each, Washer dryers aren't very good.

I love my hoover washer dryer. Works great. Had no room for both and needed it to be intergrated in space that was previously occupied by shit indesit washer that went kaboom.