How to Avoid the Laundromat (And Still Have Clean Clothes)
Do you live in an apartment or house that does not come equipped with washer/dryer hookups? Do you find yourself piling up your dirty clothes until you finally don’t have anything to wear but some old holey t-shirt from junior high and your swim suit bottoms? This outfit predicament is usually the last straw that forces you to take your now Mount Kilimanjaro sized pile of dirty clothes to the laundromat.
Once you procure your roll of quarters and get to the laundromat, you feel trapped there like a caged animal while you wait for your clothes to wash AND dry. You wouldn’t dare venture out to grab a bite to eat or run an errand because last time you tried to be efficient with your time and left your clothing unattended, someone took your wet clothes out of the dryer and stole your machine because you weren’t there to protect your territory.
If this sounds like you, or you would just like a way to wash and dry your clothes in the comfort of your own home when you don’t necessarily have the space or connections for a traditional washer and dryer, there may still be a solution for you: A washer dryer combo.
What is a Washer Dryer Combo?
A washer dryer combo is an all-in-one laundry machine that is designed to wash and dry your clothes within the same machine. The majority of combo washer dryers are ventless units that only have two basic requirements to wash and dry your clothes. Those requirements are typically only a 120V plug and a cold water connection.
Condensation Drying
They do not use the same type of drying method as traditional dryers, instead washer dryer combos use a method called condensation drying to dry the clothes that does not need the power of a 220V plug.
Using the condensation drying method allows washer dryer combos to be ventless, which means that you don’t require a dryer vent that are common with traditional dryers. They do, however, still need to be hooked up to a cold water source, but if you do not have traditional water connections in your home, never fear, you can hook these units up to your sink with the help of the optional Y-connector and Quick Connect Faucet Adapter.
The Pros & Cons
People often ask me, “Do Combo Washer Dryers actually work?” My answer is always, “Yes, but you need to understand the unit and know what to expect to really know if it is the right choice for you.” The below benefits and drawbacks should help you figure out if a washer dryer combo is the right fit for your unique needs.
7 Benefits of a Washer Dryer Combo
To help you figure out if this is the right appliance for your home, we have compiled the benefits you can expect from using a combo washer dryer.
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Can Wash & Dry Clothing All-In-One Unit:
With these units you can say goodbye to the days of forgetting you have clothes in the washer and neglecting to move them to the dryer. Simply turn it on, select the cycle you want and let it get to work.
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No Need to Vent Out Hot Air From the Dryer:
These units use condensation drying instead of forced air drying and therefore do not require a vent. It’s important to understand the difference between these two methods of drying clothes, as they each have their own set of pros and cons.
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No Need For Separate Hot & Cold Water Connections:
With the use of some optional accessories, such as a Y-connector and faucet adapter, a washer dryer combo can be easily connected to your kitchen, bathroom or any other sink. This allows you to use it just about anywhere, without the need for separate water connections.
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Low Water Consumption:
These appliances use far less water than a traditional top-load washing machine. Not only does this save water, but it cuts down on your utility bills and helps you save money in the long run.
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Space Efficient:
Because these are two machines in one unit they obviously take up less space than a traditional washer and dryer. On top of that, most of them are made to fit underneath a standard height countertop, so they can conveniently fit in smaller living environments without being intrusive.
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Extends Life of Clothing:
Traditional heat forced drying methods can be rather tough on clothing, as indicated from all the lent in the lent trap. All of that lint is just small pieces of your clothing and, over time, drying your clothes using a traditional dryer will cause more wear and tear on your clothing than drying in a combo washer dryer that uses the condensation drying method.
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Portability:
Many of the combo washer dryers have optional portability kits that you can purchase. These kits include castors that you can attach to the bottom of your unit, a Y-connector and a quick connect faucet adapter. This added portability allows you to quickly roll this unit out, attach it to your sink and washer your clothes. And then, roll it back out of the way when your wash is complete.
5 Drawbacks of a Washer Dryer Combo
Of course, a washer dryer combo is going to be the best fit for everyone. It’s important to know what the downsides are of switching to a ventless unit.
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Must Have Access to Cold Water:
Due to the condensation drying method used in washer dryer combos you must have cold — not warm — water running into the machine to allow the clothes to dry. And yes, this does include while it is drying.
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Small Load Capacity:
Because the condensation drying method needs to allow enough air space for moisture to dissipate from the clothing, the drum can only be ½ to ⅔ full during the dry cycle. Ventless washer dryers are great for small households with only 1-2 people. You don’t have much clothes to wash and, therefore, don’t need a large washing machine. However, larger families may experience a small bottleneck as you have to wash smaller loads.
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Longer Cycle Time:
The condensation drying method takes longer than the traditional forced air drying method and, therefore, the combined wash and dry times of a load will be longer than that of a traditional washer and dryer.
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Wrinkles:
If you do not take your laundry out upon completion of the dry cycle, you may get excessive wrinkles due to the moisture build up in the air inside the drum left from the condensation drying method.
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Clothes Not Fully Dry After Dry Cycle:
The air inside the combo washer dryer will still be very humid even after the dry cycle is over. This does cause the clothing to feel moist to the touch as you are taking your clothes out, but normally this is resolved with a quick shake out of the clothing item.
Common Uses of a Washer Dryer Combo
There are many different scenarios where a washer dryer combo would be a beneficial. The common theme of these different scenarios is the need to do laundry in a place that is not equipped with traditional laundry hookups, or there is not enough space for a separate washer and dryer.
In the below scenarios, a combination washer dryer makes doing laundry more convenient.
- Apartments & Condos Without Washer/Dryer Connections — This is the most common use of a washer dryer combo, and the best solution if you find you don’t have the necessary hookups.
- RVs: — Bring the comfort of washing your clothes on the road with you without compromising your space.
- Boats: — Bring the comfort of washing your clothes to the sea without compromising your space.
- Nursing Homes: — Allows the resident to wash their clothes when they want to and not get lost or mixed up with the another residents clothes.
- Extra Washer & Dryer: — If you have an overabundance of laundry or you have some light loads that you do not want to travel all the way down to the basement to handle, combo washer dryers often can lend the extra hand needed.
- Mother-in-Law/Guest House: — Helps offer the amenities of the main house without having to transport laundry back and forth.
- Extended Stay Hotels or Temporary Housing: — Some hotels or temporary housing offer these to their guests if they have to stay for long periods of times.
- Hair Salons: — Eliminate the need to take home the hair salon towels again if your shop space doesn’t offer laundry hook-ups.
However, if you do have the space and the necessary hook-ups for a separate washer and dryer, I would recommend going with that, because of the drawbacks that were listed above.
Laundry tends to be one of the least liked chores of in every household, and that dislike for laundry only multiplies when you are forced to make a trip to the laundromat just to have clean clothes. Washer dryer combos can make this chore more convenient, allowing you to never again go to the laundromat.
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