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Know your needs
Ask yourself the important questions about your usage. All washers will clean your clothes, but it's the additional options that can make a huge difference. Do you wash a lot of heavily soiled laundry? (i.e. do you have an athlete at home?) Do you wash large quantities and therefore need a large wash capacity? Will you be needing a gas dryer or an electric one? Knowing your particular needs will help you to narrow down the selection significantly, making your ultimate decision less stressful.
Look at new technology
From steam to advanced sensors to touch screens, most likely a lot has changed in the washing machine world since the last time you bought one. Do some homework and learn about new washer technology and how you might use it to get the most out of your machine and your time.
From steam to advanced sensors to touch screens, most likely a lot has changed in the washing machine world since the last time you bought one. Do some homework and learn about new washer technology and how you might use it to get the most out of your machine and your time.
Know your budget
We can't say this enough: know how much you are willing/able to spend before you ever set foot in a store. If you've only budgeted enough money for a basic top-loading washer, don't look at the turbo-washing front-loader that is double what you are able to spend. That said, keep in mind that many retailers have sales, particularly around holiday weekends. We recommend subscribing to e-mails from Lowes, Home Depot, Sears, and Best Buy. Doing so gives you access to e-mailed coupons, as well as the dates of sales and pre-sales, both in-store and online.
We can't say this enough: know how much you are willing/able to spend before you ever set foot in a store. If you've only budgeted enough money for a basic top-loading washer, don't look at the turbo-washing front-loader that is double what you are able to spend. That said, keep in mind that many retailers have sales, particularly around holiday weekends. We recommend subscribing to e-mails from Lowes, Home Depot, Sears, and Best Buy. Doing so gives you access to e-mailed coupons, as well as the dates of sales and pre-sales, both in-store and online.
What types of washers are available?
Top-loading washer
The top-loading washing machine operates, as its name would suggest, via the top. When you pull up on the lid, you expose the washer drum. They come in traditional or high-efficiency models and many have EnergyStar ratings. You may not expect to find a lot of uber-fancy features on these, but top-loading washers have recently experienced an overhaul of sorts and many manufacturers are enhancing them with the same features as the newer front-load washers. In short, you can find anything from basic dials and two wash cycles to touch screens and 11 or more wash cycles.
The top-loading washing machine operates, as its name would suggest, via the top. When you pull up on the lid, you expose the washer drum. They come in traditional or high-efficiency models and many have EnergyStar ratings. You may not expect to find a lot of uber-fancy features on these, but top-loading washers have recently experienced an overhaul of sorts and many manufacturers are enhancing them with the same features as the newer front-load washers. In short, you can find anything from basic dials and two wash cycles to touch screens and 11 or more wash cycles.
Front-loading washer
Front-loading washers became popular a few years ago, in part, because of their larger wash capacity. Washers moved from having an average of 3.6 cubic feet of space to anywhere between 3.9 to 5.1 cubic feet. In some cases, that was a minor improvement. But in others, it meant that you no longer had to go to a Laundromat to wash your comforters and large blankets. Front-loading washers are sleek and boast much of the newest washing technology like steam and advanced settings. Some front-load washers are stackable, giving you all of the space benefits of having a laundry center without having to sacrifice wash capacity.
Front-loading washers became popular a few years ago, in part, because of their larger wash capacity. Washers moved from having an average of 3.6 cubic feet of space to anywhere between 3.9 to 5.1 cubic feet. In some cases, that was a minor improvement. But in others, it meant that you no longer had to go to a Laundromat to wash your comforters and large blankets. Front-loading washers are sleek and boast much of the newest washing technology like steam and advanced settings. Some front-load washers are stackable, giving you all of the space benefits of having a laundry center without having to sacrifice wash capacity.
Laundry center
Laundry centers are most commonly found in apartments and condos where space is at a premium. They have a smaller wash capacity, averaging at 1.5 cubic feet, and are an excellent option for people who want to be able to clean their clothes in their homes but do not have the space for a designated laundry room. Standard hookups are needed, however, so if your home is not outfitted with them, they will need to be installed.
Laundry centers are most commonly found in apartments and condos where space is at a premium. They have a smaller wash capacity, averaging at 1.5 cubic feet, and are an excellent option for people who want to be able to clean their clothes in their homes but do not have the space for a designated laundry room. Standard hookups are needed, however, so if your home is not outfitted with them, they will need to be installed.
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