Before fronting up to your local appliances store, or punching in your credit card details online, it’s important to consider some of the bigger aspects of buying a washing machine. You’ll need to consider three main aspects:

This guide, then, will explain those things - and other things you might not have thought of.

Read on to find out what you should factor into your choice.

Pricing

Probably the most important consideration of all is how much you’re willing to spend on a new washing machine. As with most appliances, this is a trade-off between the purchase price and ongoing costs. More expensive washing machines have higher upfront costs, but are usually better quality (so they won’t incur as many maintenance costs) and are more efficient (so will save money on water, energy and detergent). In general terms, you can expect to pay anywhere from $500-$2,000 for a new washing machine.

Longevity should also be a consideration – if you’re renting your home or have other temporary circumstances, you may want to buy a cheap washing machine because you won’t need a long-lived appliance. As a rough rule of thumb, top loaders tend to be cheaper than front loaders due to being less energy efficient.

Space

If you live in a small home or apartment with limited laundry space, then size is probably going to be one of your main considerations. Front loaders are generally more compact than top loaders, and their smaller front-mounted doors make them easier to access in a confined space.

Another determining factor is how much laundry you actually do. If you’re in a household of one or two people, then a smaller washing machine – with a 4-7kg capacity – may be the most suitable, whereas larger households and families are likely to need a larger model with a capacity upwards of 8kg.

Type

We’ve compiled a list of pros and cons for both front and top loader washing machines. The bottom line is, however, that neither one is significantly better than the other – it truly depends on your individual requirements and preference. The main difference is that front loaders have a horizontally mounted drum which allows gravity to move the laundry around, whilst the drum of a top loader is mounted vertically and uses a centrally mounted ‘agitator’ pole to move the clothes. In a nutshell:

Front loaders: More compact, more water and energy efficient, and often considered to produce better cleaning results.

Top loaders: Generally cheaper to buy, have faster cycle times, and are a lot more flexible (i.e. you can add clothes mid-wash).

If you really can’t decide between a front and top loader, and don’t mind splashing out upwards of $900 on your new washing machine, take at a look at this model from Samsung (pictured). It comes with an appropriately-named ‘AddWash’ feature that allows you to add extra clothes mid-cycle, removing the greatest frustration of earning a front loader.

Owning a washing machine is no longer considered a luxury. More and more people are choosing to buy washing machines. We hope this guide helped you choose the correct washing machine for your requirements. Stay tuned to zjnanyangmotor for buying guide and NanYang Motor