Looking For A New Washer/Dryer? What You Should Know
Shopping for a new washer and dryer doesn't sound all that exciting, but it is great to have these appliances in your home (and working) so you don't have to lug your laundry to a family member's hours or to a laundromat to get your clothes clean. This can be quite a chore, and one you'll likely get sick of really quickly. If you're in the market for a new washer/dryer, but you don't even know where to begin, there are a number of things you should know. Read on for some helpful information to use as a guide as you start shopping.
1. Pay Attention to Capacity
The size of the machine on the outside may appear the same, but when you open the door on the machine, it's a major difference. If you have a large family, you're going to need a larger capacity machine to get all of that laundry done. If it's just you, a smaller machine will do just fine. Capacity refers to the amount of clothing you can wash at once. If it's a smaller capacity machine, you aren't going to do a large load at once. If you have a large family, you aren't going to want to wash a lot of small loads of laundry — you're going to want to get done as quickly as possible.
2. Look at Your Options
Some machines have options where you can wash your laundry and allow it to sit and tumble for up to 24 hours, so if you can't get to the laundry for an extra day, the machine will hold the load and tumble it more to prevent it from wrinkling or from getting too dry (or stinky) in your washing machine. Options such as the clean washer cycle may be important to you so you can clean your machine with the touch of a button, or a machine that offers a steam option may be something you're interested in. Another nice option to have is front-loading machines with the option to stack them — this can be a real space saver. Pay attention to the options that come with your machine, some of which may not be necessary for some people, but they may come in handy for others.
3. Don't Overlook a Basic Machine
You may not need all of those extras with a washer and dryer. Do you really need it to be WiFi compatible? Don't overlook those machines that don't offer any extra options at all. It may be all you need, and it can be quite a cost savings to go with a more traditional machine.
If you're looking for a new washer/dryer, there are a lot of options out there, not just the makes and models of the machines, but colors, types, sizes, and extras as well. Don't get overwhelmed. Go with a machine that suits your family's needs. Talk to an appliance store for more information about your options.