Washing machines have come a long way in the last 5
years so you should take your time before you commit,
and make sure you're getting the right appliance for you.
It shouldn't be, and probably isn't, something you buy
regularly.

But it is a day-to-day essential you'd struggle without
so a few minutes invested into what's on offer will
pay you back in the long run. The main changes to look
out for are the increases in capacity, the reduction in the
noise levels and the array of colours now available.

Energy performance has come on in leaps and bounds
which means that if you pick a better rated machine you
will pay less in running costs and be able to do your
bit for the environment too!

Freestanding washing machines are
ideal if you are happy to have it on
display in your home. Easy to install,
they can just be slotted into place.
The average kitchen top is 85-90cm
high and perfect for placing a washing
machine underneath, but make sure
you measure the height of your kitchen
surface before buying.

Built-in/integrated washing machines
are designed to be disguised behind
furniture doors to keep a streamlined
look and feel to your kitchen.
They have a flat front, as well as
space to attach door hinges, so they
can be completely hidden from view
and won't draw attention away from
your kitchen design.

Which wash load size is right for you? You can see from our
helpful table what the drum sizes mean in real terms.

For most households, a machine with a drum capacity of 7kg -
8kg will be plenty. This medium sized washer will have enough
space to handle large wash loads, but may also include
programmes tailored to smaller wash loads. Machines in this
size can be cheaper than some of the larger models.

Washing machines with larger drum sizes often have special
programmes designed to allow you to wash big, bulky items
such as 'bed & bath or duvet cycle'. These programmes use
more water, more rinses and give a long spin cycle.

Capacity

5kg-6kg

7kg Drum

8kg Drum

9kg Drum

10kg-12kg

People

1-2 People

2-3 People

3-4 People

4-5 People

5+ People

T-Shirts

25-30

35

40

45

55

Bedding

Single duvet

Double duvet

Queen size duvet

King size duvet

King size duvet
and pair of lined curtains

The energy ratings go from A to G, with A being the best. For
their benchmark tests, the EU look at how much energy is
consumed using a 60 degree cotton wash.

Select manufacturers have designed some of their top of the
range washing machines to be even more energy efficient
than the standard A rated machines. This helps you make your
contribution to a safer and more stable environment as well as
keeping your energy costs down. Manufacturers label these
models as:

A+ energy rated - these models will save you money by
achieving up to 10% reduction in energy consumption,
compared with 'A' energy rated models.
A++ energy rated - these models are 20% more energy
efficient than 'A' rated models.
A+++ energy rated - these models are 30% more energy
efficient than 'A' rated models.
A+++ 40% energy rated - these models are a huge 40%
more energy efficient than an 'A' rated model.
A+++ 50% energy rated - these models are a huge 50%
more energy efficient than an 'A' rated model.

All our washing machines are issued with a performance class
rating for Energy, Wash & Spin. Each of these are graded from
'A - G', with 'A' being the best. Look for the energy saving
recommended label if you want the most energy efficient
appliances for your home.

No one wants to spend longer than they need doing
the laundry, so it's great that our washing machines
have a wide range of programs, to suit every family's
washing needs.

You can speed through a load of lightly soiled clothes with
quick wash, select mix and wash cycles that wash mixed
colours and fabrics in the same load. Look out for eco
programs that will use less water and less energy to help
reduce your utility bills.

There are special programs to help protect delicate
fabrics, and allergy-friendly ones that help protect delicate
skin. Plus tackle sports clothes and shoes and even
duvets. Something to suit every fabric and lifestyle.
Other features include,

An LCD Display - Provides feedback on the current wash
or drying programme, what stage it is at, time remaining
until completion, selected programme adjustments and
time delay countdown.

An LED Display - This may feature, wash programme
status indicator, time remaining and time delay countdown.

Time Delay - Allows you to delay the wash start time so
you could take advantage of cheap overnight electricity or
set to wash just before you come home from work.

Extra Rinse - Removes more detergent from your
washing, useful in soft water areas and a better option for
people with eczema, sensitive skin or allergies.

Time Saver - Available on some machines to reduce
programme running times by up to 20%. Great for people
with a busy lifestyle.

Cold Fill - Most washing machines are now cold fill only
which means that water is heated in the washer, rather
than drawn from your hot water supply, is more energy
efficient better for stain removal and is gentler on your
fabrics too!

The spin speed controls how fast your clothes are spun
around in the machine. Washing machine spin speeds range
from 1000 to 1600 revolutions per minute (rpm).

The faster the spin speed, the more water will be extracted
and the dryer your clothes will be when you take them out of
your machine.

Higher spin speeds are great for items that need longer
drying times, like jeans or anything you need to be ready
to wear without tumble drying.

A medium spin speed (1400 rpm - 1500 rpm) is perfect for
everyday laundry. A faster spin speed (1600 rpm or higher)
is ideal if you prefer to hang your clothes out to dry without
waiting too long.

Noise levels in washing machines range from 45 dB(A)
to 61 dB (A) during the wash cycle with 45 dB (A)
giving you a quieter performance.

If you have a young family or open plan living, it makes
sense to opt for a washing machine with a lower noise
level. You don't want to disturb the kids when you've
finally got them off to sleep and you do want to enjoy
your favourite music and TV programmes without
distraction.

Washer dryers are designed to take the strain out of doing the
laundry, by combining cleaning and drying in one machine.
They come with drum capacities ranging from 5kg-9kg and spin
speeds between 1000rpm-1600rpm. They are particularly useful
for smaller households that don't have enough space, or do enough
laundry, to justify a separate washing machine and tumble dryer.

Buying a large appliance such as a washer dryer can be a big
investment, so you want your appliance to be as efficient as
possible when it comes to running costs.

Condenser washer dryers don't require an externally-vented
hose, so you'll enjoy the freedom of installing them wherever you
want, provided the room is well-ventilated. The water removed
from your clothes is collected in a container, which must be
removed and emptied regularly. On some models, excess water is
pumped out using the washing machine plumbing where suitable.

Freestanding washer dryers are ideal if
you are happy to have it on display in
your home. Easy to install, they can just
be slotted into place.
The average kitchen top is 85-90cm
high and perfect for placing a washing
machine underneath, but make sure
you measure the height of your kitchen
surface before buying.

Built-in/integrated washer dryers
are designed to be disguised behind
furniture doors to keep a streamlined
look and feel to your kitchen.
They have a flat front, as well as
space to attach door hinges, so they
can be completely hidden from view
and won't draw attention away from
your kitchen design.

The amount of laundry you can do in one load
depends on the drum size of your washer dryer, the
larger the drum size the more laundry the machine
will be able to handle effectively.

Drum size is measured by the weight it can handle,
for example a 5kg drum can handle 5kg of washing.
However with washer dryers the total load capacity
for washing and drying is different, washer dryers
can wash more clothes at once than they can dry.
Therefore, to get the best drying results the load
size must be reduced, this is because to best wash
clothes they should be close together. To best dry
clothes they need room to allow them to move
through the warm air. Also when clothing has room to
move when drying it can help reduce creases.

A washer dryer with a high energy rating will save you water,
electricity and will save money on your energy bills. To allow
you to see which the best models are at a glance, most white
goods sold across Europe now have an EU Energy label. This
includes a rating of how energy efficient a machine is and also
gives a rating from A-G (with A being the best).

The majority of washer dryers are 'B' rated, 'A' rated models
are also available and will cost slightly more to purchase but
less to run. Some manufacturers offer 'A+' rated models which
are 10% more energy efficient than 'A' rated models.

Washer dryers can be used three ways; washing only, drying
only and washing and drying as a whole cycle without a break
in-between.

With a washer dryer you can wash and dry a small load in one
go, so the drying cycle starts as soon as the wash cycle has
finished. This means you only need to load and unload once.

A great benefit of washer dryers is that there is no need to
vent them, or empty any water containers. All of the water
that's expelled during the drying process is simply disposed of
through the waste water pipe.

No one wants to spend longer than they need doing
the laundry, so our washer dryers have a wide range of
programs, to suit every family's washing needs.

You can speed through a load of lightly soiled clothes with
quick wash, select mix and wash cycles that wash mixed
colours and fabrics in the same load. Look out for eco
programs that will use less water and less energy to help
reduce your utility bills.

There are special programs to help protect delicate
fabrics, and allergy-friendly ones that help protect delicate
skin. Plus tackle sports clothes and shoes and even
duvets. Something to suit every fabric and lifestyle.

Other features include,

An LCD Display - Provides feedback on the current wash
or drying programme, what stage it is at, time remaining
until completion, selected programme adjustments and
time delay countdown.

An LED Display - This may feature, wash programme
status indicator, time remaining and time delay countdown.

Time Delay - Allows you to delay the wash start time so
you could take advantage of cheap overnight electricity or
set to wash just before you come home from work.

Extra Rinse - Removes more detergent from your
washing, useful in soft water areas and a better option for
people with eczema, sensitive skin or allergies.

Time Saver - Available on some machines to reduce
programme running times by up to 20%. Great for people
with a busy lifestyle.

Cold Fill - Most washing machines are now cold fill only
which means that water is heated in the washer, rather
than drawn from your hot water supply, is more energy
efficient better for stain removal and is gentler on your
fabrics too!

The spin speed controls how fast your clothes are spun
around in the machine. Washing machine spin speeds range
from 1000 to 1600 revolutions per minute (rpm).

The faster the spin speed, the more water will be extracted
meaning your clothes will be drier when you take them out of
your machine.

Higher spin speeds are great for items that need longer
drying times, like jeans or anything you need to be ready
to wear without tumble drying.

A medium spin speed (1400 rpm - 1500 rpm) is perfect for
everyday laundry. A faster spin speed (1600 rpm or higher)
is ideal if you prefer to hang your clothes out to dry without
waiting too long.

Noise levels in washing machines range from 45 dB (A)
to 61 dB (A) during the wash cycle with 45 dB (A)
giving you a quieter performance.

If you have a young family or open plan living, it makes
sense to opt for a washing machine with a lower noise
level. You don't want to disturb the kids when you've
finally got them off to sleep and you do want to enjoy
your favourite music and TV programmes without
distraction.

Most tumble dryers are usually the same size and tend to
dry a similar weight or load to their corresponding washing
machines, i.e. around 6kg dry weight of cottons or 2.5kg
synthetics.

If you're short of floor space, you may be able to stack
your tumble dryer on top of your washing machine, or use
it in a spare room or garage.

If the machine is to go under a worktop or into a confined
space, it is important to ensure you measure up available
space before ordering and don't forget to measure areas
of access too.

Freestanding dryers are ideal if you
are happy to have it on display in your
kitchen. They are easy to install, they
can just be slotted into place.
The average kitchen top is 85-90cm
high and perfect for placing a washing
machine underneath, but make sure
you measure the height of your kitchen
surface before buying.

Built-in/integrated dryers are
designed to be disguised behind
furniture doors to keep a streamlined
look and feel to your kitchen.
They have a flat front, as well as
space to attach door hinges, so they
can be completely hidden from view
and won't draw attention away from
your kitchen design.

Vented tumble dryers work by expelling
warm, damp air through a hose and out
of an open window or a vent installed
in an external wall. They are generally
more affordable than condenser models.
Vented tumble dryers need to be
positioned by a window, door or external
wall to dispose of the damp air, so you
will need to either have an external vent
fitted in the wall or hang the hose out of
the window.

Condenser tumble dryer models on
the other hand will fit anywhere in
the home as the moisture is collected
inside the appliance ready to be
emptied after the cycle. These models
are easier to install and can be moved
even after they have been installed,
but you do need to regularly empty
the water container. The moisture
from your clothes collects in a water
reservoir that you can take out and
empty, so there is no need for venting,
or holes in the wall, or open windows
in the middle of winter!

The amount of laundry you can do in one load
depends on the drum size of your dryer. Usually the
bigger your family the larger the drum needed.

Whichever style of tumble dryer you choose, you need to
make sure you regularly clean the filter. Lint that inevitably
gathers in your tumble dryer over time gets trapped in the
filter and if not cleaned, can slow down drying cycles and
decrease the energy efficiency.

Tumble dryers can help you save time when doing the
ironing by leaving clothes less creased. The following
programmes and options are something to look out for if
you want to save time when doing the laundry.

Reverse tumble - moves the drum in both directions
helping to prevent your laundry from creasing. It stops
garments from tangling and also loosens the clothing as it
dries.

Easy iron - this programme keeps the laundry moving to
stop garments from tangling as they dry.

Sensor drying - a controlled method of drying which
monitors the moisture and temperature levels inside the
drum and detects when the load is dry. This is not only
convenient, but ensures maximum energy efficiency, by
stopping the dryer when the clothes reach the drying level
selected.

Time delay - allows you to pre-set a drying cycle to start later,
at a time which is convenient, so you are not waiting around
for the laundry to be finished. It's perfect if you want to set the
dryer to start when you're out of the house.

End of cycle alarm - alerts you when your cycle has finished.

*Please note that performance from your tumble dryer can
decline over time because the filter becomes clogged up
with lint, which means water cannot be extracted efficiently.
A tumble dryer with a clogged filter will take longer, and use
more energy to dry clothes, so it is important to regularly clean
your filter. When buying a high investment item such as a
tumble dryer, it is important to evaluate how much it will cost to
run. All models are now rated by the EU to let you know how
much energy is used when running them. The energy ratings
go from 'A' to 'G', with 'A' being the best.

Water Reservoir - Top/Bottom (Condenser Dryers) If you plan
to place your condenser dryer below worktop height look for a
model with a top-mounted water reservoir. If you plan to place
your condenser dryer above worktop height, look for a model
with a bottom-mounted water reservoir for easy emptying. (If
using a tumble dryer above worktop height, please ensure that
it is safely secured).