Brit-Life: Washer but no Dryer? Really?

[Geoff Bannister]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at ...> wrote:
>
> Steve:
> > So, to all our Brit's and Brit-o-philes, I ask this,
> > are these most likely a combination washer/dryer, which
> > I have never seen in the USA, or do posh people in
> > posh apartments simply make do without a dryer? 
> 
> 
> Pippin:
> When I lived overseas we had an extractor. It's a sort of 
> centrifuge that's much more powerful than the spin cycle
> of a washer. The clothes would be nearly dry when you
> took them out -- ready to hang or press.

Geoff:
That's a spin drier. We had one when we were first married. 
Some places will have an ordinary washing machine and a 
tumble drier. The latter have a rotating drum like a washing 
machine with warm air being sent through it.

We had one until we last moved house in '99 but there wasn't 
room in the new place to accommodate one so we went for a 
combination unit.

Looking at Steve's last comment, yes we do use it, especially 
in the winter. We have two dogs who specialise in getting muddy 
- as does their owner :-) - but we have a rotary washing line in 
the garden which gets good use on reasonable days - like this 
morning for instance. (It's raining now, he added in an Eeyore 
voice).

The only drawback of the combination units is that you have to 
split the wash for drying. With a full load, it can only successfully 
half the load at once. However, they are very useful.