Are washer dryers actually any good? The GHI put them to the test
Let’s face it, buying a good quality washing machine and tumble dryer is expensive. Invest in our two current top-rated models, and it will set you back over £2,300. Plus, both home appliances are bulky, so it's not always easy to find space for them.
While a good washing machine is undoubtedly essential, you can turn to heated clothes airers and dehumidifiers to help speed up laundry drying times. But, there are some tasks – like drying fluffy towels – that tumble dryers are just better at and having a combined washer dryer means you won't have to sacrifice either appliance. They're also space saving and more budget-friendly.
But which models deliver on performance, no matter the task? The Good Housekeeping Institute has done the legwork for you, washing and drying hundreds of kilos of laundry to find the best washer dryers for your home.
These are our experts' top-rated models at a glance, but scroll on for our detailed reviews.
What is a washer-dryer and how do they work?
Going back to basics, a washer dryer does exactly what it says on the tin – it washes and then dries your laundry without any manual intervention.
The ‘washer’ part works like any standard washing machine. Once loaded, the drum fills with water, mixing with detergent and soaking your laundry. The drum then moves around via an agitator. Eventually, it drains and refills with water to rinse out the detergent, before draining away all the water and running a spin cycle to remove any excess water.
The ‘dryer’ part works in a similar way to a heat-pump tumble dryer, reheating air that's sucked out of the laundry. Then, it’s cooled so that it condenses into water, which is drained away.
Are washer-dryers any good?
If you’re torn about whether a washer dryer is right for your home, here are the pros and cons of this two-in-one appliance at a glance.
Pros:
Space-saving
Cheaper than two separate appliances
Convenient
Take note:
Less effective at drying than a regular tumble dryer with a smaller capacity and longer drying times
You can't wash one load while another is drying
Things to consider when buying a washer-dryer
If you've decided a washer dryer is right for you, then it’s time to think about the features you’d like. Here’s what our experts recommend looking out for.
Freestanding vs integrated: This will come down to the space available in your home. Freestanding machines offer more flexibility in terms of where they go, fitting into any appropriately sized space. Integrated machines are installed within a kitchen unit and hidden behind a door, matching your other cupboards.
Energy rating: All machines are categorised from A to G to reflect their energy efficiency – A is the most economical. While the latest models with sensors are better than older ones as they adjust things like water levels and duration to match the weight of the loaded laundry, running costs still depend on how long it's washing and drying for, and how hard it has to work.
Washing capacity and drying capacity: Surprisingly, these capacities differ. Many washer dryers can only dry half (at most) of their washing capacity, meaning you need to remove some laundry before starting the drying cycle.
Spin speed: Most washer dryers on our list have a spin speed of 1400rpm (denoting the number of times they spin in a minute). This is similar to our top washing machines; however, some reach 1600rpm. Machines with adjustable spin speeds are good for giving you more control over your laundry, too.
Combination programme duration: Some programmes combine washing and drying, so you don’t need to alter the settings once you’ve popped your laundry in the machine. These can be lengthy though – on test, combined cycles varied from a super-speedy four hours to almost nine and a half hours. See if the manufacturer details average times before you buy.
Volume: If your washer dryer is likely to run a lot during the day, it's worth looking for a quiet model.
Are washer-dryers as effective as separate washing machines and tumble dryers?
In short, no. But that doesn’t mean you should write them off immediately.
At the GHI, the washing performance of washer dryers tends to rival that of stand-alone machines. It’s the drying performance where they start to diverge. This is because the washing capacity is much larger than the drying capacity with 2-in-1 machines, and clothing dries better when it has more room to move around.
This means if you’re drying occasional items, a washer dryer should still serve you well. You just need to be careful about how you do your laundry – these are our expert tips.
Don’t overload the drum – leave enough room for air to circulate around your clothing
Take out any items that don’t need to go in the dryer – some synthetics air-dry quickly or can be placed on a heated clothes airer to speed up the process
Separate fabrics before drying – check the care labels to make sure everything is being dried at the correct temperature as this reduces drying times and saves energy
Shaking out clothing and sheets before starting the drying cycle helps it to dry faster, as clumped-together fabrics take longer to dry
How we test washer-dryers
First up, our experts test each machine’s washing capabilities by running quick 30C and 40C cycles full of bedding and towels. Our thorough tests analyse spin efficiency, water usage, common stain removal (everything from mud to blood) and creasing. They measure the length of programme cycles and the drum capacity, too.
Then it’s onto the drying cycles. Our testers try out the cotton and synthetic programmes, but before they begin, they weigh their wet sheets, towels and shirts. Then they hit ‘Start’, noting down any duration claims and setting their own timer concurrently so they can tell if the machine is accurate.
Once the cycle has finished, testers weigh the dried laundry again to work out how much water has been removed. They also assess whether the laundry feels damp, if there are any specific wet patches, how creased shirts are and if the load is tangled.
When testing cotton drying, our experts also include a shrinkage square in the load. This is measured before and after to work out how much shrinkage, if any, has occurred while drying.
They also try a combined washing and drying cycle, and every test is carried out at least twice to check for any variations. If the machine's WiFi compatible, they look at how simple its smart functions are to set up and use too.
And as with all our tests, our experts assess ease of use and design throughout use.
When we test, we also measure how much energy each product consumes. Using these figures, we then work out how much it would cost to run a fully loaded washer-dryer cycle based on the current energy price cap of 24.86 per kWh.
Counter-Depth MAX
Score: 95/100
It was only a matter of time before AI infiltrated our appliances and now it’s integrated into your washer dryer… But, we’re not complaining; this intelligent machine analyses the fabrics and weight of your wash and adjusts the settings accordingly, so your laundry always receives top-notch care while using less electricity.
This model performed well on both a cotton and synthetic cycle, tackling coffee stains with ease. And the 14-minute quick wash didn’t drop a mark in terms of energy efficiency either. But the water consumption and spin efficiency readings weren’t quite as economical.
You might prefer to use the ‘Turbo Wash’. The cycle showers your clothes from multiple angles and our laundry took just 45 minutes, using 0.37kWh (8p of electricity). Both drying programmes impressed too, leaving us with fresh laundry that only had minimal tangling and creasing.
There’s a lot to love about this washer-dryer; overall it’s not as energy efficient as LG’s Wash Tower (below), but from its sleek tempered glass door to its clear LED display and responsive touch screen controls, it’s a worthy winner.
WashTower WT1210BBTN1 Wash & Dry
Score: 92/100
LG’s uniquely designed WashTower would make an innovative addition to your home, especially if you’re short on space. Rather than combining a washer and dryer in one machine, they come stacked on top of each other with a separate plug for each appliance – so they can be used individually – but sharing the same interface.
Its washing programmes didn’t disappoint, removing baby food, blood and coffee stains from our laundry, and we were impressed by its low energy consumption figures across the quick wash and cotton cycle.
One thing to note is that there’s no combined wash and dry cycle so you do need to manually move your laundry from one to the other; however, the dryer does preheat during the wash cycle, helping to shorten your laundry time.
Tech-savvy shoppers will also like the LG ThinQ app, which monitors the cycle and lets you know when it’s done – no more being tricked by the claimed run time on the interface!
Bespoke AI All-in-One Washer Dryer
Score: 91/100
Like our winner, this washer dryer can intelligently sense load weight, fabric type, and soil level to maximise its efficiency. And on test, there were no doubts about the machine’s effectiveness; makeup, blood, and red wine all vanished in its cotton and synthetic cycle.
That’s not all that impressed, though. Our testers loved the flex auto dispense system, which is programmed to add just the right amount of detergent and softener for each load, so you’ll never use more than necessary. Its Super Speed combined cycle was true to its name too – washing and drying a load within the 98 minutes claimed.
It was tricky to figure out the controls without referring to the manual, but testers found the instructions helpful. And with a capacity of 18kg for washing and 11kg drying, this can hold double the laundry of the others on our list. Check that you have room for it though as its a large machine (68.6 x 111 x 87.5cm). If you can squeeze it in though, it’s a real win.
Pro B5D58544UW Bluetooth 8 kg Washer Dryer
Score: 91/100
This Beko model is an easy-to-use washer dryer that earned its high score thanks to its impressive stain removal abilities, tackling tomato puree, baby food, and blood. Its drying was also efficient, removing an average of 90% of water across our tests. There wasn’t much shrinkage, and our clothes weren’t too creased, although you’d still need to enlist an iron for your shirts.
The combined programme was also a hit with our testers, displaying notably accurate timings. In fact, you can find the durations of all the programmes on the handy accompanying app – and the machine also makes a sound when it's done. All the controls were responsive too. You can’t fit as much in as many traditional washing machines and tumble dryers, but otherwise it’s a nifty appliance.
Series 5 WD80TA046BE/EU
Score: 87/100
Just 15 minutes stand between you and freshly washed clothes thanks to Samsung’s handy quick wash cycle. Its other cycles were reliable too, removing nearly 83% of stains from cotton and over 80% from synthetic fabrics on test – even coffee and tea stains vanished. Plus, you can adjust its settings to suit different loads.
It wasn’t the most economical in terms of water and electricity, but testers praised its drying performance. It evenly removed over 86% of water from cotton fabrics, and it didn’t take our testers long to untangle the bed sheets, either.
The machine was notably quiet, and scored full marks for its ease of use, while our experts appreciated the sleek, modern design. The end-of-cycle tone was slightly annoying, but at least you won’t be able to say you didn’t know the washing was done!
NDD 8636 GDA UK 8 kg Washer Dryer
Score: 85/100
Hotpoint says that up to 90% of its washer dryer parts can be recycled, which means it will get a second life after serving your laundry needs. It’s packed full of great features like the ‘Stop&Add’ function, which lets you add any stray socks to your wash during the first few minutes, and the Steam Refresh programme, which dampens clothes and reduces creases in just 20 minutes.
It performed outstandingly for its cotton washes on test, dropping just one mark (it struggled to remove tomato puree and pesky coffee stains). Synthetic cycles weren’t too far behind and while its drying was a little slow at times, it was still effective, removing most water from both fabric types.
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