Does anyone have a combination washer & dryer? - YouLookFab Forum

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Does anyone have a combination washer & dryer?

Inge

(website)

I'm moving house in November, and won't have room for a separate washer and dryer, so I'm considering a combination one.

If you have one, which brand is it? And how happy are you with it?

Pros and cons?-)

Thanks!

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31 replies

Latest reply was from Inge

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

They aren't very common in the U.S., but I remember using one when I was visiting London and the dryer phase was incredibly weak. I had to wake up every hour or so half the night to start it up again to get everything dry. (We were leaving the next day so I couldn't just let everything air dry.)

Reading over my comment this isn't very useful to you, sorry...

rachylou

Veteran

I want to say my friend in Austria had a Miele. Have a Miele dishwasher and maybe vacuum. Do they really make all that? In any case, both are good.

Inge

(website)

Thanks so much for chiming in, Laura and Rachy!

And it is useful, Laura, absolutely! I think they are more common in Europe because we tend to have smaller living spaces. And I've read what you mentioned too (hopefully they have improved a bit since then). Most of these have a greater washing capacity than drying capacity, which means that I might need to take out part of the washing, and dry it in two rounds. Not the most practical...

Rachy - Yes! Miele does all of those. It's one of the brands (not just for washers and dryers) that comes highly recommended because they tend to be excellent quality.

rachylou

Veteran

I was just thinking that I know a lot of people who never used their dryer... I’m not sure how that works in winter, but that may be a reason more was put into the washing side of things.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Inge, that makes sense. My experience was a few years ago and at an AirBnB-type rental flat, so I'm sure they hadn't invested a ton in the machine. If I were in your situation I'd see if I could set up some hanger rods and/or racks for air drying, so you could air dry most things and only use the dryer for emergencies or to get bulky or thick stuff like towels started. I have access to a full-size dryer but I only use it for stuff like towels (and sheets if the weather's bad); bras, masks, socks, and sweaters go straight to the drying rack, and most everything else gets fluffed for 5-10 minutes and then hung up to dry or put on the rack.

MsMary

Veteran

Same, we have one in the ski condo we co-own and it takes FOREVER to dry a load.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I used to have one,a zanussi.It was a great washing machine but I can’t remember ever using the dryer that much so there was probably a reason for that .I have a separate dryer now and find it more effective.

Inge

(website)

Rachy - Interesting, not even for towels?

Laura - Yes! I should have said so in the first place. That's what I always do anyway: everything except towels and bed linen goes on the drying rack. I find clothing stays nicer looking for longer sans dryer treatment

MsMary - Good to know. It's definitely something to take into account.

Cardiff girl - I hear you. I have a separate dryer now too, and am very happy with it. But there's just no space in the new flat. Oh and I've had Zanussi appliances in the past too, they were great as well.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Yes. Our apartment came with a combo washer/dryer. It is a condensation dryer. I absolutely hate it. Clothes come out incredibly wrinkled, even things that aren't very wrinkle-prone, like T-shirts. I hang our bedsheets to dry, because the wrinkles are so extreme the sheets aren't comfortable. And the condensation method somehow requires high heat. So even if you use a low temp to wash things, as I did recently with my son's school clothes for the next day, including a new sweater, if you set the same load (only hitting "start" once) to be partially dried after it's washed, you expose the items to heat. I now have a new boiled-wool sweater that fits me just right.

I've seen washing machines combined with tumble dryers. They are less common, and I expect I'll still use it sparingly, but that's what I want whenever I'm buying my own machine.

anchie

Veteran

I would not advise. I had 3 different brands in 3 different apartments, I am not sure about brands, maybe Gorenje, Candy and last one was Miele. In all 3 dryer part broke after short period and I used only a washer after that. And dryer was always half a capacity of washer, so not very convinient. Currently I have dryer stuck on top of washer, and I am very happy with that solution. But in previous apartment a washer/drayer was installed in the kitchen, so there was no other solution possible.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I've had washer/dryer stacked in the US a couple times and really liked them!

Anchie, were yours condensation or tumble dryers?

Helena

Veteran

Inge, a combo is different from a stackable, is that right? If so, is a stackable an option? Both my sister and Dad have stackables that fit into a cupboard and even provide (small) folding space ... not sure if that's an option you you. I am sure they are either GE or LG brand but could find out for sure. They work great!

JAileen

Veteran

Years ago we had a stackable. Everything worked, but the loads were just small. This, at the time we had a toddler (a long time ago!). Regular units would have been preferable, but this was much better than going to a laundromat.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Inge, I may have missed it, but can you stack a very small washer and dryer instead of using a combination? We had that arrangement when you came to visit in the old Seattle house. Bosch. They make them very small for NYC apartments.

Vildy

Veteran

My friend has an expensive pair from Sears, so I suppose Kenmore.
Second one she's had. Her main problem is that she's short but you wouldn't have that problem. Also, this set is high efficiency and maybe one can't escape that anymore but both she and I hate our high efficiency washers. My husband, who researched and selected it, hates it, too. We double rinse everything. Mine had the gall to print that we shouldn't expect it to get out oil or grease and that no washer would do that. Hah. Should've seen the old washer that coped with grease from hubby's airport cargo job. Now he agrees with me that we should've paid to repair that one. Don't suppose your own clothes and household items will get that badly grimy, though.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

For my own purposes, I’m curious why people are recommending a stack unit over a combo.

As I mentioned above, I’ve had both, but the combo I have includes an awful type of dryer. It seems to me that a combo with a tumble dryer would be the best of all for our 2-person household, because it would take up half as much space as a stack unit (I like hanging things on hangers to dry, and could use the “air space” above a combo for that), would dry things at whatever temp I wanted, and would require minimal fussing. Most of the time, I’d probably still hang most things to dry. Using the dryer would be mostly for when I didn’t have time to let things air dry. In that case, it would be extra handy not to have to go switch things over from one machine to the next—I could toss them in, set it all up, and it would immediately switch from washing to drying without me doing a thing.

That’s how I picture it. But it sounds like some of you see it differently and prefer two machines. Why is that? What am I missing?

Joy

Veteran

My son and wife have had stacking full sized washer and dryer In two houses now to save room. They have liked them. You need to be tall enough to reach up into the top unit. I will try to find out the brand if you are interested. This is in the US. Venting and draining may be a problem with a combo...something to ask about.

Diana

Veteran

I have full size stacking units and like them a lot. They came with our house so we did not choose them but we’ve been very happy with them. I personally think the stacking high efficiency units I have are much better at getting things clean than the old top loaders I’ve used in the past. Plus they use waaaay less detergent and water.

Re: combo units. I have not owned one myself but an architect relative who has designed (And lived in) apartment buildings in NYC where space is at a premium says that he would never recommend them as they are generally terrible for actually drying anything. I may be mistaken but I believe you can’t have the same type of venting on a combo machine, which results in them being very inefficient as dryers. Anyway, he says even in the tiniest space he’d recommend a small stacking unit over the combo.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Diana, any chance you could ask the relative about tumble dryers in combo machines? I believe they are fairly new and that most combos have been condensation dryers which are every bit as bad as he said.

Jane

Veteran

Hi Inge, yes we do and love it! I had one 25 years ago when renting and since then we’ve always had one. Our utility area has always been tiny so that’s how we have managed it.

At work, in our rental properties we use Miele - they are £££ but v good.

When I’m home tonight I will take a pic of our current washer dryer. It’s got an extra large drum and we use it a lot. DH does washing of rugby teams kit in there too - so it is very heard wearing. I can’t remember the brand at the mo.

bella

(website)

Veteran

We do, too. - welcome to european living!
We've had ours for 6 years. I am very happy with it, never had problems. I will not put certain items in the dryer, though (like shirts and jeans). I've only had a washer before this, so can't compare. If you can, try to get the one with the largest drum. Since it's a combo, the loads have to a bit smaller than a just washer of the same size.

Diana

Veteran

FI I think the problem is that hardly anyone in the US even uses the vented/tumble combos, because if a space is so small as to require the use of a combo machine it’s hardly ever designed to have convenient vent access. A vented system has to vent outside so in a large building where it’s not going to be close to a window or exterior wall the vents have to be built in. I think they may also require 220V outlets (as most tumble dryers do) which are nonstandard in the USA and have to be specially installed.

So the upshot is that you’ll hardly ever find a situation here where you’ll have both the tiny space + all the plumbing/electric to use it.

And this may have changed but I remember him telling me that combo machines break a lot and are expensive/difficult to fix.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks, Diana!

Inge

(website)

Ooooh thanks for all these replies, sweet ladies! It's definitely been informative, and it seems they have worked great for some and absolutely not for others. Not sure what to do now

FYI: I currently have the dryer stacked on top of the washer set-up and am very happy with it. Unfortunately that won't be possible in the new flat. The boiler for heating and hot water is placed in an awkward position which prevents me from stacking anything on top of the washer, and there's just no room to put the dryer in a different spot in the small utility room. So it's either a washer only or the washer-and-dryer-in-one…

Also, I think most dryers in Belgium these days are the condensation type.

- Fashintern - That sweater: oh dear And I don’t think I’ve seen the washing machine + tumble dryer here yet.

- Anchie - Ugh, how frustrating that must have been.

- Helena - Yes, the combo is one machine. And if only the stackables were an option, but unfortunately not (see above). But thank for you offering to inquire about them for me, that’s very sweet.

- JAileen - For sure, much more convenient than a laundromat (even more so when you have children).

- Angie - Yes, I remember your set-up. And Bosch is a good brand. But not an option in the new flat :-((

- Vildy - Oh WOW, that’s just ridiculous! What are washing machines for??!! Thankfully, my stuff doesn’t tend to get too grimy

- Joy - Thank you too for offering to ask your son and his wife, but I won’t have room for stackables unfortunately.

- Diana - It’s so interesting, top loaders are quite common in the US, aren’t they. We hardly ever see them here, it’s front loaders all the way (which I like).

- Joy and Diana - Thank you also for pointing out the possible venting issue. I had no idea, will definitely ask about that.

- Jane - I’m glad to hear you’re very happy with yours, and that your company uses them in the rentals. Miele is expensive indeed, but usually great quality. If you have time to take a photo of yours that would be great, thanks so much!!

- Bella - Hah yes, European living, exactly:-) Really good to hear you are happy with yours too. And great tip about getting the one with the largest drum. (I hang dry all of my clothing, only use the dryer for towels and bed linen). May I ask which brand you have?

- Diana - That makes sense. In my current flat, there was no venting option either so I had to get a condensation dryer (which is practically the norm here anyway these days).

rachylou

Veteran

Had another thought: heated clothes airers. You can put those anywhere and they are foldable. But they do need to go where the airflow is good or you’ll make your house a jungle, and you may need to do extra spinning in the washer... the clothes can’t be dripping wet or they’ll drip all over the floor. Cheaper than a tumble dryer and kinder to clothes.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Darn it. Thought I’d found them a few months ago. Can’t remember where.

Inge

(website)

You know, Rachy, I had no idea those even existed! Food for thought!

Fashintern - If you ever find them again, I'd love a link

Jane

Veteran

So sorry Inge, that was a long delay! It is a Bosch. It is brilliant!

I think the type of thing that RL is referring to was mentioned previously on YLF. I had a brief look on Amazon and I did find the type of thing that I think RL had in mind.

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Inge

(website)

No need to apologize, Jane, this is fab! Thank you so much for taking the time to take the photos, it's really very helpful.

A Bosch, good to know!-)

And yes, in the meantime I've found the ones Rachy mentioned on Amazon too. They also get mixed reviews, so I'm inclined to go with the washer-dryer combo.

Hope you are having a lovely Sunday,

Inge

xxx

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