Are you looking for a complete washing machine buying guide that tells you how to choose a washing machine? If yes, read this article to the end and learn the factors that you should consider before buying a washing machine.
Purchasing a washing machine, indeed, can be the right aid to ease the laborious washing activities. But to get the best washing machine that matches your budget and family needs, you need to learn the factors and features that the washing machines come with.
How to Choose a Washing Machine?
Following are some steps that one should consider to choose a good washing machine that matches his budget and family needs at the best.
- Finalize a Budget for the washing machine
- Decide the type of washing machine you need
- Select wash capacity and size of the washing machine
- Check energy efficiency and water usage by the washing machine
- Look for essential features
- Do Brand and Model research
- Learn about maintenance and care
- Compare Price
- Check and compare warranty information
- Check for offers, if any.
Let us learn details of the pointers above ahead. You may also navigate through linked pages in this washing machine guide to learn other useful concepts related to washing machines.
Allocate a Budget for Buying Washing Machine
The buying price of washing machines ranges from a few thousands to lakhs. If you have an unrestricted budget, skip this step and move to the next one. But If you are running through a constricted budget that doesn’t qualify a brand machine, you may choose a local brand provided it ensures good after-sale service. For medium range budget, we recommend going with the best washing machines under 20,000 INR.
Or,
You may go with a brand with some compromise in the features. Like, maybe a compromise in wash load capacity or a less automated washing machine and so on. But, do not make a compromise with factors that have an effect on the durability of the washing machine in the long run.
To ensure durability in the long run, pay attention to the washing machine parts. An early failure of washing machine parts may incur surplus expenses on you. Please read the warranty documents thoroughly if you are going with some local brands.
Tip 1: How to choose a washing machine based on Budget Allocation
- For a budget below 20,000 INR: Buy Semi-automatic washing machine
- For budget between 20,000 to 30,000 INR: Buy Top Load fully automatic washing machines
- For 30,000 to 50,000 INR budget: Buy Front Load fully automatic washing machines
- With INR 50,000 and above budget: Buy washer dryer combo units
Tip 2: A good way to find the best washing machine under a specified budget is to read the best washing machine blogs.
Types of Washing Machines
By the washing machine types, we here mean the automation technology you want in your washing machine. It could be a semi automatic wash technology, a fully-automatic washing machine (Front-load or Top load), or a Washer Dryer Combo.
Selecting the type of washing machine becomes important because there can be instances when a particular washing machine type may not suit you, for some reason.
For example, a fully-automatic washing machine, or a front load washing machine always needs running water from the tap. In contrast, a semi-automatic can wash clothes with the stored bucket water.
So, despite having sufficient budget to get a front loader, it may not suit you for water issues in your area. In that case, you would prefer using a semi automatic washing machine.
To help you figure out these, we have listed some key differences between types of washing machines below in this washing machine buying guide.
Front Load Washing Machine Vs Top Load Washing Machine
| Front Load Washing Machine | Top Load Washing Machine |
| Need to sit down/ bend down for loading clothes | Clothes are loaded from Top end |
| Needs less water | Need more water than front loaders |
| Consumes less electricity | Consumes more electricity than front loaders |
| Better wash quality | Wash quality good, but not as front loaders |
| Larger wash drum | Accommodates cloth as given capacity |
| Less noise, silent type | More noise than front loaders |
| Needs more space | Need less space for installation |
| Higher spin (RPM 1200 to 1400) | Spin RPM around 800 |
Semi Automatic Washing Machines Vs Fully Automatic Washing Machines
| Semi Automatic Washing Machines | Fully Automatic Washing Machines |
| Partially automatic, need human assistance | Fully automatic, need human assistance only during starting |
| Can be used with bucket water | Need running water supply from tap |
| Limited wash cycle options | Many wash cycle options depending on model you choose |
| Comes with separate buckets for washing and spinning | Washing and Spinning done in same bucket |
| Generally more durable | Durable |
Capacity and Size
The next thing to consider when choosing a washer machine should be the wash load capacity. It depends on your family size. You may need a 6 kg washing machine if you are a small family of 2 to 3 members. And, for big families- the wash load capacity required will be on the higher side.
All that matters is the number of wash cycles increases with a small wash-load capacity washing machine chosen for a big family.
Referring to the below chart will help you know how to choose a washing machine based on wash load capacity. The chart has been prepared considering the unit weight of an average size cloth.
| Size of the Family | Recommended Wash load Capacity |
| Single person or couples | 5 Kg to 6 Kg |
| A Three-member Family ( Small Family) | 6 Kg to 7 Kg |
| Three to Four member Family | 7 Kg to 8 Kg |
| A Family with more than Four members( Large Family) | 10 Kg |
Looking to learn how to choose a washing machine by calculating the wash capacity?
Learn Calculating wash capacity here
Essential Features
Modern washing machines are coming with advanced features to give better wash outputs. Various brands are continuously innovating and adding unique features to their washing machines, which sometimes creates confusion to the buyers.
Some features affect the wash output, durability, and maintenance requirement of a washing machine in the long run. One must examine these features before buying a washing machine. They are:
Wash drum material
Washing machines come with either polymer (Plastic) wash-tubs or with stainless steel wash-tubs. we recommend looking out for a stainless steel wash drum if available in your price range or brand selection. You can also go with a plastic drum; they are equally good.
Agitators or pulsator
Most washing machines are coming with a pulsator these days. But, if the device you have chosen has an agitator, we recommend going with a pulsator one. Agitators have been found to be ungentle to clothes, and they also reduces the space inside the wash-tubs.
Wheelbase
The presence of the wheelbase enables smooth & easy movement of your washing machines. Consider one if it falls in your price range. If it is not available, you can purchase a washing machine stand, which comes with a wheel to facilitate the washing machine’s easy movement.
Motor type
Modern machines are coming with Direct-drive motors; however, you should check it, for sure, before purchasing one. Unlike the motors with pulley-based drive, direct-drive motors are more energy-efficient. They have less vibration due to less moving parts, resulting in fewer washing machines’ maintenance requirements.
Spin RPM
Right Spin RPM is a vital factor to understand when searching how to choose a washing machine- It is the number of revolutions per minute of spinning inside your washing machine—more RPM results in better removal of water from your laundry. Thick fabric clothes like jeans and blankets require higher RPM for better dryness of the laundry and reduce the time needed to lay your clothes under the sun for total dryness.
Heater Availability
Heaters in a washing machine make the water warm that helps to loosen tough stains on the clothes. Consider choosing a washing machine with an inbuilt heater if it is available in your price range.
Water consumption
A top load washing machine has the advantage of its ability to work with stored water- running water not necessary as needed in front load washing machines. But they consume more water, whereas a front load washing machine gives better cleaning with less water consumption. So, if water availability is a constraint in your area, you should go with a front load washing machine.
Wash Quality
The front-load washing machine gives better cleaning than the top load washing machines because of the laundry agitation orientations inside the wash drums. Brands like LG offer six-way wash orientations in their front load washing machine, which gives better cleanness to the clothes.
Dryer
Spinning based washing machines remove the water from your laundry but do not give total dryness. There are separate dryers available in the market for this job. However, some washing machines come with all in one feature, i.e., they will wash your clothes, spin them, and dry them in a single drum. Though these machines, called “Washer dryer combo,” are available at a higher price, you should check if it is available in your budget range. These machines are handy in the cold or the rainy season when there is little or no sunshine.
Energy-Efficiency
Always choose 5 star Energy efficient washing machines. 5 star energy efficient washing machines rated by BEE comes with a sticker on their body. Make sure you check the number of stars in that red and yellow color sticker.
Maintenance and Care
Understand the washing machine maintenance points, and you may make a request with the seller to send a person who explains the error codes in washing machines, gives installation support and also gives some troubleshooting tips like cleaning and maintaining the washing machines in the long run.
Shopping and Comparison
Make a pricing list of some top washing machine models, and compare for getting the most economical washing machine
Check warranty information
This point is very important. Make sure you have gone through the warranty papers fairly and understood about your claims and service supports, in case you face some difficulty with the washing machine post purchase.
Brand and Model Research
With the above points finalized, we recommend comparing top washing machine brands and checking models of the washing machines to make your buying deal even more attractive. You may compare the washing machines for essential features, deals, price, warranty, and others.
Check offers and Free accessories
Offers may come in many forms. Sometimes the washing machine selling company provides an offer and sometimes the e-commerce platform that you are buying the washing machine from. Also, you get offers on your cards for making appliance or platform purchases, occasionally. Make sure you have checked them. Money saved is like money earned 🙂
Similarly You may also check for free accessories that washing machine companies provide occasionally. It could be a washing machine stand or free detergents 🙂
Wrapping Up:
Selecting a good washing machine may sometimes get confusing because there are so many parameters that the washing machine’s performance and durability depends on. As such, we hope that this comprehensive washing machine buying guide on how to choose a washing machine would help you in making the right selection.
We hope you found this article helpful, and loved it. If so, please share with your loved ones.
Happy Buying!
I liked that you said that for a family of 2 to 3 members, you will need a 6 kg washing machine. My husband and I are interested in shopping for a new washing machine for our condominium unit next Monday. Since we want to ensure that we choose a laundry machine that can meet our family’s needs, we will follow your tips.
Happy that we were helpful! Still we would Insist going with a 6.5 Kg washing machine instead. If you get one. Thanks!