If you want to add laundry in a small space like a closet or under a counter, you might not know where to start.
You want a washer and dryer that fit but have enough capacity for real-life loads, and you want them to get your stuff clean and dry fast.
Miele’s W1 washers and T1 ventless dryers get great reviews. How do you know if they’re right for you?
I recently decided to add laundry in a small closet on my second floor, so I was asking all these questions myself. Ultimately, I went with a set of Miele’s latest washers and dryers.
In this article, I’ll tell you why.
Stick around and I’ll tell you a few potential downsides to consider too.
Table of Contents
Pros
Let’s begin with the pros.
For starters, Miele washers and dryers give you great cleaning performance and reliability.
All Miele appliances are designed and tested to last 20 years or more.
Since mine were going upstairs, I liked that Miele builds in strong leak protection via sensors and specially designed hoses.
Miele fabric care is also second to none. Thanks to features like the washer’s gentle honeycomb drum, they’re the best on the market at helping your clothes last.
You can use them to wash things you might normally send out to the dry-cleaner, like cashmere sweaters and silk blouses.
Heat Pump Dryer
Also, the heat pump dryer is much gentler then the traditional hot air of a typical vented dryer.
Speaking of the dryer, Miele’s T1 heat pump dryers may be smaller than traditional vented dryers, but they have advantages.
If you’re dealing with a small space like I was, you might want a ventless dryer instead. You won’t need to run a vent to the outside of your house to release the hot, moist air like you do with most dryers, which means you can put them in places it’s not easy or practical to run a vent to.
You’ll also save energy.
You should also know there are two kinds of ventless dryers: heat pump and condenser.
Heat pump dryers work better and faster in a space with a closed door like a closet compared with condenser models, which take longer to dry clothes when there’s less air circulation.
There’s no need to call an electrician. Miele dryers can plug into any standard outlet.
Most dryers require a 240 volt connection. That’s the kind that your range, water heater, and other major appliances plug into.
Miele can plug into a 120 volt outlet—the kind you have throughout the rest of your house.
That means if you’ve got one on the wall where you want your dryer to go, you’re all set. Just plug it in.
And if you’re replacing an existing 240 volt dryer, that’s easy too.
Miele makes a $50 adapter called a NEMA adapter.
And Miele laundry is truly space-saving. The washer and dryer measure 23 1/2 inches wide, 33.5 inches tall and 25 3/8 deep.
They can easily fit under counters and in closets without sticking out, or be stacked in a slim tower with Miele’s easy stacking kit.
You can fit them into a really narrow closet like I did or even inside a clothes wardrobe.
The only shallower option is the Asko T208CW, which measures 23 1/2 inches wide by 33 1/2 inches tall by 23 1/2 inches deep.
And they’re not JUST great for small spaces. You can use them to free up square footage in your existing laundry room for other things like shelving, a folding table, a pet spa—which is something we’re seeing more of, by the way.
You can even put stack two pairs side by side for the ultimate laundry center.
Now let’s walk through the models.
In 2021, Miele made some updates to its W1 washers and T1 dryers.
The main difference?
You get features that used to come only on its most expensive models, like WiFi, steam, and CapDos, a dispenser that lets you add special detergent capsules for certain types of laundry (like really dirty stuff, down, wool, or silk), on more affordable ones.
Washers
WXD 160
The entry-level washer, WXD 160 WCS, has all of those great features and retails for $1199.
It can hold 16 pounds of laundry and has useful cycles like HandWash, ExtraWhite, and Dark/Denim in addition to all the usual suspects.
It has a clear plastic door.
WXF 660
Step up to the WXF 660 WCS for $300 more, and you get Miele’s automatic detergent dispenser, which is called TwinDos.
You have to use Miele detergent with it, but if you don’t mind stocking up it’s really convenient. You won’t need to think about detergent for weeks.
If you don’t like the idea of springing for Miele detergent, don’t worry; there’s a regular dispenser you can use with any detergent, too.
In addition to this, you get several new wash cycles including towels, baby clothes, quick rinse, table linens and drapes, outerwear, and wrinkle-free, plus a self-clean cycle.
The door on this model has chrome trim.
WXI 860
Upgrade to the WXI 860 WCS for another $300, and you get QuickIntenseWash, Miele’s fastest wash cycle.
In addition to being speedy, it’s proven to remove 99.9 percent of viruses.
This machine also has SingleWash for very small loads.
WXR 860
Miele’s top-of-the-line WXR 860 WCS washer, which retails for $2,099, has the latest iPhone-like M-Touch control panel instead of a control knob.
Another bonus is an auto-clean setting for the detergent dispenser. After the door gasket, this is the second most likely spot for mold to grow, so it’s nice to have help keeping it clean.
Dryers
Miele’s three dryers all have Wi-Fi, an anti-crease feature, and FragranceDos, a feature that lets you load in pods to delicately scent your laundry.
No matter which you choose, you’ll also get the AddWash “pause” setting that lets you add an item after you’ve started a load, a reversible drum to help keep clothes from tangling, interior LED drum lighting, and an 8-pound capacity.
TXD160
The base model, TXD160WP, which retails for $1,299, has a control knob and solid white plastic door.
The wash programs include bedding (to help make sure sheets don’t come out with wet spots), express, and delicates.
TXI680
Spend $300 more for the TXI680WP and you get steam and a chrome trim door with a clear window—a nicer match with the washers, in my opinion.
It also has 2 fragrance pod slots so you can give your towels and clothes different scents if you want. And it comes with a basket that fits in the drum to hold sneakers so they don’t tumble and make a lot of noise.
WXI 860
As with the washers, the nicest dryer Miele dryer, which retails for $2,099, has M-Touch controls instead of a knob.
Personally, I went with the WXI 860 WCS washer and TXI680WP dryer. M-Touch controls didn’t matter to me—I actually prefer the old-school knob.
I knew I wanted steam in the washer and dryer to help with stubborn stains and refresh clothes I don’t want to take to the dry cleaners, like silk shirts.
I also wanted the automatic detergent dispenser and QuickIntenseWash option. But honestly, I think I would’ve been fine with either of the two middle washer options.
Cons
I also promised to talk about the downsides. Miele truly makes the best compact washers and ventless dryers out there.
As a result, they tend to be more expensive compared with other brands.
For example, LG makes similar size machines for under $1,000. So there’s that, the cost.
The only other cons are those of any of these smaller machines. They do hold less clothing because they’re smaller.
If you have a bigger family, you might not want these as your only set. For instance, we have a standard size pair in the basement to use for comforters and blankets.
People who are used to a vented dryer also might be frustrated by the extra time it takes to get a load fully dry. Other than that, I think you’ll love these machines.
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