Washing machine buying guide

Choose from a dial or push button, LED or, on top of the range models, a LCD display.

LED or LCD displays provide more detailed information in terms of how long the wash still has to run.

Machines with a memory button let you save your favourite wash settings to use again next time.

Smart washing machines come with an app for your smartphone.

The app lets you start, stop, pause or receive an alert when your load has finished, even when you are out and about.

Some give you advice on how to best wash the clothes.

Some machines allow you to control them through your smart home device like Amazon Alexa or Google Home.

The washing machine will need to be connected to WiFi.

Pause buttons let you pause the wash to add extra items in.

A delay timer lets you set the washing machine to delay the start of the cycle, usually by a number of hours.

This can be anything from 3 to 24 hours depending on the machine.

Alternatively, some machines have ‘end time’ functions, which allow you to choose when the programme finishes, as opposed to when it starts.

There are two types of child locks.

The most common type disables the controls on the control panel, which will stop children from being able to change the settings or start a programme.

The second type is a device that stops the door from being closed, so your kids won't be able to 'accidentally' trap items such as toys, your valuables, or the cat, in the drum.

A standard size washing machine is 850 x 600 x 600 mm (H x W x D).

You will need to make sure that your washing machine will fit into the space where you would like it to go, considering the width, height and depth. Remember to allow for space for the hoses connected on the back of the appliance, and for the door to open on the front of the machine.

All modern washing machines are cold fill. It takes less energy for the washing machine to heat the water, helping to cut down on the energy used.

Starting with cold water gives better wash results when you’re using biological detergents, as the enzymes work best at low temperatures.

Washing machines require three different connections, each within 1.5 m where you’d like to put your appliance:

• A cold water feed – this is for clean water to enter the machine and is a connection on the plumbing in your home. This is a round, threaded connection and will usually have a small blue valve next to it that rotates 90 degrees to turn the water supply on and off.
• A waste connection – this is for the used, dirty water to drain from your machine at the end of the wash cycle. This can come in two different styles - a standpipe in an upright position that should be almost has high as the washing machine, which the waste hose on the appliance is inserted into, or a spigot which is a threaded connection and approximately 12.5 cm long. This is usually on the u-bend below a sink.
• A plug socket – washing machines come with a standard 3-pin plug to power the machine and heat the water.

All connections must be within 1.5 m of the machine although we will supply and use a longer cold water pipe and extension waste hose if safe to do so.

• Sometimes the cold water valve can get seized or corroded when not used for a long time. It is important that you check the blue valve still rotates to isolate the water supply prior to disconnecting any hoses. If there are any issues with this it is recommended that you contact a plumber to resolve.

Most washing machines at Currys PC World come with a minimum one or two year guarantee, but a five year guarantee is included on our range of premium washing machines.