There’s one constant in life – laundry! Am I right? It’s one household job that never actually finishes. Just when you’re congratulating yourself for folding and putting away the last load of clean washing, you realise that your family is wearing clothes – and so the process will begin all over again tomorrow!
So, anything that is going to make this ongoing chore a little bit quicker and easier is certainly worth investigating. Enter the washing machine and tumble dryer combo! Two appliances in one! Save space in your laundry room and get all your washing done in one go with these clever appliances that I didn’t even know existed until just recently.
So, why would you want to buy a washer-dryer combo? If you’re in the market for a new washing machine and space is limited in your house, these nifty 2-in-1 appliances are a dream come true! I know here in Australia we’re very good at hanging our clothes out on the washing line to dry, and why wouldn’t we?
We’ve got the right climate for it and air drying is cheaper (it’s free!) and better for the environment than running your dryer. But, it’s not always good clothes drying weather! Especially in the cooler states like Victoria and Tasmania, it can be hard to get your washing dry during those Winter months.
Sometimes a dryer is a valuable addition to your laundry even if it’s just to help finish off the drying of big things like towels and bedding. With a washer dryer combo you have the added luxury of skipping the hanging out to dry part – simply put your dirty laundry into the machine and, at the end of the full cycle you’ll have clean, dry clothes!
What Is A Washer Dryer Combo?
Since learning of the existence of these exciting appliance combos, I’ve done a bit of research into them and how they work and how they compare with a regular washing machine. Simply put, these machines are basically front loading washing machines with a condenser dryer built in.
The same basic shape and size as any other front load washing machine or dryer, the units can be installed under a benchtop or left freestanding and, because condenser dryers don’t vent humidity into the air, you’re not restricted in where you have to place them (some dryers require space for ventilation).
As far as performance goes, washer dryer combos seem to work just as well as regular, stand alone, front loading washing machines.
However, water consumption tends to be higher for washer-dryer combos than for stand alone washing machines – strangely enough, these machines actually use water in the drying process, hence, water consumption is increased. Another downside to note is that, while the capacity of these machines for washing is comparable to other appliances, when it comes to drying, a washer-dryer combo can only dry about half of the capacity that it can wash.
If you think about it, a dryer needs more space for air to circulate freely through the clothes to help them to dry, hence the reduced capacity in drying. What does this mean? It essentially means that if you wash a full load of washing in one of these combos, you’ll need to remove half the load before drying. Y
ou could hang half (delicates or easy to dry items) on the clothesline or you could just keep it aside and dry it in a second load. Or, you could only wash and dry smaller loads.
As much as I love the idea of a combined washer and dryer, there’s one other big factor I want you to be aware of before you rush out and buy one. If you usually do multiple loads of washing in one day, you might not like this type of appliance.
Unlike stand alone, separate washing machines and dryers, you cannot put a second load of washing on while drying the first load. In fact you’ll have to wait for the whole washing and drying cycle to finish before you can begin a second load. The bad news is – a washer dryer combo tends to be fairly slow.
Some can take around six and a half hours just for the drying part! If you add on the wash time of around an hour, it could take all day to do just one load. On the flip side – it usually takes all day for washing to dry on a clothesline too!
There is a work around for this, however. If you’re keen on having a washer dryer combo, you might like to start running a load of laundry overnight. Then you can wake up to fresh, clean and dry clothes!
So, while a washer dryer combo sounds almost too good to be true, there are a few factors to consider, as mentioned above. The perfect customer for a washer dryer combo would be someone who doesn’t have enough space to fit a stand alone dryer but would like to have a dryer available to use on the odd occasion.
Using the full washing/drying cycle every time might feel as though your laundry never ends as it takes quite a few hours to get through, but on those cold and rainy days when you really need to get a load dry, it’s good to know the option is there.
Top Rated Washer Dryer Combos
If you’ve decided that a washer dryer combo would be the perfect fit for your life, you’ll want to know which one to buy. There’s actually not that many to choose from here in Australia, but we’ve narrowed down the list for you to help you decide which one is best for you.
So, without further ado, here are the best rated washer dryer combos available in Australia for you to consider.
| Rank | Brand/Model | Capacity Wash/Dry (kg) | Dimensions H x W x D (cm) | Price Guide | Check Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |  Miele WTH130WPM | 7/4 | 85 x 60 x 65 | $$$ |  |
2 | Samsung WD75M4453JW | 7.5/4 | 85 x 60 x 60 | $ | |
3 | Fisher & Paykel WD8560F1 | 8.5/5 | 85 x 60 x 65 | $$ | |
4 | LG WVC5-1409W | 9/5 | 85 x 60 x 56 | $ | |
5 | Electrolux EWW1042ADWA | 10/6 | 85 x 60 x 66 | $$ | |
Miele WTH130WPM Washer Dryer Combo
Isn’t it always the way that the most expensive item is the best rated? The same is true of this Miele washer dryer combo – the price is the highest of our suggested appliances but it’s the one that seems to offer the best washing and drying performance.
In fact, of the machines suggested in our list, this appliance is the one which reportedly performs best in drying performance. This model offers a 4 star water rating as well as a 4 star energy rating for both washing and drying and, the reliability of a Miele machine is also high – no one wants to keep forking out for repairs!
There are 20 different programs to choose from as well as the added bonus of being able to connect the machine to WiFi – there’s a lot to like about this product, if the budget will allow it!
Check The Latest Price:
Samsung Washer Dryer Combo WD75M4453JW
Coming in at number two is this washer dryer combo from Samsung. There’s also a lot to like about this appliance, with the added bonus of a much more affordable price point. With 12 washing programs to choose from, this machine is rated very highly for its washing performance.
It’s not as well rated for its drying performance as the Miele, but still fares better in this department than the other models on our list. Reviewers of this product are very happy with this machine, especially considering its value for money.
So, this model from Samsung has earned the coveted title of “Best Value Washer Dryer Combo”.
Check The Latest Price:
Fisher & Paykel WD8560F1 Combo Washer Dryer
Number 3 on our list is the Fisher & Paykel washer and dryer combo. With a 5 star WELS water rating and a 4 star energy rating, this machine is also rated well for its washing capability and capacity.
It’s quiet and easy to use, although one reviewer did report a problem of this machine giving off a bad smell, so if your nose is sensitive, you might want to avoid this model.
Check The Latest Price:
LG WVC5-1409W Combo Washer Dryer
This offering from LG also scored well in its washing performance but was let down slightly in drying performance. Still, if the dryer is only for occasional use, this shouldn’t be a problem in the overall functioning of the machine.
With a 4.5 star Wels rating for water usage as well as a 4.5 star energy rating for washing and 4 star energy rating for drying, this machine is about as environmentally friendly as a washer dryer combo can be.
Coupled with a large capacity at a very reasonable price point, this machine is definitely one to consider.
Check The Latest Price:
Electrolux Washer Dryer Combo EWW1042ADWA
Offering the largest capacity for both washing and drying, this washer dryer combo from Electrolux is definitely worth a look if you’ve got a large family or just like to do large loads of washing.
Featuring a 5 star energy rating for washing as well as a 4.5 star water usage rating, this machine is only let down by a 3 star energy rating for its drying cycle.
With 15 programs to choose from, there’s sure to be one to suit your needs and to get your washing clean and dry.
This machine has one of the slowest drying times of the combos listed here (around 3 and a half hours) but is coupled with the fastest washing time (111 minutes) as well as comparable washing performance to the other models mentioned.
Not a bargain, but a reasonable price point for a machine bearing the Electolux name.
Check The Latest Price:
So, if a washer dryer combo sounds like laundry heaven to you, at least now you have some idea of the best rated washer dryer combos available in Australia right now. Hopefully we’ve helped you to choose which model would suit your lifestyle best.
Let us know which one you chose and how it’s working for you, we can all use as much help as possible to get through those loads of laundry!
No Comments