Washer Dryer Combo

Essentially a front load washing machine and dryer in the one appliance, a washer dryer combo is an all-in-one solution when you need both, but your current space may not allow for it. Even if you do have the space, you may opt for a washer dryer combo if you only need a dryer on days when the weather isn’t too great or when you can’t afford to wait around for items to dry on a clothes airer.

Their wash capacity is greater than their drying capacity, starting off as low as 7kg wash/4kg dry in the Miele washer dryer combos - to a 10kg wash/6kg drying capacity in the Electrolux washer dryer combos. You can go from wash to dry in one continuous cycle, or you can use wash or drying programs independently.

Washer dryer combos generally have one drum, or in the case of the LG washer dryer combos, they can be a stacked washer dryer like the LG WashTower with separate 17kg washer and 10kg dryer contained within one seamless unit.

First consider the wash capacity. As a bit of a general rule, 7.5 to 8.5kg should do it for 3-4 people, or 9kg and higher for households of 5+. Just remember, you can’t wash and dry the same load equally in a combination washer dryer - the dry capacity is always less.

As far as the dryer goes, this is usually a condenser dryer which takes the moisture collected during the drying process and condenses into water so you won’t need to vent your washer dryer to the outside (just ensure it’s in a well ventilated room), however some newer models like the LG washer dryers utilise heat pump technology for lower energy consumption and better drying performance.

Some of the best washer dryer combos have Express or Allergy Care programs like selected Haier models, others have steam wash and dry options, Woolmark certified wash cycles, automatic detergent dosing and dispensing, or built-in Wi-Fi to download additional cycles or to troubleshoot.

Much like a front load washer, you’d operate a washer dryer combo by filling the detergent drawer with a liquid or powdered detergent that’s suitable for use in a front loader, selecting a program at the control dial, followed by options for perfecting your wash and/or dry at the touch panel to the right.

All washer dryers have continuous cycles that go from wash-to-dry, like Fisher & Paykel’s washer dryer combo with 10 Wash & Dry cycles with the option to wash or dry only for any of these.  When using wash and dry, or dry-only cycles, stick to the recommended load size to ensure a thoroughly dry result.

Other options include prewash for improved stain removal, wash temperatures, dryness levels, and spin speeds (go for the highest max speed in a wash and dry cycle to aide in a shorter drying time). Also, be sure to check out your user manual for handy tips like running a cleaning cycle to keep your washer dryer in tip-top shape.

Depending on how many loads you wash and dry in a week, the capacity you roughly need for both, and how accommodating your current space is, washer dryers can be a good option for households with either a tight laundry or when a dryer is required only some of the time.

In a washer dryer combo, you get all the benefits of a front load washing machine, however their drying performance, energy consumption, and drying time may not be as effective and efficient as a standalone dryer. When relying regularly on a washing machine and dryer equally, this is a no brainer – you really need individual appliances to get the job done.

Washer dryers can be handy for some considering you can wash or dry clothes only – or go from wet to dry in the one cycle depending on your week-to-week laundry demands.  Some even have a separate wash compartment below the main washer dryer to run a small, delicate load simultaneously, like LG’s Signature washer dryer combo.