A washing machine is one of the hardest workers in the home so when it comes to upgrading your unit, it's important to find the right one for your household. To help you choose your next washing machine, we share 10 of the best washing machines on the market, and what you should be looking for.
From high-tech machines with multiple settings to larger capacity units that will speed up the clothes washing process, washing machines have come a long way over the past several years. As such, it's important to know which design features and functions to prioritise when it comes to updating your laundry room.
Smaller households and apartments might consider a compact combo washer/dryer unit, but for busier households who seem to almost constantly need to run a load of laundry, separate units might be a better fit.
Here are the four most important things to consider when choosing a washing machine...
An average washing machine is likely to have a capacity of around 6kg to 7kg, which should be enough for a family of four, but bigger can be better. Newer models like the Samsung AddWash Front Loader can hold a load of up to 16kg, while LG's Wash Tower will comfortably fit up to 17kg of laundry.
"With a larger capacity family-friendly machine, you don't have to do as many loads and you use less power, less water and, importantly, less time," says Gary Brown, senior brand manager, home appliances at Harvey Norman.
In addition to laundry capacity, you should also make note of the dimensions of your machine - especially if you have a compact laundry space. A smaller internal capacity doesn't always mean the washing machine itself is on the compact side, so make sure you bring out the measuring tape.
"Front loaders can be installed under a benchtop, or used as a work surface themselves, making them more space efficient, which is increasingly important given our increasingly high density living," says Choice team leader of whitegoods, Ashley Iredale.
With more and more of us veering towards eco-friendly living, making sure your machine is both water and energy efficient can have a major impact on both your quarterly electricity and water bills, as well as your environmental footprint.
"As front loaders work by picking up your clothes and repeatedly dropping them into the wash water they can get away with using very little water," says Ashley. Top loaders may be easier to access but require more water and energy. "A toploader may be easier to access and will generally have a shorter cycle time, but will also use much more water than a front loader and be harsher on your clothes," says Ashely.
"The energy consumption is rated with stars," says Gary. "Premium brands can be four or four and a half stars, and that's the gold standard."
This is important if your machine is located in or near your living area or bedrooms. "The best machines have extra insulation or a dampener system for noise reduction," says Gary.
If noise is an unavoidable issue, it might be worth looking into smarter washing machine units that you can start remotely from your phone. Being able to run a washing cycle while you're out of the house is an easy way to avoid any noisy disturbance.
Washing machines just keep getting smarter and smarter, with newer models adding clever features that make them fit seamlessly into a smart home set up with ease.
LG's newer machines, for example, come with LG's ThinQ technology which will let you start and monitor cycles from your phone, while also allowing you to monitor your energy and water consumption.
Another important factor to look for is cycles that suit your lifestyle - newer machines have specific cycles for activewear and a steam-based refresh cycle, which can save on dry-cleaning.
Ashley at Choice warns us of not paying for technology you won't genuinely be using. "Modern washing machines can offer a cornucopia of fancy features and cavernous capacity but they come at a cost, so if you're not going to use wi-fi connectivity, steam functions, or enough space for a week's worth of washing for a football team then don't pay for them. "