Space, or lack of it, seems to be the only reason why anyone would want to purchase a washer drier. They are really more trouble that they’re worth:
- They don’t do what they say on the tin in most cases
- The driers are generally terrible and take forever to dry your washing load
- They break down far more frequently
- Parts are expensive
- They cost a lot to run
- They cost a lot to purchase
At one time, these machines were quite popular but they have fallen out of favour for very good reasons. People thought that it would be great to put on a washing load when you go out to work in the morning, and come home to clean and dry clothes. Great idea in principle, but after 8 hours at work you may well find that your clothes are still being dried when you get home. One pair of jeans can take up to 2 hours to dry!
The use of dryers has fallen quite a lot over the last few years, not only from an environmental perspective, but also due to the cost of using dryers in the first place. If you are lucky enough to have outside space, it is much better to dry your washing in the open air. I know it is a drag when it rains when you are out, but that’s part of the fun of living in the UK!
There are also plenty of items that you would not dry in a tumble dryer anyway, as it could damage them and there’s always a chance that your clothes will shrink. A lot of people generally tend to use their driers in the winter if it is not possible to dry washing outside, and then just use them for jeans, towels and bedding, as the rest of the washing can be hung on airers around the house. Bit of a pain, but cheap.
Back to the choice of washer dryers. It is very hard to make any kind of recommendations, and the consumer magazine, Which, has only been able to identify 3 models they could recommend as Best Buys. There are so many manufacturers producing these appliances out there, that it shows how problematic they can be.
Unlike other appliances, the price of the machine does not necessarily give you the best option. There are only three manufacturers that spring to mind, which will cover the three main price bands:
- From the cheaper end of the market – £400-450 range – only one stands out and that is the Zanuzzi washer dryer. It is not saying that it’s great, but is better than the rest in this price range
- From the medium range – £500-750 price– the best of the rest would be the Bosch washer dryer.
- Top of the range, there is even less choice, and only one manufacturer is worth the purchase, Miele. This is for machines costing up to and over £1000.
The best alternative would be to buy a reasonably priced washing machine, and a small tumble dryer, if you are pushed for space. It may be a bit of a nuisance but think you would be much happier with the result.