Who this is for

Bath-mat owners with a shallow recess

You need room for a washing machine as well as its pipes, plug and opening door. Measure the installation space before comparing drum sizes.

Homes with little drying space

You have space for one appliance but not much room to air-dry a damp mat. A washer dryer is an option only if the mat's label permits tumble drying.

Households washing mats alongside everyday laundry

You want the machine to handle routine loads too, while choosing the bath mat's wash programme and load according to its own care label.

What matters when choosing

Check installed fit and the mat's care label before deciding whether a washer dryer or a larger drum would be useful. Allow around 25mm at either side of a freestanding machine and roughly 50–150mm behind it for pipes and plugs; also check that the door can open.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Installed fit Measure the usable width, height and depth around pipes and plugs; allow the required ventilation space and check door opening. If my recess is shallow, I need the whole installation to fit, not just the machine's cabinet. Around 36% of consumers would put installed fit first.
Bath-mat care Read the particular mat's label for its permitted wash process, temperature and drying method. I want to wash my mat without choosing a setting its label rules out. For around 29% of consumers, mat-care compatibility would be the primary concern.
Drying space For a washer dryer, compare wash and dry capacities separately and confirm that the mat permits tumble drying. With nowhere convenient to air-dry a wet mat, I need a workable drying plan. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise that need.
Everyday loads Compare rated capacity and programme conditions against both routine laundry and the mat's care instructions. If the machine also handles my regular laundry, I want its capacity and programmes to suit those loads. Around 14% of consumers would make everyday-load flexibility their main priority.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Choosing a machine that only just matches the recess depth

    Cabinet depth does not account for hoses, plugs or the space needed to open the door.

    Measure the installation space around the connections. Allow around 25mm on either side and roughly 50–150mm behind a freestanding machine.

  • Treating every machine-washable mat alike

    Wash and drying instructions belong to the individual mat. IKEA specifies a normal machine wash at no more than 40°C and low-temperature tumble drying at no more than 60°C for its FINTSEN bath mat; those limits do not apply to every mat.

    Check your own mat's label before selecting a wash programme or drying method.

  • Comparing washer dryers by wash capacity alone

    A full washed load might exceed the machine's drying limit. Indesit lists 7kg washing capacity but 5kg wash-and-dry capacity for the IDMA 75624 MY TIME UK.

    Compare both figures and plan to reduce the load before drying when necessary.

  • Assuming an older slim-depth model is still available

    Beko describes the WTK72011 as a slim-depth machine but marks that exact model as discontinued.

    Use its dimensions as a reference, then check the exact dimensions and availability of the model you intend to buy.

Relevant brands to consider

Indesit

Indesit UK lists both a shallow freestanding washer and a washer dryer in its MyTime range.

  • The IMA 764 MY TIME UK washer and IDMA 75624 MY TIME UK washer dryer are each listed at 52.0cm deep, before installation clearance.
  • The IDMA 75624 MY TIME UK has a 7kg wash capacity but a lower 5kg wash-and-dry capacity.

Beko

Beko UK describes the WTK72011 as a slim-depth freestanding washer.

  • The WTK72011 is specified at 55cm deep with a 7kg capacity.
  • Beko marks this exact model as discontinued; check the dimensions of any current model separately.

Bosch

Bosch Home Appliances UK lists the WAN28254GB for spaces that can accommodate a deeper freestanding machine.

  • The WAN28254GB has a listed 8kg rated capacity and dimensions of 845 × 598 × 590mm.
  • Its 590mm appliance depth does not include the installation space needed behind the machine.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Common questions

How can I tell whether a washing machine will fit?

Measure the usable space around the pipes and plug, then compare it with the appliance's full dimensions. For a freestanding machine, Allow around 25mm clearance at either side and roughly 50–150mm behind; check door-opening space too.

Can every washable bath mat use the same wash programme?

No: choose settings from the care label on your particular mat. IKEA's FINTSEN bath mat, for example, permits a normal machine wash at a maximum of 40°C, but its instructions should not be applied to other mats.

Does a washer dryer make sense if I cannot air-dry a bath mat?

It can, provided the mat permits tumble drying and the load stays within the machine's drying limit. Indesit lists 7kg wash capacity and 5kg wash-and-dry capacity for the IDMA 75624 MY TIME UK, so a full wash load may need reducing before drying.