Laundry
There are washers, dryers and two-in-one machines, either freestanding or designed to build in.
Two decisions do most of the work. Do you want a single machine or a washer and dryer pair? And should it be on view in a utility, or concealed in the kitchen? Our guide below the products takes it from there.
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Browse laundry by type
- Washing machines: freestanding and integrated machines together, so you can compare them side by side.
- Freestanding washing machines: finished on top and at the sides, so they fit under a worktop or stand on their own, and come with you when you move.
- Built-in washing machines: housed inside a kitchen cabinet behind a door that matches the rest of your units.
- Tumble dryers: heat pump models reuse their warm air and need no vent, which keeps running costs well down; condenser and vented types are on the same page.
- Washer dryers: a single appliance that washes a load and then dries it, ideal where there's space and plumbing for just one machine.
- Freestanding and built-in washer dryers: the same choice again, between a standalone machine and one concealed in the kitchen.
Finishing touches include laundry accessories such as stacking kits and raised plinths, and irons.
Which appliance suits you?
| Appliance | Suits | Worth checking |
|---|---|---|
| Washing machine | Every household, with a dryer alongside or a washing line outside. | Drum size compared with a normal load, spin speed, and which programmes you'll really use. |
| Heat pump tumble dryer | Drying indoors in every season, with no clothes horse in the living room. | The drying capacity, and whether you'll empty a tank or connect the drain hose. |
| Stacked washer and dryer | Laundry cupboards that are tall but short on floor space. | That a kit exists to join your two models, and the floor is firm and flat. |
| Washer dryer | Flats and smaller homes with room for one appliance. | Its drying load is lower than its washing load, so big washes may need splitting. |
| Integrated machine | Kitchens where you'd rather not see the laundry appliances. | The size of the housing and how your kitchen door attaches. |
Making the choice
A pair, or a single machine?
With a separate washer and dryer, one load can dry while the next washes, and each appliance is designed for one task. A washer dryer saves floor space and a plumbing point, but it can't dry a full wash load and a complete cycle runs longer. If most of your washing goes in the dryer, a pair is usually the better buy.
Freestanding or integrated?
A freestanding machine has finished panels and works anywhere you have water and a waste pipe. An integrated one lives in a kitchen cabinet with a matching door fixed over it. The integrated range is smaller, so if you're planning a new kitchen, make the decision early.
Drum size
The kg figure is how much dry laundry fits in the drum. One or two people will be well served by 7kg or 8kg. Families, or anyone who washes lots of towels and bedding, tend to get more from 9kg or 10kg. A larger drum only saves time and energy when it's full, so buy for your usual wash.
Spin speed
The faster the spin, the less water stays in the fabric and the quicker it dries, on the line or in a dryer. 1400rpm is right for most homes; 1600rpm earns its keep if you tumble dry a lot. Delicate cycles spin more gently regardless of the top speed.
Helpful features
Steam cycles freshen clothes and reduce creasing. Automatic dosing keeps a supply of detergent and measures each wash for you. Connected machines can be started from your phone or send an alert when they finish, and most dryers use sensors to end the cycle once the load is dry.
Running costs
Each machine has an energy label, and its product page sets out the running costs. Heat pump technology is what makes the real difference with dryers, as it reuses warm air rather than constantly heating fresh air. Eco programmes run longer but use less energy.
Before you order
- Measure the space. Note height, width and depth, with room behind for hoses and the plug and room in front to open the door fully.
- Check the plumbing. Anything that washes needs a cold feed and somewhere to drain, close enough for the hoses. A heat pump dryer only needs a socket.
- Plug into the wall. Avoid extension leads for laundry appliances.
- Think about the floor. Concrete stays steadier under a fast spin. Timber floors and upstairs rooms transmit more vibration.
- Stack with the right kit. A dryer should only go on top of a washer with a kit approved for both.
- Plan the route in. Washing machines are heavy, so check doors, stairs and tight corners.
The brands we sell
Our laundry appliances come from . Use the brand filter to narrow the list. Planning a matching pair? Each brand's page shows its washers and dryers side by side.
Buying laundry appliances from KDH Electrical
Your new machine is covered by the full UK manufacturer's guarantee. Orders over £600 go free of delivery charges and normally arrive within 3–7 working days. Inside our installation area we can install and connect a freestanding washer, dryer or washer dryer and take away the old one; you'll see both options, with prices, in your basket. Built-in machines are fitted by your kitchen fitter behind the cabinet door, though we can still recycle the appliance they replace.
Found a lower price at another UK retailer? With our price match, we'll do our best to match it. Call 01622 541312 for help choosing, or visit our showroom in Rochester. Please ring before you travel to check what's on display.
Laundry: your questions answered
Is a plumber needed for a new washing machine?
Usually not. Where there's already a cold tap and a drain, the hoses simply connect and the plug goes in the wall. You'd only need a plumber if fresh pipework is required.
How does a heat pump tumble dryer work?
Warm air passes through the clothes, the moisture is drawn off as water, and the air is reheated and sent round again. Recycling heat like this keeps running costs well below older dryer types, and nothing has to vent outside.
Washer dryer or separate machines?
If you only dry occasionally, one combined machine saves valuable space. For households that dry most loads, two appliances are quicker, since one load dries while the next washes and the dryer copes with a whole wash.
What drum size do I need?
Most couples and small families are well served by 7kg or 8kg. Go for 9kg or 10kg if you wash big loads or plenty of bedding and towels.
Can a tumble dryer sit on top of a washing machine?
Yes, using a stacking kit approved for both. The dryer always goes on top, and the product pages show which kits are compatible.
What does integrated mean for laundry?
An integrated, or built-in, machine is housed in a kitchen cabinet and hidden behind a door from your kitchen range. The product page gives the housing size it needs.
Can you take my old machine?
Yes, if you're in our installation area. Add recycling in your basket and we'll collect the old appliance when we deliver. We can also install freestanding machines; built-in ones are fitted by your kitchen fitter. Everything is priced before you pay.