Thursday, February 13, 2020

Best Washer Dryers for Tiny House Living

One of the most common questions when it comes to tiny house living is – how do you wash your clothes? Like any home, living in a tiny home requires doing your laundry and also having clean clothes, and for many people the best option in a small space is a washer dryer combo. Doing laundry at a laundromat won’t always be an option.

So what are the best washer dryers when it comes to tiny home living? We’ve compiled a list of the top tiny house washer dryer combo units on the market today, according to user reviews, personal experiences, and top selling units. These are:

  1. Della Electric Mini Portable Top Load Washer and Dryer
  2. Barton Portable Compact Washer & Spin Dry
  3. Kuppet Washing Machine and Dryer Combo
  4. Splendide WD2100XC Washer and Dryer
  5. Pyle Portable Washer and Spin Dryer
  6. EdgeStar CWD1510W Washer and Dryer Combo
  7. Panda Small Compact Portable Washing Machine

Below we go into each washer dryer combo unit and explain their strengths and weaknesses for your clothes, and which is the best one for you to fall in love with:

Top Washer Dryers for Tiny House Living

1) Della Electric Mini Portable Top Load Washer and Dryer

Who Should Buy It: Couples or individuals in tiny houses who want a simple, no-nonsense clothes washing solution that uses very little energy and also takes little time.

Pros Cons
Easy controls and a fast wash, with just 15 minutes of wash for 5 minutes spin cycle with a simple control system you will love for your clothes A few complaints online of the units malfunctioning, although this is rare
The 2019 model uses just 260 Watts for washing and 140 Watts for drying, making it lightweight on your energy and acts as a quiet laundry option for your clothes

The Della Electric Mini combo is a great starter choice for any tiny house homeowner who wants an easy, no-nonsense solution to their clothes washing and drying load needs while also accommodating a small space. The size and design of this unit makes it a popular choice in the tiny house community, as it can be tucked away just about anywhere.

With a wash capacity of nearly 11 pounds and a spin of 3 pounds, the Della Electric Mini is best for individuals or couples rather than full tiny home families, unless you don’t mind doing several loads to wash your clothes. Dirty water can also be automatically drained away with a convenient built-in drain pup, keeping your clothes better cleaned over time.

Product Della Portable Washing Machine with Top Load Laundry Spin Combo
Manufacturer Della
Weight 20 pounds
Dimensions / Size 15” x 23.5” x 27”
Average Amazon Score 4.1

2) Barton Portable Washer & Spin Dry

Who Should Buy It: Looking for something that gets the clothes job done in little time, every single time? With a bit of maintenance, the Barton is a laundry machine you and your clothing can love.

Pros Cons
Big enough to wash whatever clothing you have, small enough to still be tiny house friendly Some complaints of the machine leaking a bit of water off the top edge during the spin
Easy to operate, with a built-in drain pump that keeps things simple, making it better for flexible and small space load laundry Requires a bit of maintenance, as some pieces will loosen off like the agitator in some units

The Barton portable compact might be slightly bigger than what you would initially want for your standard tiny home clothes laundry solution, but you can keep using this machine for years, as long as you take care of it. If you have the space to better accommodate this slightly-bigger-than-most washer dryer unit, you will soon love and get used to its laundromat like spin cycle, functionality, and effectiveness.

So why would you want a medium-sized washer dryer unit like the Barton? So you don’t have to worry about your bigger laundry washing needs. For example, will smaller washes handle bath towels and queen bed sheet laundry as effectively as you might like? The Barton makes sure that you never have to leave your tiny house for a laundromat to wash any laundry in your home again.

Product Barton Portable Washer & Spin Cycle Timer Top Load Washing Machine
Manufacturer Barton
Weight 32 pounds
Dimensions / Size 31” x 16” x 25”
Average Amazon Score 3.9

3) Kuppet Washing Machine and Dryer Combo

Who Should Buy It: People living in a tiny house on their own who want a machine they can save time with a twin tub dual function.

Pros Cons
Twin tub dual function design, meaning you can wash and spin cycle dry simultaneously Can take more time to clean and completely dry due to its small size, making it slightly susceptible to mold
Comes in two unique colors you can love, purple and also light blue, making it the fun choice for the fun tiny house traveler Some buyers complain of the short drainage hose, making it take more time to fit into certain places due to size

Need something small and affordable, but still good enough to get the job done? The Kuppet Mini Washer Dryer combo unit might be your best choice for your laundry and clothing. With 5.5 pound load washer capacity and 4.5 pound load drying capacity, the Kuppet Mini combo unit is enough for that solo traveler who doesn’t need to wash anything more than a load of a few clothes once or twice a week.

And if you’re looking for something energy efficient, this machine is made for you and your clothing, as it’s specifically designed to be more energy efficient, using less water, detergent, and electricity than most washers on the market. What’s interesting about this is that despite its small size, the Kuppet fits many people and their laundry needs with various washing modes – soft, drain, and standard.

Product KUPPET Mini Portable Washing Machine
Manufacturer KUPPET
Weight 24.2 pounds
Dimensions / Size 24.4” x 22” x 15”
Average Amazon Score 4.2

4) Splendide WD2100XC Washer and Dryer

Who Should Buy It: Full family tiny houses that need a washer dryer they can rely on for years to come. The number one laundry solution for much of the tiny house community.

Pros Cons
Durable and strong, built with stainless steel drum, shock absorbers, and heavy-duty springs Much heavier than the portable machines on the list, so you really have to make a dedicate space for it
With standard 15-pound wash capacity and 11-pound dry capacity, this is sure to be the much better option for full-family tiny houses Can take much time to install, but once you get it, there should be no problem

Rated by many in the tiny house community as the gold standard for washer dryer machines for tiny houses, the Splendide WD2100XC washer dryer is definitely one you might have heard of, and for good reason, too.

This machine seems to have been specifically designed for the unique tiny house space: super-silent technology, sturdy for travel, and a max wash load capacity of 15 pounds for full-family tiny houses. Get the Splendide and you will get your own personal laundromat that your clothes and laundry will love for a long time.

If you don’t mind getting a washer dryer that is less portable and lightweight than most of the others on this list, and if you need the power and capacity that the Splendide 2100XC provides, then we definitely recommend this washer dryer over every other. Heavy-duty springs, stainless steel drum, and shock absorbers make it perfect for on-the-road adventures.

Product Splendide WD2100XC White Vented Combo Washer Dryer
Manufacturer Splendide
Weight 145 pounds
Dimensions / Size 23.5” x 22.6” x 33.1”
Average Amazon Score 4.3

5) Pyle Portable Washer and Spin Dryer

Who Should Buy It: Need something small, compact, quiet, and generally nice to look at, which still gets the laundry and clothes job done for individuals and small families alike? This is the machine for you.

Pros Cons
Energy efficient Some reviewers report their machines breaking easily after a few months
High-powered 25-watt motor and a 77 pound wash capacity

Small, lightweight, and compact, the Pyle mini washer dryer is easy, simple, and not much else. The machine features rotary controls for its drain selector, program, wash and spin cycle timer, and requires zero installation time – you can use it right out of the box for your clothes and laundry with no extra time or special plumbing or parts.

The Pyle portable washer dryer uses just 120 volt power plug, making it more water and energy efficient than most standard dryer units. Users report that the spin cycle can get clothes almost completely dry, and with its quiet running, this is perfect for that tiny house couple who just wants something simple.

Product Pyle Portable Washer & Spin Dryer, Mini Washing Machine
Manufacturer Pyle
Weight 24.2 pounds
Dimensions / Size 22.2” x 13.9” x 23.6”
Average Amazon Score 3.4

6) EdgeStar CWD1510W Washer and Dryer Combo

Who Should Buy It: If you don’t mind the extra size and you don’t want to buy a Splendide, then the EdgeStar is the next best thing, with sturdiness and functionality packed into its bigger size.

Pros Cons
Tons of functionality, with various settings for whatever kind of wash you need Bigger and heavier than what many people are comfortable with when it comes to washer dryers
Sturdy and heavy-duty, making it reliable for years to come Not as highly rated as the Splendide, which is a better version of this machine

Like the Splendide, the EdgeStar is less portable than most other units on this list, so if you’re looking for something light and easy to move around, this isn’t for you. But if you want something sturdy, heavy-duty, and reliable for years to come – but don’t want the Splendide for whatever reason – then the EdgeStar is your next number one laundry choice.

The EdgeStar is a front loading laundry machine with several settings – cotton, temperature controlled, delicates, heavy duty, and normal. Whatever you might need, the EdgeStar can do, so what it lacks in portability, it makes up for in functionality. There isn’t much this unit can’t do for your clothes. If you want number one flexibility in your tiny house living, this might be the top one choice you will like.

Product EdgeStar Ventless Combo Washer/Dryer
Manufacturer EdgeStar
Weight 188 pounds
Dimensions / Size 23.5” x 33.17”
Average Amazon Score 3.6

7) Panda Small Compact Portable Washing Machine

Who Should Buy It: If you are looking for a trusty and reliable washer dryer for your tiny house, there is not much wrong with the Panda compact portable washing machine, but not much to say about it either.

Pros Cons
Very quiet when washing clothes, with some reviewers saying that the sound is actually soothing which you can learn to love over time Nothing special about it, lacking some of the unique features or designs of the other models on this list
Easy to use and install in little time, and small enough that you can tuck into an overhead cabinet If you get a used model, you might not get one that works very well that you will like, as time easily ruins this product

Last but not least is the popular Panda Portable Machine, which many in the tiny house world are praising for its compact size and reliability for clothes washing. With a 4.5 rating on Amazon, this is one of the highest rated washers on this list, and for good reason.

At 59 pounds, the Panda portable machine is in the middle area between the smaller, more compact washers and the heavier, standard laundry washers, giving you the best of both worlds. Many people like to get in this perfect washer and dryer laundry spot.

With 10 different clothes washing programs and a top load upper drainage system, the Panda is suitable for any tiny house looking for functional and also easy-to-use washer dryer combo units for their laundry needs.

Product Panda PAN56MGP3 1.34 cu ft Portable Machine
Manufacturer Panda
Weight 59 pounds
Dimensions / Size 20” x 19” x 34”
Average Amazon Score 3.6

Main Considerations When Buying a Tiny House Washer Dryer

Electricity

As to be expected, washer dryers need quite a bit of energy and also water. If your tiny house is powered entirely by batteries or solar energy, you might need to do the napkin math before committing to a full washer dryer, or you might end up running out of energy halfway through your wash. If a washer dryer takes up more energy than your tiny house can spare, then your best choice might just be to get a hand washing system for your own homemade laundromat.

Plumbing

Even the most energy and water-efficient washers use at least around 14 gallons of water for every load. Off-grid tiny houses won’t always have that kind of water available to be used. Consider your plumbing and your water needs before purchasing a washer dryer, and make sure that you have the water systems available to get and sustain your mini laundromat.

Size

Like any appliance you might put in your tiny home, you need to consider the size of your washer dryer before you get it. Do you have the space available to accommodate the washer dryer that you want, and also, do you have much of the time to set one up?

If you don’t, can you make that much space without changing things around too much? It might be best to ask yourself if you have enough laundry and also clothes to justify it before you get one, or perhaps just get a used one.

Don’t Want a Washer Dryer? Other Washing Options

There are other options available for washing your clothes in a tiny house if you feel that a washer dryer is not the right fit for your set-up. Hand operated machines can do one small clothes load at a time for individual tiny home homeowners, and only take your own elbow grease and a bit of water.

Small electric options like the Miniwash and also the Panda Mini also work, and they cost a fraction of the price of the regular washer dryer combo units but still give homeowners the option to wash their own clothes. As long as you don’t mind doing your clothes laundry one load at a time, these might be the best options for cleaning your clothes.

Tiny House Washer Dryer FAQ

How do you install a washer dryer in a tiny house?

The installation of combo units in your tiny home will depend on the type of unit you buy. Some units will require zero installation and can be used straight out of the box, while others will require a bit of installation, including connecting certain pieces and bolting it in place. Make sure to follow your unit’s manual or installation guide.

What’s the best way to use a combo unit in a tiny house?

Here are the best tips to using a combo unit in a tiny home:

-       Don’t overload your machine with clothes – smaller machines have design that are more susceptible to damage from overloads

-       Clean any lint after every wash out of the vent; also, double check for any other pieces that might be in your machine, which can take more time with small size units

-       Follow your manual when determining how much detergent to put into the machine. This is usually no more than a single tablespoon

How can I winterize my combo unit in a tiny house?

Whenever the temperature gets too cold, it’s always important to get tiny home washer dryer combo units winterized to protect it from the harsh temperatures.

This requires draining it completely of water and disconnecting it from the water supply, so that no water is inside or around the machine. Keeping it isolated and dry should keep your machine safe during the winter.

The post Best Washer Dryers for Tiny House Living appeared first on Tiny House Bloom.

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