compact and standard washers

When buying, consider carefully the type of washer and model - compact models, standard... - and their size.

Only qualified models are a cost-effective solution, allowing substantial savings in your monthly energy bills (see: Washers Rating and Choosing). But the size and the type of washer are also important purchasing features.

The right size of the washer

The right size of the washing machine depends mainly on your needs and on the space available in your home. Basically you have to choose between compact and standard models.

Compact models

If your washer loads are small and relatively few in number, a compact model can be a good option. Compact washers – under-the-counter and stackable designs - fit into smaller places, and there are qualified and highly energy-efficient models, available with the same features of larger models.

Typically, they are the best option for one and two people households.

Standard models and their size

If your needs are those of a typical medium or large family, do not buy a compact clothes washer. For medium or heavy-duty laundering, a larger model is more efficient and advantageous than a compact model.

You just have to choose the exact capacity, taking into account your particular needs. Typically, capacities range from 2 to 3.5 cubic feet, but you may find washer models with 1,6 cubic feet (in the compact models) or higher (3,8 cubic feet models…).

Horizontal and vertical (top-loading) axis-models

There are two clothes washer types: horizontal-axis washers (also known as tumble-action and front-loading machines) with a door on the front of the washer, and top-loading (vertical-axis) washers. Until recently top-loading models were inefficient, but recent technological improvements have cancelled most of the energy gap.

Today, there are high energy-efficiency models in both front- and top-loading configurations.