If you're replacing your washer and dryer, you may be considering whether it's worth swapping your traditional appliances for an all-in-one combo. Unlike a standard washer and dryer set, a combo machine machines washes and dries clothes in the same drum, eliminating the need to transfer wet laundry between machines. SpeedCombination units generally take much longer to complete a full wash-and-dry cycle than separate machines. With separate machines, a problem with one appliance doesn't necessarily put the other out of commission. But if you have a larger household, wash a lot of bulky items, or do laundry frequently, separate machines are the better choice.