Last updated on February 26th, 2024 at 12:36 am
Before buying a washing machine, we’re getting confused which one best suit for us, here you will learn about the washing machine buying guide and how to choose a washing machine step by step?
Put simply, a washing machine washes your clothes. But when you start looking into washing machines in more detail you will find that there are lots of varieties available for sale nowadays. In fact, you might find it more difficult to figure out which one you want for your family.
This Buyer’s Guide will help to simplify things for you. When you start looking on websites in search of the best washing machine for your needs, you will understand what the various features and benefits are. That makes the buying process so much easier – so let’s get started and see the different types of washing machines that are on the market today.
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Before buying a washing machine follow this stuff and ask questions?
Is this an A++ Grade washing machine?
So, what is an A++ Grade washing machine? You will probably be aware that a lot of appliances are now labeled for efficiency. Washing machines are no different in this respect, although they aren’t just rated for overall efficiency.
When you go onto a website, look for the ratings for each machine. They will be listed for the efficiency of the spin, the ability to wash your clothes, and the overall energy efficiency. An A++ rating is the best one you can get, but you might also see ratings that say A+ or just A. If you find a machine with the two-plus signs, you know you have got the best one you can find.
Obviously energy efficiency is very important now because it means you will use less energy with every wash you do. Over the course of a year, this can save you a lot of money on electricity and water. This is superb news if you are on a water meter. And it is great for the environment as well.
An efficient spin also has its benefits. The better the spin is, the drier your clothes will be when they come out of the machine. And in the winter, that means you won’t need to turn up the radiators to dry all your clothes in this manner!
Finally, the better the machine is at washing your clothes the nicer they will be when they come out. Obviously some older washing machines aren’t as good as the modern ones when it comes to stain removal. If you buy an A++ rated washing machine with regard to the efficiency of the washing process, you will know you have the best one on the market.
Do washing machines have different spin speeds?
As you start to explore various washing machines you will see that some have higher spin speeds than others. Basically, the higher the spin speed is, the drier your clothes will be when they come out of the machine at the end of the wash. As the drum spins around it throws the water out of your clothes. The faster the spin, the more water comes out.
Lots of washing machines will have more than one spin speed, giving you more versatility depending on what type of clothes you are washing. But when you look at the details for each machine you will see that the topspin speed will be listed. This is stated in RPMs, which stands for revolutions per minute. So you might see something like 1200rpm or 1400rpm for example.
What load capacity does the washing machine have?
The load capacity is particularly important because it will determine how much you can wash at any one time. If you currently have a small washing machine with a 5kg load, you will have to do lots of washes to get through all the clothes.
But just imagine buying a 10kg load washing machine. Needless to say, this cuts the number of washes you will need to do in half. A machine that has a bigger drum like this also tends to be more efficient when it comes to washing your clothes.
Modern washing machines are typically no bigger than standard-sized ones when it comes to having a bigger drum either. Just make sure you double-check the measurements of any washing machine you are considering buying if you want a bigger load capacity like this. The last thing you want is to take delivery of your new washing machine and find that it won’t fill the gap you have ready for it.
Water Level Controls in a Washing Machine:
Water Level Controls in a Washing Machine Irrespective of the brand, the primary function of the water level switch is to organize the quantity of water that goes into the tub. When the appropriate water level is attained the switch finishes a course to the machines’ timer and machine motor and to the agitator control.
While the machine is on the fill port, the switch contacts water control valves provided at the water inlet, so that water fills in the washing machine. The timer motor runs only when the required water level is attained. Hence, there is no need to worry about running time being lost when the machine is in the filling process.
Float-type switches were used in earlier models of washing machines to set water levels. Today, more efficient pressure-type water level switches are employed. A hose connects to the air bell placed below the outer tube of the machine. From there it links to the pressure switch at the back of the control panel. During the water filling procedure, an air pocket occurs inside the plastic hose.
When the water rises inside the tub, the air pressure inside the tube also increases. It goes on increasing till it makes the diaphragm inside the pressure switch activate switch contacts. Once this happens, the circuit to the valve is opened and the flow of water into the tub is stopped. When the draining process begins, the air pressure inside the hose begins to come down permitting the diaphragm of the pressure switch to reorganize the switch links.
What Size Drum Does Your Washing Machine Have?
Are you constantly tired of doing the washing? Does it seem as if you are always getting through wash after wash and yet you never seem to get to the end of it all?
If this is the case you could be using a washing machine that isn’t big enough for you. Doesn’t that sound a little odd? Well yes, it does, but the truth is that washing machines have come a long way since they were first invented. In years gone by a washing machine only came in one size, and we all used that to do however many washes we needed to do.
But nowadays you get to choose what size you want your washing machine to be, and it is all related to the size of the drum. Some machines have drums which are considerably bigger than the one your current machine might have. And this has a big advantage for you if you are constantly doing load after load of washing to keep up with your family.
Strictly speaking, you can get around 6kg of washing in a standard-sized washing machine. So if you want to wash more than this you will need a bigger drum. It might be tempting to try and cram that bit more washing into it with every load, but it won’t do your washing or the machine much good if you do. For starters, your clothes will be more inclined to crease and less inclined to be washed properly – neither of which is that good for them.
In addition to this, you will overload the machine constantly and this puts more stress on it. It probably won’t break the first time you do it, but over time you might find the life of your machine gets shortened as a result.
Unbelievably it is now possible to buy a washing machine which has a drum capacity of as much as 10kg, so you can see this gives you nearly double the load of a normal machine. So instead of it taking two washes to do a 10kg load, you could do it all in one hit. This has to be better for you as well as for the machine because it is built to take more and it can do it in a single load too.
Looking for different programs:
Modern washing machines come with lots of different wash programs as well. For example, there will be programs for silks and other programs for cotton.
But it isn’t just different programs for different clothes that you will find. There are also different program lengths available. To give you an example, one washing machine on the market currently has a quick wash that is a mere fourteen minutes long! You could almost put the washing on, make a cup of tea and then hang it out straight afterward!
Lots of machines also now have quick washes available for lighter loads that take a mere half to three-quarters of an hour. The advantages of this are wonderful when you think of the energy you will save.
How many times have you put off doing some washing until you had a full load? Or felt guilty for doing a small full wash because your washing machine doesn’t have the ability to do a shorter program?
These modern washing machines take away that problem in one fell swoop. Always look to see what programs are on offer with each machine you consider. The more programs it has, the more freedom you will have to do the right amount and type of washing at a time that suits you.
Of course, you might have to spend a bit more money to get a washing machine with more programs available, but the money is usually well worth spending.
What types of control panels are available?
The nature of the control panel will depend largely on the type of washing machine you buy. The cheaper models simply have a number of buttons or a dial (or a combination of both). They may also have lights to indicate whereabouts in the washing cycle you are.
As you go up the scale and spend a bit more money on a more advanced machine, you will notice that you will start seeing LCD panels on the front of the machine. These can obviously give you a lot more information, which is very useful for a number of reasons.
It will display the temperature of the wash and often the amount of time remaining until the load finishes. This is very useful as you will know exactly when it has finished, to let you empty out the washing and hang it up.
In short, if you buy a washing machine with a display panel of some kind, you will be able to find out much more about what your washing is doing and how much longer the cycle will take.
What types of advanced features are available?
As modern technology has advanced so have the features you will find on the typical washing machine. There was a time when a washing machine would use a set amount of water for each load, and that was that. There was also a more basic set of wash programs than you will find now.
And if your machine is quite old you will probably still be reveling at the thought of a fourteen-minute quick wash!
So with that in mind let’s take a look and see what kind of advanced features you might expect to find on a modern washing machine. Bear in mind that different machines will vary, so always check the exact specifications for each model you are interested in.
Fuzzy logic
It’s a great name for a great feature, and most modern washing machines will have this now. The idea is that the washing machine is now intelligent enough to know how much water and detergent the washing load needs to get the optimum performance out of it.
This will save you a lot of money over time. Instead of using 100% of the available detergent and water during one wash cycle, it may evaluate that a particular load needs only 75% of that to get the best results.
It is definitely worthwhile opting for a new washing machine that has the Fuzzy Logic feature on it. This is probably one of the best new features that have become available in recent years.
Steam washing
All washing machines use water to process each load. Except that is for washing machines that have a steam function on them. These use steam to achieve a better end result.
A small amount of water is still used, but clearly, you will use a lot less when taking advantage of the steam washing function that comes with some machines. If you want to save water this machine will help you do it. An added bonus of this feature is that you can say goodbye to any bacteria which could be living on your clothes. The steam function makes this a reality.
Built-in or freestanding
All washing machines fall into one of two groups. The freestanding ones are designed to be pushed underneath the worktop, although you need to make sure they are front-loading machines. You can get top-loading ones as well which are designed more for use in a utility room.
Built-in washing machines need to have a door fixed to the front. When this door is closed you won’t be able to tell that the washing machine is present in the kitchen at all. It will look just like a normal kitchen cabinet. The washing machine does not actually go into a cabinet itself though – if it did it might shake it to pieces!
In conclusion:
All of this information might be a little overwhelming, to begin with. But as you start looking at the washing machines that are advertised for sale online today, you will start to see that there are different machines for different people. All you have to do is to figure out which benefits and features you would like the most, and then find the right washing machine that will work for you.
