Washer Dryer Buyer's Guide

For anyone looking to get the most out of the appliances in their home, and even save a bit of space too, a washer dryer is an excellent option. These versatile machines will both wash and then dry all of your clothes all in one and because they are combined forces they will fit in virtually anywhere in your home.

The Right Style for Your Home

When you are going to buy a washer dryer you can choose to get a model that is fully integrated or instead free-standing. Both styles are going to come in a variety of colours and materials but with an integrated model you will want to be extra cautious that it is adaptive to your décor already present. Free-standing kinds are going to give you a little more creative liberty without having to be so careful to match. There are also other things you should keep in mind when selecting the location of your washer dryer:

• To limit noise and vibrations the appliance should be properly supported by a solid, sturdy floor.

• Make sure that the model is placed level.

• Place it close to a cold water supply because you will need this temperature setting for delicate garments and other purposes.

Get the Size Right

While these appliances won't take up as much room as a standard washer and dryer set, you still need to plan and measure accordingly. Generally a free-standing model is about 600mm tall and can then can easily be installed under a kitchen worktop. Conversely the integrated types will usually be housed like a cupboard. You can also squeak out a bit less space with one whose doors will open up to 180 degrees; not only will it save area but will facilitate unloading and loading the clothes as well.

• General load capacity from a washer dryer for the washing cycle is 5kg to 8kg and then for the drying cycle it will be 2.5kg to 5kg. You then want to keep these figures in mind when you think about your laundry requirements.

• Typically you will have to do 2 drying cycles for each one wash because the wash cycle capacity is greater than that of the dryer.

• You can gauge size by knowing that each 1kg is going to work out to be an addition of 5 shirts to the load.

Get Spinning

• Increase the spin speed on your washing loads to reduce the amount of time spent drying. The faster rate of spin will help wring out water from the rinse cycle and can save you time.

• Choosing a specific washer dyer spin speed capability is important if you plan to be doing quite a lot of loads and don't have the excess time of say 3 hours for a full wash and dry.

• Spin speeds can come in anywhere from 1200rpm to 1600rpm.

• Garments that are especially delicate need to be washed under a slower spin speed and that is why it is prudent to opt for a model with a variable spin. Slower spin speeds will also help to negate wrinkles from your clothes.

• Uni-direction drying refers to a drum that will work in only a single direction.

• Bi-directional drying is when the drum will instead work in both clockwise and anti-clockwise motions which will keep clothes more wrinkle free.

Features to Look For

There are a host of features or programs you can find from a washer dryer, particularly when it comes to the drying portion.

• Economy wash: reduce the amount of energy and water your loads consume with this setting. It is a more eco-friendly option, and while it will prolong the amount of time on your wash it will cut back in these other areas.

• Half load setting: again this will cut back how much water you are running for your washes if you are not doing a full load of laundry.

• Pre wash: this mini wash is done before the traditional one if you are cleaning especially ingrained stains or dirty clothes.

• Extra rinse: for those with extra sensitive skin or allergies this further washing will help to get out even more of any detergent that may be left over.

• Hand wash: this refers to items that are especially delicate and the label may even read, 'hand wash only'. You can still run these in the washer dryer just on this softer setting.

Some Extras That Come in Handy

• Delayed start: to take advantage of non-peak electricity hours you can plan ahead by setting your washer to run at the time of your instruction.

• Fluff filter: get rid of any lint of fluff that comes out during the washing and drying cycles and these filters will instead trap it and you can remove it after the load. Make sure that you empty these filters regularly, preferably after each load, for optimal results.

• Variable spin: change the spin speed in accordance to the kinds of garments you are washing.

• Variable temperature: manually adapt the temperature of the washing load for delicate items or ones that are especially dirty. This will allow you to keep the same amount of time on each load.

• Water reservoir: this will collect any excess water that is released during the drying cycle and keep it from leaving your clothes damp. Again, like the fluff filter it should be emptied after each wash.

Washing Hints and Tips

• Group similar material garments together in a shared load.

• Always read the instructions on the clothes label and adjust your washing and drying habits accordingly. If you see an icon that is a circle inside of a square this means that it is okay for them to be tumble dried. However, if you see this same icon but with a slash running through the middle it means not to tumble dry.

• You can reduce the amount of detergent you need each wash and allow your machine to run at its maximum efficiency level by putting in with your load a lime scale reduction tablet.