Washing Machine

Washing machines require a cold water input, and then heat up the water to the required temperature for the wash programme.

Higher specification washers generally offer a variety of spin speeds and spin cycles. If you're opting for a machine which only offers a standard spin cycle, the 1200 or 1400 rpm cycles are best suited for general use. Spin speeds for washers can vary from 1000 rpm up to 1800 rpm, the faster spin speeds are generally found on more expensive brands. The drawback of faster spin speeds is that they are generally more noisy and results are not always better. The spin cycle is designed to extract maximum amounts of water from the laundry, and reviews do show that machines with 1200 rpm or 1400 rpm speeds can be just as efficient at this task.

A washing machine will cost from £12 to £53 annually to run, so it's not a machine that eats up huge amounts of power anyway. The running costs of washers are generally influenced by size of drum. Independent testing of machines by the consumer watchdog "Which" has found that some of the washers with the highest efficiency ratings don't make a particularly wonderful job of cleaning clothes. In this respect, it's very important to buy a machine that has a good overall performance rating.

Washing machine efficiency and performance is graded from A to G, with A-rated washers providing the most economical washes. Since 2013, the laws have changed; in the UK, it's only possible to sell new washing machines that have a rating of A+ or above.

It's not necessary to purchase branded washing machine cleaners to keep your washer in good shape, simply running the machine empty will clean it thoroughly. One of the major problems consumers do experience with washing machine blockages is often due to the fact they don't take time to clean out the filters on their machine. Your washing machine handbook will give advice on cleaning the detergent drawers and instructions on removing the filter unit and clearing any build up of fluff and debris. It's a good idea to check the filter on a regular basis, in order to keep your washer running at consistently high levels.

The size of drum on the washing machine correlates to the amount of laundry it can hold. A 7kg drum holds 7kg of washing. You can estimate that 1kg of washing would be four male shirts, or a pair of jeans and a man's shirt, or three hand towels and one bath towel. The drum size of any washing machine is one of the most important features to guide any buying decision. Machines with larger drums can cope with bigger loads of washing, sizes begin at 5 kg and go up to around 12 kg. If you're washing for a large family, you may be tempted to buy the machine with one of the largest drum sizes. However, this could be the wrong choice because if you don't fill the drum with washing, it costs more each time you run your machine. Also, a little-known fact is that washing machines work better and break down less often when the drum is filled to capacity on most washing cycles. A recommended drum size for an average family is around 7 kg. A typical 7 kg washing load might consist of two pairs of adult jeans, three pairs of kids’ jeans, four men's shirts, three hand towels, two bath towels and five tea towels.

Most retailers will disconnect your old washing machine and take it for recycling when they deliver your new washer, although some suppliers will charge extra for this service. If your old washing machine still works fine, you could sell it via online marketplaces such as Gumtree or eBay - however, it can be awkward to arrange delivery of heavy and bulky appliances. Of course, most people only tend to buy new washing machines after the old washer has broken or is not providing a good wash, so in these circumstances, the old machine may not be worth anything anyway.

It is often a good idea to have your new washing machine installed on the moment you get it delivered. Washing machines are quite easy to install if you already have the relevant connections to the water supply. However, your suppliers can unpack the machine and ensure fitted correctly and working properly before leaving your home. It's likely all the packaging materials will be taken away as well, so you won't need to worry about the disposal of cardboard and plastics.