Best Washer Dryers

• What You Need to Know
• As 2-in-1 combination appliances, washer-dryers integrate the features of a washing machine and a tumble dryer.
• Washer-dryers are available primarily as front-loaders, and less frequently as top-loaders, with various drying technologies, with condensation drying and heat pump drying being particularly relevant.
• In addition to the rated capacity, the choice of washing and drying programs as well as safety and convenience features should be taken into account when selecting a washer-dryer.
• Washer-dryers are available in energy efficiency classes A and B. In addition to the efficiency class, however, numerous individual factors are decisive in selecting the most efficient appliance.

Washing and drying in one device

In principle, there are two solutions: The less attractive and more cumbersome option would be to simply stack both appliances on top of each other and combine them into a washing tower. The optimal solution, however, is the compact combination of both components, washing machine and dryer together in one appliance: the washer-dryer.

The 8 key advantages of a washer-dryer

The weightiest argument in favor of purchasing a washer-dryer is that it takes up less space. A washer-dryer only requires the space that a washing machine would take up.

Washer-dryer vs. washing machine plus dryer
Beyond that, however, there are numerous other arguments that can be put forward in favor of a combination appliance instead of two individual appliances. The advantages and disadvantages of the washer-dryer are compared here.

Washer dryer vs. washing machine plus air drying

Compared to the “old-school” option of drying on a clothes rack, line or rotary dryer, the washer-dryer also offers some specific advantages, with few disadvantages:

What to look for when buying a washer-dryer?

Consumers should pay attention to important features. A good selection of washing and drying programs, as well as convenience functions, makes everyday use of the device much easier.

A question of volume

Even when selecting a washer-dryer, consumers should pay attention to the machine’s rated capacities for washing and drying. The capacity of washer-dryers is usually

• seven to eight kilograms capacity for the washing cycle and
• four to five kilograms capacity during the drying process.

As a result, users have to dry too large quantities of laundry in several passes. But what is the reason for this? The decisive factor is the volume of the laundry. Wet laundry during the washing process requires less drum volume than dry laundry after the drying process is complete. Consequently, less dry laundry fits into the washer-dryer drum than soaked textiles.

Tip for the selection of the washer-dryer

When choosing a washer-dryer, priority should be given to its rated drying capacity. The choice should fall on a device, whose dryer capacity coincides as well as possible with the own laundry volume.

Therefore, in order to save moving and partial removal of laundry after completion of a wash cycle and before the start of the drying process, it makes sense to pay attention to the rated capacity in the drying process already when buying the washer-dryer. However, since on average washers and dryers are loaded with only 3.5 kilograms, this value should not be a limiting factor for the majority of households. On the contrary, many consumers could even save energy by reaching for an appliance with a lower capacity.

The appropriate size depends on several individual factors:

• How many people will want to wash and dry their laundry at the same time?
• How often do people want to wash and dry?
• Will there be an increased volume of laundry due to professional or recreational reasons?

It is therefore not possible to make a general statement about which capacity is suitable for which number of people. The following table should therefore be seen as a rough guide:

Rated capacity	Household size in persons	Suitable for …
4 kg	1 or 2	single household, couples with low laundry load
5 kg	2 or 3	average household
6 kg	3 or 4	family with high laundry volume
7 kg	4 or 5	family with high laundry volume
8 kg	More than 5	large families

Which programs should not be missing?

Among the most important criteria consumers should look for when choosing a washer-dryer is the selection of washing and drying programs.

The following washing programs should not be missing:

• Easy care
• Coloreds
• Cooking laundry
• Delicates
• Cold wash
• Intensive wash
• Short wash
• Cotton wash
• Rinse

The dryer should definitely have the following options:

• Gentle drying/gentle drying
• Cupboard dry
• Iron dry
• Crease protection

In addition to these central functions, some devices also offer the possibility of de-wrinkling textiles by means of steaming. Such a function is usually referred to as “smoothing”. Modern appliances are also equipped in almost all cases with eco or eco programs, which take a little longer, but save energy. Some washer-dryers also offer an anti-allergy washing and drying program. Other special programs include “synthetic laundry” and programs just for curtains, silk or jeans.

Functions for greater convenience and safety

Some technical gimmicks, which are installed almost as standard in modern washer-dryers, make use much easier.

Automatic volume control

Washer-dryers with automatic volume control have a drum equipped with load sensors. These sensors register the weight of the laundry loaded and automatically adjust the amount of water and running time of the washing program to achieve the best possible washing result with the best possible energy efficiency. Even detergent dosing is fully automatic in some of these appliances, while others offer dosing assistance based on program selection and laundry quantity. So the automatic quantity control helps save water, electricity, detergent and time.

Aquastop

The majority of modern washer-dryers are equipped with safety technologies such as overflow protection or aquastop. This protects against water damage in the event of leakage or bursting of the inlet hose by cutting off the water supply with a shut-off valve. The manufacturer LG combines Aquastop with a floor pan that collects water that has already leaked out from under the washer-dryer. This process is called Aqua Lock as a registered trademark.

Control panel

WLAN washer-dryer

Washer-dryers have also become smart. If you want to control and program your washer-dryer on the go using your smartphone, you can easily purchase models that are equipped with Wi-Fi. This not only allows the start or end time of the appliance to be set or the program selection to be made, but even the residual moisture to be checked while on the move.

Whisper quiet?

No washer-dryer should exceed a noise level of 60 decibels during washing and 80 decibels during drying. If you want to buy a particularly quiet appliance because of noise-sensitive neighbors or for reasons of your own home comfort, you should go for a washer-dryer with a “Silence Motor”, sometimes also called a “Silent System”. These devices develop a volume of about 50 decibels during washing, and less than 80 decibels during spinning.

In these cases, the machines are generally equipped with inverter motors. These motors are not only particularly quiet, but also low in vibration and wear, making them more durable than conventional washing machine motors.

Adjustable spin speed

The spin speed of the washer-dryer is indicated on the EU energy label in revolutions per minute (rpm). If the machine spins at a high speed after the wash cycle, there is little residual moisture in the textiles, which reduces the drying time and the energy required for this. However, high spin speeds of 1,600 revolutions per minute literally become a test of endurance for many a piece of laundry. A manual setting option for the spin speed, independent of selectable standard programs, is therefore a worthwhile feature.

A question of efficiency: power and water consumption

The efficiency of the appliance in relation to the purchase price should be a key purchase criterion. A supposedly inexpensive washer-dryer can quickly turn out to be a real cost trap when it comes to paying the operating costs for electricity and water. A look at the EU energy label makes it easier to choose the most economical appliance possible.

The EU energy label for washer-dryers

Compared to two separate individual appliances, a washer-dryer combo tends to have higher electricity consumption and also higher water consumption. But because of the different technologies involved, individual consumption figures can vary widely and, especially in the case of the new heat-pump washer-dryers, can be relatively low. A legally binding testimony of the energy consumption of an appliance is the EU energy label.

The energy efficiency classes

The energy efficiency classes from A to G are classified according to consumption in kilowatt hours per kilogram of laundry. In detail, the individual classes mean the following consumption values:

A	B	C	D	E	F	G
Max. 0.68 kWh	Up to max. 0.81 kWh	Up to max. 0.93 kWh	Up to max. 1.05 kWh	Up to max. 1.17 kWh	Up to max. 1.29 kWh	Over 1.29 kWh
Max. 20.4 cents	Max. 24.3 cents	Max. 27.9 cents	Max. 31.5 cents	Max. 35.1 cents	Max. 38.7 cents	Above 38.7 cents

However, only classes A and B are still relevant, as appliances with worse consumption values are simply no longer permitted. The values are determined under laboratory conditions in the standard program for washing, “Color wash 60° Celsius,” and drying, “Cotton cabinet dry. In private household use, the values can vary depending on ambient temperature, load quantity and, above all, program selection.

Washer-dryers with energy efficiency A+++?

There are no further increases in energy efficiency for washer-dryers beyond the A level. It is therefore the only label that is still valid in the old version. If an appliance is labeled A+, A++ or A+++, it is either not a 2-in-1 appliance but a conventional tumble dryer, or the retailer cannot be considered particularly competent or trustworthy.

Structure of the energy label for washer-dryers

Which washer-dryer is the most efficient?

Even with the energy label data, it’s not easy to compare different appliances with each other, especially when it comes to appliances of different capacities. In the example, we have compared two appliances, the L7WB65684 from AEG and the EWDC 6145 W DE from Indesit. Although the AEG washer-dryer has an energy efficiency rating of A, and the Indesit washer-dryer only has a rating of B, the Indesit washer-dryer consumes less. Its capacity in washing is lower, but in drying it is higher than that of the AEG washer-dryer.

	AEG L7WB65684	Indesit EWDC 6145 W DE
Efficiency class	A	B
Washing capacity	8 kg	6 kg
Drying capacity	4 kg	5 kg
Energy consumption for cycle	5.35 kWh	4,86 kWh
Washing efficiency	A	A
Water consumption for cycle	97 liters	75 liters
Electricity consumption for 100 cycles per year	535 kWh	486 kWh
Water consumption for 100 cycles per year	9,700 liters	7,500 liters
Electricity costs per year (30 cents/kWh)	160.50 Euro	145.90 Euro
Water costs per year (0.2 cents/liter)	19.40 Euro	15.00 Euro
otal operating costs per year	179.90 Euro	160.90Euro

In most cases, manufacturers also specify the energy consumption per year, usually based on a number of 200 wash cycles per year with a standard program and full wash-dry cycle.

Obviously, then, a quick glance at the efficiency class is not enough; many factors must be included in a washer-dryer comparison. Consumers should start from the consumption value per wash-dry cycle and multiply this value by the frequency of their own washing. Choosing the right machine size is therefore enormously important when it comes to keeping operating costs as low as possible.

What types of washer-dryers are there and how do they work?

Washer-dryers differ not only in terms of manufacturer brand and quality, but also in terms of construction and operation. So there is no such thing as the one best washer-dryer. The drying technology used in the appliance is crucial when it comes to washer-dryer efficiency.

These are some well-known washer-dryer manufacturers:

• AEG
• LG
• Bauknecht
• Beko
• Blomberg
• Bosch
• Indesit
• Miele
• Samsung
• Siemens

Different types: front loaders and top loaders

Depending on their construction, two basic types of washer-dryers can be distinguished, analogous to the construction of washing machines. Depending on the position of the load hatch on the front or top side, they are referred to as front loaders or top loaders.

Classics with a view: Front loaders

Those who want to integrate the machine under the worktop in a kitchen, for example, must also go for an under-mounted washer-dryer front-loader. On the other hand, there are no washer-dryers that can be fully integrated, as the machines are loaded and unloaded through a usually glazed porthole at the front of the machine. Depending on the model, front-loading washer-dryers have a load capacity of seven to eight kilograms in the wash cycle and four to five kilograms in the drying cycle and thus have a higher capacity than the narrower top-loaders. Their wide stance makes them quieter to operate. Such machines tend to have a wider range of programmes than the smaller top-loading machines.

Of course, the advantages of this design are also offset by some disadvantages:

Slim and slender: top-loaders

Although top-loading washer-dryers are inferior to front-loading models in many respects, they reinforce a key advantage that makes most users buy a washer-dryer in the first place: The space required is even smaller. The narrow washer-dryer top-loaders are usually only 40 or 45 centimetres wide and 60 centimetres deep. This means the appliances also fit into tighter corners, for example in bathrooms. During the wash cycle, the programme of a washer-dryer top-loader can usually be interrupted if necessary and forgotten laundry items can be added.

Top-loaders do not have a large market share among washing machines with a dryer function, which explains not only the smaller selection of models but also the comparatively higher prices of appliances of this type. Blomberg, for example, is a manufacturer that offers top-loading washer-dryers.

Drying technologies: Heat pump, condensation and exhaust air

The drying technology of washing machines with a dryer function is always based on condensation, i.e. warm air that absorbs the moisture in the laundry and dissipates it. Depending on how the washer-dryer heats the air, a distinction is made between condensation dryers and heat pump dryers. In addition, there are also exhaust air dryers on the market whose method of moisture removal differs from the other two variants.

Condensation drying and heat pump drying are based on the same basic principle, except that the process is extended in the heat pump drying method:

Economical and on the rise: heat pump dryers

In 2015, the manufacturer AEG launched the first washer-dryer with heat pump technology. An independently conducted washer-dryer test showed that appliances with this technology consume less energy than conventional laundry dryers with condensation technology.

This is due to an energy exchanger, the condenser, which uses a refrigerant to extract heat from the moist exhaust air and uses it to heat supply air later. The supply air is thus already preheated by the extract air, and the extract air on the other hand is simultaneously cooled by the cool supply air, whereupon the condensation process of the water is set in motion. This means that both processes require less energy. The energy saving of a heat pump dryer compared to a condensation dryer is up to 40 percent. As a rule, they have the highest energy efficiency class, because the hot air is recycled.

The outside temperature plays a role

Heat pump dryers work best at room temperature. If the washer-dryer is in the basement at winter temperatures, it needs more time and energy to reach and maintain the required temperature for the supply air.

However, as the purchase price of washer-dryers with heat pumps is significantly higher than that of the more energy-intensive condensation washer-dryers, they are more worthwhile for households with a high volume of washing and drying. In the meantime, other well-known manufacturers such as Miele, Beko, Bosch, Siemens, Bauknecht and Samsung are also using this technology as standard in their tumble dryers, which means that the price of appliances is falling and the increased use of this technology in washer-dryers is only a matter of time.

Compared to condenser dryers, heat pump drying technology offers some advantages, but also disadvantages:

Proven standard: condensation dryers

In terms of function, condensation dryers hardly differ from washer-dryers with heat pumps. However, condensation dryers need an electric heating element to heat the supply air. The energy of the warm air cannot be reused and is conducted out of the appliance.

These units cool the warm and humid exhaust air either with ambient air or with water. Depending on the type of cooling mechanism, a location in basements or cool rooms can therefore be advantageous. The disadvantage of condensing units that cool with water is the increased water consumption.

No longer state of the art: exhaust air dryers

Exhaust air technology and the exhaust air dryers based on it are now outdated. With these, the laundry is dried by feeding warm air into the rotating drum. It is not the condensation water but the still warm exhaust air that is transported to the outside through an exhaust hose. The air coming out of the exhaust hose is thus humid and can lead to mould growth in rooms.

Operating the washer-dryer

If you want to buy a washer-dryer, you should first know how and where to place it so that you can use it as energy-efficiently as possible and enjoy the appliance for as long as possible. When using the appliance, it is also important to remember that not every textile is suitable for cleaning in a washer-dryer.

Where should the washer-dryer be located?

The optimal location of a washer-dryer should always be based on the technology installed in the dryer component of the respective appliance:

Exhaust air dryer

Air-cooled condensation dryer

Water-cooled condensation dryer or heat pump dryer

Regardless of the location, it goes without saying that the washer-dryer should be stable on a horizontal and level surface and the loading hatch should be freely accessible. Sloping positions can cause the appliance to move during the spin cycle and damage the appliance. There should be a distance of a few centimetres between the appliance and other items of furniture and walls to avoid disturbing noise or even abrasion.

What can and cannot be put in the washer-dryer?

Not every item of laundry is suitable for tumble drying. If you use a washer-dryer, you should make sure that all laundry is suitable for both processes before starting a complete programme with washing and drying.

Not suitable for tumble drying

Some types of textiles are very delicate and should not be tumble dried under any circumstances. These include:

• Silk fabric
• Wool
• Garments with synthetic trim

Follow the care instructions!

If you want to be on the safe side, however, you should take a look at the washing and drying instructions on the labels of the textiles. Up to five different care symbols can be found on these labels in the following order and symbolism:

• Washing bowl: Washing
• Triangle: Bleach
• Square: Drying
• Iron: Iron
• Circle: Dry cleaning

So for washing and drying, the symbols of the washing bowl and the square are relevant.

Washing

Drying