The Ultimate Laundry Buying Guide from Appliances Online
June 1st, 2015
Planning to replace your washer or dryer? Want to upgrade to a larger model, or a design that better suits your needs?
source: wikipedia
Make sure you choose the right appliance by following the advice, hints and tips found in this handy-dandy laundry buying guide:
Contents
- Choosing a washing machine – front loader vs top loader
- Choosing a dryer – vented vs condenser
- Size and capacity
- Stacking your washer and dryer
- Laundry appliance features and settings
- Energy Efficiency
- Warranty & Service
- How to clean and care for a washing machine or dryer
- How to give your clothes the best clean
- Which type of washer or dryer should I buy?
- Need more help?
Choosing a washing machine – front loader vs top loader
Front load washers are often smaller and more energy and water efficient than top loaders, and they’re also usually gentler on your clothes.
What’s more, they can often be stacked with a matching dryer to save space.
Top load washers are usually easier to load and unload as they don’t require you to bend down, and often have shorter wash cycles than front loaders.
Also, you can usually open up a top loader partway through a wash cycle to add or remove a garment.
Further reading
- Front load vs top load washing machines: which is better?
- Open a front loader mid-cycle and rescue your mobile phone
Choosing a dryer – vented vs condenser
Vented clothes dryers run hot air across your clothes and expel the exhaust in the form of hot steam. They’re usually less expensive and capable of being wall mounted, but they require ventilation to avoid the creation of indoor tropical storms.
Condenser clothes dryers collect their exhaust in the form of condensed water, which must be drained from the machine. These dryers are much more energy efficient, especially heat pump dryers that recycle waste heat to dry clothes, but they’re usually too heavy to be stacked or wall mounted.
Remember to always empty your dryer’s lint filter! Not only does a full lint filter spread lint across your clothes, but it can be a fire risk in a hot dryer.
A Washer Dryer Combo is a special case, consisting of a front loader washing machine that also functions as a condenser clothes dryer.
These appliances are great for saving space in the home, however their effective drying capacity is typically only half that of their wash capacity, meaning they can’t completely replace a separate dedicated washer and dryer.
Size and capacity
Getting the right size appliances for your laundry is important – too small and you’ll have to run several loads to get the job done; too large and the running costs will be more than you really need to pay for the amount of laundry you’re doing.
As for the capacity of your washer and dryer, the following should give you a general idea of what’s suitable:
1-2 people: 5kg or smaller
3-4 people: 5kg-7kh
4+ people: 7kg and up
For reference, 1kg of laundry is roughly the equivalent of 5 business shirts, a shirt and a pair of jeans, or two bath towels.
Always double-check the measurements of your laundry’s available space! Be sure to leave some extra room for doors and lids to open, as well as taking the power cords and drainage hoses into consideration.
You should also make sure that your new washing machine can fit through the door of your laundry room – nothing’s more embarrassing than buying a shiny new appliance that won’t fit inside your home!
Further reading
Stacking your washer and dryer
If you choose to stack a washer and dryer, make sure to use appliances of the same dimensions. You’ll want to make sure that both appliances are held safely in place to avoid dangerous accidents.
While you can sometimes get away with using a rubber or foam mat to absorb the vibrations from your appliances, your best bet is to use a compatible stacking kit – check to see if the manufacturer has one available.
Further reading
- The lot on Stacking & Mounting Clothes Dryers
- What are the best appliances for an apartment?
- Stacking kits are important!
Laundry appliance features and settings
Certain washers and dryers come with a wide selection of specialised programs for the more efficient handling of different washing loads.
Remember that while appliances with lots of specialised programs may sound impressive, they can sometimes prove confusing to operate. Look for washing and drying programs and features that you’re likely to use regularly, and make your product choice accordingly.
Features found in both washing machines and dryers
Sensor washing/drying | Monitors the condition of your laundry, automatically adjusting the settings of your washer or dryer to provide the best care possible for your clothes. |
Child locks | Prevent curious hands from interfering with your laundry settings when you’re not looking. |
Time remaining display | Counts down how much time is left on the machine’s cycle to help you organise your day. Dryers on a timer typically show the time remaining on their dial, while washers and dryers with LED controls may display a light-up countdown clock. |
Delay start | Set the cycle to start at a time that’s most convenient for your busy schedule. |
Reversible door | Much like some fridges, some washers and dryers will let you swap over the direction their door opens, which can be handy for fitting them into some compact laundry spaces. |
Alarm | Alerts you when the cycle is over so you won’t forget about your laundry. Some machines also use LED lights to alert you when the filter or water container (in condenser dryers) needs cleaning or emptying. |
Program or timer dial | Lets you select your machine’s program, or the drying time for a timer dryer. |
LED display controls | Electronic controls can be a bit tricky to get used to, but they’re a great way select and adjust different washing or drying programs, which can often be adjusted and saved to suit your own personal preferences. |
Washing machine features and programs
Spin Speed | A washing machine’s spin cycle removes moisture from your clothes at the end of their wash, so they can spend less time on the line or in the dryer before they can be worn again. However, as fast spin speeds can be damaging to delicate garments, look for a washing machine with an adjustable spin speed. |
Quick Wash | This mode takes only a fraction of the usual washing time, though it’s usually only effective when cleaning a few lightly-soiled items, making it ideal for freshening up an outfit, rather than washing a full load. |
Half Load/Economy | To avoid wasting excess power and water when you’ve only got a small load of washing to get through, a half load mode efficiently cleans smaller amounts of laundry. |
Cold Wash | Washing in cold water uses less energy (no need to heat the water) and is often gentler on some more delicate fabrics. Cold washes are most commonly found in top loaders. |
Temperature wash | Typically ranging anywhere from 20 degrees C to 90 degrees C, the temperature of your wash will affect your machine’s wash performance. Typically the hotter the temperature the more intense and thorough the clean, though higher temperatures are typically harsher on your clothes. Hot washes are often used in front-loaders, as the enzymes used in many front-loader detergents only activate at higher temperatures. |
Reduced ironing/wrinkle-free | A setting that washes at higher temperatures (sometimes using steam) and finishes with less spinning results in less creasing than a typical wash. |
Delicates/woolens | Washes at lower temperatures with slower spinning, to treat delicate fabrics more gently. |
Handwash | A very gentle setting for very lightly washing your most delicate fabrics and garments. |
Sports | Good for those sweaty socks and muddy jerseys – a very intense clean that’s not appropriate for delicate clothes. |
Extra rinse | Washes detergent out for sensitive skin. |
Dryer features and programs
Drying temperature selector | Always read the labels, but setting a high drying temperature is usually more effective on cottons and tough fabrics, while low temperatures provide better care to lighter heat-sensitive fabrics. |
Cupboard dry | Usually the standard program, getting your clothes dry enough to be put away immediately. |
Extra dry | Dries for longer to more thoroughly handle bulky items such as bedsheets and large towels. |
Iron dry | Leaves clothes slightly damp, for easier ironing when the cycle is over. |
Synthetics/Easy care | A gentler drying setting for handling synthetic materials such as polyester. Usually most effective on half-capacity loads. |
Wool/delicates | A very gentle drying setting that limits wear and tear on your most delicate fabrics. |
Cool | A drying program that finishes by tumbling with cool air, which can help to deodorise clothes and keep them from being hot to the touch. |
Easy iron | Rather than drying wet clothes, this setting warms and tumbles dry clothes in order to loosen their fibres for easier ironing. |
Anti-crease | This setting rotates the drum occasionally after the completion of a drying cycle until you open the door, to help prevent the formation of creases in your clothes. |
Further reading
- 3 appliance features worth shelling out for
- Decoding appliance jargon
- More appliance jargon – a glossary of appliance terms
Energy Efficiency
- Generally speaking, the larger the appliance, the more power it will need.
- Front load washing machines tend to be more energy and water efficient than top loaders. However some modern top loaders include Eco Modes that minimise energy and water usage.
- Heat pump dryers recycle their own heat exhaust – making them some of the most energy efficient dryers available.
- Always check the energy star rating of your washer or dryer for an idea of its everyday power usage. The same goes for the WELS water rating for washers.
Further reading
- How much does it cost to run your appliances and how to reduce it
- It’s not a bargain if it’s expensive to run: save money with energy efficient appliances
Warranty & Service
All of the new laundry appliances sold at Appliances Online come with a standard warranty (usually 2 years, depending on the manufacturer). However, you also have the option of buying an extended Customer Care Plan with your appliance purchase.
How to clean and care for a washing machine or dryer
Taking good care of your laundry appliances helps to ensure that they’ll continue to offer great performance for the duration of their operational lifespan.
It’s important to check the level of your laundry appliances during their installation, to ensure that they’re properly balanced. The intense vibration of an active washing machine or dryer can damage an unbalanced machine, sometimes even knocking it over!
When you set up your laundry appliances, make sure that the machines are level, with their weight equally divided between all four corners. Adjust the feet if necessary, and check the angles with a spirit level if possible.
If you’ve been to the beach and your washing machine or dryer has filled up with sand, you’ll need to remove it before the abrasive material starts to damage your machine.
Once your machine has dried out after a wash load, you can use a thin-nozzle attachment on a vacuum cleaner to remove the sand, and run a wet paper towel or damp cloth around the rim to remove any excess sand.
If a quantity of sand makes it deeper into the workings of your machine (such as a dryer’s blower), we’d recommend taking the machine to a professional to be safely dismantled so the sand can be removed.
Be sure to check your appliances every so often for signs of wear and tear. Hoses and connections can sometimes be trouble spots (check them for crimping and blockages), but these can often be replaced easily and cheaply.
Try to avoid overloading your machine. Remember that some items such as bedclothes and beach towels can grow very heavy when wet, putting more strain on your machine than a similar-sized laundry load.
If your washing machine is starting to pong, and your clothes are coming out smelling worse than when they went in, the washing machine may need a wash itself.
Run an empty hot wash cycle (if your smart machine won’t wash while empty, throw in some old towels), adding either bleach (to remove rust), descaler or baking soda crystals (to remove limescale), or vinegar or lemon juice (to sanitise, disinfect and deodorise). Be careful – never combine bleach with vinegar or lemon juice, as this can give off toxic fumes.
Further reading
- How to get sand out of a washer or dryer
- Tips for laundry maintenance
- How to clean a washing machine
- Chemical-free cleaning, like Nana used to!
How to give your clothes the best clean
Don’t just toss your clothes into the machine willy nilly. Have a look over them for stains, lint and pet hair to be removed first.
To get rid of lint and pet hair, you can use a sticky roller, a set of rubber gloves, or a wet sponge.
If you’re after fluffier flannels and shirts that are easier to iron, consider adding some fabric softener to your washing load. However, think about using fabric softener sparingly, as a build-up of its chemicals can increase wear and tear on your machine and your clothes. Alternatives to fabric softener include dryer sheets, anti-static sprays, dryer balls, or vinegar.
source: wikipedia
To spot-clean stains, start by blotting the stain with the neutral universal solvent of simple water. Next, try adding a bit of soap, and if you’re still not seeing results, you can turn to stain removers such as white wine, white vinegar, soda and salt, always testing them first.
Separate the dark and light clothes, as well as the colours. Even if they’ve been treated not to run, it’s not worth letting your white clothes end up dyed an unfortunate shade! Be especially careful with dyed clothing and brand-new coloured garments – these are best hand-washed separately, at least until you can be confident that they won’t run.
Pack all of your delicate clothes into a mesh bag before you wash, to protect them from stretching and tearing.
You can also use a delicates bag to wash Lego! (source: wikipedia)
Be sure to place brassieres in the bag as well, as underwires can damage not just clothes, but your washing machine as well.
When in doubt, read your the laundry care tags on your clothing (yes, they do have a purpose!).
Always check your pockets before you put clothes in the washing machine! You don’t want a tissue to be spread across your clothes as lint, coins to bash around damaging your machine, or your mobile phone to be destroyed.
Set a different wash cycle to suit the clothes you’re washing – don’t just always use the “Regular” setting and hope for the best. Different settings will provide a better clean to different types of loads, but generally use a hotter wash for lighter colours (to scald out stains) and a cooler settings of darker colours (to prevent dye from running).
source: wikipedia
When choosing your washing detergent, powder is generally better for washing heavily-soiled clothes, while liquid is better in water-efficient or self-dosing washing machines. And there’s always the option of Soap Nuts…
In any case, try not to use too much detergent, which can lead to chemical build-ups on your clothes and in your machine. Often you can get away with just using a half-dose.
Try not to leave wet clothes in the washing machine for too long, as damp clothes can quickly grow mould or mildew.
Always check your clothes labels before sticking them in the dryer. If in any doubt, hang it on the line to prevent heat and tumbling damage from the dryer.
Further reading
- Should you use fabric softener?
- How to get motivated in the laundry
- How to clean a suit without dry cleaning
- Tips for removing pet hair from clothing
- What on Earth are soap nuts?
- Washing powder vs liquid detergent: which is best?
Which type of washer or dryer should I buy?
Front Load Washer |
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Top Load Washer |
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Twin Tub Washer |
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Washer/Dryer Combo |
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Vented Dryer |
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Condenser Dryer |
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Heat Pump Dryer |
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Gas Dryers |
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Further reading
Need more help?
The team at Appliances Online is made up of experienced appliance experts, available 24/7 to provide any help or assistance you may need choosing a washing machine or dryer for your home. Just contact us on 1300 000 500 and you’ll be able to speak to someone who can help.
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