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How to Choose the Best Washer or Dryer for your Laundry Room

CraigBrown | Sep 14, 2010 |

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Beyond brand names and warranties, choosing the best washer/dryer for your laundry room involves meeting the particular needs of your family. What is a perfect solution for a couple with no children will be considerably different for a busy young family of five.

Considering your needs and preferences before you buy will bring you more satisfaction in the long run. While many people are attracted by the new modern looking washers and dryers loaded with bells and whistles, choosing appliances is not like selecting tree wall sculptures or metal wall art decor for the living room. You shouldn't select a washer and dryer based solely on eye appeal.

Size and Capacity

When choosing a washer and dryer, one of the most important considerations if choosing a size that meets your needs and typical usage, whether you do a lot of laundry or just a few loads a week. Consider the size loads that you do on a regular and reoccurring basis: If you do mainly small delicate cycle loads you don't want to waste water washing half loads in a large capacity machine. On the other hand, if you have boatloads of towels and jeans to wash several times a week, you'll work faster and more efficiently with an extra large capacity washer. If you only need an oversize capacity machine occasionally for winter jackets or bed comforters, a better option may be to choose a standard size machine and take your oversize items to the Laundromat once or twice a year as needed.

The Size of your Laundry Room

Most laundry rooms have adequate space for a standard washer and dryer configuration, but if your laundry room is very small or if you have a closet size laundry facility, stackable washer/dryer units may be a better way to go. Another option for smaller laundry rooms is under-counter sized washer/dryer units. They allow you to run a countertop over the entire length of the washer and dryer, which gives you lots of work space for folding and stacking clothes. However, some people find it physically difficult to reach inside under-counter washer/dryer units. You also need to choose a dryer that works with electric or gas, depending on the available hook-up in your laundry room.

Special Needs, Bells and Whistles

Today's washers and dryers do everything from washing your clothes to steaming away wrinkles and gently refreshing your clothing with steam, which can cut down on the need to iron or use dry cleaning services. Drying racks for the dryer are also very handy for flat drying sweaters or tennis shoes. Washer features abound as well, so consider whether a delicate, presoak or hand wash cycle would be helpful to you and be sure that the machine you choose has the temperature, cycle and water level options you are likely to use. Also consider your physical needs and limitations; for example, a top loading machine may be easier to access than a front loading machine. Or you may choose a front loading washer/dryer with stands that raise the units higher for better accessibility. As a bonus, the stands below the unit give you additional storage space.