ApplianceJournal.com

  Today’s washers and dryers do several key things.  First off, they are much gentler on clothing, allowing you more use from the same clothing for a longer period of time.  They are also designed to be highly energy efficient, saving you money in the way that you use them.  In fact, you can save in several ways including saving on the amount of water they use, the amount of detergent they use and the amount of electricity that they use.  They are quiet and run dependably.  For many, they take some of the chore out of the laundry tasks that so many people dread (you’ll still have to fold the clothes, though!)

What To Look For
Like other large appliances, there are many features to be taken into consideration.  You will need to consider washers and dryers that provide for the type of lifestyle that you need them for.  For example, large capacity washers are readily available, allowing you to wash 10 to 12 pairs of jeans at a time.  But, there is more to look for in these new models as well.

• Look for washers to feature internal water heaters.  This sanitizes clothing thus killing germs.  The benefit here is the same as a dish washer.  Less detergent (namely bleach) is needed.  With an internal water heater, your household water heater does not need to heat as high to do this same thing.
• Look for those washers that feature more specialized settings.  When the machine can sense what’s in it and adjust the cycle for it, you know you’ll have clean clothing every time.  Extra rinse cycles are also heavily available to keep your clothing soap free.
• Reverse rotation is a great thing for both washer and dryers.  This means that they will turn and go back and forth, allowing for less bunching of clothing and thus more efficient cleaning.
• Faster spinning to extract more water which decreases the dry time that’s necessary.
• Automatic water leveling is a key feature as it fills only to the amount necessary for the amount of clothing you put into the machine.  This adjusts to save you water.  Dryers feature something similar in that they have better sensors that detect when the clothing is actually dry and turn off without wasting time and energy drying clothes that are dry already. 
• Look for stainless steel drums as these keep clothing from getting caught.

What Brands?
Many of the leading brands in washers and dryers offer several models of them.  The highest end models may not be the best choice, but the next ones down may be.  Spending a bit more to get a more efficient machine may be worth it.  But, paying more for a brand that features the same thing as another isn’t worth it.
The Kenmore HE, the GE Profile, the LG Electronic Brands (these even provide for steam washing) and Whirlpool’s Cabrio are some of the options that are getting a lot of attention for these features.  These newer models are designed with efficiency in mind.  Make sure you spend some time looking at them in person and determining how well they fit your needs.  Ultimately, these machines can save you a considerable amount of money.

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