Washer dryer buying guide

Washer dryers have 2 capacities – a washing capacity and a drying capacity

Washing capacities vary from 5 kg to 10 kg and as a rule of thumb, 5 t-shirts equate to 1 kg

A 5 kg machine will wash 25 t-shirts, whilst a 10 kg can wash up to 50 t-shirts.

A larger capacity machine means you can wash more at once, saving time and money on energy.

In terms of drying capacity, it is always less than the washing capacity as clothes condense when wet and need more room to spin while drying.

Drying capacities range from 4 to 7 kg, so you may need to remove some of the laundry before drying.

Some washer dryers can go from a wash cycle into a drying cycle automatically but the size of the load needs to be based on the maximum drying capacity.

Spin speed varies from 1200 to 1600 rpm.

Higher spin speeds reduce the water left in your clothes when they’ve finished washing so they dry quicker either on the line or use less energy to dry

Quick washes take between 15 and 30 minutes for a wash cycle.

Usually a reduced load size e.g. 2 kg.

Designed to freshen up the load, so don't expect it to remove stains.

The average volume of the machine’s wash and dry cycles, is measured in decibels (dB).

The higher the dB, the noisier the machine will be.

To reduce noise levels as much as possible, look for models with new technology like brushless or inverter motors, and anti-vibration systems.

Shop quiet washer dryers

All washer dryers have an EU energy rating between A and C, with A rated models being the most energy efficient.

Eco wash cycles use up to 60% less energy by running for longer.

Also look for average water consumption per wash cycle, to help keep costs down for water usage.

Look for a washer dryer which has sensor drying which switches off automatically when the clothes are dry.

Shop A rated washer dryers
Shop B rated washer dryers
Shop C rated washer dryers

An integrated washer dryer (also known as built-in) sits behind a cupboard door in your kitchen. They tend to have smaller capacities than freestanding washer dryers.

You’ve got more options when it comes to placing a freestanding washer dryer – they can be placed directly in your kitchen rather than behind a cupboard.

You do not need to vent washer dryers. They are condensers, which means they collect water from the load being dried and remove it through a waste water pipe. This means you won’t need to empty water tanks or run hoses through your kitchen.

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Some washer dryers have an Auto Weight Sensor, which can automatically calculate the time needed to clean your load of laundry.

Economy options(or eco programs) reduce the wash temperature but extend the length of wash to compensate.

Keep your eye out for machines with sensor drying – these washer dryers monitor the moisture of the load and stop once they are at the right level of dryness.

Some machines pre-mix the detergent to improve the performance of the detergent.

Intensive programs are designed to boost stain removal.

Pre-wash cycles are ideal for loosening up dried-on or heavily soiled marks before the main cycle.

An intensive or sportswear cycle will help to remove stains like grass and mud.

Some machines have an option that lets you wash trainers.

If you want to make clothes waterproof or more water resistant, look out for a proofing program with waterproof wash liquid.

Hand wash or Delicates programs care for delicate fibres and knitwear by reducing the drum agitation during the wash and spin cycle, and wash at a lower temperature.

The extra rinse function lets you increase the number of rinses to the program, removing more excess detergent.

Some washer dryers have allergen removal programs, which are great if you have an allergy sufferer in the family. It helps to remove allergens like pollen and dust mites.

Baby cycles are perfect if you have a baby at home, as this adds extra rinses to wash away detergents which can irritate sensitive skin.

Some machines now offer advanced features such as sensor drying, which stops the cycle when clothes are dry. Sensor drying saves time, reduces energy consumption and avoids shrinkage.

Some machines let you program a drying cycle to follow a wash cycle.

You will need to make sure that all the clothes in the load are suitable for the drying program.