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Original poster

Can I have the Mn verdict on washer dryers?

22 replies

flossish · 07/03/2008 15:22

Our washing machine seems to be dying a death - cutting out half way through the programmed and water not draining. Considering purchasing a washer dryer. Are my dreams of a chinese laundryless house likely to be a reality? Or are they still generally a bit useless? Or, in your opinion, are they worth the extra hundred quid with two small children? TIA!

OP posts:

flowerybeanbag · 07/03/2008 15:24

I luuurrrrve mine, it's a Miele, expensive but worth every penny.

prettybird · 07/03/2008 15:26

I have one which I almost never se - but like to know that it is there if I need it. it gets used about once every three months, if that.

I hate using dryers, which is in fact why I wanted a washer dryer as I didn't ant the space taken up by a dryer that was hardly ever used.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 07/03/2008 15:29

I had one. Twas rubbish. The dryer took forever and so tied up the machine when I could have been washing. Despite not being used that much as I have a second dryer in the garage, the dryer heating element packed up twice during the second year and I gave up having it repaired and just used it as a washer. It was a Hotpoint I think.

WanderingTrolley · 07/03/2008 15:32

I think they're rubbish.

Even with extra dry setting everything comes out damp and so crumpled you give yourself tennis elbow trying to get out the creases.

I've used several - not found a good 'un yet.

Can you stack a dryer on top of a washer? Or get a condenser dryer?

snowleopard · 07/03/2008 15:36

Ours was pretty good at drying - hotpoint ultima - but then the drier function broke. In a way I'm glad as DP has a tendency to tumble-dry everything, while I think it should be kept for emergencies and it's better to hang it all out. But, I do miss it when those emergencies arise - eg no dry clothes for DS and you're rootling in the washing basket for something that hasn't got jam all over it. We might get a new one so I'm interested in recommendations too.

cmotdibbler · 07/03/2008 15:46

We have one, and it works fine. I think the major advantage is that you can put it on to wash and dry whilst you are out, or at night which means it gets done more efficiently than having to wait till you get back to unload and put stuff out/in to dry.

If you are mostly around to move washing about, then a separate dryer is better, but our condensor dryer (it came with the new house) takes about the same time to dry as the washer dryer, but will do a bigger load.

snowleopard · 07/03/2008 15:47

So what make is yours cmot?

cmotdibbler · 07/03/2008 15:49

edam · 07/03/2008 15:50

We have one, inherited from the previous owners. It's fine but repair man told me they do go wrong more often because they are obviously more complicated than straight washing machines (no idea how old ours is, but it is still going strong after the repair).

bran · 07/03/2008 15:53

I hated mine, we changed from a washer/dryer that came with the flat to a washer only. Washer/dryers are more prone to breaking down, they usually have a much smaller load capacity too.

I'm not very keen on condenser dryers either (which I think all washer/dryers are). It's much harsher on clothes than the type of dryer that blows warm air through your clothes. On the odd occasion that I used to use the dryer part of my old washer/dryer I could really see that it had aged my t-shirts after just one drying session.

WanderingTrolley · 07/03/2008 15:55

Er..what do condenser dryers do bran?

hoxtonchick · 07/03/2008 15:56

do.not.do.it.

Hulababy · 07/03/2008 15:57

Nwhere near as good as a seperate washer and dryer. The dryer part of them are generally not very good IME.

bran · 07/03/2008 16:01

WT, ordinary dryers blow air through your clothes as they're tumbling and has to be vented outside. Condenser dryers usually heat your clothes up so that they steam then draws the steam over a cold element to condense it. The resulting water usually goes down the drain but some old-fashioned ones have a drawer that you have to remove to tip the water down the drain.

sazm · 07/03/2008 16:13

lol,we have always had a dryer and once had a washer/dryer,and NEVER again, hated it,took ages to dry stuff and i also found the clothes came out REALLY creased,

Original poster

flossish · 07/03/2008 19:21

sooo overall don't do it?

OP posts:

sazm · 07/03/2008 19:41

yep well i dont think they do,my sister just bought a new indesit washer dryer a yr ago and its RUBBISH lol, takes more than twice the time my vented dryer takes,
and you can usually pick up those smaller sized dryers for around £100

expatinscotland · 07/03/2008 19:41

yeah, they're shite.

sazm · 07/03/2008 19:46

haha lol dont mince your words,but yep i agree lol

LyraSilvertongue · 07/03/2008 19:49

They're ok if you just need to use the dryer function in emergencies.
But they take ages to dry a full load and the clothes will come out really crushed.
If you have the space, get a proper dryer. Your clothes will come out crease free if you don't overload it.

heronsfly · 07/03/2008 19:49

We were given one [I soon found out why] I hated it,ages to wash,mega ages to dry and we were on a key electric meter at the time so I knew for sure that it was very expensive to run, gave it to someone else she very politly told me it was rubbish and took it to the tip,it was less than a year old.

LyraSilvertongue · 07/03/2008 19:51

We've got a compact White Knight and it cost £99 from Argos.

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