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Top 5 Washer Dryer Combos for Tiny Houses: Plus Top Washer/Dryer Alternatives Too…


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If you are thinking about moving into a tiny house or any other type of small space like a studio you might want to consider a washer dryer combo unit. There are plenty of choices to pick from and different features that you’ll want to know about, so I’ll go over all of that with you here and you’ll have a pretty good understanding about what’s available after you’re done reading this post.

Washer Dryer Combo Units Save Precious Space in Tiny Houses

Load capacities range from 11 to 22 lbs. Some models do not even require a vent hook up for the dryer. And if you’re on a tight budget or just don’t have the space to spare I’ll also show you an interesting countertop alternative. Ready? Let’s go…

Tiny House with a Washer Dryer Combo Unit

Before we get started I wanted to show you an example of a tiny house for sale that I posted on which included a washer dryer combo unit with it. Here’s a shot of it installed in this tiny home’s kitchen.

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Top 5 Washer Dryer Combo Units for Small Spaces

Which one would you pick for your tiny house or small space? I rented an apartment once that had an older version of the LG WM3987HW you’ll see here. Since the dryer does not use a vent it takes at least double the normal amount of time a vented dryer would. But you don’t have to take the time to move your clothes from the washer to the dryer so that’s nice. Most of these dryers are more environmentally friendly because they use less power to operate and although they are required to run longer during the drying period they also use significantly less water because of the front load design. But don’t worry, they do make some of the combo units that are vented so that drying your clothes can be faster. Just look out for ventless versus vented and know the difference. 🙂

1. Splendid WD2100XC White Vented Combo Washer/Dryer

Splendid Washer Dryer Combo for THOWs
  • Model: WD2100XC
  • Max Wash Capacity: 15 lbs.; Max Dry Capacity: 11 lbs.
  • Max Spin: 1200 RPM; Cycle: 10 wash/3 dry
  • Automatic water level control
  • Super-silent technology
  • RPM: 1200
  • Dimensions: 33-1/8″ Height x 23-1/2″ Width x 22-5/8″ Depth

=> Splendide Vented Combo Washer/Dryer (Designed for RVs)

2. LG WM3488HS 24 Inch Wide 2.3 Cu. Ft. Front Load All-in-One Washer Dryer Combo with 14 Wash Programs

Top Washer Dryer Combos for Tiny Houses LG WM3488HS

This LG 2.3 Cu. Ft. ventless washer dryer combo is available in white or silver and it’s great for micro apartments and other really small spaces since it’s a 2-in-1 and relatively compact in size! Here are its key features:

  • 2.3 cu. ft. capacity
  • Ventless condensation dryer
  • Dimensions: 33.5″ H x 24″ W x 25.25″ D
  • Power: 15 Amps
  • Input voltage: 120 volts / 60 Hertz frequency
  • Weighs 165 lbs

=> LG 2.3 Cu. Ft. Ventless Washer/Dryer

3. LG WM3997HWA 4.3 Cu. Ft. Steam Washer Dryer Combo

Top Washer Dryer Combos Large VENTLESS LG 4 Cu Ft Unit

If you can make the space, and have the desire/need to be able to process more clothes at a time, this is a great unit because you’ve got a 4.3 Cu. Ft. capacity! Of course, it is going to take up more space in your tiny home though. But in case you need something like this, this is one of the best larger washer/dryer combo on the market right now.

  • Model: WM3997HWA
  • Large Capacity: 4.3 cu. ft.
  • 12 A Power
  • 120V/60Hz
  • Weighs 211 lbs
  • Dimensions: 38.6875″H x 27″W x 29.75″D

=> LG 4.3 Cu. Ft. Ventless Washer/Dryer Combo

So that’s it for washer dryer combos but…

I thought you might also like the following alternatives to conventional washer/dryers and combo units below:

4. Wonder Wash & Mini Spin Dryer/Wringer – Cheap Laundry Machine Alternative!

WONDERSPIN Manual Hand Crank Washer and Dryer Alternative for Tiny Houses

Yes, it is a bit unconventional and might not be the best choice for everyone but it sure is cost efficient!

  • 2.2 lb wash capacity
  • Ideal for delicate garments
  • Environmentally friendly
  • Great for campers, RVs, and compact spaces
  • MINISPIN: 82 watts; 110V
  • Works in only 2-3 minutes
  • MINISPIN can be used as standalone or with conventional tumble dryer
  • Dryer (spinner) operates at 1600 RPM
  • No electricity needed for the WONDERWASH
  • Dryer Weight: 11 lbs
  • Washer Weight: 6 lbs
  • Spinner Dimensions: 13.5″ L x 13.5″ W x 15″ H
  • Washer Dimensions: 16″ H x 12″ W x 12″ L

=> Get the Manual Washer (WONDERWASH) here

=> Get the Countertop Spin Dryer here

5. Portable/Compact/Countertop Spin Dryers

Avalon Bay EcoSpin Portable Hand Cranked Manual Washer and Spinner Great for Tiny Houses
  • Completely portable and lightweight
  • Perfect for small loads and delicates
  • Easy to use, very little power needed
  • Some units are manual so no power is needed at all
  • Great for apartments, dorms, traveling, RVs, and tiny houses

=> Top Rated Countertop/Portable Spin Dryers

Even More Top Rated Washer/Dryers That Are Tiny House/RV-Friendly

=> Click here

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 152 comments… add one }
  • Timaree
    November 17, 2011, 1:18 pm

    Thanks for the review. I definitely want one of these if I get a fencl as to me, the house has to be a complete functioning unit with shower, washer, oven and microwave to be a house rather than a dorm room or house addition type of entity. I can do without a dishwasher as washing dishes is easy enough but laundromats or hand washing of clothes is no answer for me!

    • November 17, 2011, 7:11 pm

      Thank you for reading Timaree! I live in an apartment with shared laundry facility but if not I’d have one of these right now.. What did you think about the Wonderwash?

      • May 15, 2013, 1:33 pm

        I had a wonderwash and I was not that impressed with it. I did everything according to the manual and somehow still managed to crack the lid. I did not get even a year’s use out of it. I also had a friend get one and the same thing happened to her. Anyone have one that can tell me what I did wrong?

        I do my own laundry by hand using a bucket method which I prefer over a washing machine.

      • May 15, 2013, 1:33 pm

        I had a wonderwash and I was not that impressed with it. I did everything according to the manual and somehow still managed to crack the lid. I did not get even a year’s use out of it. I also had a friend get one and the same thing happened to her. Anyone have one that can tell me what I did wrong?

        I do my own laundry by hand using a bucket method which I prefer over a washing machine.

        • sue brittain
          May 29, 2013, 7:53 pm

          Hard to say what caused the crack. But try some duck tape on it

        • Bill
          September 30, 2013, 5:39 pm

          The DUCK tape comment quacked me up. I always use duct tape myself on my leaking ducks.

      • di
        September 18, 2013, 7:36 pm

        I usually visit the laundry mat on my way home from work. It’s not inconvenient.

    • Aaire
      April 3, 2013, 9:23 am

      For the past 13 years I have used a Splendide combination washer dryer for doing laundry for a family of 3. I love it. I don’t pack the machine with laundry. I fluff the wet items before the dryer mode and we faithfully remove the lint from the two filters. We don’t have issues with the drying time as I suspect the fact that ours is vented and keeping the filters clean definitely aids in drying time. We are moving to another small space soon and plan to purchase another Splendide.

      • John W. Abert
        May 24, 2013, 11:32 am

        We have also owned two of the Splendides in different motorhomes, and found them wonderfully quiet and efficient. Although this article brought out many units that I have never heard of in 30 years of RVing, it seems to miss the point of providing the “real” top five! After all, these tiny homes ARE classified as RV’s (if on wheels) and it seems that one’s research should start with what RV’s use, and HAVE been using for the last 30+ years! I am sure that Spendide (made by Husqvarna)has outsold all of these other newcomers ten times over! So in providing a TRUE top five (or even top ten list) it seems that the “actual” usage research was not done, and several units were simply pulled from search engines to fill out an article!

        Also, not one mention was made of over/under type units, which are also used extensively in RV’s and other compact spaces! In terms of sales or usage, I doubt that ANY of these units (mentioned in the article) are in the top five of ANY list! These seem to be nothing but random listings pulled from the web to satisfy the need of providing sales links to the products, and nothing more! In order to be believable, the proper research needs to be done, based on units sold and/or customer satisfaction, otherwise this is simply the writer’s efforts to make affiliate commissions from the sales of whatever he could find!

        • Ralph Sly
          May 11, 2014, 4:07 am

          Thanks for your comments John, sometimes we are quick to follow what we feel is trusted information and opinions like yours are so valuable. The end users are the ones I try to listen to more all the time. Thank goodness for the comments and people like you who call BS exactly what it is. I am on what is probably my end build, am too old to screw around with substandard products expecting them to do what they don’t.

        • Jim Sadler
          January 9, 2015, 12:06 pm

          There is no absolute right answer for washing clothes. A car mechanic will tend to have a need for heavy duty cleaning of laundry. Most people do not need heavy duty cleaning at all. Most people are better off to wash with cold water. Hand washing or using ones feet to wash clothing can be superior. Over and under units tend to be of low quality and high prices. And to be towed about requires extra strength in a washer and drier unit. Really a good solution is only as difficult as one wants it to be. I will say that it should be illegal to have rules or laws banning a clothes line for drying.

  • Timaree
    November 18, 2011, 10:06 am

    Alex, I wouldn’t personally go for the Wonderwasher as it needs separate storage, it won’t wash anything large (consider jeans or sheets or towels) and I just can’t believe it would work that well. If it’s only good for the smallest items well, they could be handwashed with the same effort as is involved with this tool, IMHO.

    • November 23, 2011, 9:05 am

      Thanks for your input!

      • Tiana
        August 30, 2012, 5:46 am

        The wonder wash will do (a pair of ) jeans. We found it did a great job, as long as it was not allowed to cool, it will literally seal itself! Canned clothes! If we had the mini spin at the time we might not have sold it to my BIL for his A-frame, as our only complaint was wrinkling jeans wringing them light enough to hang. Honestly, our regular size front loader spins everything out to damp dry, half a day on the line.

  • Kathleen
    November 18, 2011, 7:05 pm

    I’ve had a WonderWasher or something very similar to it, and found that it worked well enough, even for jeans (one pair at a time, though!). I have arthritis in my hands, though, and hand-wringing jeans is out of the question! In preparation for the next time we are living off-grid, I bought a hand-crank wringer and a couple of scrub boards, and a set of laundry tubs. There are only me and my youngest daughter now (she’s an adult but is mentally handicapped), so I could manage our laundry that way. It gets harder if you have a larger family.

    • November 23, 2011, 9:07 am

      Gotcha, thanks for sharing your experience Kathleen. I bet that MINISPIN might be of value to you?

  • Margaret
    November 19, 2011, 2:11 am

    My fear is always the cost but I so want a single washer/dryer unit.

    LG WM3987HW – $1125
    LG WM3455HS – $1120
    FAS-3612X Fagor– $1099
    ARWDF129 Summit Ariston – $1000
    WonderWasher – $50
    MiniSpin – $85

    I tried to use a similar device to the Wonderwasher but I have limited mobility in my arms and could not manage it. I suppose that when you get down to it the larger units are not that much compared to the standard front load separates at Sears or the like.

    The question is… If you are going off the grid would your alternative energy method be able to handle running 1 load a week?

    • November 23, 2011, 9:09 am

      Margaret, thank you so much for laying out the cost. I should have done that! I guess that’s why I have you guys though. Thanks so much everyone..

      I guess you’d have to invest in enough solar panels to power them. If anyone is interested in doing that, you should look into federal grants involving solar panels. In many cases I believe you can a lot of your investment back in your taxes. Does anyone know about that?

      • Heather
        January 7, 2015, 11:38 pm

        I’m a worrier, so I do nothing tax related without running it by my accountant, including buying things intending to get tax credits. They are so complicated, or can be in some situations, mine namely.

        Anyhow, getting subsidies are *sometimes* tied to a homestead exemption. RVs may not qualify, but they may. tax pro & not the dude down at the corner tax center – a real tax pro who will stand by you when audited.

        If a tiny home is not on wheels and is on a foundation but not permitted properly, getting tax credits might work in the short term but cost big later, if extra permitting ends up being discovered. 😛

      • Two Crows
        January 8, 2015, 2:26 pm

        I got a 25% federal rebate on my solar panels. I was living in a manufactured home at the time. Not sure how that would stack up with RV’s/TH’s.
        I was TOLD, at the time, that the electric company was required to buy any excess energy at 70% of their sell-rate. Fine. But my state elected a Tea Partying governor about a year later and he kiboshed that. I never saw one penny from the buy-back program.
        He was reelected recently despite the fact that he had a 23% approval rating a year ago. Go figure. So I can kiss any recompense on generated energy goodbye at least till we can get rid of him. And even then, there are no guarantees it will be reinstated.

    • Two Crows
      January 8, 2015, 2:17 pm

      hi Margaret. Don’t know if this would work for you, but I found the Summit. Cost is $869. Not cheap but far less than many listed and had great reviews – better than the LG, for instance, which is listed at 3x the price.

  • jim sadler
    November 19, 2011, 11:04 am

    Weight and power consumption make washer-dryer units not such a great idea for a tiny home, in my opinion. Hand washing with a couple of plastic buckets and a trip to a laundromat every now and then for blankets is reasonable. In areas that have cold winters I understand that some arrangement would be needed to dry clothing. That’s not an issue in Florida. It’s 87F and almost Thanksgiving here.

    • November 23, 2011, 9:10 am

      Great points you bring up, Jim, thanks!

    • November 23, 2011, 9:10 am

      ..and Happy Thanksgiving 🙂

  • November 19, 2011, 12:16 pm

    The idea of living small is getting rid of stuff. Most tiny homes are for a single person. Doing the one load of laundry a week at the laundromat or friends place, means not buying [$1000?] a washer/dryer and using the space for something else.

    • Athena
      November 21, 2011, 11:46 pm

      I agree, Patrick…
      I’ve led a nomadic life for 45 years, and found that the most precious thing in tiny digs is space over convenience…you can outsource things like laundry really easy.

      • November 23, 2011, 9:12 am

        Very true, thanks Athena!

    • November 23, 2011, 9:11 am

      Excellent point, Patrick. Thank you!

    • jim sadler
      March 23, 2015, 8:08 am

      I like to keep it simple. To dry my clothing I do not wring it out at all. I simply hang it over a tub fully wet. After the initial water has drained off for an hour or two I put a fan directly aimed at the clothing. Most items take a day to dry but a heavy blanket might take three days. With clothing not being abused by machines or wringing it tends to last for years. I do tend to use all wash and wear clothing. But my involvement with a weeks laundry is less than 30 minutes from start to finish. If possible I recommend a tiny shed as a laundry room. An old bath tub works great to soak the clothing and rinse it out and a piece of pipe for coat hangers over the tub will hold the laundry with the fan on it. You will get nice, fresh, laundry easily and at almost zero cost.

      • Joyce Rader
        June 11, 2018, 1:21 pm

        Jim’s method of doing laundry works fine for those who do not mind ‘clothes hanging around the place’ (what we used to call Chinese Laundry). During bad weather clothes may be slower to dry or faster in winter with the heat on. They do make folding dryer racks to use indoors and also a variety of clothes lines to take advantage of solar rays. Solar drying in areas free of blowing dust is great to brighten and freshen clothes with no power cost and less effort used by the owner.

  • Carl in SC
    November 19, 2011, 9:17 pm

    Wondering if a small stackable washer & dryer would not be an acceptable alternative to the combination unit. It’d be taller, of course, but it is more appealing to me. I have yet to build a tiny house though. If I do it might be more of a camper and guest house since I would find it almost impossible for the wife and me to live permanently in a tiny house.

    • November 23, 2011, 9:14 am

      Hey Carl, you know, I never really thought about a stackable washer & dryer in a tiny house. I’m sure it can work and those units cost less, just takes up a lot more room that could otherwise be cabinets/storage or maybe even another appliance like a mini fridge?

    • jim sadler
      May 11, 2014, 8:22 am

      In England the queen and king each had a castle. With tiny homes maybe two, side by side, might be the best way for married folks to live. Single folks might like one tiny home for work and one for leisure. Built on wheels or on a truck you pay no property taxes, avoid building regulations and can quickly move if the creek rises or a wild fire gets close. In summer you can park in the shade and in winter you can park in a sunny corner of your lot. If you need to shop or do errands in town Home Depot or Walmart parking lots work well and if you attach a bicycle to your rig you can usually visit all kinds of businesses nearby as well.

      • Two Crows
        January 8, 2015, 2:32 pm

        I once knew a couple who lived in small homes next door to each other. We called it their “house with the driveway down the middle.” They slept at her place and he kept his grand piano [and practicing sessions] at his. Worked great for them.

        Never measured their homes but I’ll bet they would have qualified as ‘tiny’ by today’s definition.

  • Nanci
    November 20, 2011, 10:21 am

    We have a Splendide 2000 and I would have to say that the unit has become our backup. The clothes come out wrinkled because the drum is just so small. It takes forever to dry so laundry can take DAYS. I honestly prefer to hit the laundromat once a week and get the job done in a mere 2 hours!

    • November 23, 2011, 4:36 pm

      Thank you for sharing Nanci. I have to agree, I like the machines just because I’ve found so many other things I’d rather be spending my time on. So yeah, a trip to the laundromat works… and you can bring a book.

    • John W. Abert
      May 24, 2013, 11:57 am

      We have owned two Spendides and had no problem with wrinkled clothes. However, one point to take into consideration is that ANY combination unit will take longer, because you can only do one operation at a time. The stackable units have an advanatage in being able to wash AND dry at the same time.

      However, none of these powered units are practical for off-grid living, as the power consumption would be too much and for too long a time for most solar systems. You would HAVE to have a generator to run them, but that’s still workable. I think that in any home, tiny or not, the need to wash clothes is a necessity that far outweighs having a dishwasher. For those in the northern climates, having to go out to the laundromat or mess with hand washing/drying in freezing weather is more extreme than I want to deal with!

      • Two Crows
        January 8, 2015, 2:38 pm

        I have 5KwH of solar panels and am moving into a small house soon. The system I have won’t fit on the house [the roof is too small] but I plan to build a covered deck in the back yard that will take most of them. I’ll probably screen it in eventually – a major plus in Florida what with our bug population.

        There would be a lot of factors to consider if investing in enough solar power to carry a washer/dryer but, if folks can afford the outlay and their home is on a foundation, it’s doable.

    • TONY MARREN
      February 22, 2014, 1:44 pm

      I second the concept of laundry mat use as part of the tiny house gameplan. (A) One less appliance issue to address when there is a technical glitch. (B) Space in the unit (C) Multi-tasking–Go find a place to get laundry done. Use the occasion to fuel vehicle or grocery shop. Capitalize on getting things accomplished in a continual route.

      • Ralph Sly
        May 11, 2014, 4:21 am

        I use the laundry mat all the time at present and am a clothing horse. I use up to 5 washing machines at a time because I have enough clothing to last 60 days on the road and many changes because of weather and getting down and dirty in the bush, grant you, it would be different if I was in a remote location but am mobile all the time so am rethinking the purchase, installation and nonsense of having my own unit. What the hell 2 hours every two months, I will follow your lead and do as I am. It works.

      • Jim Sadler
        January 9, 2015, 12:13 pm

        There is a solid upside to not having laundry machines in that you may not need 220V wiring as the dryer may be the only item seriously needing a 220 volt connection. It also means that if you run a generator at times it only need produce 110V. and that means a less expensive gererator is required. And if you are on a solar system it is handy to have all 12V lighting and the like.

      • Owen Glendower
        May 11, 2015, 8:37 pm

        “Use the occasion to fuel vehicle or grocery shop. Capitalize on getting things accomplished in a continual route.”

        Exactly what we do on our weekly trips to town:
        1. Toss stuff in two washing machines.
        2. Hit the home center and/or have a quick lunch.
        3. Back to the laundromat, toss stuff in the dryers.
        4. Hit the grocery store.
        5. Back to the laundromat, pull stuff out of the dryers.
        6. Head back to the cabin (thank the Lord).

        We’re never actually AT the laundromat for more than ½ hour, most of that folding the clothes.

  • jim sadler
    November 23, 2011, 11:44 am

    I owned one of those over and under dryers in a condo. Frankly the ones that have any hope of lasting are very expensive, they use too much power, and the noise levels in a tiny space would be awful.
    Assuming the tiny home is not to be very mobile it would make more sense to hand wash and have a dryer in a small shed, not attached to the tiny home. The over and under units that I have seen would be beaten to death by being towed or bounced down a road very much at all. For those with more than one person in a tiny home having two units might be a great idea.

    • November 23, 2011, 3:30 pm

      Jim, great points and glad that you mentioned them. For me, that’s one too many cons of having a stackable washer dryer in a tiny house. More and more I’m leaning towards hand washing and making a trip to the laundry mat once a week or so.

      • donna kuhn
        August 26, 2012, 7:27 pm

        then there are those of us who can’t go to the laundromat due to chemical sensitivity–laundry fumes are out.

        • May 15, 2013, 1:36 pm

          I am the same way but it’s not just the fumes that bother me but the previous user’s soap residue left in the machine!

    • Marcy
      November 17, 2014, 3:45 pm

      I also had a stackable washer/dryer in a condo and loved it. It fit inside a closet and could was everything except blankets and other very bulky things. Because of my experience, every time I see a photo of a tiny house with the washer/dryer combo, I wonder why they wouldn’t put in a stackable.

  • Elizabeth Gwin
    November 23, 2011, 4:51 pm

    I just wanted to say that I knew a man who worked away from home a lot on construction. He would take one or two or those five gallon paint buckets with tight fitting lids and put them in the back of his pick-up then fill them with water,laundry soap, and dirty clothes before he drove to work. The motion of the truck agitated the clothes and got them clean. Before he returned home, he dumped the wash water and refilled for the rinse and drove back to his lodgings. then he’d wrung out his clean clothes and hung them in the shower to dry overnight. I have often thought that this was a clever and easy way to get laundry done without using any extra energy.

    • November 23, 2011, 4:55 pm

      Great story (and idea), Elizabeth, so glad you shared it!

    • jim sadler
      December 15, 2012, 7:00 pm

      Mother Earth magazine once featured a hand built washing machine. There was a barrel with an agitator such that a crank came out the top of the barrel at a right angle and a weight was on the end of the crank. Every time the truck accelerated, slowed down or made a turn the weight would move the agitator around in the barrel. These folks loaded the barrel with clothing, soap and water and drove to town. Before leaving town they drained the barrel and added clean water and drove home. And if your clothes line is strong you can hang very wet clothing and not wring it out at all. Time will get the clothing dry. Or you can hand it in a shower and use a fan to get it dry. Even a heavy towel will dry in 24 hours.

      • Two Crows
        January 8, 2015, 2:47 pm

        Love the idea of driving your clothes around to clean them
        But – –
        While there are lots of advantages to living in Florida, hanging clothes to dry [especially in the summer] is not one of them. You can set your clock by our rain storms in the summer. Even in the fall and spring we get regular deluges. A dryer in this clime isn’t a luxury. Don’t know how people got along down here before its invention.

        I do hang my delicates over a clothes horse but heavier stuff just needs a dryer. One of the downsides of the Florida climate but outweighed by the positives, obviously.

  • November 23, 2011, 5:55 pm

    ♥ Thank U4 this post …
    Will definitely refer to this B4 I purchase …
    ~Special blessings 2U Alex …
    ~Debbie:)

    • November 23, 2011, 6:00 pm

      Thank you Debbie I appreciate it 🙂

  • Beth
    November 29, 2011, 10:01 am

    When my ex-husband & I lived in our motor home for two years, we had a Splendide washer/dryer combo and it worked great. It wasn’t too loud and it did a good job getting clothes clean; the biggest drawback was that when the weather wasn’t conducive to line-drying, we had to use the dryer and it took about 2 hours to dry a small load of laundry, which had to dried FOLDED, otherwise it came out incredibly wrinkled and the process involved folding and unfolding and folding again with new wet-sides facing out and putting back in the dryer for half-hour stretched as a time. It was very time consuming, but as someone who hates laundromats and was in an area that didn’t have them, anyways, it got the job done.

    • November 29, 2011, 3:26 pm

      Hey Beth, I guess that’s the issue with these combo units because I had the larger LG version in a condo I rented for a while and pretty much had the same issue unless I did really small loads. But it still never compared to the drying ability of a vented dryer! But yeah, gets the job done without going to a laundromat (which I don’t mind, though).

  • Morgan
    February 23, 2012, 1:11 pm

    I got a washing machine unit that has an agitator drum and a super fast spin drum. It is smallish and spins the clothes so dry that my drying racks are all the dryer I need. Though a 50 cent spin in the large capacity dryer at the laundromat every now and then is nice for big fluffy towels. I will look for a link for it, and post it here.

  • Morgan
    February 23, 2012, 1:23 pm

    Here is my little Danby. It is more expensive, but it works wonders for it’s size. You can plug it in to your kitchen sink or a garden hose.

    (Link Expired: nextag.com/Danby-Portable-Twin-Tub-81405589/prices-html)

    • February 23, 2012, 7:24 pm

      Awesome! Thanks, Morgan!

  • Tiana
    August 8, 2012, 8:22 pm

    I would go for the 7gal bucket with a spin on lid and a plunger (the first can double as a stool, and the second, welll, never hurts to have two!) and then the little super spin thingie should make line drying very quick. We have freeze dried clothes on the line outside in the winter. We do not have ready access to the laundromat, that would mean *shudder*, going to town!

    • August 27, 2012, 1:50 pm

      Thanks, Tiana, great idea!

  • Barb Blythe
    September 19, 2012, 11:09 am

    Hi Everyone! Am enjoying the banter re: washer/dryers in tiny houses. I’m still in the planning stage & am very glad I’ve had the time to reconsider several items–one of them laundry. Lived in Hawaii & had stackables in the bathrm. Boy, did it get HOT & steamy! And the noise….At first no laundry facilities was a deal breaker, then discovered combo units: Yea. But now I want to change the things I can–storage is paramount–only so much space no matter how clever you are. Laundry, considering everything–weight, cost etc is better done elsewhere. Thanks Alex & everyone for comments!

  • jerryd
    December 15, 2012, 4:25 pm

    I’m looking to move onto my trimaran and want a simple washer. I was thinking something the size of a 5-7gal bucket that has a agitator and spin cycle.

    I don’t mind draining the water, refilling it for rinse, etc but sould be able to do 8-10 or so pieces of cloths at a time.

    So it their anything like that on the market or will I have to make my own? I’ve seen ones before like this with the agitator/plunger in the lid. The spin cycle is important.

    Not sure why a dryer is so important to people as one can even hang clothes up inside if needed and blow a fan on them in the shower.

    Many also talk about humidity but living in Fla most of my life in the winter I have to boil water sometimes for enough to be comfortable. If too much vents, I use powered ones using computer fans, do that job.

    So any suggestions on washers under $200 like I want?

    No way in heck I’m spending $1k for the ones mentioned. Too cheap for that plus they take up too much space, power.

  • jim sadler
    December 15, 2012, 7:10 pm

    Try a one hour soak in cold water with your detergent. Swish it around with your hand once or twice during that hour. Turn the bucket upside down in the tub and let the gray water drain. Leave the clothes in the tub and fill with cold water. Swish it about a bit and drain. By a spare shower curtain rod. The type that you twist to tighten. After the clothing oozes out water for an hour or so simply toss it over the shower rod and use a box fan to speed things along. It is easy. And you can do lite loads and not heavy work clothing with dish soap to save money. Real laundry soap is called for for heavily soiled clothing but your common dish soap (hand wash type) is plenty strong for most clothing. This method saves me about 60 dollars a month compared to a coin laundry and probably saves even more on the typical home rigs.

    • jerryd
      December 15, 2012, 10:17 pm

      Jim, Thanks. That can be a backup plan though I hope there are some faster with a spin to get most of the water out that doesn’t cost too much.

      I cam always get a reduction gear motor and hook it to a plunger and put it on top of a bucket.

      Thinking about it use a bucket with many side, bottom holes and spin it.

      But a good already made unit would be nice.

      • jim sadler
        September 18, 2013, 8:49 pm

        The more you use force the less life your clothing will have. In many parts of the world a creek and a flat rock are all that is required to wash clothing. Usually a brush with soapy water is applied to any spots on the fabric that are really soiled. A brush is used and the flat rock backs up the clothing. Then the entire garment is rinsed in the creek and simply hung to dry. That method extends the life of clothing by at least 500%. Anything that strains the fabric is a negative. Squeezing, applying heat or force of any kind is best avoided. I can do the bucket method faster than most people can fill a washer and transfer it to a dryer.

        • Eleanore
          February 22, 2014, 4:42 pm

          True that fabric will wear down with force. As to the method of washing clothes in the river and beating them on rocks, that will VERY quickly wear out your clothes. I spent quite a bit of time in India and the washerwoman would wash my clothes with that method and they would only last a few washings they were worn so thin!

    • di
      September 18, 2013, 7:33 pm

      My Mom used to have a washer with a crank ringer. The ringer was 2 rollers with a small space in between for wet clothes. Once everything was washed, you’d pass it through the ringer, shake out the wrinkles and hang to dry.

      • di
        September 18, 2013, 7:38 pm

        Meant “wringer”.

      • jim sadler
        September 18, 2013, 8:52 pm

        Back in the days when clothing was made of real cotton or wool the wringer worked out rather well. Really hot water was often used for washing and many of the detergents from that era were actually dangerous. Modern clothing would not do so well with those methods. I did love the feeling of good cotton fabric.

  • Jerry
    December 16, 2012, 12:13 am

    For those who embrace the tiny house movement due to wanting to create a smaller footprint on the environment, I think powered washers and dryers are out of the question. For those who fall into this group in some way, I would recommend a pair of large diameter galvanized buckets, a hand washing plunger, and a commercial size (5gal+) salad spinner instead of a wringer, since wringers actually damage many fabrics over time. Salad spinners can spin so much water out of your clothes, they take much less time to hang dry. You really need a commercial grade salad spinner of at least 5 gallons, and check any reviews you can google on them to ensure the crank mechanism is sturdy and long lasting. They cost $75-$300, with decent ones available around $150, and good ones can be found on sale around $100.

    As with as many objects as possible in a tiny house, I also like the idea of multiple uses for the galvanized buckets. When not in use, you can turn them upside down and place a cushion on them to use as a footrest or short stool.

    • December 16, 2012, 11:07 am

      Smart idea Jerry I’d like to do a post based on your comment in the future. Thanks!

      • Jerry
        December 16, 2012, 9:42 pm

        Sounds great! There are several methods for washing clothes that are cheap, ecologically sound, and easy on the muscles. I look forward to reading your posts, as always!

        • Two Crows
          January 8, 2015, 3:07 pm

          I’d like to know more about your method.
          Being a 67-y-o woman whose muscles aren’t what they once were, I had pretty much dismissed your comment till you said that “easy on the muscles” part. Would you post more detail, please?
          Such as, how do you spin wet clothes in a 5 gallon salad spinner and be “easy on the muscles?”
          Thanx.

    • notyetaninja
      July 2, 2014, 2:30 am

      I find that hang drying some types of fabrics makes them stiff and unpleasant to wear. What kind of washing powder or detergent do you use? I’m currently trying out different combination of baking soda and homemade (someone else’s home – haha) to see what works. Any suggestions?

      • Lynda D
        September 27, 2014, 9:49 pm

        Dr Bronner’s castile soaps or their Sal’s Suds. As always, their products are biodegradable, not tested on animals, ethically sourced and do the job well. I happen to like Sal’s Suds for laundry (a capful for an average size load). I know people who like the liquid castile soap. I also use Sal’s Suds as dishwashing soap. And as a general cleaner.
        https://www.drbronner.com

  • Zanab
    December 16, 2012, 2:12 am

    A stacking unit leaves fuzz everywhere from the drier. No matter how clean you try to be, count on extra serious dusting. I bought a wonderwash but had trouble with wringing out larger items.But I found a smaller Haier 1.0 Cubic Foot Portable Washing Machine and thought even if I only use it to spin out, it will help. After 14 weeks of laundry, it paid for itself. It has a lot of control options on water level, type of cycle etc. and even though I hear many people make fun of it, I loved it. I just put up a drying rack in my home and because it spun the water out so well, everything dried quickly. It is also much smaller and lighter (than a regular machine) and so easy to move. Yea Haier! Walmart can ship it to your house. I love it! PS Yes it does jeans and queen size sheets! 🙂

  • Carolyn B
    December 16, 2012, 8:28 pm

    Great post. I’m trying to figure out if my next washer / dryer purchase is going to be a combo unit or not. Would definitely love the space saving on the stacking but as you know, I can’t stand.

  • Peggy
    February 6, 2013, 2:52 am

    I own 2 pair of pants and about 4 shirts so I do laundry frequently. I’d love to own one of these. Read somewhere that you just put the clothes in at night and they are clean and dry when you get up in the morning. Happyness!

  • Billi Vickery
    March 16, 2013, 12:42 pm

    The LG is what I have … you said it takes twice as long? Not mine … mine takes an average of 4.5 hours per load to complete the wash and dry cycle and then still has to “cool down” before you can open it. Everything comes out extremely wrinkled. I am still on the grid for now and my electric bill has doubled with this little machine. Not worth it at all! When I move north to go off-grid, I will not be bringing this combo unit with me.

    • Alex
      March 16, 2013, 1:10 pm

      Ventless dryers are going to take a lot longer yeah. Sorry I guess I forgot exactly how long each load takes. The up side is that you don’t have to transfer from unit to unit.. What do you think, would you have rather gone with a stackable washer/dryer instead?? Not sure I’ve seen someone do that just yet in a tiny house on a trailer. But maybe it would be better?

  • Jerry
    March 16, 2013, 11:27 pm

    Thanks for posting that video, it’s priceless!

    • billy
      March 17, 2013, 1:03 am

      You’re welcome, Jerry; Yes, I think that this will get your clothes much cleaner than most of the other things you see. If the machine only sloshes the clothes around, or like the “Wonder Wash,” just rocks them back and forth, I just can’t see the clothes coming out clean. You have to WORK the material, SQUEEZE the material, to remove the dirt and grime. Think about the old “Scruboards” that women used to use; now that was working the grime out of the clothes. This girl, with three buckets has the best idea. Plus, that “Blue Plunger” that she used is great too! They can be bought online for less than $20.00. They’re pretty solid, unlike a commode plunger, that will give, and not really press the clothes. Hey, she looked like a clean person, I would go the same route if I needed to hand wash my clothes!! She’s got it down pretty good!!

  • Skysea
    April 9, 2013, 6:22 am

    I’ve been told that the Panda portable washer is one of the best washers out there, and for only $85, (sometimes less, depending on where you buy it), it’s a steal!
    Here’s the Amazon skinny on it;
    http://www.amazon.com/Package-Panda-Portable-Compact-Capacity/product-reviews/B005GM942C/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#R250ZDHCI0I3Y1
    Downside; Jeans would need to be done one at a time for a large pair, or for someone my size (5ft tall size 3-5), you can fit about 2-3 pairs of jeans in there without it jamming up.
    For lighter fabrics, you can do a pretty large load with no problems.
    It only struggles with heavier fabrics.

    I’d use it with a hand crank wringer to get out all the water (since the Panda that i haven’t heard any complaints about, doesn’t have a spin dry cycle).
    This is the best example i have seen for the Panda portable washer;
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3spJfDaUzEc

    The other panda washer has a dryer combo, but I’ve heard that one has leak issues and tends to flood the floor.

    For the spin cycle, people seem to swear by the Centerfuge, which gets the cloths nearly dry but still damp enough that they’d need to be hung for a couple hours. It runs around $145.00
    Here’s Amazons skinny on The Centerfuge;
    http://www.amazon.com/Centrifugal-Clothes-Portable-Spin-Dryer/dp/B002GEDBIG/ref=pd_sbs_la_5

    Me, personally, i like the idea of washing my cloths by hand via the plunger method mentioned above, and then line drying them.
    Nothing better than the smell of sun/wind dryed cloths. 🙂

    • Alex
      April 9, 2013, 12:05 pm

      Those look like AWESOME options. Thank you so much for pointing them out to us.. I added them to the list officially 🙂

      • Skysea
        April 17, 2013, 1:11 am

        Hey, glad i could help!
        Looking to start building my own “Tiny House” on a trailer at some point, so have been researching all my options for when i can begin that project. 🙂
        Personally, looking to go completely off the grid, so the Panda and the Centrifuge looked like a great pair to work with on Solar energy. Figured i would share my research. I’m honored that it made your list, Alex!
        Keep up the great blogging!
        i am subscribed via my tablet, so i get updates any time you post something. Looking forward to your next article.

    • billy
      April 17, 2013, 8:18 am

      Skysea,
      I totally agree with you, I like the idea of washing my cloths by hand via the plunger method as well. I just can’t see these little washers getting the clothes as clean as you can with a plunger, and some elbow grease! A wringer, and hang drying is great too.

    • Two Crows
      January 8, 2015, 3:33 pm

      Wow! I watched the video you posted and have begun rethinking. She washed REALLY dirty jeans in it and it seemed to do as well as a conventional washer. I, otoh, am retired and DON’T EVER WEAR JEANS. EVER.
      Oh My Gauze is my favorite clothing line. Nuff said, I think.

      Ok, yes, I might have to take sheets to a laundromat so that’s something to consider.

      So thinking. Thinking.

  • Jerry
    April 10, 2013, 1:14 am

    The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced a method of combining a kitchen sink and a washer/spinner unit is the perfect answer for a tiny house. A ball bearing base that works as a sink stopper would support the spinning basket that contains the clothes. A crank mechanism similar to those on a commercial salad spinner, or an properly sized motor, would then agitate the clothes during the wash cycle, and spin the clothes to hanger dryness. The device would only have to be raised an inch or so for draining the wash/rinse water, with a simple lever making it easy to lift the load the little bit necessary. A dual sink setup would make it really easy, washing in one and spinning in the other, and allow you to conserve soapy wash water across multiple loads. The device could be stored under the sink, and since it’s basically a basket, it can be used to store the washing supplies (bio-degradable soaps, essential oils for a fresh scent, etc). There are so many ways to use a single sink in a tiny house, it’s a bathroom sink, a kitchen sink, a mop sink, a humidifier (with a few hot stones), a washing machine, the list goes on and on, and multiple uses lead to space that can be used for something else. I like the idea of turning the old saying of “everything but the kitchen sink” around, and making the kitchen sink the place of doing everything!

  • Jerry
    April 17, 2013, 4:17 am

    Nice find Isobel, ingenious method of saving space and water. It could really be useful if you can get past the idea of washing your clothes right above where you do your other business.

  • Lonnie
    May 6, 2013, 3:50 pm

    I like in a greenhouse turned into a 2 bedroom studio apartment….I have been considering purchasing a washer/dryer combo but everyone I spoke with kept saying they take too long, etc. But compare to what I spend a month on laundry for a toddler and myself, I don’t mind. What should I look for when considering a combo? etc. Thanks

  • Randy
    May 10, 2013, 2:34 pm

    I have a small mountain property and I installed the LG WM3987HW combo unit. It plugs into a standard outlet and the only thing it requires is a cold water tap and outlet. It is awesome and I highly recommend it if you are considering purchasing one. I agree, it does take a small eternity to dry a load of clothes (about 3.5 hours from start wash to finish dry) but, if you’re like me, you’ll adjust to that quickly! The unit was a tad pricey but it’s been worth every penny!

    • Randy
      May 10, 2013, 2:36 pm

      I forgot! My unit will soon be 3 years old with no issues ever …. it has been very reliable.

  • Dawn
    May 13, 2013, 5:31 pm

    I have both number 7 – centrifugal spin “dryer” and number 8 – panda washing machine. I like them both very much. The work well and are portable. For my wants, the washer is a bit too small. The “dryer” is just the right size, and will hold about 1 1/2 loads of the washer. I wish the washer was a bit bigger to match!

    The “dryer” doesn’t actually dry clothing with heat. Instead, it spins all the water out of them, such that they are *almost dry* and you can hang them up. Unfortunately, the “dryer” wont fluff up your towels or soften up blue jeans like a heated dryer, but it also won’t thrash your delicates or cook your bra elastic. 🙂

    On both machines the cords are uncomfortably short, and a three prong extention cord is needed unless you have very convenient outlets.

    A grade for the centrifugal “dryer,” B grade for the panda washer.

    • Alex
      May 14, 2013, 9:35 am

      Thanks so much for sharing your experience with these machines Dawn, much appreciated!

  • Louise C
    May 18, 2013, 1:03 pm

    Hi Alex,
    I live in a condo and the laundry room is very scary: weird neighbors I don’t know & very dark. The machines there don’t work well: I pay and can’t get a hot or warm wash, and the dry cycle doesn’t work well. The manager stores the trash from the courtyard including pizza and cigarettes in a big bin in the laundry room for weeks; I don’t know why.

    Any way, the upshot is that I decided 7 years ago to do a green living experiment and do all of my laundry in the sink or bathtub. Honestly, it is so much easier than hauling it up and down the stairs, safer too. I don’t have to wait for an available washer or dryer. I do the blankets, comforters in the tub. I can wash all my down coats and sheets in the kitchen sink. I set the movable bar in the tub so that I can drain off most of the water, then put it all on a dryer rack. I run a supplemental heater in the winter which runs off my electricity, so I just set that up in front of the drying rack during the night, and it uses about as much electricity as I would pay for a tiny dryer downstairs. My clothes don’t smell of pizza and cigarettes, I’m not hauling up and down stairs fearing a fall, I don’t have to wait for a machine, or run into a scary neighbor. I can wash any time day or night and use about as much water as a shower, and not have someone else’s nasty soap smell and lint mess in my clothes either. The best thing is: I don’t have to buy a gym membership. 🙂

    Most of my friends think I am crazy, but it works for me. If I couldn’t do a big load of blankets, I would haul them to the laundry and pay to have them washed and dried. I might do that with my down coat this year just to get some of the really bad spots out. I’m a happy urban green living gal.

    I did see a washing machine I wouldn’t mind having. It was in the historical Molly Brown House. It has a zinc and copper tub, and the agitator is operated by two foot pedals. Sweet. Very large tho. 🙂

    • Billy
      May 30, 2013, 4:05 am

      That’s the way to do it!! Sensible!! Stay away from other people, and their clothes, the trash, the danger. That’s the way I’d do it too! Good luck !

  • Keyra
    May 27, 2013, 12:56 am

    Love this info – thank you

  • Jt
    July 22, 2013, 10:11 pm

    Haier also makes 2 small portable washers (a little more sturdy than the Panda). A 1 cubic foot for $199-250 and a 1.46 cubic foot for $360. They work well for 1-2 people in small apts. If a laundromat isn’t nearby, they’re handy.

  • Pavel - Desired World
    August 5, 2013, 6:11 pm

    I’m surprised at how common washer / dryers are in the USA. At the height of summer is it normal for people to still use a dryer? It certainly is in affluent parts of Australia – where convenience will always out win doing what is environmentally sound.

    My father had a twin-tub at his rural cottage for years. I remember it from when I was a lad. Doing washing seemed so much more exciting than with your standard top / front load version and the water and energy efficiency superior. He use to divert the greywater onto the garden before the term even became part of the suburban vernacular.

    When I started to throw ideas around on how I would do my washing in my tiny house, it didn’t take me long to settle something similar to what dad had. And when I discovered that there were mini, caravan(RV)-style tub washing machines on the market, I was sold.

    I don’t see the point of a honking big box under my countertop. How many clothes does one need to wash in a week? I guess I am different than a lot of tiny housers. I don’t intend to wear a fresh outfit each day and spend my time much the same as I currently do. A day for me will be spent indoors, reading, writing, cooking, relaxing; or out on the land gardening, building, or just being. These are activities that don’t call for fresh clothes all the time.

    • Randy
      August 6, 2013, 1:38 pm

      I agree … Americans can be overly wasteful sometimes but I think the use of clothes dryers is more to prevent having to iron than anything these days. I certainly hang all my linens out in the hot Georgia weather. And, the little all-in-one-unit I have at the country place, the exhaust water is diverted into a small cistern and reused for a small water feature near the front door. Free water! 🙂 When I grew up in rural America, we had twin tub manual clothes washers we filled with hoses and drained with hoses … no plumbing at all, so I remember. A tip of my hat for your approach to life! Much more important things in life than a fine clothing, for sure!

  • Mugur
    August 8, 2013, 3:45 am

    Hi, everybody,
    It seems to me that the washer/dryer issue is the another stereotype “imported” from the “McMansion”. Just like the 50″ TV, the useless 3 x 3 ft. porch (which is a total waste of materials and, more important, space!), the large two-door refrigerator, dining table (for two), and the list could continue. At the same time, you have to poop in a (fancy named, eco-friendly, not-too-smelly) bucket i.e. the composting toilet (inches apart from the kitchen and food), and you have to climb a steep-sloped ladder to encase yourself into a 3 ft. tall (!) loft, descending at night risking yor kneecaps and everything else.
    If you are not living in a condo building, why would anyone need a dryer? Take them out and let the sun and the wind dry your clothes – it’s eco-friendly, energy-saving, clothes-friendly, and they will smell better too. Try to transform the space above the washer into the much needed staircase, for a convenient acces to the loft (unless you choose to make/buy a Murphy bed/table combo to use on the “main floor”). Just my two cents.
    Keep on the good work, Alex!

    • Emeraldcitylady
      July 5, 2014, 7:18 pm

      I agree with you. Nothing smells better than clothes that have been line dried outside. I currently live in a townhouse and it is against the homeowners association rules to have a clothes line. That hasn’t stopped me from using an Ikea drying rack however. I want to down size and am just tired of having lots of stuff. I have been researching small houses and love the concept of being able to move it where ever you want to.

  • TW
    September 30, 2013, 11:32 pm

    I use the Panda compact washer (twin tub). It allows you to wash and spin dry your clothes. The washer was save me from going to the laundromat and money. It only two about two feet tall and two feet wide.

  • JT
    October 28, 2013, 9:15 pm

    Bucket & plunger works well. Let it soak, agitate & rinse . Then the Nina Soft spin dryer does a great job spinning the water out. (It’s quieter than an electric toothbrush or hair dryer!) Shake & hang and they’re dry in a few hours.

  • Andrew
    December 18, 2013, 1:56 pm

    Coming from Europe where duel machines are the norm I can say they are royally a pain in the ass. VERY slow. Takes around 2 hours just to wash the clothes. Moved to North America and got separate ones and it’s much quicker.

    What we did find useful was the high speed spinner. It was damned noisy but 3 minutes in there saved drying time by 90%.

    • Alex Pino
      December 19, 2013, 10:25 am

      I agree, they’re slow, I’ve owned one before.. The pro over the con is that you can leave the house and it will wash and dry for you because you don’t have to move clothes from one machine to the other. I used to go off to work and leave my clothes in there and they’d finish a full cycle. But then again, they used to come out pretty wrinkly too so I’d have to iron more often.

    • Randy
      December 19, 2013, 10:37 am

      I agree, the combo unit can be slow – taking on avg 4 hours to do wash and then dry a load, but the benefits far out weight the time. I have the LG model at a remote property in the hills of northwest Georgia and I’ve used it for about 5 years now absolutely trouble-free. The benefits that make me overlook the time required are: 1) it connects to any standard 110 outlet 2) it requires very little space 3) you can actually run it off a hose pipe if you need to. I also concede it’s very different from American-style full-size units but I love mine. I don’t have to carry dirty laundry back and forth. In my opinion, the washer operation is absolutely no different that any full-size I’ve ever used. It’s the dryer, with its condensing action, that takes the longest. I get around that by either: 1) hanging the clothes outside and let them air dry, 2) I have a dry rack indoors and they usually dry overnight and this past summer I bought 3) a very small 110vac dryer, which really speeds things up. I can wash a load, move them to the little dryer, then set the next load to wash and dry and get up the next morning with two loads of laundry ready to fold. If anybody out there can change their mind-set just a little to understand these units are not full-size and do not operate like full-size, I think they will be well pleased. I am.

  • Gerard
    December 22, 2013, 4:23 am

    Hi,
    If you’re looking for a real small washing machine, check out the (European) s.c. “top-loading” (bovenladers in Dutch) machines from AEG, Miele a.o. , taking just 45×60 cm floorspace! And because of the fact that they have double bearing, they last a very, very long time.

  • Comet
    February 4, 2014, 10:33 pm

    For off the grid equipment inc laundry items check out any of the stores that supply Amish communities. I know there are a few online. Seems odd but they are not all run by the Amish!

    I have seen modern versions of the laundry plungers which are more sturdy than the old ones and not as likely to catch on clothing. Also mangles—wringers–can be bought still. You do have to be careful with those as they can really injure fingers but for FLAT things—think sheets; t-shirts; diapers—they are great. For things with buttons or embellishments–not so much. They used to make rubber buttons to be able to run things thru the wringer but regular hard buttons will crack and other decorations will suffer. Wooden dry racks can be bought from many unfinished wood places or Vermont Country Store (I think they also sell small laundry machines).

    By the time you do some of these methods you have spent as much time and energy–yours and the power source!!!—as it would have taken for a regular washer dryer. I have done the in-the-sink method for years as I am not able to get to my washer dryer (handicapped) and if I want any particular things washed and no one is here to do them–well that IS the only way! Then wring in a towel and hang all up to dry. Inside or out. Using a fan or an extra heater—well seems a bit like overkill to be “Eco” to me.

    I could never live where some one could tell me I could not have a clothes line or a dry rack outside!

    A lot of laundry places will wash AND dry AND fold your clothing for a small fee. They will use your soap too. Some will even pick up and deliver. Worth seeking out if you are in need of fresh and non-wrinkled clothing and don’t want to spend your entire life doing it.

    Something else to check out at Vermont Country Store–the clothes pins with a hook on them—like the hook on a hanger. Wash your items and clip them on one or two of these depending on size and hang almost anywhere. I hang a lot of things over my bathroom curtain rod—in summer the window is open and even in winter with extra insulating plastic over it the window still dries things fast. Won’t hold a wet pair of jeans but for most other things these work very well. The biggest thing about hang drying is you MUST have the item as OPEN as possible for ALL of the fabric to get the evaporation going. If you hang to dry and don’t have a handy window or can’t use one there are folding wall hung drying racks that fan out like a spoke wheel–in fact I think someone on HOMETALK posted cheap and fast plans for one of these recently. Or they can be purchased. Flip down when not in use—very ingenious!

  • Sweet
    February 9, 2014, 2:56 pm

    I need a little bit more help than others. I am renting a small home in Georgia and the old house does not have hook-ups and only has standard power outlets. I want to do my laundry at home. Please help. No Laundromats for miles and I have no car.

    • JerryJ
      February 11, 2014, 11:17 pm

      There are units that can be hooked up to your kitchen sink. The water hose screws onto your kitchen faucet (you may need to install a faucet with a screw head, usually the existing head screws off), and the drain hose usually has a hook shape on the end to hang into the sink without the water pressure forcing it out of the sink. They were designed for apartments, should work perfectly for you.

  • Isaac
    February 18, 2014, 1:02 am

    We recently got a LG 7401 ventless hybrid washer/dryer. Our apartment is good size, but our pantry is tiny. There’s technically room for a stackable, but where the dryer would go we have shelves that are too valuable to ditch. The LG fit perfectly into a slot next to the sink. Here are some things from my experience with it over the last 3 months:

    Be patient. Ventless dryers are not fractionally as efficient as vented, and definitely nowhere near a good as gas vented. They can get the job done, but they need time. Do NOT disconnect the water supply while it’s drying. I know most people would probably have a permanent water supply, but ours swaps with the sink faucet. I assumed the dryer cycle wouldn’t need water, so I disconnected the water and swapped the faucet nozzle back to my usual sprayer and did some dishes… about 30 minutes in things started getting burny-smelling. I figure that the ventless dryer uses water as part of it’s drying, essentially drawing water out of the clothes and depositing the moisture into the stream of water from the input. Without the input water, it can’t get rid of excess heat. This is my *guess* mind you, based on a few incidents where I’d disconnect the water without thinking and eventually found out the hard way what a bad idea it was with either burn marks on my clothes or burning-to-the-touch clothes. Leaving the water supply attached and on seems to alleviate that. If you know the exact physics behind this, please let me/us know!

    A single load will take about 4hrs to wash/dry with the extra rinse set. Like I said, be patient. On the bright side you can set it and forget it. No need to come back and swap the clothes from washer to dryer.

    Keep the drainage hose lower than the extra port on the machine. During drying it will pump small amounts of water out and when it does if the hose is up high (for instance up and into the sink in our case) some of the water will flow back down into the hose and back into the machine. Not sure if this causes any damage, but it does seem to elongate the drying process. If you can, keep it lower. We attach it to a tall bucket. Only problem is when we forget and run an actual wash cycle like that, it’ll over flow the bucket very quickly. On the other hand, if you have a real way to hook up the drainage hose permanently, fantastic. If I owned instead of rented I’d rig something.

    This all sounds like a pain in the butt, yes, but it’s better than visits to the laundromat. A single load takes 1.6kWh, including drying. I ran a load with a Kill-O-Watt meter hooked up to it. I think I figured that out to about $.28 per load based on my current bill ($0.1755/kWh). A single load of the same size would go into one of the $4.25/load machines at the laundromat and take about $1.25 to dry. And I can do it at home. It does require a little tending because of my current setup, but I still think it’s worth it.

    There has been *one* incident where the controller board blew about a month in. Got it replaced under warranty. That was about 2 months ago (we got it for Black Friday on sale as a used pre-lease from Aaron’s rentals). Otherwise it’s been running like a champ. Keep the filter clean and the lint collector along the edge of the door clean and it will work.

    • Isaac
      February 18, 2014, 1:03 am

      I know that sounded like an ad for the LG, but I’m assuming most compact, ventless hybrids have similar issues and things to watch out for, I was just offering my experiences with that particular make/model that I think might be similar to others like it.

      • Randy
        February 18, 2014, 10:52 am

        Isaac,

        This is actually a good write-up on LG. I also own an LG combo unit (not where I can see the model) and although it does take a bit longer to process a wash/dry cycle, I have come to love the unit. I can load laundry and then go work in the yards without having to worry about coming inside to move clothes to the dryer. Now, when I do come inside, the laundry is done and ready to fold and put away. So, where space and/or electrical power is an issue, you can’t beat these LG units. My unit uses 110v AC to wash and dry and wears the “Enery Star” badge and it really does use very little energy.

        Not to sound like I know a lot about something that I don’t, the reason your unit needs water during the dry operation is since it does not vent hot air or steam outside the chassis, like a standard vented dryer, it blows its exhaust across a plate-like gizmo that traps lint and condenses steam to water. Ever so many minutes throughout the entire drying cycle it rinses the trap with a small burst of water to flush the lint and condensation out. They burning smell you were getting was when the lint was scorching on the trap plate. You definitely want to leave it connected to cold water throughout the entire process. Okay, my two cents worth. I’ll hush now!

        I’ve had my LG for a number of years now so hope you get the great service out of yours I’ve had out of mine.

        Peace!

  • sheri
    February 22, 2014, 4:05 pm

    After reading all this I thought: hmmm, maybe I should build a tiny house and pull into a nudist colony. That might solve the problem pronto. LOL.

  • Apartment Washers
    March 1, 2014, 6:21 am

    Has anyone here ever put a Kill-a-Watt on their clothes washer to see how much energy is used for a regular load of laundry?

    I just bought a used front-loading washing machine to save on water usage, but I am curious about electric usage and space as well.

  • M
    April 7, 2014, 9:06 pm

    Bosch makes a really nice washer/drier combo. I think the brand is Alexis.
    Priced about the same as LG.
    Why has it not been mentioned?

    M

  • Ralph Sly
    May 11, 2014, 4:26 am

    Love it, necessity, the mother of invention. So simple yet workable.

  • trish
    January 8, 2015, 10:57 am

    I don’t do laundromats, so a washing machine is a must in my life. I’ve come home with a few things looking like tye-dye and won’t again. However, I have lived without a dryer since the mid 80’s. The new place I moved into at that time didn’t have a lot of storage space, so I put a tall shelving unit in what would have been the dryer space. At first if was an adjustment, especially in the winter months and having to hang damp clothes, also trying to find hanging space for the large items like sheets and bedspreads. Out of necessity I became creative. I borrowed my mother’s dehumidifier to help get rid of the dampness and dry out the heavier things. Clothes hung on hangers off the shower rod, tops of doors and on doorknobs. Granted it didn’t look to nice, but it solved my problem. So for years I have done that and don’t miss a dryer. Also the combo washer/dryers will save space, but what happens when either component quits working? You won’t be able to wash or dry anything. I used to help my grandmother put clothes through the old ringer washer to get the excess water out, no spin cycles on those babies. I still stay the old ways are the best. No electronics to burn out, just mechanical parts to be replaced. Just like the cars today, too much technology and not enough parts you can fix yourself to save money. Incidentially, my car is a 2002. Before that I drove a pickup truck for 16 years that I bought used. O.K. I got off the beaten track here. If you feel you need a dryer, by all means get one. If you want a washer/dryer combo get one. Just try to weigh the pros and cons beforehand. Space is at a premium in a tiny house. Also, if you are trying to keep costs down, can you live without a dryer? Just my thoughts.

  • Kelly Libert
    January 8, 2015, 11:21 am

    For me, living simply does not mean spending more time doing laundry or ironing ever. A full sized washer and vented dryer will be a mandatory feature of my future shipping container home. Otherwise my weekly load of three large dog bed covers would turn into an all day chore. Not going to happen.

  • Two Crows
    January 8, 2015, 3:13 pm

    Hmmm. Could you repost the link please? I followed it to a “file not found” site. Tried copy-pasting and running it through Internet Explorer. Still nada.
    I can see from the response above that someone was able to follow it. Maybe the link broke later?

  • A dou
    January 8, 2015, 5:31 pm

    Many takes on this, lots of comments. Concerns for me include not downsizing so far that I only own a load of laundry, being able to do wash without stress, not wanting a house full of mildew (drying indoors in a tiny house in winter) and never visiting a laundry mat again! As I age I expect hand washing would be stressful. Having a combo unit sounds great but I do worry b/c there are many comments about the dryer portion not working or not being able to remove the clothes partway (say during the summer when you want to hang dry). I think for me, not tiny but small living would be ideal, and I would like to know the most energy efficient, reliable and space saving models combo, stacked or other (can we have one that drops down from the ceiling or tucks under the floor?) The thing I love about this magazine is how accommodating everyone is helping each other find the right thing.

  • Kate
    January 9, 2015, 11:28 am

    I was wondering what the track record for these machines are. When I was a kid in the 50s, my parents bought a Bendix (or something to that effect), a two in one appliance. I recall that it broke down a lot. It wasn’t cheap either. Eventually, we ended up with washer and dryer separates.

    • sean tosi
      November 9, 2017, 6:50 pm

      They are problematic. I have a lg wm3987hw that just turns off in mid wash or dry with a PF error. Lots of people complain about damp cloths or a clogged lint trap.

  • Michelle
    February 9, 2015, 12:44 am

    No one has mentioned anything about using a vented washer dryer combo. If anyone has, have you seen any difference in drying time with a vented one? I’ve also noticed that Midea, Dometic, RCA and Edge star are the exact washers, just priced different. Also, Meridian, Deco, Sekido and Equator are all the same. Not sure who actually makes them. On the meridian product website, the video actually is an Equator! Who knows!

    The Meridian, Deco and Equator are convertible dryers. They supposedly can switch between vented and non vented.

    I’m really bad about getting busy and forgetting the load in the washer and in the south, in the summer time, those loads sour quick. Set it and forget it sounds like a great option to me.

  • Juanita
    February 18, 2015, 1:39 pm

    Where can I find one of these units especially LG WM3477HS
    Or Haier models?

  • jim
    March 11, 2015, 10:39 am

    has anyone found a combo washer/dryer that is VENTED
    (i.e. not ventless)? I’ve looked and can’t find any … I wonder why?

    • Saied Gerami
      September 18, 2019, 11:42 am

      Hi Jim, could you find any? I am in the same situation. I don’t have room and outlets for anything but combo but I have the vent.

  • plain jane
    March 22, 2015, 11:05 am

    on what?

  • Stacy
    May 20, 2015, 12:32 pm

    We are thinking of purchasing one of these washer dryer combo’s for our rv that we live in off grid we run off of solar and generator back up and use rain water as our water source…. wondering if these would consume too much of our energy to run… anyone have experience with these …. I do have a stackable washer dryer right now and the dryer will not run without the generator on…. also anyone know of a combo that runs off of propane??

    • Jason
      July 6, 2015, 10:39 pm

      Currently there is not a combo unit on the market with a gas option. Because of the standards by which they are built there cannot be a gas combo unit yet.

  • Nelson
    July 22, 2015, 3:56 pm

    I have a Bendix Equator EZ3600C compact combo for sale, perfect for tiny house or motor home/ camper/cabin etc. New 4-23-98, gently used by our mother. Location McMinnville, OR . It’s been a great machine which she really liked.
    Replacement new today is about $1200-$1500,
    Offering for less than half price $550, or make offer.

  • Jennifer A
    October 3, 2015, 12:36 am

    I would like point out 2.2 is for mini dryer wonderwash is 5 lb. This combo takes care of my family of three. Wonderwash will handle up to queen sheets I also can get two pairs jeans in one load. It does what I need without trips to laundry.

  • Joyce
    March 4, 2016, 12:23 am

    I’ve been doing my laundry lately by using 2 large plastic buckets that fit inside each other. One is a regular bucket while I drilled holes throughout the other one. With a new toilet plunger drilled with holes to agitate the clothes, the clothes get clean. I then put the clothes into the bucket with holes, let them drain for a few minutes, then use the bucket without holes to squeeze out the rest of the water by sitting on the top bucket until no more water drains out. Repeat to rinse then hang the clothes on a portable clothes rack outside. Doesn’t take a lot of space to store since everything fits inside each other. With my arthritis, I can’t wring out clothes anymore so this was my solution. Also got a tight fitting lid so I can load dirty clothing with soap and waterwhen I’m travelling or in the boat. All I have to do then is just rinse upon arrival and hang up. Buckets also store dirty clothing, etc when not washing. Have a wonderwash but it takes up too much space and I can do larger loads in my buckets. If one is really lazy you can tie the bucket with holes filled with clothes to a tree branch and spin it until the water stops draining out. Hope this is helpful

  • Sandy
    August 29, 2016, 9:57 pm

    I looked at the all in one units, but they were all to wide for the closet I was trying to use. They are all over 23 inches wide or more. I was also concerned about the cost. After doing some research, I purchased a Magic Chef 1.5 or 1.6 cu top load washer from Walmart for around $250 and a Sonya dryer 3.5 cu off Amazon for $299. The washer fit the 22 inch width capacity I needed because the washer had to sit beside a hot water heater. I mounted the dryer above it. It has turned out to be a great investment for very little money. Another advantage is that if one goes out, then the cost of replacing it is very affordable. The all in one units are very expensive to replace. The washer does very good size loads. I even was able to wash my comforter in the washer. The dryer works very well. It takes a little longer to dry clothes than a regular dryer, but not much longer. Another thing is that both run off 110 volt power. This is an option for people living in tiny houses, RVs, or fifth wheels. I haven’t seen many people utilize this option, so I thought I would share this information. I only learned about this after much research online. I hope this gives people more cost effective options that works better and uses less power.

  • Sandy
    August 29, 2016, 10:28 pm

    Also, I forgot to mention in my last comment that the washer I used can be hooked up to a kitchen sink OR hooked up the same way as normal washer hookups with the hot and cold water lines. Mine is hooked up to hot and cold water lines. Again I have the Magic Chef 1.5 or 1.6 cu top load washer and it works great. It is also very quiet.

    My dryer can be vented or invented. My dryer is vented outside. Also, you can purchase am attachment off of Amazon for the dryer to vent into that will collect the lint. These attachable vents that catch the link can be found on Amazon by scrolling down the page and looking at the section featuring similar items purchased by others or in the similar items section. You can learn everything you need by reading the specs, customer questions, and customer reviews. After reading many of the above comments, it seemed that a lot of people wanted the ability to vent their dryers and the Sonya or Panda portable dryer can be vented and it works very well for the money. It comes in 2.0 cu capacity or 3.5 cu capacity. I have the 3.5 cu capacity and I love it. Another thing to mention is that these dryers do have a safety feature built in that will keep them from catching on fire. If you keep running the dryer continually, you may find that it acts like it doesn’t want to work. This means that the dryer just needs time to cool off and it will come back on no problem within 20 minutes. I try to do no more than 4 loads in a day so I don’t kill my dryer. I have found that I have no problems whatsoever if I eait 30 minutes before starting a new load. Also I keep my dryer door open so it can cool off quicker.

    I hope that the information contained in this message and my previous message will help others find more affordable options that use less power and give them more choices.

  • Edixon
    May 23, 2017, 7:57 am

    I heard that washer dryer combo is the worst case scenario, I guess I was wrong. Thanks for proving me wrong.

    • Natalie C. McKee
      May 23, 2017, 1:11 pm

      It doesn’t work for everyone, but if you hate going to a laundromat enough, it’s a great solution 🙂

  • Jenna
    January 19, 2021, 5:56 am

    top 5 Portable Washer Dryer For Apartments for you https://topportablemachine.com/portable-washer-dryer-for-apartments/

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