Get a washer dryer or will I regret it?

[staringatthedoor]

Current machine keeps having problems & I'm fed up of fixing it (literally as not under warranty so usually falls to me as Dh would just break it in frustration).

We don't have a dryer as that also broke a few years ago & we have been trying to manage without. But I'm now thinking the warm days with sheets blowing in the breeze outside with soon come to an end & have uniforms & bedding to contend with indoors. Have done it for the last few winters but it's not fun. We have a dehumidifier that runs almost continuously when there's washing indoors.

Will I regret getting a washer dryer? I've heard they are not as good at the washing stage as a standard washer & can have more issues. I had one in a rented flat & wasn't a fan but I think it was quite a small cheap machine.

If not any recommendations? Will probably have to look at buying monthly from curry's etc as not got that kind of cash available. Probably want to max out at £500. Even that seems a lot.

Thanks

In my old flat I had a Samsung one and it was great.

Didn’t notice anything wrong with the washing part. The drying bit takes longer than a proper tumble dryer but it’s still way quicker than drying inside in winter.

Currently looks like they are around £550, definitely worth it.

Lots of people told me not to get a combined one but I don't have the space for both.

But I really love it! Have a Samsung and it's lasted a few years so far, no problems other than it likes to eat kids socks so put those in a washing bag.

I should say I don't use it loads compared to other people perhaps - usually when there's non stop rain and I'm behind on various uniforms

I had one a few years ago, it was absolute rubbish. The dryer took ages, never again.

I had one, a John Lewis branded one. It was truly shit. There was no fluff filter. The machine died after about a year and when the engineer opened it there was fluff everywhere. He cleaned it up , it worked , it happened again.

Sounds like Samsung do a better one based on pp.

I've stayed in lots of holiday cottages with them and think they are awful. We had a Miele one for a few weeks and even that went back as it broke and we got desperate ones. The engineer said they have issues with them ( this was years ago so maybe they've improved.)

We have one. It works fine, but you need to split the load to dry - it can only cope with about half of it. If you can work with that, you'll be fine

We have a bosch one and it has been OK. We now have a separate dryer as we made space for it upstairs.

If it's all you can fit in then it's better than no dryer.

Thanks for the comments. Sort of what I was expecting but wanted to be sure....
think I'll look for a decent washer & perhaps invest in a heated drying rack. Need a new one of those anyway

I've had them in the past, I found them just like a normal washing machine for washing but not as good as a standalone tumble dryer for drying. I only used them for drying for emergencies or bedding and towels in winter. Handy if you only have space for one machine though

Had one in a rental, it was crap. Washed fine but you had to split the washing load in 2/3 parts to use the dryer function which took ages. Whoever fitted it also screwed in a bit which should have been able to be opened to drain water 🙄. Had to get an engineer out, he managed to fix it and said he’d put in his report it was due to poor fitting rather than anything we’d done.

Id never have one again, the dryer I have now is a large capacity one and most loads take 60-90 minutes. That would be traveled in a combo machine.

I love mine, the dryer isn't great but it does all the small bits and then the big bits can be hung out

I've had one in the past, maybe the technology has moved on but the drier part was useless, I don't remember having any problems with the washing though.

Don't you have space for a tumble dryer? That's really the best thing. I wouldn't be without one.

The only things we found is that since they have more interior gubbins, the drum isn't always as large as a washing machine, and the drying cycle won't always take a full load, so sometimes you can't just set it to wash and then dry.

I'd rather dry using airers than use a washer dryer tbh. It's such a faff taking half the load out to dry. Tumble dryers take a while to dry anything so everything else goes smelly if you don't hang it up. Basically just a hassle.

Disclaimer: Pre meeting DH I tumbled everything but I'm a line drying convert. I've used it 3 times in 3 years and are planning on getting rid. We keep saying we'll keep it "just in case" but we manage just fine. 2 toddlers and with our first used reusable nappies. Only have a 3 bed semi so won't say it never feels like a laundry, but it's infrequent.

Just out of interest do they create much heat when on the dry yet function? Our current washer is under the stairs in a cupboard which works fine but wondering about the dryer making it too warm

No longer have room. Was in an awkward spot before anyway. Would happily get 1 but no where for it to go.

That's a shame.

Had a washer/dryer and hated it at first I told I found the way to use it to it's best was to do a wash, put an extra spin on - and then start a standalone dry cycle. So for me the secret is but to use the straight through wash/dry!! Good luck.