The Spin on RV Washers Doing laundry when you travel doesn’t have to be a chore

In 1984 Splendide made a splash by introducing the RV market’s first combination washer-dryer. The revolutionary all-in-one appliance allowed RVers to do laundry on their own terms—in the privacy of their home on wheels without sacrificing too much space. No more schlepping dirty clothes, coins and detergent to the campground laundry room or local Laundromat and waiting around to use a washing machine.

Fast-forward 28 years, and the RV washer-dryer has evolved from a luxury feature to a must-have appliance. Many travelers consider a washer-dryer as essential to their RV lifestyle as a GPS system and satellite TV, and most larger motorhomes, fifth wheels and trailers now come with them or are outfitted for easy aftermarket installation.

It goes without saying that RV washer-dryers need to be lighter and more efficient than their residential counterparts. Splendide’s 120-volt XC model fills the bill, weighing less than 150 pounds, drawing as little as 4 amps and averaging a frugal 7.5 gallons of water per wash.

Likewise, RV washer-dryers need to take up less room than residential appliances and withstand the rigors of travel. Splendide’s space-saving XC is 23.5 inches wide by 33.125 inches tall by 22.625 inches deep and requires a meager 1-inch clearance in the front and back and zero clearance on the sides. That’s important when dealing with the limited space in an RV. To stand up to potholes and poor road conditions, the XC is built with a reinforced outer case, heavy-duty shock absorbers and a stainless-steel drum.

Compact washer-dryers come in vented and ventless styles, and the XC offers both options. The vented version draws in air, heats it and expels it outdoors as the laundry dries. The non-vented version warms air within the drum and cools the outer drum with water. The washing process is the same in both, but an unvented model can take longer to dry a load. To maximize efficiency, the XC’s 1,200-rpm spin speed and dual rotating drum remove as much moisture as possible during the wash cycle.

Beyond being RV-friendly, combination washer-dryers have most of the same features as side-by-side and stacked residential units, from automatic load balancing to variable spin and heat options. The difference is that combos wash and dry in the same drum. Dirty laundry goes in, and clean, dry clothes come out. Just toss a load of heavy beach towels or delicate lingerie inside, add a small amount of detergent in the automatic dispenser and set the controls accordingly.

While the XC can shift from washing to drying automatically, some RVers prefer to shake out their clothes between cycles, particularly heavy jeans, to prevent wrinkling. Just like at home, the key to doing laundry is not to overload the machine.

For those with sufficient space and weight capacity for a stackable washer and dryer, Splendide offers a 120-volt RV laundry set that’s a trim 214 pounds and 23.5 inches wide by 65.625 inches tall by 22.75 inches deep. The high-efficiency pair has a large 4.0-cubic-foot dryer drum and more washer cycle options than comparable stacked sets. Splendide also offers a kit that makes it easier to mount the dryer on the washer in tight RV spaces.

Splendide has built its business around RV laundry appliances and accessories and offers a variety of popular products. The company’s low-suds detergent doesn’t foam over in RV holding tanks, its Drain-A-Way pans protect RV floors from water damage, and its SecureFit brackets keep appliances in place when the road gets bumpy. Splendide’s laundry units—both stackable and all-in-one—come with a one-year parts-and-labor warranty. Extended warranty protection plans are available from Splendide.

Splendide appliances and accessories are available at Camping World SuperCenters. For more information, visit CampingWorld.com/splendide.