Washing Machines - Buying Guide

With this guide to buying washing machines, we are providing a few pointers that will help you make a well-considered and intelligent choice:

Determine your washing needs and expectations from your washing machine:

Apart from the fact that a washing machine should effectively wash the clothes, there are a number of factors that also need to be taken into consideration. The key to selecting the right washing machine is to determine your family’s requirements. This is based on size of the family, their age, activities and lifestyle.

Most standard portable washing machines offer four wash cycles – normal (for daily clothes), economy (for a small wash load), gentle (for silk or woolens) and heavy wash (for curtains, beddings and denims). Some advanced models include these basics plus a prewash, rinse and spin cycles. Highly advanced washing machines include separate preset wash cycles for washing baby clothes, cottons, woolens, towels, bed linens and denims. A greater number of wash programs indicates greater versatility in washing a vast range of clothes.

Temperature control is another feature common with most current generation washing machines. Depending upon the level of dirtiness and the type of garments being washed, the washing machine lets you choose between cold, warm, hot-cold and extra hot–cold. Alternatively, some machines come with three standard settings that is hot-cold for whites, lukewarm for lights and cold for dark colored fabrics.

Most of the popular consumer electronics and home appliances manufacturers including Haier, Danby, LG, and GE offer plenty of variety in terms of washers, dryers, and combos. Maytag washing machines are another popular choice, made available by Maytag, a well-known name for home appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, and other kitchen appliances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Innovative features with the newer generation washing machines:

Steam: Steam loosens the dirt more effectively and is also effective in removing stains. It not only sanitizes the clothes but also refreshes them and removes wrinkles.

 

Touch pad controls: An intuitive touch-screen display panel guides you with stepwise instructions for washing your laundry. Touch pads offer a larger variety of pre-programmed wash and temperature settings for different kinds of fabrics and also lets you store your most used settings. Some models also offer multilingual touch pads.

Advanced electronic timers: Some washing machines come with sensors that give warning beeps to alert you at each washing stage. Delay timers allow you to load the machine or presoak the clothes and set the timer for the time you want the machine to start the washing. Automatic dispensers: Some models come with dispensers that automatically take in detergent, bleach, stain removers and fabric softeners from special compartments at the appropriate time in the wash cycle. Water levels: Standard washers come with four basic load sizes - small, medium, large and heavy - that determine the water level. Advanced washers come with “fuzzy” sensors that instinctively detect the load size and take in detergent and water accordingly.

 

Antibacterial wash: Some washing machines claim to have microbe killing capabilities. This setting sanitizes your clothes in cold water. This feature saves energy that would be needed for heating the water.

Noise reduction: A good number of washing machines come with a low noise and low vibration features for a quieter operation.

 

Space:

The amount of space available in your home also determines the size and type of washing machine you can go for. If you plan to keep the washing machine under a counter top, you will have to select a front loading machine. If you have a narrow space or a back problem then a top loading machine is what you need. A separate washer and dryer  require more space and is an expensive proposition. A washer and dryer combo helps you save space and money. Another option is a front loading machine on which you can stack the dryer unit.

 

 Size of wash load:

Choose a machine that has the capacity to handle your wash load. The capacity of a washing machine is measured by the maximum weight of clothes it can handle in one cycle. While buying a washing machine, it is always preferable to go for the highest load capacity washing machine that fits your budget. This will ensure that you do not end up wasting too much time washing clothes on occasions when the load is slightly more that the regular.

Based on the model, washing machines come with a stainless-steel or plastic tub. Both, stainless steel or plastic tubs are durable, rust-free and easy to clean. The only difference is that the washing machines with stainless steel tubs can withstand higher spin speeds, which means faster and efficient drying.

 

Types of Washing Machines available:

Depending on how clothes are loaded into the washing machine, they are classified as:

Front Loading Machines

Front loading machines or H-axis machines turn on a horizontal axis and the wash tub is also mounted horizontally. A circular door opens in the front of the machines which allows loading and unloading of laundry.

Front loading washers are more expensive but better washers. They also consume less water and detergent and are more energy-efficient in comparison to top loading machines. Front loading machines offer better drying too. On the flip side, however, front loading machines require special low foaming detergents that are slightly costlier than the normal detergents that can be used in top loading machines.

Front loading machines are compact in design and can be easily placed under counter tops. Some front loading machines allow you to stack a dryer onto them, saving floor space.

Top Loading Machines

Top loading or V-axis machines have an agitator that turns on a vertical axis and a drum that is vertically mounted. The lid lifts upwards and allows you to load and unload the machine from top while standing. This is especially useful for those who have a back problem.

Top loading machines are relatively noisy and can automatically pause midway if the laundry is not evenly distributed in the tub, during the wash.

You cannot stack a dryer over a top loading machine. The dryer has to be kept alongside which demands additional floor space.

Top loading machines are less expensive than front loading machines but consume more water and energy. They use regular detergents and are available in a wide variety of models and designs from different manufacturers.

          Washer-Dryer Duos

A washer-dryer combines the functions of a washer and a dryer into a single unit. Simply load your laundry into the machine and leave it to do the rest. The drying function of these washer-dryers is not as effective as that of a separate tumble dryer. This means, that your clothes may remain a bit damp even after drying. A washer dryer may be adequate for situations where the amount of laundry done doesn't warrant a full-sized dryer. Considerably cheaper than an individual washer and dryer, they are great space savers too.

When buying separate washer and dryer units ensure that the size of your washer matches your dryer’s capacity.

Other Washing Machine considerations:

Spin Speed

A higher spinning speed dries the clothes quickly and efficiently. Besides drying clothes, spinning also removes the detergent from the wash. Be it a combo machine or a separate dryer, the spin speeds can be fixed or variable. In machines with fixed spinning, the tub spins at a preset spinning speed. In Machines with variable spinning speeds allow you to select the speed at which the tub spins. This feature is greatly helpful in drying delicate clothes, which could be damaged by fast drying.

Energy Consumption

A washing machine consumes large amounts of energy and water. It is thus advisable to go for machines that consumes less water and is also energy efficient. Some manufacturers mention the energy and water consumption per cycle. This information can help you compare between washers of similar types and capacity. Also remember, higher energy consumption translates into higher energy bills. Washing machines sporting the Energy Star label are considered to be much more energy efficient than those that do not have them.

Number of Wash programs

High end washing machines come with multiple preset wash programs that simplify the task of setting up a wash cycle to suit your wash requirements. These programs have a preset wash, rinse, spin, temperature, and time sequence. They also pre-select the water level and type of drying required. A higher number of preset wash programs allow you a wider choice while selecting wash programs that are in tune with your washing requirements.

          Warranty and service:

Check out warranty details between manufacturers. A basic one year warranty should cover all washing machine parts and labor. Thereafter the warranty will only cover specific parts for a longer period.

Final word:

The kind of washing machine you select will make a considerable difference in the time and effort that you invest in washing clothes. Hence it is extremely vital to look into all aspects before you buy your washing machine.