| C'mon now, we've all been there. Your old | | | | There are washing machines on the market that |
| washing machine has just flooded the floor | | | | offer short cycles or 'quick wash' (to save |
| for the third time and the repairman has | | | | on energy.) Some offer half washes with only |
| sucked in his breath (or just laughed in my | | | | half the water normally used, all of which |
| case) at the suggestion that he might like to | | | | have less impact on the environment. I have |
| repair it! So, you think that you will buy | | | | to say that the short cycle is a blessing in |
| another one instead but what washing machine | | | | many ways. With limited leisure time at |
| do you go for? What can be so hard about | | | | weekends, the last thing I want to do is stay |
| choosing a new washing machine? Let's get | | | | in because the washing machine hasn't |
| down to the store quickly and buy one before | | | | finished! However, if your work means that |
| the dirty washing takes over the house. | | | | you have dirty overalls or clothes every week |
| | | | or so, the short cycle is not good enough to |
| Half an hour later and you are stood in front | | | | get clothes really clean. It is wonderful for |
| of rows of gleaming machines. You wonder | | | | freshening up though. |
| which one is the best buy for you. The | | | | |
| salesman can smell the desperation and you | | | | Are you interested in whether the machine |
| just know he is going to try and sell you the | | | | will be economical to run? |
| most expensive one there. How can you avoid | | | | |
| this situation? I have put together the | | | | The other comparison you can do is to check |
| following to help you think about what | | | | the energy rating. All machines have a |
| washing machine might suit you best. Most | | | | sticker on the front which shows which level |
| people have a fixed idea about how much they | | | | they have been judged at for electrical |
| want to spend so the next important decision | | | | economy. 'A' is the most economical, the |
| is about what other options you want. | | | | further down the alphabet, the more |
| | | | electricity it will use and therefore the |
| How many washes a week do you and your family | | | | more expensive it is to run. However, be |
| do? | | | | warned, I bought a washing machine that |
| | | | seemed to be economical to run, but when I |
| A simple enough question, but it will make a | | | | started using it I found the normal wash took |
| big difference to all sorts of questions that | | | | 2hrs! There wasn't a 'quick wash' cycle |
| might follow. For example, if you do a lot of | | | | either. In one way I was saving money, but I |
| washing you might want to think about what | | | | wasn't saving on time. In my busy life, time |
| washing machine is going to be more reliable | | | | is important for me. I should have paid more |
| rather than be an 'all singing, all dancing' | | | | attention to what washing machine would wash |
| machine. Or, if you only do a couple of | | | | the quickest instead of which one was the |
| washes in a week or you live somewhere with | | | | most economical. |
| no place to dry laundry, you might want to | | | | |
| think about a combined washer and drier. More | | | | I hope this helps you find what washing |
| expensive machines seem to have more program | | | | machine suits you and I am sure that you can |
| options, but are you going to use them? | | | | think of more questions to ask (and think |
| | | | about the answers) - the more the better in |
| Are you worried about any impact on the | | | | fact, as that way you will end up with the |
| environment? | | | | washing machine that will suit you best. |
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