chrisdicko

iTrader: (21)

Just wondering if anyone has opinions on washer dryers? As I remember years ago they were crap, and not worth getting. Are they any better yet?

Just I live in a flat, with not a lot of room, and hang the washing on a clothes horse. But since the girlfriend moved in months ago, it seems we always have clothes out drying, which pisses me off really.
So thought about getting a dryer, but I don't have the room for a stand alone one, hence a washer dryer!

Oh, will I see a huge increase in my electricity bill?

richiewong

Still crap got one in my kitchen but still use my old washing machine and separate dryer in the garage!

As a washing machine alone it's not bad.

Felix.

We hardly use ours, it uses heat from steam to get them dry, so they will always stay a little bit damp - not much, but you can't start to stack washing straight away. They will dry quicker on the horse as they will come out hot - but you won't be able to let the horse go to stud yet.....

Clarebabes

When I met my husband, he had a washer dryer. I took it on when we moved in together as he was kind enough to take in me and my daughter. It's been great. It's over 10 years old and only broke down a few weeks back for the first time. £67 for some new bits.

The added bonus is that it only takes up the same room as a washing machine.

Ours is a Zanussi if that helps you.

Reffro

I have a Hotpoint washer dryer. Its excellent, only thing to remember is that a large load of washing needs to be halved before drying. Do that and your golden.

chrisdicko

iTrader: (21)

Sweet, cheers guys! Bit of a mixed bag though...

So definately small loads are needed then! Suppose if they are a little damp still, the GF will be ironing them anyway, so wouldn't be too bad really.

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

I would never have one again. I was told that the reason your clothes took so long to dry was because there is water left in the machine after a wash so this has to evaporate before the clothes are dried. Mahoosive electric bill

Avi

Mine's great .. Hotpoint!

Reffro

The reason why i say to halve the load is that I have a 11kg limit for the clothes on the wash and 6kg for drying. Plus the drum itself is not as large a genuine dryer, thus by removing some of the clothes you give what's left more space to tumble freely, thus aiding the drying process.

With a good fast spin as mine has, the clothes are dry enough for immediate ironing, it's generally the knicks and socks I put through the dryer.

Stephb1986

Nooooo don't do it!!!!

If you dry the stuff in a washer drier it becomes impossible to iron believe me! The amount of customers that send us stuff thats been dried in one and really it should go in the bin its that bad.

If you haven't got much space get a dehumidifier and keep your clothes horse then put it on over night your stuff will be dry by morning.

Steph xx

chrisdicko

iTrader: (21)

Thanks for the replies again!

A de-humidifier may work actually, good thinking!

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

Another Hotpoint - same issue, flat, not outdoor drying area.

As someone else said, you need to halve the load first otherwise it won't cope. I found the best thing was to hang them over doors etc for a bit and leave the washer/dryer door open then put the clothes in to finish them off once they have dried a little.

If you go straight from wash to dry it spends ages just drying the drum so better to let it air a little first.

5t.

boomer

I've used washer-dryers for years (being lazy )

Aside from the cost of lecky and only washing half loads, i guess that the biggest downside is that clothes suffer from what i can only call "micro-piling"! The tumbling seems to wear the fabric ever so slightly, so that it seems "micro-fluffy" - especially on cotton t-shirts.

However i have just spotted this in the latest Lakeland catalogue which may be another option?

mb

chrisdicko

iTrader: (21)

fivetide, I see why you'd need to hang them up first, but think I'm too lazy to do that really! lol


That's very interesting boomer!! Might look in to that, as it would mean the clothes would dry quite fast, so wouldn't always be out!!