| 10 Thinks to know before buying a Washing Machine |
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| Written by Administrator | |||||||||||
| Thursday, 05 January 2006 | |||||||||||
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You may already have a budget in mind as to how much you would like to spend. Washing Machines range from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 30,000. The size and features affect the price. Read this Article for more information. Washer dryers are a very useful item if you are short of space in the kitchen, however there are a number of drawbacks you should consider before you purchase. Washer dryers are not suitable for large families who want to use it to do all of the drying. This is because the dryer part usually has a reduced load size so you would need to remove some washing before you can dry it. This means that the time to complete a full size wash and dry could be up to 4 hours. For a large family who might use the machine 2-3 times in a day, it would mean the machine could be in use all day. Also while the machine is drying you are not able to start washing the next wash load. Our recommendation is that you should only buy a washer dryer if the following is true. If you are a 1-2 person household or you use the dryer just as a back up to a your clothes line. But even then if you have the space to fit a separate washing machine and tumble dryer, it is better to do so. There are two types of Washer Dryers: Automatic or Manual. In Manual type machines, water needs to be manually filled at the beginning of the wash and rinse cycles or water has to be manually drained at the end of the cycle, etc. Such machines are usually twin-tub machines. The clothes are washed in one tub and then manually transferred to the second tub for spinning (drying). In the case of automatic washing machines wash programmes have to be selected and set by the user prior to the start of the wash cycle. These machines sense the wash load with the help of various sensors and decide the programme ideal for washing the clothes (in terms of water level, time required to wash, number of rinses and spins, type of fabric, etc.) In Automatic machines, no manual intervention required but comparitively they are very expensive. If you plan to do your own washing, without domestic help, the automatic machines are easier to use and understand. Some have special sensors and they are called Fuzzy logic (or similar). These machines are the most advanced in technology. 2. Type of loading? Front or top loading? This is one of the important distinctions which you will have to make in order to purchase your machine. Ask yourself two questions: What are my constraints of space and fitting? How much am I washing? Washing machine with frontal opening (with port-hole)
The models of Front-load washing machine are wider but less deep than the models with an opening on the top. These freestanding or built-in washing machines were designed to be integrated easily under a work surface in your kitchen for example, or to even become the work surface itself. They have also been designed to accommodate a separate tumble dryer on top. Another significant point is the potentially greater loading capacity. A port-hole washing machine can handle, up to 9 kg of linen depending on the model. Front-loading machines usually consume less water and are able to dry clothes faster (thus reducing your power bill) but the disadvantages are that one cannot open the machine mid-way through a cycle and one has to stoop or sit on one's knees to load the machine. Top loading washing machine
These freestanding washing machines benefit from an indisputable asset: they are much easier to store. Much tighter than their competitors, they offer space saving. The access to the drum is easier than on the washing machines with a port-hole. Their technical design, their loading capacity is usually less than 5 kg. Top Loading machines are good for places facing electricity and water problems. 3. Loading capacity You should also consider the loading capacity required before making your purchase. A single person or a young couple does not have the same needs as a large family. Home-use washing machines in India have a range of 3 kgs to 10 kgs. You must plan how often you plan to wash clothes capacity and what is the average daily load in your household. For this reason the manufacturers produce models with a variety of different drum sizes. To make the right choice take a look at this table:
An approximate idea of how much your clothes weigh: Socks - 50 gms, Towel - 80 gms, Cotton shirt - 100 gms, Large T-Shirt - 250 gms, Jeans - 750 gms, Saree - 500 gms, Salwar Kameez - 500 gms. There is an easier way too! Just load your machine up to two-thirds the total space available. Never fill up the entire washing machine. A machine that can handle higher wash loads would be able to wash more number of clothes. If you plan to invest in a washing machine with an in-built dryer, remember that the machine's capacity to dry is usually half of its capacity to wash. Choosing a washing machine with a greater capacity will enable you to wash more in a load which might be more economical. 4. Which wash method would you prefer? Wash method refers to the various movements used by different washing machines to wash the clothes during their wash cycles. There are five wash methods: (1) agitator, (2) pulsator, (3) tumble (4) turbo drum and (5) pulgitator. Manufacturing companies try to replicate the movements of manual (hand) wash as closely as possible when designing their wash mechanisms. (1) The agitator movement is left-right and replicates the scrubbing action. There is a pole-like device in the centre of the tub that moves the clothes around, in the water during the washing and the rinsing. As the clothes are moved around, they get brushed and rubbed against each other and the dirt is squeezed out. During the rinsing cycle the tub revolves at high speed and dries the clothes. (2) At the base of the washing machine tub is a disc, this disc revolves in a clockwise and an anti clockwise circle. This action replicates the swirling-in-the-bucket action by pushing the water upwards. In the process, the clothes get rubbed against each other and get squeezed free of dirt and grime. The pulsator wash method is found in most of the top loading washing machines. (3) The tumble movement is usually found in front-loading machines and in a few top loading washing machines. As the washer drum moves around on a horizontal axis, a lift-drop action is caused, which replicates the scrubbing-against-ground action. The tumbling action causes the clothes to be continually banged against the hard surface of the drum and this helps loosen any soil in the clothes. (4) The turbo drum wash method uses powerful water whirls created by centrifugal force, that enhance the stain removal process and prevent damage to the clothes. (5) The pulgitator wash method is a combination of the pulsator wash method and the agitator wash method. It creates mini waterwheels for constant rotating movement, which cleans the clothes without tangling them. 5. Spinning Speed & Type The more effective the spinning is, the more quickly your washing will dry. The higher the speed the model offers, the more efficient the spinning is. If you already have a tumble dryer, a washing machine with a drying speed of 800 rpm (revolutions per minute) can be appropriate. If not choose one with a drying speed of at least 1000 rpm. Another point to take into account is the type of spinning: Fixed drying You can find this system on the most economic models. In this case the spinning operates only at fixed speed whatever the program selected. Some washing machines combine several speeds of fixed drying which adapt according to the selected program. Variable drying Variable drying enables you to alter speed of the drum as you wish. You choose the appropriate spinning level to suit your needs and the material being washed. This function is primarily intended to protect delicate materials, which could be damaged by drying too fast. 6. Water Consumption This is usually quoted in litres per cycle for each machine. If you are paying for your water on a meter it may be useful to know which machines use more water than others (Useful for Chennai girls). There have been strong moves in recent years to ?encourage? manufacturers to make machines that use less water. This may also be useful to know if your machine will be emptying into a cess pit and not into mains drainage as the amount of water wastage may have a direct impact on your fill-up rates! 7. Energy Consumption Rating This figure will be shown in kilowatts per hour (KWh) for each machine. To find out the running costs of a machine, find out its Energy Consumption Rating in Kilowatts per hour (KWh) and multiply this figure by the cost of your electricity per hour (Rs/KWh) which is on your bill. This way you can compare the running costs of different machines. Remember though to compare like machines for like to get an accurate picture. For example a machine with a larger wash load may have higher running costs than a smaller one but it may be a price you consider worth while. 8. Wash Times This can vary enormously between a 30 minute and 120 minutes. Some machines? handbooks claim to do a standard wash in 30 minutes whilst others state that a 30 minute wash is a ?quick wash?. If you have very grubby children the chances of finding a machine that gets your clothes really clean in 30 minutes is slim! Whereas one or two adults may find that there cloths never really need a 120 minute super wash. And a ?boil wash? is something that you may or may not find handy. Whilst it?s good to have choices, too many variables in wash times can be an expensive option on a machine that you just don?t need. 9. Noise Levels This is something that could make a big difference depending on where your machine is likely to be. If it?s going to be in the garage or utility room out of the way, you may not mind how much noise it makes. However, if it?s going to be in an open-plan kitchen/family room you may want to opt for a quieter model. Noise Levels on washing machines are given in decibels: the higher the decibels the louder the noise so it?s worth comparing them if you think this could be an issue. If you want a quiet washing machine, then check the decibel (dB) level (the lower the better). Modern machines can have a noise level of 45db (as low as a boiling kettle). 10. Other Useful features to check before choosing your Machine
a) Auto Restart If the wash process is interrupted due to power failure, this feature restarts the machine from the point the cycle was interrupted. It is a boon for places where power supply is not regular and constant. In the absence of an auto restart feature, the machine has to be re-programmed when the power is restored. b) Automatic Drainage: Automatic drainage is a feature whereby the washing machine automatically drains out the water at the end of the wash and rinse cycles. This feature is a convenience feature, as one does not have to manually drain the water at the end. A Bleach Dispenser is a funnel provided with the machine to store the bleaching powder. Bleach (neel) helps white clothes look extra white by causing a chemical action. The funnel automatically releases the bleach into the tub as the water fills in. d) Child Lock The child lock prevents unauthorised opening of the lid while the machine is yet in operation. You can also lock the control panel and knobs preventing any one from accidentally making changes to the wash programme. This feature is useful for homes with children and is also a safety feature. e) Hot Water Wash Hot wash is an option available with a few high-end machines that enables washing the clothes using hot water. f) PreWash / Soak Prewash soak is a cycle, which allows you to soak the clothes for a specified time, before washing them. This is similar to the function of soaking clothes in a bucket of soapy water before manually washing them and is particularly useful for stain removal. g) Quick Wash The Quick Wash cycle rapidly washes lightly soiled clothes. This cycle consumes less time, water and energy and is useful if you are in a hurry to wash a specific set of clothes. h) WashLoad Sensor High-end washing machines have sensors that are able to programme and modify the wash cycles based on the load of the clothes filled in the washing machine. A wash load sensor helps to balance the machine in case of overload on any one side due to entangled fabric, etc. In the absence of such a sensor, you may find that your machine 'hops and jumps' at times due to an imbalance in the load inside. You would have to open the machine, readjust or disentangle the clothes and then restart the machine. i) Fuzzy Logic This is a term used for machines that ?think? for you as well. They adjust the wash cycle times, water and detergent input etc to suit the load automatically! Can also automatically self-correct it if the load becomes imbalanced during the wash/spin cycle thereby saving wear and tear on the machine. This may be a useful feature to you or maybe an unnecessary extra. j) Delayed Start Timer This might be useful if you want to take advantage of cheaper night time electricity (This is not for India), or you could just buy a manual timer clock for Rs.500! k) Crease Guard Option This uses a gentler washing action and a shorter spin cycle to reduce creasing in the finished wash. Handy if you loathe ironing but only really useful if you are going to unload the machine immediately after the wash has finished. l) Anti-Leak Detector. This may prevent a flood if the machine is leaking giving you peace of mind if you are going to be out of the house a lot when the machine is on. Copyright: IT Portal.org |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 January 2006 ) | |||||||||||
Washing machines and more particularly washer dryers, according to most surveys, are the most likely item in the kitchen to break down. So it is a good idea to do plenty of research before you buy. It is not just important to buy a good quality machine, but also to buy a machine suitable for your needs.
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