What to Look For When Buying a Washing Machine

Think you need the fanciest washing machine in town? Chances are that fancy washer comes with a high price. When it comes to buying a washing machine, there are many options to consider. A fine salesman offered good advice the other day during my washing machine meanderings. Unlike most salesmen looking to just make the commission, this gentleman helped me choose a washing machine suited for my needs and budget.

Washing machine controls which operate with buttons, levers and dials can be more difficult to operate than touchpads, which from experience are more complex and much pricier to service. There are many factors one should keep in mind when on the mission for a washing machine.

As far as cycles go, Regular, Permanent Press and Delicate are all that you really need. More expensive machines offer a soak/prewash for badly soiled laundry or an extra rinse cycle at the end. You can get the same result manually by resetting the dial (with a more reasonably priced machine).

Also, you really only need three wash temperatures: hot, warm and cold, followed by a cold rinse. Though warm wash and rise is recommended for washable woolens, warm water doesn’t really rinse any better than cold. It is also a waste of energy. Sears and Frigidaire offer a few washers with an electronic temperature sensor and blend hot and cold to reach preset targets. With a nice priced machine, you can adjust the hot and cold spigots to solve the problem as well.

When shopping for a machine, also keep in mind that Maytag and General Electric really stand by their names. The salesman I spoke with informed me that they are more frequently purchased models since they are among the more reliable brands. White-westinghouse have been the most troublesome.

Look for a brand with a good repair history. A top-of-the-line washer with fancy electronics and specialized settings doesn’t provide the best value. Don’t purchase more machine than you need. My top-loading GE washer is a three cycle, two speed model is sufficient for my chores. It’s easier to load and loads more laundry than a front-loading machine. Installation is simple too. However, if conserving energy and water is your top priority, perhaps you may prefer a front-loading machine.

In conclusion, I hope I have helped you decide to buy a reasonably priced washing machine as opposed to a troublesome over-priced one. Best of luck in finding the right washing machine to suit your needs!