Clothes Dryers and Washing Machine Buying Guide
2024-02-29
2024-02-29
Clothes dryers and washing machines are essential items for most households. In this Washers and Dryers Buying Guide we’ll take a look at the important elements of selecting a washing machine or clothing dryer for your home.
The first step to choosing a new washer or dryer is to take a look at your laundry room.
Reviewing your laundry room
Most households will have a laundry, however, the space and layout will vary considerably depending upon your individual situation. Larger houses will typically have greater laundry area to match, whilst those living in apartments may be more space conscious.
The available space will have a direct impact on the style of washer or dryer that may be suitable. For example; a front-loading washing machine would be of greater importance for an apartment whereas a top-loading washing machine may be suitable for a home with more space.
Similarly, smaller laundries may want washer and dryer units that can stack on top of each other to free up limited floor space. This would necessitate front-loading versions of both appliances.
There are numerous other factors that may influence the fitout of your laundry and the choice of washing machine and clothes dryer to be installed.
Bench space
Plenty of bench space makes the job of doing your laundry so much easier, however, it may be a luxury for some. Whilst the amount of bench space is not so important for the type of washing machine or dryer used, the height of the benches may be. If you plan to store your appliances underneath the benches, it is essential to check that they will fit.
Additionally, it should be fairly obvious that you’ll need front-loading washing machines and dryers rather than top-loading, if they will be under a benchtop. We have seen one quirky design, however, that could help with this. Some homes have a folding benchtop (usually over a top-loading washing machine) that folds up to allow access, but then lowers again to provide space for clothes sorting.
Ventilation
Does your laundry have appropriate ventilation? Some laundry rooms may have plenty of ventilation, with large exterior windows or vents. Others may have smaller windows and vents or be limited to ceiling extraction fans.
Whilst the overall ventilation is not so important for washing machines, it is a different matter for clothes dryers. Some dryers require a substantial amount of airflow as they vent the hot, moist exhaust air to remove water from the clothing. If this moist air is not properly dealt with in the laundry area it can lead to serious and ongoing mould issues. Other models use heat pumps and will re-condense the water into a storage container or empty it down the drain after drying your clothes.
Utility sink
Generally, you’ll want fairly close access to a utility sink. Whilst not strictly necessary, they are the typical method for draining waste water from the washing machine. If you don’t have a utility sink, at the very least you will need to connect your machine up with access to proper drainage.
Clothes dryers have a little more flexibility in the way, depending on the style you choose. Old-style condenser or ventilator dryers simply vent the moisture into the surrounding room (potentially causing issues as noted above). Newer heat pump type dryers will often have the choice to dispose of the water removed from clothing via a drainage tube, or to collect it in an included reservoir. As the water collected from drying your clothes is very clean, it can be re-used
Power points
It is obviously important to have electrical power points close to where you would like to install your appliances. Ideally, you don’t want to be stretching power cords too long as the natural vibration during operation of your washing machine or dryer may cause the plug to disconnect and turn off the appliance.
It is also important to note that extension cords should not be used with washers and dryers. The appliances should always be plugged directly into the power socket. Using an extension
cord in these circumstances can lead to damage to your appliances. This again highlights the need to consider the layout of your laundry room when you intend to install a new washing machine or dryer.
Noise reduction
Laundry appliances can be quite noisy during operation. Washing machines, in particular, can create considerable noise if their load becomes unbalanced during the spin-dry cycle. Heavy, water-logged items can cause the inside drum to spin out of alignment and bang against the walls of the washer.
Often, laundries are built away from other living areas and close to exteriors exits. With smaller homes or apartments, the laundry area may be co-opted into the bathroom or kitchen, however. For this reason, amongst others, it is useful to look for appliances with auto load balancing, or lower noise emissions.
Washing Machine Buying Guide
Choosing a larger machine means larger loads less frequently. Now that’s got to be a winning strategy!
Capacity
Perhaps the first thing to consider when buying a new washing machine is the size of machine that you will need. When we talk about the “size” we are actually referring to the capacity of the washing drum. This is the weight of dry laundry items that it can hold in a single load.
Whilst there are tiny machines as well as huge, almost industrial sized washers, most fall into the following size categories;
● Small – Usually 5-6 kg capacity and suitable for individuals or couples.
● Medium – Capacity of 7-8 kg; suitable for small families or households of 2-3 working adults.
● Large – Capacity of 9-10 kg and ideal for larger families.
To give you a greater idea of the capacity a typical load of washing may take, 1 kg of laundry is approximately equal to;
● 5 x shirts
● 1 x shirt plus 1 x pair of pants
● 2 x towels
Moreso, if you are washing bedding, a double-sized quilt or doona would typically require a 7 kg machine and a queen-sized quilt or doona will likely need an 8kg machine. Of course, as highlighted above you’ll need to check your laundry to ensure your intended new appliance will fit sufficiently in the space available.
Types of Washing Machines
There are two broad types available; top-loading washing machines, and front-loading washing machines.The main difference between these is fairly obvious from the names, however, it is worthwhile exploring a little further. We’ll start with the less common options.
Top Loading Washing Machines
Top loading washing machines are available as either agitator or impeller variants. Agitator models are the traditional styles with a central column up the middle of the drum which helps to agitate the water and clothing within. Impeller models instead use a lower profile finned disk or cone which spins to create the washing action.
In general, agitator models are a little harsher on clothing than impeller-style machines. Additionally, impeller washers tend to have a bit more capacity as there is not the central column as with the agitator washers.
Overall though, top-loading machines provide a thorough clean for your washing and typically offer shorter wash times than front-loading machines. They also offer options for deep-soaking pre-wash for heavily soiled clothing, which front-loading washers don’t. The downsides, however, are that they tend to use considerably more water and are less environmentally friendly. Furthermore, because they are top-loading it is not possible to stack them with, for example, a clothes dryer unit.
Pros;
● Thorough cleaning action.
● Impeller models are quite gentle on clothing.
● Deep soak options available.
● Easy loading of laundry items.
Cons;
● Uses more water than front-loading washers.
● Not possible to stack with a clothes dryer.
TCL F708TLW
8KG Top Load Washing Machine
● 8KG Capacity
● Quick Wash
● 8 Washing Cycles
● Lint Filter
● Delay Start Function
● Drum Clean
● Clear, soft close lid
● Child Lock
● 3 Year Warranty
Ideal for;
● Medium sized households.
● Small families.
● Those wanting faster wash times.
TCL F709TLW
9KG Top Load Washing Machine
● 9KG Capacity
● Quick Wash
● 8 Washing Cycles
● Lint Filter
● Delay Start Function
● Drum Clean
● Clear, soft close lid
● Child Lock
● 3 Year Warranty
Ideal for;
● Larger sized households.
● Bigger families.
● Those wanting faster wash times.
Front-Loading Washing Machines
Front-loading washers use a horizontal drum that spins to create agitation and friction between clothing items in order to enhance cleaning. They are loaded from a door at the front of the machine; hence “front-loading”.
Front-loading washing machines generally use less water than top-loaders as clothing is moved through the water rather than swimming in it. Additionally, because their motors do not need to move the same volume of water as top-loading washers, they tend to be more energy efficient.
The other positive advantage is that they can stack with a clothing dryer, thereby saving floor space in your laundry room. The slight downside to front-loaders vs top-loaders, however, is their lower loading access which some people may find a little awkward.
Pros;
● Thorough but gentle cleaning action.
● Reduced water usage per load.
● Typically, they are more energy efficient than top-loaders.
● Can stack with a dryer.
Cons;
● Can sometimes have longer washing cycles than top-loaders.
● Not possible to deep-soak clothing.
● Lower loading access may be a little awkward for some.
TCL P618FLW
7.5KG Front Load Washing Machine
● Honeycomb Crystal Drum
● Add Garment
● 18 min quick wash cycle
● High Temperature Wash - up to 95°C
● 16 washing cycles
● Delay Start Function
● Quiet and Energy Efficient Brushless DC Motor
● Auto Drum Clean
● Child Safe Lock
Ideal for;
● Medium sized households or small families.
● Reducing water and energy bills.
● Stacking with a dryer.
TCL P619FLW
8.5KG Front Load Washing Machine
● Honeycomb Crystal Drum
● Add Garment
● 18 min quick wash cycle
● High Temperature Wash - up to 95°C
● 16 washing cycles
● Delay Start Function
● Quiet and Energy Efficient Brushless DC Motor
● Auto Drum Clean
● Child Safe Lock
Ideal for;
● Bigger families and larger sized households.
● Reducing water and energy bills.
● Stacking with a dryer unit.
Clothes Dryer Buying Guide
Clothing dryers, also known as tumble dryers, are a very useful household appliance, especially during winter or times of poor weather. If you live in a colder climate or an area which sees lower than average sunshine, they are an essential. Even in warmer climates they are extremely convenient and useful.
The two main issues with purchasing a clothes dryer are the additional space they will take up, and the energy expenditure to use them. More often than not, the convenience far outweighs the downsides. Additionally, as we’ll see, newer technology can help mitigate some of the energy cost.
There are two main styles of tumble dryers; vented dryers, and condenser dryers. A third type, heat pump dryers, are a variant of the condenser style but with an important difference. We’ll explore all three.
Heat Pump Clothing Dryers
Heat pump dryers are a variant of condenser dryer technology. Not only do they condense and collect the moisture from the airflow, they also recycle the heat back through the appliance. This makes them quite energy efficient, and requires very little in the way of room ventilation where they are installed.
Because heat pump dryers do not heat the air inside the dryer to the same degree as (in particular) ventilator models, they are gentler on your clothing. This also contributes to the energy efficiency of the device. The downside to this is that they typically have longer drying cycles.
Pros;
● Gentle on clothes.
● Virtually no ventilation required.
● No restrictions on dryer placement in home.
● Will not heat up the surrounding room.
● Energy efficient – save on electricity bills.
Cons;
● Longer drying cycles.
● More expensive upfront cost, though better long-term.
TCL C1208DRW
8kg Heat Pump Dryer
● 8kg Drying Capacity
● Heat Pump Dryer
● Energy Efficient
● Quick Dry (20mins)
● Smart Dry
● Anti-Wrinkle Function
● Low Temp Gentle Dry
● Steam Dry
● Drying Rack
● 3 Year Warranty
Ideal for;
● Medium to large households and families.
● Reducing energy bills.
● Any laundry, including enclosed spaces.
Purchasing Your New Washing Machine and Clothes Dryer
When it comes time to purchase your new washer and dryer, there are a few recommendations we would make. In general, if purchasing a washer and dryer together, it is worthwhile choosing appliances from the same brand. They will tend to have matching finishes, and their exterior sizing should accommodate easier stacking.
A good warranty is also an important factor when selecting which brands to go with. Try choosing appliances with at least a 2-year warranty. This will ensure your piece of mind for the future of your new goods.
Overall, make a selection based upon the specific needs of your household and you won’t go wrong.
2024-02-29
