What will I be using it for ?

Before buying a washing machine you need to establish how often you will use it and how much washing you will be doing. If you’re doing several baskets full of washing for your family every week your requirements will be different to a young couple.

If you are left flummoxed by special features and are only concerned about size, drum capacity will tell you what you need to know. The capacity of the drum tells you just how much washing you can effectively squeeze into the machine every time you load it up.

Washing basket never empty?
Some of the larger drums can hold up to 11kg and are well suited to larger families who often find themselves on the muddy local playing fields or in the middle of messy mealtimes. The larger the drum, the more you can wash – meaning good news for busy mums aiming to get the week’s washing done in a shorter time. Also, you can wash duvets and other large items in a machine with a bigger drum – signalling an end to those annoying trips to the laundrette.

I'm not washing for a football team...
On the flipside, why bother with all that space if you’re only washing for yourself and a partner? The average drum size is around 7kg, which should provide ample space to keep the washing pile of a couple or smaller family in check. To put it into perspective, Which? found that an average wash involves about 4.5kg of laundry.

In a spin – how to save time...
Most machines have a minimum of two spin speeds: 1000-1800 revolutions per minute (rpm) for cottons and 400-800rpm for delicates. People looking to save time when doing their washing should look out for machines with a high spin speed. This is because the faster the spin the more water is removed from your clothes – helping them dry quicker: Crucial when your uniform is still in the wash and your shift starts in an hour or so.

...and energy
Because of the increased water removal, faster spin speeds also reduce the time the laundry needs in the tumble dryer – getting a big thumbs-up from green crusaders. Speeds go all the way up to 1800rpm for those always in a rush, but the more common 1200rpm is up to the job of handling most loads. Don’t forget, you get what you pay for so the higher the rpm the more you’ll be coughing up.


Shaking up the spin
Machines with variable spin speeds allow you to alter the speed depending on what you’re washing. So, if you’re washing delicates such as a cashmere jumper or a hand-knitted baby’s cardigan, you can lower the spin speed to keep them fluffy and soft.

Wash cycles – what does it all mean?



Many high-end machines will put you in a spin with their numerous programmes and cycles, but generally they will all break down into the following categories:

• Cottons: This is intense high-temperature washing for dirty clothes that can take it.
• Synthetics: A gentler lower-temperature approach for man-made fabrics.
• Delicates: A gentle cycle that won’t damage fragile items.
• Woollens: Under this cycle your woollens are overwhelmed with water: Best suited to wool-mixture clothes which can be subject to bobbling.
• Handwash: Offers exactly what it says on the tin: A washing experience easier on fabrics than your own hands.
• Quickwash: This cycle takes up to 70 minutes and is suited to freshening up clothes that weren’t too dirty when they went in the machine.
• Economy wash: Also known as ‘half load’ this can be used to save water and energy when you only have a little washing to do
• Other programmes - bits and bobs
  
  Some machines now come with ‘coin traps’. These are good news for the forgetful among us – filtering out all that loose change that ends up left in our pockets long after we’ve thrown our trousers in the laundry bin. Also look out for pre-wash programmes, which lift surface dirt from filthy fabrics before the main cycle gets under way. Finally, if you’re not a fan of ironing then look out for a steam clean programme - which does its level best to eliminate creases during the wash.
  
  

Where it will go – to integrate or not?



If you want the machine to slot into a gap in your utility room or kitchen then a free-standing machine will do. But if style is high on your agenda and you want the machine to fit in with your kitchen, the only way to go is integrated.


Integrated machines
Integrated machines blend seamlessly into your kitchen. When out of use they are hidden from sight, covered by a door in the same style as your kitchen units to create a sleek, modern look.Semi-integrated A semi-integrated machine covers its most unsightly part – the drum – when out of use. Again, it disappears behind units matching the rest of your kitchen. Only the controls of the machine remain on show. However, if they’re the high-end touch screens they are worthy of showing off anyway.

Free-standing
Not quite as stylish as an integrated machine, a freestanding unit more than makes up for it with its impressive mobility. Want to bring your washer into the kitchen to free-up garage space or take it with you when you move – no problem with a free-standing machine.

Washing machines and saving energy All washing machines are graded from A+ to G on their energy efficiency – the best machines will be marked A+. If the environment is important to and you like the sounds of an A-rated machine, then look for one with an Energy Saving Recommended mark on it. Although you pay a bit more for one of these, the extra cash will give you green credentials with the family and save you money on bills in the long run.

Machines with a higher grading will offer features such as time delay – which allows you to put a wash in and set the timer for it to start when cheaper energy kicks in during the early hours