We've just done a thread about Paris bathrooms in hotels for the showers, but what about the washer/dryer that is in the bathroom or kitchen of Paris(and other parts of Europe) apartments?

If you can figure them out, most of the time the water is extremely hot and they go on forever and ever, especially if they wash and dry in one machine. Much of the technology in Europe is far ahead of the US, but I just don't see it in these machines. We do have small machines that are very efficient and quick. Why are theirs so hot and long running?

I loved the trip report where someone posted that they thought thieves must have broken into their apt. and exchanged all of their socks in the washer for children's socks, until they noticed that the washer "boiled" things.

The only use for a washing/dryer machine in the bathroom is you can use the top to put cosmetics, hair brushes, and towels on. Otherwise it definitely seems to be in the way.
Our apartment had one in the bathroom which we didn't use as the dryer action wasn't allowed to be used - as told to us by the keyholder.

One reason that European front loading washing machines take so long to run is that they use less water and electricity.

I've never seen one without temperature settings and remember we use Celsius (or you will boil your socks!).

Here's a link to a guide for washing machines on Slowtravel

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/instru...ndry_howto.htm

I agree the combo dryers are pretty ineffectual. You tend to have to remove half the laundry and dry for ages or hang dry instead...

Our experience has been that the wash cycle takes too long - if we just have a few small things, we wash them in the sink, then use the dryer cyle by itself.

>Much of the technology in Europe is far ahead of the US, but I just don't see it in these machines<

Dont know if it's a French but most UK front load machines run at 30C and increasingly 15C. Combi washer/dryers wash in much the same way single function washers but the drying function is not as good as a solo tumble dryer.

Mine (UK again) can can was at 30, 40, 60 or 90C and also has an 'quick' button than reduces the cycle time which I use most of the time. (if I don't the 60C wash takes ages)
In the apartment that we stay in in Italy, from what I remember there are a simlar range of temps but they suggest that you always use the 'breve' button (short) else it also takes a while.
I don't ever really come across washer driers.

Is there an immigration checkpoint also? I only remember getting my passport checked and stamped at the non-EU counter.

not unless you want to use a tumble dryer, then you need the stamp

What's with the immigration stuff? Did I miss something?

We did have one apt. in Paris with a usable combination washer/dryer. We did figure out how to use a low temperature but it took about 3 hrs. for a very small load. The other apts. we washed and hung up.

What do families living there with several children do? I can't imagine dealing with that on a regular basis. Or I guess I'm spoiled with our large, fast machines.

Our large, fast machines??? And now the washing machines with steam cleaning....yet our technology is behind????

I have been laughing until the ters ran down my face alihutch! Your reply was brilliant!!

Tears, lots of tears!

We just stayed in an apartment in Paris with one of those washer/dryer combos. But, it was excellent! Actually dried the clothes (even towels) and didn't take too long. We'd just toss in a load of whites, darks, or towels/sheets, every morning as we left for the day.

Dukey1---I guess I didn't make myself clear. Yes, the US is ahead in appliances and many other things, but not some other areas. High speed rail, computer chip credit cards, hand held credit card machines at the table in restaurants, airport technology (ex: we recently came through customs & immigration in Shannon, Ireland on our way back to N.Y. Checked our bags, went through security and immigration and were shown a photo on a monitor of our checked luggage to be sure it was ours. That luggage was checked at least 1/2 hr. before this. Maybe this is standard in other airports that we haven't been in, but it was a first for us.)

What I was trying to say was that Europe is up there with so much technology, why can't they get a decent washing machine? And maybe the answer is that they use less water and electricity. In which case, they are doing the right thing.

Sorry if you took offense or thought my statement was ignorant and incorrect. I didn't mean to offend.

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Dukey1 on Oct 14, 10 at 12:35pm

Our large, fast machines??? And now the washing machines with steam cleaning....yet our technology is behind????

Large machines that fill with water and have a central agitator are typical in the US and are not environmentally friendly or energy efficient as they use more water, more detergent and more electricity.

Bigger and quicker doesn't always mean better Dukey

djkbooks has it right (as is often the case).

You put the wash in (don't use too much detergent) before you go out in the morning, and when you get back at lunch, everything is washed and dried. If you have more laundry, you put it in when you go out for the afternoon, and, quel miracle!, it is clean and dry when you get home.

We stayed in an apartment with dear friends who are not technology-savvy, and she couldn't get this through her stubborn head. Somehow, she managed to pry the door open after the spin cycle (the machine doesn't want you to do this) and as a result, I am very familiar with her underwear, since it hung in the bathroom in various stages of dampness until it finally dried or she ironed it dry.

Trust me. Just go away and leave it. It will not burn down the apartment or flood it either if you leave.

Our most recent apartment rental in Paris included a washing machine.

The rules of the rental agreement stipulated that we were not allowed to run the machine unless we were in the apartment to keep an eye on it. We were not allowed to run the machine before 9 am. We were not allowed to run the machine after 5 pm. The cycle would take three hours (just to wash, not dry).

Luckily, we didn't need to use it.

What I was trying to say was that Europe is up there with so much technology, why can't they get a decent washing machine? And maybe the answer is that they use less water and electricity.

TPAYT....not all Euro countries are the same. I never have to use a cycle that takes 3 hours here as mentioned in my earlier post. Haven't been to the US for ages so don't know what is nornal there. My experience in the UK and Italy is that there are different cycles and usually a button that will shorten the selected cycle. I think that most of my loads take less than an hour.....
However I wouldn't touch a combined washer/dryer with a barge pole.....come to that personally I don't feel the need for a tumble drier, which means some savings in electricty.

washers in the US have changed a lot in the last 5-10 years, also. I think dryers are the same. I have a 20 yr old washer which broke last year and was not repairable (the clutch) as the parts aren't made any more. Once I researched the current machines, I couldn't find one I wanted that had good reviews -- they have new standards for water conservation and things that do use up less water, and you can't use hot for rinsing, of course. I didn't mind that, but I couldn't find any machine that would let you regular the water level or wouldn't shut off if you opened the lid. I just stubborning kept using mind instead (the washing part work, it just wouldn't shift into the spin dry section), and it finally unstuck itself and has been working okay since.

I think US washers that are real small for apts or those combo things also work differently, but I haven't used one so don't know if they are similar to European ones or not.