Basics of Buying :
You will be pleasantly surprised by the current state of laundry care and the ease with which you can take care of your laundry needs. As you move closer to buying a new machine, there will be several choices to make. For instance, are you looking for a high efficiency washer or a conventional washer? Which cycles, options, and features are most important for your family? It will also be important to think about how your choices will fit with your home. For example, what type of dryer will you need, a gas or electric? Keep in mind that cleaning your clothing and caring for your fabrics is of paramount interest, and that finding units with energy-saving abilities will reap financial dividends down the road.
Energy Efficiency
With energy bills on the rise, it makes sense to minimize the amount of power being expended. You can stretch your energy dollar farther by choosing machines designed to conserve energy while still providing optimal laundry care. The high-quality engineering of today's models means you won't have to sacrifice power for performance, and the extra dollars you save will show off your smart financial sense. The best way to select an energy efficient clothes washer is to look for the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR is the national symbol for energy efficiency. Clothes washers that have earned the ENERGY STAR label save energy and prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. ENERGY STAR qualified washers also save water, and less water is key to energy savings as well. Overall, ENERGY STAR can save you around $600 in energy and water bills over the washer's life, which on average is 11 years.¹
Clothes washer lifetime: 11 years (2004 Appliance Magazine's Portrait of the U.S. Appliance Industry)
Laundry Room Location
Where will your washer and dryer be located? Will the noise-level of the units be a consideration for you? If noise is a concern, you will want to keep noise-related issues in mind as you make your selection.
Space Considerations
You need to consider the width, depth and height of your new laundry units and how they fit into your laundry room. You may find that you are interested in a washer/dryer set that is designed to be stacked, or a set that has storage capabilities associated with it. Keep in mind that these options impact the space that is required, so it is important to know upfront what space is available.
Washers and dryers come in several different sizes. Washers range from 24" to 27.5" wide, whereas dryers range from 27" to 29.5" wide. Both washers and dryers range from 26" to 32" deep and 42" to 51" high. Some models are designed to sit on pedestals that range from 10" to 16" high. If your space is limited, there are compact options as well as stackable washer/dryer combinations.
Where to Begin
Before you can make an intelligent purchase, you have to assess your needs. Thinking ahead to what suits your family, your clothing and your lifestyle will make it easy to arrive at smart decisions that provide long-term happiness. Here are some questions to consider:
- Will you be doing laundry for a large or small number of people?
- Will you do laundry nearly everyday or only once or twice a week?
- Do you have a wardrobe that requires special care?
- Do you wish to save money by utilizing energy-efficient features?
- How much space do you have available in your laundry room?
Cycles and Options :
Just as you wouldn't cook an apple pie in a frying pan, you wouldn't want to put your clothes in the wrong cycle at the incorrect setting. Your clothing means a lot to you, so you need to decide which cycle options will best care for that great new sweater, favorite old shirt, or trusty pair of khakis. Use the following descriptions to help you choose which cycles are right for your family.
Delicates / Handwash
The Delicate cycle provides a constant wash motion and a shorter or slower wash speed. Use this cycle to keep fine items, such as sweaters, undergarments, and more in the best possible condition.
- Simulates hand-washing to provide soft cleansing of delicate fabrics
- Gentle wash motion with less speed maintains optimum appearance and fit
Extra Soak / Extra Rinse
For clothing articles that are extra dirty, a longer soak time and/or more vigorous rinse may be just the solution. These options are for sports uniforms, work shirts and any other items in need of additional cleaning or rinsing.
- Extra soak time breaks up stains and dirt and makes them easier to wash away
- Extra rinsing removes more detergent and ensures clothing is clean and fresh without a layer of detergent residue
- The Skin Care Rinse option is ideal for people extremely sensitive to soaps and detergents.
Normal
The "Normal" cycle setting is designed for items that can be washed without needing special attention. These items include T-shirts, denim jeans, cotton items and many everyday basics, leaving you to just toss in your laundry and move on to other business.
- Designed for items that can be easily washed without fear of harm or damage from normal wash motion
- Use warm water when washing these items, unless there is a chance of bright / dark colors that might bleed or run
Permanent Press / Casual
Permanent press garments have been permanently shaped and treated to guard against wrinkles -- these may even be called "Wrinkle Free". Choose the Permanent Press / Casual cycle to keep wrinkles at bay and achieve a dynamic look that requires little effort.
- Minimizes the hassle of ironing wrinkled garments
- Can be used for business casual clothing
- Maintains the shape and look of your clothes
Sanitary
The Sanitary cycle uses the built-in heater to heat water to more than 150 degrees Fahrenheit to safely deep-clean stains and thoroughly clean heavily soiled colorfast fabrics. The Sanitary cycle is an ideal setting for washing bed linens because the water reaches temperatures more than 30 degrees Fahrenheit higher than typical washers, helping to kill dust mites.
Specialty Cycles
Additional options and features abound for consumers looking not just to clean their clothes well, but also save time and money. Finding just the right setting to suit your lifestyle can help you gain more satisfaction from your laundry care.
- Express Wash / Quick Wash cycles supply a shorter wash time for pieces that may only be slightly soiled or needed in a hurry
- Bulky Bedding cycle is designed to help you effortlessly clean sheets, blankets, comforters and other sleep-related items
- Kids Wear cycle is designed for the special needs (and stains) of children and is a great help for Moms and Dads
- Extra / Super Delicate cycles supply an especially light touch for clothing that requires extreme care
- Catalyst cleaning mixes the detergent with the water, creating a lather that really gets clothes clean
