How To Choose The Right Washing Machine
Washing Machines and Washer Dryers are some of the most likely kitchen appliances to break down, so making the right decision on what to buy from the start is key. Washing machine prices start at around the £200 mark, and top-end washers can cost over £1000. Whilst the old adage "you get what you pay for" can often be true, there are more important decisions that should be taken into consideration.
Does The Washing Machine Come With A Guarantee?
Electrical appliances are most likely to break down within the first year of operation, so it's very important to keep receipts and to consider extending a warranty.A lot of companies offer extended guarantees, which can increase this term to 3 years or more.Although it does involve additional costs, it is recommended to find a three year extended warranty.
Should I Choose A Washer Dryer Or Washing Machine?
Washer Dryers offer great space saving and convenience characteristics, but are generally less reliable than dedicated washing machines.These are better suited to smaller families, and work best with small wash loads. If you have the space, it is often better to have a dedicated washing machine and tumble dryer.
What Brands Should I Consider?
At the cheaper end of the scale, Beko washers offer great value for money, and the build quality is acceptable. A well-featured Beko washer can be purchased for under £200, and whilst they don't tend to skimp on features, it is undeniable that they lack the build quality of more expensive models.Higher quality brands such as Bosch and Miele make washing machines that are well-known for their build quality.In particular, Miele is known for over-engineering all of their products, so what seems like a lot of initial outlay can become a money saver as lower quality washing machines break down and incur repair costs.
What Drum Size Do I Need?
This is dependent on your family size as well as how often the washing is done.People who wash several small loads instead of less sporadic large loads would find 5kg load capacity more that sufficient. For larger families or those who prefer to do smaller numbers of large washes, then a minimum of 7Kg capacity is recommended.
What About Spin Speed?
Of all the factors this is the least important.If anything, lower spin speeds can be advantageous. This is because clothes won't get creased as much, and lower spin speeds are kinder to clothes.Consider factors such as the reliablity, read online reviews to see if your choice is favourable, and of course reliable.
Fabric Care
Many items of clothing such as wool, silk and hand wash only items require specific washing machine programmes to avoid damaging such garments. If your wardrobe consists of several such items, then ensure that the washing machine has wool and hand wash settings.
Energy Efficiency
Energy ratings offer a standardised method of choosing the most efficient electrical appliances, and this scale is from A to G. "A" is the highest efficiency possible, and "G" is the least efficient.Most current washing machine models offer an "A" or "B" energy efficiency rating, so limiting yourself to these ratings will not really affect your buying options.Not only is low power consumption better for the environment, but households will get lower energy bills.
"Intelligent" Washing Machines
Moving towards the £500+ price bracket, many washing machines offer advanced sensor facilities, which can self-diagnose faults, measure the weight of the load and adjust water requirements as necessary, and even allow delay settings, so that a washing cycle doesn’t start until a pre-defined time. It is probably more beneficial to spend money on a higher quality brand with less features than to buy a top of the range washing machine from a lower quality brand as these features are generally not essential requirements.
