A Buyer’s Guide To Washing Machines
Filed under Home Gadgets, June 10th, 2012 by Admin Finding ourselves with a broken washing machine can be something of a nightmare. It doesn’t take long for the laundry to pile up and for the kids to get restless. Getting rid of the broken machine and replacing it with a new and reliable model is something that we all want to get sorted as quickly as possible.
Given the number of options available to us when considering a new washing machine, we need to take a little time to consider what we want from a machine and what we can expect from our budget.
Taking Stock of our Budget
As you might expect, it is possible to spend almost anything on a washing machine. Before getting stuck into looking at the variety of models available, it is necessary to form an idea of your budget.
Having estimated a budget, it is wise to compile a list of the features on which you are willing to compromise and those on which you aren’t. On the other hand, the quality of a machine is probably more important than the features you can expect to get for a given budget.
No matter how functional your machine is at first, its useful lifespan will prove more important over time. The safest bet is to go with a well-known brand – for instance, you can expect a K&Co Bosch washing machine to outlast a cheaper, budget model.
Size
One of the most important aspects to consider when looking at washing machines is size. In order to have a good guess at the volume that you will require, you’ll need to give some thought to the items that you are likely to wash. A chunky duvet might struggle to fit in a smaller machine, for example.
Don’t worry too much at this stage about energy efficiency. Generally, larger machines are able to adjust the resources they use dependent on the weight of the wash. Washing a small load in a big machine won’t necessary be more wasteful than it would be in a smaller machine.
Spin Speed
A higher spin-speed is likely to give a more thorough wash – there is little doubt of that. However, you can also expect your clothes to become quite creased if washing at a high spin-speed.
While it might seem tempting to opt for a machine with a high spin-speed, variable spin cycles are probably more important to most of us. This will allow you to make adjustments for the materials you are washing and how dirty they are.
Precision Control
One of the things you are likely to find on more expensive models, which could be of some use, is precise controls. The ability to adjust cycle types and temperatures separately can be priceless, particularly for the environmentally conscious.
It can also be very helpful to be able to adjust the time of each wash manually. For those with busy schedules, knowing exactly when a wash will end can be very useful.
