Can anyone advise me on whether washer dryer machines are efficient.

I’m not sure how to use the search facility but there was a thread fairly recent about washer dryers. If you can locate it there might be useful info there. From what I can recall there were a lot of posters who regretted buying one.

Try this link and it hopefully might lead you to it.

www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1286980-Is-a-washer-dryer-worth-having?pg=2

They don't dry well as the drum isn't big enough. They only dry half a washload, if you're lucky, so the rest of the wet washing has to wait in a basket or on an airer for a couple of hours until the dryer is free. If you're in the habit of using the dryer for at least part of most of your laundry, it will take up a ridiculous amount of time. And they're not great for reliability either, too much going on. One of the worst kitchen appliances, IMO.

I’d use a clothes horse.

Oh hello!
I'll follow this thread, too.
I'm drowning under a sea of murky looking, half dried clothes.

Mine is very efficient. I don't have the drier on for very long and just hang the clothes on an airer until they're completely dry. No choice as love in a flat with a smallish kitchen. System suits me.

I have an AEG washer dryer. It is fine.

They do neither job properly.

Missfoodlove

They do neither job properly.

But if you have no room for both?

I had one for a few years when I no longer needed a stand alone tumble dryer and it was fine. You won't get the capacity of a full size tumble dryer as others have said but the washing machine function is the same as any other comparable machine. I now have just a washing machine and line dry my clothes outdoors or use an old fashioned pulley airer.

The washing machine element works really well in all those I’ve ever had Missfoodlove, I’m surprised at you saying that? The dryer isn’t as good as a separate one, but it’s better than not having one - although I’ve actually got a Lakeland heated airer now instead, which is excellent.

DD had one,for a family of 4 , drying took far too long, as she had to take out more than half of the washing to dry the rest.
Then the dryer stopped working which made the washing machine not so effective, she now has a separate washing machine and a tumble dryer is in the bedroom (no room in kitchen) and she hangs the tube out of the window ( it’s quite squishy so the window isn’t fully open)
when she isn’t using it , it’s covered and the kids books are on it.

DD bought one before she moved to a more spacious house,
It was awful and after it shrank a whole load of their clothes,
( and getting nowhere with the company/maker ) only dried towels in it, which did the opposite and only half dried them.
If there is no choice and you simply have to get one, do be very careful what you need to dry in it.

I've had my Zanussi washer dryer for twenty years and as others have said the main problem is the size. But it depends on how much washing/drying you need to do. There are only two of us. It's beginning to show it's age now but has worked perfectly since we bought it.
I use it mainly in the Winter for heavy things like towels - most things are hung over an airer (even sheets) overnight and in a warm room they are dry by the morning anyway.

I have a Siemens washer dryer and am very happy with it. The drum is the same size as previous washers I have had and washes just as well. I would never use it to dry the whole load just washed, partly because I am concerned for the environment and my energy bill. I use the dryer briefly occasionally, say for towels, sheets or lots of crumpled t shirts. I then put them on an airer. I live alone in a small cottage.

Thank you Grannynannywanny and everyone else who posted. I will have to give it some thought!

I had one, it neither washed nor dried efficiently. If you don't have room for a separate dryer just buy a washer with a high spin speed.

If you don’t have space for a washer and a tumble dryer, then you have two choices, a washer-dryer or no dryer. I had to make exactly that choice when I moved, and opted for a washer-dryer. It’s true that it doesn’t dry as much washing, or as well, as a tumble dryer, but it sure is better than no dryer at all!

A bit of a waste of money if it doesn't do the job properly. My D had one and efficient it wasn't. I think those who have them also had to buy dryers as well, so they defeat the whole object of an " all in one ".

EllanVannin

A bit of a waste of money if it doesn't do the job properly. My D had one and efficient it wasn't. I think those who have them also had to buy dryers as well, so they defeat the whole object of an " all in one ".

If you just put in half a load, you can set it to wash, spin and dry and then go out. When you get back in, you just have to fold, iron if you wish, and put away. I consider that efficient. I live on my own, so rarely have enough for a full load.

Not worth it in my opinion. They are less reliable and don’t dry a full load,

When I moved into my flat I did look very carefully into purchasing a washer/dryer. Could hardly find anyone able to give a good report on them,.

I decided to just get a new washing machine to go into the kitchen and purchased a heat pump tumble dryer which lives happily in the spare bedroom. These heat pump ones are much more environmental and cheap to run and work extremely well. It is a condensor so does not need to be near a drain, just normal electric plug. Easy for me to remove the condensor drawer after each use and empty that down a sink.

I keep a pretty embroidered cloth on top of this and it can make a useful place for visitors using my spare room to put their hairbrushes, electric toobrushes, make up,m etc. etc.