As a mother, I've done more than my fair share of laundry over the years and have had to wrestle with stains of all kinds — grass, dirt, blood, food, you name it. Over the years, I've owned several washing machines that didn’t quite meet the mark, so when it came time to replacing it, I stuck to a checklist to guarantee I was choosing the best washing machine for my needs. And, thankfully, I’m happy to say that my washing machine continues to keep my family in clean clothes while reducing my laundry stress.
If you are in the market for a new washing machine — whether it’s faulty or you’re ready to upgrade your appliance — here are the five key features I consider when making my buying decision. Ultimately, your choice will depend on your household's need, but there will be a few key things that you'll want to tick off.
1. Front load versus top load — consider your space
As I’m based in the U.K., front-load washing machines are far more popular, so for me, choosing a front-loading washing machine was my preferred choice. My washing machine is also positioned in my kitchen, so having an appliance that doesn’t take up valuable countertop space, where I have to open a lid upwards, was a no-brainer.
And the experts agree, but for other reasons. “[Front-loaders] use significantly less water, less detergent, and less energy, often between 20-60% less than standard top loaders,” says Lisa Klages, Product Manager at Danby Appliances.
She also mentions that your clothes will come out drier because front-loading machines tend to offer faster spin speeds.
2. Size matters — for me, it was go big
One of the main issues I’d had with previous washing machines is struggling to wash bedding, such as duvets. And while I could have them cleaned at my local dry cleaners, I wanted to save the hassle and wash them myself. Plus, with a family with allergies, I tend to wash the bedding more frequently than most households.
So, choosing a washing machine with a decent capacity was top of my list. And, aside from being able to fit in duvets, my household has superpowers in laundry accumulation. Rather than making the common washing machine mistake of overfilling my appliance, I wanted to find a machine that would take on my huge laundry piles.
Klages recommends a machine with a capacity of between 4.5 and 5.2 cubic feet for families of four, whereas smaller households should find 3.5 and 4.5 cubic feet sufficient. However, if there are more than four in your household, a capacity of 5.5 cu ft or above will come in extra handy.
And it’s worth getting it right. ”Undersized machines mean more loads (and more water and electricity), while oversized ones can waste energy if not fully loaded regularly,” says Lindsay Zollman, Senior Consumer Analyst at Hisense.
3. Energy efficiency — saving power and the planet
One of my other concerns has always been the cost of running any appliance. But with a washing machine, you’re not only running the machine, but heating and using water. So, although the overall price of the appliance is always on my radar, I also consider the long-term costs of how much it will add to my energy bill. And although I’m not on a water meter, this is another concern. If one machine is more efficient and uses less water than the next, I’m signing on the line!
And finding an efficient washing machine benefits you and the environment. “Energy-efficient washers save money long term and reduce environmental impact,” says Zollman. “Over time, energy and water savings really add up, especially for larger households or people who wash multiple times per week.”
For this reason, she recommends choosing a washing machine with an Energy Star, which, according to Leslie Jones, Media and Content Manager for Energy Star Labeled Products, signifies “superior energy efficiency to the consumer.”
4. Customiziable cycles
I prefer not to get appliances with more options than I need, as I want to get the job done without any unnecessary bells and whistles. However, I see the real benefit in a washing machine that gives you options. For me, that meant ensuring my preferred washing machine had a delicates, wool, and activewear cycle, in addition to the standard cycles I use. With allergies in the house, I also needed to find a sanitizing wash cycle.
“If you have pets, consider a washer with specific pet care cycles," Zollman suggests. "These often use gentler agitation patterns to prevent pet hair from embedding deeper into fabric fibers, and an extra rinse cycles to thoroughly remove pet hair, dander, and allergens that regular cycles might leave behind.”
Being able to customize settings is another consideration. “A variety of programs allow for homeowners to better adjust their needs based on material, load size, and time needs, providing a preferable experience for the user,” says Mattia Sala, Product Manager at SMEG USA.
Apart from the flexibility of having specific wash cycles for my needs and customized settings, it's also important for me to have flexibility when I run my machine. Setting it run at night when energy costs are lower is a money saver. It also allows me to go out for the day, load the laundry, and set it to finish just before I’m due home, so wet laundry isn’t lingering in the drum all day.
5. Smart washing
Although my current washing machine doesn’t have smart features, I would like to see this functionality in my future washing machine. Although, with a reliable machine, I'm not planning to replace my washing machine any time soon.
Smart washing machine features give you the option to start and stop your machine remotely via an app, receive cycle notifications and maintenance alerts. But what I find most useful is a smart washing machine’s ability to sense the load weight and soil level, and adjust the wash accordingly, so that your washing comes out clean, using the minimum amount of power and water to do the job.
In fact, I’ve recently reported on Samsung’s latest AI washing machine that almost does the laundry for you. Now that’s a washing machine I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on.
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