Washer/dryer

[Redruby2020]

Just wondering if anyone has got or had a combined washer/dryer, and if so how good are they/how long have they lasted?

I am considering my options, because I am in a flat, no garden, and not being snobby but I've never lived anywhere until now that didn't have a garden. Not been spoilt with a dryer either, as in my last place we wouldn't of been able to have one, and had literally one airer and some free hanging space, but was great having the use of the washing lines throughout the year.

Now I am having to use the rail around the top of the stairs to hang things on, like bedding etc, as I have a combined kitchen/living area, so not a lot of space for any more drying, plus kitchen not the best place to have clothes drying, not that I have gas but still, and the food smells.
And I refuse to put wet clothes to dry in the bedrooms.

I am a very 'what if' person because of the way things are now with housing, and I think god forbid if I ended up being given notice and couldn't find somewhere in time, and then evicted etc, and I've gone and bought these things with my own money, and I imagine the worst case scenario that I can't put them in storage, then it would be money down the drain.

So also wondering if you don't have a lot of space, where do you dry your washing?
Thanks.

Everyone we’ve had has been dreadful for many reasons. You must REALLY need one of you ever go for it. It doesn’t really help I’m afraid but I’ll never have another one.

I’m on my second integrated washer/dryer (we have a very small garden and no room for a separate tumble dryer). The first one was a Hoover washer/dryer which was so unbelievably loud and rubbish (long cycles, crap drying) we ditched it after a year. We’ve just bought a more expensive Zanussi (£575?) and it’s amazing. It washes and dries really well and is so quiet we don’t know it’s on. I love it!
We also have a heated drying rack from Dunelm (40 quid?) which I use occasionally for wool sweaters/non tumble dry stuff. I use in the spare bedroom away from cooking smells

Thanks, I don't have any spare rooms, it is a two bed flat. I am so annoyed I didn't get the garden just even for washing!

I've got one and love it. Wouldn't be without it. Also in a 2 bed flat.

Well to go further then -the ones we had in the past were Hoover and were dreadful. They would wash 7kg and only dry 3kg so you had to had half of the stuff out, then it would respin and dry the drum before it would dry the load - which would takes hours.

We’ve now bought a Samsung 7kg washer with a little window to add socks and pants - which we’ve used once (£449) and a Samsung 8kg dryer that has a heat pump rather than elements (far less fire risks) but it was about £600 but it has changed things completely for us. A load of washing takes about an hour and the same to dry - so within 3 or 4 hours you can so colossal amounts of washing and drying. When we came back from holiday we would take 3days to sort washing out and we can now do it in an afternoon - it has been a real change.

The best washer dryers are Miele but they are very expensive. I work in the service industry and for every one Miele washer dryer repair we do we probably have a couple of hundred of the other makes. Also about 60% of repairs we do on washer dryers are because they have not been maintained correctly so problems have arisen.

We had one, and it was dreadful. I'd never have another.

Thanks to all that replied so far, okay in that case anyone got recommendations for a dryer something not massive that has good functions and works well?

@mm40 Yes my DM has a Samsung white one with eco bubble cleaning function on it etc, 8kg very nice washes well and really good functions/cycles. What I like is being able to turn a dial and have a digital display, but also alter the settings for that cycle. So like her one has quick wash either with no temp or can go up to 60. And a daily wash which is only over an hour. It also measures the washing load on the cotton cycle, so it doesn't take 3hrs as it shows when you first set it up, most often it would go down to 1hr something immediately.

@rubyred. That sounds almost identical to ours. We’ve been very pleased and long warranties as standard.

Actually I’m wrong - it’s 9kg.

I've had several - currently have an Indesit.

None have been great (Indesit) but there are times when you just need to get washing dry.

Speaking to friends who have more expensive ones (Miele) they do seem better.

I will upgrade but it has to die first.

I have a clothes horse and dehumidifier that I use most of the time to dry my washing.