Laundry & Clothes Care Items | Home & Garden Classifieds

Buying laundry and clothes care appliances may not be the most exciting of topics, but is worth careful consideration as a well planned system can make these tiresome chores easier. For most of us, we need to consider the following appliances: washers, dryers, washer-dryer combos, clothes presses and irons.

Washer, Dryer, or Washer-Dryer Combo?
A washer and dryer purchased separately are usually cheaper when compared to a Washer-Dryer Combo, but there is no longer such a significant difference in the price. The amount of available space is usually the deciding factor. If you choose a combo rather than separates, bear in mind that the washing load capacity (usually measured in Kgs) will not be the same as the drying capacity. Generally speaking, dryer loads on these combos are smaller than the washing load to allow the machine the space needed to dry your clothes properly. However, if you will be washing in smaller loads you may not have to empty out some of the load before drying, and so a combo may be a good option for you. It will save time on this extra process, completing the washing and drying without you having to intervene.

Washing Load
Before you choose a model, you need to consider the size of your wash. Generally all machines will have a load capacity of between 5 Kg to 6 Kg. If there are many of you in the household and you will be doing several washes regularly, you might want to consider the models with larger load capacities (up to 8kg) for example.

Top Loading or Front Loading
Next you have to decide whether to buy a top loading model or a front loading model. The top loading models have a larger capacity than the front loading ones. Front loading machines are usually more compact, though, and because they are designed to fit under your worktop, less obtrusive.

Features Available
There are numerous models and features available in separate washers and dryers as well as combos. Some are equipped with 'fuzzy logic' where the amount of water needed, wash time, temperature and load capacity are all measured automatically. Machines with this technology will also be able to automatically adjust spin speeds and drying times (in the case of combos) according to the type of fabric being processed. As with most appliances, the more technologically advanced features come at a higher price so need to be justified in each case.

All machines will have a range of programmes, from the most basic to the more complex depending on how much you pay. Some are equipped with variable speeds to take care of silks, woollen and other delicate materials. Many have a delayed start feature to take advantage of off-peak rates for electricity. Consider all of these features carefully to decide if they will prove valuable in your own circumstances.

Steam Washing and Steam Drying
One leading manufacturer has recently launched a new concept of steam washing and steam drying. Instead of using water to clean the clothes, steam is produced inside the unit and is injected into the wash tub through a spray nozzle, pump and a cartridge system. Whether this innovation makes a significant difference to the quality of the washing remains to be proven. The manufacturers claim that steam particles penetrate deeper into the fabric than water, producing better results. Stubborn stains and hard to dislodge dirt particles are apparently more easily removed with this system. One of the models even has the capability of moistening the clothes so that wrinkles are reduced making ironing easier. Obviously, this type of technology comes at a much increased price when compared with standard models.

Clothes Presses
If your ironing load is not that significant you may consider choosing a regular steam iron. If you have a mountain of ironing to get through every week, a steam iron with an extra large capacity water tank that will need refilling much less often may seem like a good idea.

If you spend a great deal of time welded to the ironing board, a fabric press is well worth considering. These have three or more times the surface area of a conventional iron which will obviously speed up the whole process. They are equipped with multiple fabric steam settings and have the option of dry or wet ironing.

Conclusion
As with most household chores, the right equipment can make all the difference. A balance should be struck between your washing, drying and ironing needs, the availability of space, and what, if any, special features will be of real value to you. The more features, the larger the price tag, so you need to carefully consider which are useful and which superfluous.