3 Things to Look for When Shopping for a Washer & Dryer

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I spend a LOT of time with my washer and dryer and I’m sure many of you are in the same boat. These kids and their laundry…  We actually just replaced our laundry appliances a couple of years ago, and the upgrades we got have made my job a lot easier. Still a ton of wash from this family, but there are a few features that have really helped. These are some of the things you’ll want to be on the lookout for when shopping to replace your washer and dryer.

3 Things to Look for When Shopping for a Washer & Dryer

Size (Inside and Outside)

On the whole, I’ve found the newest washers and dryers on the market to be bigger than the stuff we bought 10 years ago. So be smart and measure your space, including the depth you have for these appliances. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and headache by knowing what you have to work with before you go shopping.

The size INSIDE the machines is also important. My current washer holds so much  more clothing than the last one I had. It’s truly saved me from doing a lot more laundry because I can fit more in one load. If you’re washing for a family (especially with kids that play sports and are going through 2 outfits every day), this is a lifesaver.

Settings

My washer and dryer have a lot more settings than I have used, BUT there are a few that really come in handy for me. I love that my washer has a quick wash cycle for items that just need a refresh (ahem, the load that sat in the washer a bit too long). My dryer has something called a Refresh cycle, which is a 15 minute steam and tumble, so when you’ve let your load of laundry sit in the dryer all night and it’s wrinkled, this cycle takes care of that in just a few minutes. I use it a LOT.

Think about what you need your washer and dryer to do for you and look for cycles that are going to make your life easier. 

ENERGY STAR® = Gold Star Appliances

I probably should have put this first, because before I even look at the specifics on a washer and dryer, I look for that ENERGY STAR®. I do so much laundry that I really don’t need to be cranking up my electric and water bill while I’m doing it. Best Buy has a huge selection of ENERGY STAR washers and dryers (this is where we got ours!). What makes them better?

• You Save Money & The Environment: ENERGY STAR appliances are designed to save energy. Saving energy is not only good for the environment, but it’s good for your wallet.
• Less Energy Used: ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers and dryers are 25% and 20% more efficient, respectively, than standard models.
• Less Water Used: ENERGY STAR certified top-load machines clean your clothing just like standard models without wasting water to fill up the tub. Instead, these machines use sophisticated wash systems to cycle clothes through a mixture of water and detergent, allowing the clothes to be cleaned without using excess water or detergent.
• High Spin Speeds: Efficient motors spin clothes two to three times faster to extract more water. Less moisture in the clothes means less time in the dryer and less energy spent drying clothes.
• Low Heat Drying: Longer drying cycles on a low heat setting use less energy. When you purchase an ENERGY STAR certified clothes dryer, look for the cycle that uses the least amount of energy, sometimes known as the “energy-saving” selection.
• Steam Cycles: Many ENERGY STAR dryers also include convenient features, such as a steam cycle that can help save time on ironing clothes by preventing wrinkles. This is the Refresh cycle I mentioned above!

Learn More

Check out ENERGY STAR washers and dryers at Best Buy. You can learn more about why ENERGY STAR appliances are best in this video on the Best Buy Blog.