Best Washer / Dryer for around £300?

vtailor

Hello,

I have just moved out from my parents and need to get myself a washer/dryer so i dont have to keep nagging them to do my laundry!

I have no idea about washing machines or dryers, all i know is that i want something thats going to last me and does the jobs, a good energy rating would help ease my conscience too; can anyone recommend any brands or models?

thank you in advance!

Cassa

Hi,

Not much help - but always heard really bad stories about combi washer dryers - do you need combined for space?

Jazzycat

Hi,

avoid washer/dryers they are as last suggests useless!

We had one which costa fortune but they wash fine but are useless at drying.
I would suggest a Bosch washing machine such as the one below. I have mostly Bosch now and have yet to be dissapointed

http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/store/dix_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0184214534.1158583321@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccaddilihhliecflgceggdhhmdgmj.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=005200&category_oid=-29671

I would get a separate dryer but this doesn't really matter what manufacturer as the parts are far less to go wrong

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4802077.htm

I have this dryer and its great

Good luck!

vtailor

Are washer dryers really that bad?!

Yes i need a combined one for space, as my kitchen area is quite small, i live in a purpose built block so dont have a washing line either.

Jazzycat

from my personal experience yes they are that bad.

Its a machine trying to do 2 jobs which are opposite to each other and they struggle.

A washer dryer doesn't have a air vent and so can't expel the moist hot air nescessary to dry things either adequately or quickly. They also tend to have a far less capacity for drying. So if you fill your machine with a full load you couldnt put this onto dry without taking half the load out! And even after that and an hour and a half's drying time the clothes are only marginally dryer.

Honestly they are not good and far more to go wrong with.

Sorry it doesn't help that much but a clothes horse is better and probably quicker.

vtailor

lol thanks jazzycat, i think the clothes horse is looking like the best drying option! I will look into the bosch machine you recommended too, thanks!

bargainlover2006

Even in my opinion, washer and dryer combi are hopeless. The washing machine is fine but the dryer really lets you down. The biggest disadvantage is the creases that appear on the clothes (due to drum size) that cannot be ironed out easily.

vtailor

Is it true that dryers are the most energy sapping appliances you can have in your home?

suzyp1982

Ive got a washer dryer, had it for 18months and so far no problems, touch wood!!

But then again i dont use the dryer that often, tend to only use it once a week during the winter period then nothing whilst i can dry outside.

Anyway to the point ours is an Indesit, cheapest around at the time and it was £299.99 from Lords Electrical

vtailor

I found this great article on washer dryers, if anyone else is looking for one this might help,

http://www.channel4.com/4homes/magazine/may_06/washer_dryers.html

tawnyowls

Another vote for Bosch here, and another vote against washer-dryers. They're rubbish, and they crease your clothes to heck. If you've got space anywhere, even in a garage, buy separate machines.

vtailor wrote:

Is it true that dryers are the most energy sapping appliances you can have in your home?

No, a kettle's supposed to be as bad, or worse. Most TDs are 2.5kw, and most kettles are between 2 and 3kW, so if you were running them for the same length of time, they'd cost about the same. Most people tend to run their TD for too long - a long spin in the WM will cut down drying time drastically, and if you separate clothes into light things (jumpers, sheets) and heavy things (jeans, sweatshirts), you won't be wasting energy drying a load for 20 minutes extra just because there's one pair of soggy jeans in there. I usually find I can dry a load in 40-50 mins.