Talk to me about washer dryers please!

[Notcontent]

I am thinking of getting a combined washer dryer but want some honest advice about them.

I don’t have a dryer at the moment as I prefer to air dry my clothes but I would like to be able to use a dryer for sheets and towels occasionally. I don’t mind getting an expensive model so long as it’s reliable.

Thanks in advance.

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MNHQ

Don't do it. I have one and have now bought a separate dryer.

Combined ones do not air dry. They basically steam dry everything which causes damage and shrinkage. They have a tiny drying capacity and everything takes 3 times as long so not economical at all.

I hate our one in our holiday house. It gets every so so so hot they actually burn when they come out. I'm sure it shrinks things. It's a Beko.

I prefer my separate washer and dryer at home.

Dont bother your hole. Any ive had the misfortune of using always either broke down or didnt work properly.
Stick with separate ones.

I had one in a previous rental. It was appalling I'll never get one of my own volition. I used to just use it as a washer and got a separate drier as it shrunk stuff or didn't dry properly.

I've had two
Both useless
My advice is don't buy one !

As pp, don’t! They’re bloody awful. Everything came out of mine boiling hot but still wet. It wasn’t a cheap one either (Zanussi, I think). I’d never have one by choice but this was in a rental property. Ended up buying a clothes horse as we had no outside space and weren’t allowed to put washing lines on the car park or on the tiny, tiny patch of grass next to the property.

Just don't.

Ours is rubbish. Like others have said everything comes out hot but still wet. It is just about ok for a very small load but it will not dry a whole load at once.

DP had one when I moved in. He never used the drying cycle as it was utter rubbish, he used to dry everything on the radiators. I've used it once and it took absolutely ages to dry, I'm not convinced it was entirely dry either. It still had a damp feel to everything.
I brought my dryer with me and like PPs, we use the washer/dryer as a washer and use the dryer separately

They are rubbish. We had one in our last house due to lack of space. You can’t dry immediately after washing as the dryer capacity is only half that of the washer and nothing smells fresh once it’s been dried in it.

Unless the technology has improved in recent years there's no way Id have another one. The dryer functions simply don't work ime

Maybe if you spend ££££££££ you might get on that dries but I wouldn't risk it.

Dont buy AEG

In a nutshell - don't.

I had one in a flat we lived in in London years ago and will never have another. Useless, noisy, took ages and the stuff still wasn't even dry hours later. It was a Bosch too, so not a poor brand.

If you have the space or can make it, get a separate machine.

Another "no don't do it" from me.
Waste of money.
Far too much goes wrong, and I became wary of leaving it unattended in case it malfunctioned.
Gets too hot.
Everything shrinks.
Smelly.

I should add, my washer/dryer was the most unreliable machine I have ever had.

Bosch washing machines have always been reliable in my experience, and ditto Bosch tumble dryers if bought as separate machines. Not the combined ones.

Ok - that’s pretty unanimous!!!! Thank you.

I really don’t have room for a separate dryer so I think I will just buy a normal washing machine and keep drying my washing on drying racks.

I was dreading ours as they get such a bad reputation but I think some of the reputation comes from older models, ours is great, it's an AEG, wasn't cheap, about £600. But the drying function is great, I love putting a load on in the morning and coming to it dry and ready in the evening, it dries a normal load in about 2 hours, EXCEPT bedding for some reason, we have a tumble dryer in our garage as we weren't sure what the washer dryer would be like, but we only use it for our bedding (super king, son's king seems fine in combo dryer) and if we have to get through a lot of laundry in one day as it is a bit annoying all being in one appliance.

So if you have space for separate I would say separate, but, if it's a choice of no dryer or washer dryer I would recommend ours. I appreciate it's a bigger expense if it breaks though of course!

We had an aeg one and was ok for towels and bedding as long as you took half out after washing and just dried a half load. Not so good for clothes. Separate is much better but combined is better than nothing for towels

Don’t do it.

I’m sure you’re not going to, but belt n braces.

Those Lakeland heated airers are pretty good.

I sold a child off to make room for a Miele condenser dryer. Never regretted it.

AEG- first thing is AEG dont exist anymore and havent done since 1996. Electrolux bought the brand name and now use it on some of their range. Some may think that they want to present them as fine german engineering and charge more. My experience is that they are poor quality and AEG/Electrolux customer service is appalling. I now have a Siemens washer and far better.

Unless they have improved significantly In the last few years don't bother!

@Arnoldthecat are you the authority on all things AEG? I like ours and I recommend it.

I was relating my experience as you have related yours.

We always had separate ones and I do think they are better. We now have a washer dryer and the dryer isn't brilliant but its better than nothing. I just cannot keep on top of everything though so I am air drying on a rack and using a laundry service

I have a Beko one.
Very rarely use it as a dryer as I also like to air dry clothes.
But it’s a good washing machine and it’s nice to have to option of drying. It’s better than having no dryer at all.