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For all the talk of a global water crisis, it does feel as if it’s been raining for months, doesn’t it? Washing draped over every radiator is not doing much for our style credentials, either, so hurrah for a washing machine with a built-in tumble dryer. Washer-dryers on the whole do not perform as well as separate appliances, but if you only have room for one laundry machine in your life, they do make things easier.
By Kerry Young
Fast Spin Washer-dryers are expensive to run. Buy one with a fast spin speed, such as 1600rpm. Getting the clothes as dry as possible in the wash part of the programme will help to keep costs down as the clothes will be drier by the time they get to the more expensive drying part of the programme.
Wash To Dry
Make sure you buy a washer dryer that has a continuous wash to dry program. This means that you can set the machine off and then go out, and will come back to clothes that are ready to iron (or just wear!). However, note that this will mean only washing a half load as the drying capacity is only ever half the washing capacity of the machine.
Buy German
The initial cost of the machine may be higher than some others but these really are built to last, so they will easily pay for themselves over the lifetime of use.
Buy Integrated
Most people buy washer dryers because they need to save space in small kitchens. If you want a small kitchen to look bigger than it really is, it's a good idea to hide appliances behind uniform cupboard doors - so buy an integrated washer/dryer rather than a freestanding model.
Look Out For Warranties
At various times of year, manufacturers offer free extended warranties on certain machines, sometimes for five or 10 years. This means that if the machine breaks down during that period, it will be fixed free of charge by the manufacturer. This can save money on expensive repair bills. At the moment, for instance, the Smeg machine that we list here comes with a useful five-year warranty.
The Big But...
Don’t buy a washer dryer unless you really have to. It is always better to have a separate washing machine and tumble dryer. It's more energy efficient and you're less likely to suffer from costly breakdowns. So, look at your kitchen layout (or even at other areas in your home) and see if there's any way to squeeze in two machines. For example, condenser dryers can be housed in under stair cupboards, as they do not need venting to the outside of the house.
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