Advice please on washer dryers.

No.
They aren't tumble driers, they are condenser driers. The clothes sit in the drum which gets hot and the water condenses out of the clothes (think cold windows in a hot room) occasionly the drum will turn to expose a new section of the wet laundry. As has been said it takes a long time, is horrendously expensive and it doesn't work.
I too am a fan of the 'dry soon' range of heated airers from Lakeland, especially with the optional cover which cuts the drying time, but if I have bedding to dry I just drape that over the top and kill two birds with one stone.

radicalnan Wonderful image conjured up of The Terrier and the Kitchen Alien! Think I've been watching too much Wallace and Gromit with DGS lol

I had a Bosch washer dryer and i loved it, you could use the washer independently of the wash orogrammes, but my current Hotpoint does not have that facility and it takes forever to run the full programmes that include drying! Yesterday, i got my washing three quarters dry on the line, then it started raining, so i needed to bring it in and finish it off in the machine, all it needed was five minutes blast of warm air, but my only option was 40 minutes drying minimum! So, definitely not recommended!

There are 3 disabled people in household and need quick easy washing/drying facilities - hard to use washing line. It's an expensive and far from "green" thing, but we couldn't cope without it. We chose the most environmentally friendly one we could find and use the green cycle options (low heat, short programs etc.

Never met anybody who liked them, even when living in countries where most live in apartments with not much space. More to go wrong & poor value for money

I have Zanussi washer dryer. Just as well I am retired because a few pants can be in there for what seems like days.

I am lusting after a Lakeland dryer and they do come up on e bay as Lakeland seem to have an on line shop there.

Apparently they keep the chill off a room too when in use.

I bought one years ago with a cover that blew itself up like a huge indoor balloon and the dog wouldn't let me keep it.

Nothing quite like a terrier seeing off the kitchen alien all night to put the kybosh on something.

They take forever to dry and even then not as good as proper drier. Dont waste your money on one. Never use mine.

I had one once. It was awful. The drum wasn't big enough for the tumble dry cycle and everything came out badly creased and needed ironing. I wouldn't contemplate another one.

Get the Lakeland drier or buy a dehumidifier that drys clothes. It's not a good idea to dry on radiators as that can encourage mildew and condensation in the property.

We bought a washer drier 9 years ago. The drier partwas very slow and actually stopped working after a couple of years. But the washer is still going strong and we just don't use the drier.

Better seperate. Together in one machine means a very long washday.

Too not goo

Works ok

We have had two washer driers. Our first we did not like so spent a fortune on the second. The new one orbs ok but as others have mentioned takes ages to dry. Like Lona we goo have bought a heated fold flat drier from Lakeland. We live in an apartment so can't dry outside. It is fantastic. Clothes dry overnight and I wouldn't be without it. I cannot recommend it enough (no I don't work for them

Thank you so much for your input everyone. It's been really useful. I think I shall advise her that it would be better to get a new cheap one for the garage.

They seem like a good idea when you are compromised for space. However they are not practical. You have to take most of a load out and dry it in two batches and the cycles take forever. They do not dry very well and I think a heated aired would be better. We bought a combined washer/dryer. Waste of money and we were thrilled when it 'died.'

Like Lona I have bought a heated airer and I am very pleased with it.

I have a Samsung washer dryer and rarely use the dryer. It takes such a long time to dry clothes and has fixed drying time cycles. It is just about ok if you dry one or two items at a time. I also find that it leaves the clothes with a musty smell. I only ever use it now to soften towels. IMO there is no comparison with a tumble dryer. If I was to give my washer dryer a rating out of 10 I would give it just 2.

Thanks Lona. I've been contemplating one of those dryers for some time. When (if) I get my bathroom remodelled, I'm planning to put in a shower where the dryer sits at the moment.

I've bought a heated dryer from Lakeland which is great. It folds down flat, but has loads of room for a wash load when opened out. It has a timer and it only costs pennies to run.

I wouldn't personally, I gather they have a very long cycle to include the drying so one load can take ages so if she has a lot of washing as you seem to suggest it could take hours and hours of it being constantly on waiting for one load to dry before the next lot can be on.
I'm sure they'll be more info soon, wouldn't it better to just buy a cheap new dryer and put it in the garage if there is power. When I had a dryer (its long gone now) it was in the garage so no damp air in the house.