More and more manufacturers are getting into washer/dryer combo units and for good reason.
These laundry appliances are more compact, more efficient, and more affordable than traditional “full-blown” appliances are – and you really don’t sacrifice a lot of the cleaning power that the bigger machines bring to the table, either.
The trick, though, is making sure you buy the best washer/dryer combo units out there. With the help of the inside info we share below you’ll have no trouble pulling that off!
The Best Washer/Dryer Combo – LG Electronics Washer Dryer Combo
LG really knocked their washer/dryer combo unit out of the park, especially when it comes to capacity size.
Unlike a lot of other super compact combo units, the LG offers a “full-size” interior at just about 4.5 ft.³.
You might not be able to squeeze just as much laundry into this as you would have a traditional washing machine or dryer, but you’ll be able to get pretty close.
The unit has 14 different water cycles, can be plugged into any 120 V outlet, and even works well in campers or RVs (with the proper hook up, of course). There’s a lot to like about this unit.
Features
- Measures 24” x 22.5” x 33.5”
- Utilizes tumble action wash agitation
- 1400 RPM maximum spin speed
- 100% ventless
- Works well with smart devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and smart home setups (Google Home and Amazon Alexa in particular)
What We Liked
It’s not hard to fall in love with the oversized (for this class of appliance) drum inside this washer/dryer combo unit.
A lot of other combination options are considerably smaller than the 4.5 ft.³ you’ll have to work with here.
This alone makes this one of the best washer/dryer combo units you can buy and a big part of why this unit is in such high demand all the time.
The 14 individual wash cycles (including cycles specifically designed for bedding, active wear, and to fight back against allergens) give you a lot of extra laundry versatility.
Tub clean cycles help you to get rid of any bacteria that might have started to grow in your washing machine, ridding it of contaminants and potential toxins.
Throw in the smart appliance capabilities this machine offers and it’s easy to see why it’s such a big hit with the folks in the market for this kind of appliance.
What We Didn’t Like
All that said, this combo unit definitely needs a decent amount of regular maintenance to keep it humming along.
It doesn’t take long for Lent and debris from your clothes to get stuck and gummed up inside of the gaskets and seals.
Going from wet to hot environments with the flip of a switch also introduces the potential for mold and bacterial growth – which is why you want to use that tub clean cycle at least every couple of weeks.
The dispenser tray doesn’t have a specific cut out for detergent pods, either. But that’s a really minor critique, to be fair.
Pros and Cons
- Oversized capacity is a game changer
- Really cool to see cold water settings on a combo unit
- Leverages 120 V outlets
- Smart appliance features are very well integrated
- Requires regular cleaning and maintenance
- Limited instructions on how to best use the dryer component
The Best Budget Washer/Dryer Combo – Summit Platinum All-in-One Washer Dryer Combo
Perhaps not the flashiest of all the combo units available for sale today, this Summit machine still belongs on any list of the best washer/dryer combo set ups because of its “do it all” kind of capabilities.
Of course, the super affordable price point (especially compared to other washer/dryer combo units) doesn’t hurt, either!
That said, there are some downsides and drawbacks to utilizing the Summit combo set up. We go deeper in depth into them in just a moment.
Features
- Measures 33.25” x 23.38” x 23.5”
- 2.7 ft.³ capacity
- Front loading (non-reversible door)
- Digital and dial controls
- 16 different wash and dry cycles
- Permanent press cycle
- Designed for 115 V non-vented usage
What We Liked
Sure, this unit is a little bit on the smaller side of things (you’re losing nearly half the capacity compared to the LG unit above) but it is still a pretty impressive workhorse unit.
16 different wash and dry cycles give you a ton of control over how you do your laundry from one load to the next.
You’re likely to find all kinds of customized options and settings you can tinker with, too – really letting you dial in how this washer/dryer combo works.
Believe it or not, it’s possible to wash everything from your favorite workout clothes to wool suits in this combination appliance. You’re not going to find those kinds of capabilities just anywhere!
The spin and dry cycle fly around inside this machine at 1300 RPM, fast enough to make quick work of your laundry loads.
You won’t have to be sitting around waiting forever for this machine to finish up the laundry responsibilities.
What We Didn’t Like
Because this unit is so small it’s prone to “walking” and bouncing. Loads inside this washing machine can become unbalanced in a hurry and there’s no real way to bring it back into balance automatically.
On top of that, you’ll find that there’s no bleach dispenser built into this unit, there’s no reversible door option (which can be a bit of a pain), and – once again – we have to touch on the very small capacity.
Those may not be dealbreaker issues, but they are issues to be aware of all the same.
Pros and Cons
- Very efficient operation, thanks to the 1300 RPM spin/dry cycle
- Beautiful design and easily read/understand LCD readout
- 16 wash and dry cycles give you total control over your laundry
- Does become unbalanced quite quickly
- Capacity is on the smaller side of things, which means more loads of laundry not fewer
Closing Thoughts
Finding the best washer/dryer combo becomes a whole lot easier when you focus in on the two options we mentioned earlier.
The LG unit is far and away the best of the bunch on the market right now, especially because of its oversized (for combo units) capacity.
The build quality, the warranty, the ease of use, and the smart appliance integrations help to make this the very best washer/dryer combo money can buy.
All that said, sometimes an appliance like that just isn’t within your budget.
You’re in luck, though, because you can go with the Summit combo unit we reviewed earlier and not lose a ton of the capabilities or qualities the LG has along the way.
Sure, the capacity is smaller and the unit is a little noisier, but the downsides of the Summit combo aren’t end of the world issues.
You can’t go wrong with either one!