Washing machines: which type is best for you?

Lately I have been doing a bit of research on which washing machine to buy. My Old manual washing machine has packed up; it isn't spinning as it should so I still have to do the washing after the machine has done its own. So for about a month now, I have been
hand-washing and I tell you, it hasn't been easy on me; I guess it's time to get a new washing machine, YAY!

Now having a washing machine has been a life saver for me, considering that my kids wear a minimum of 3 sets of clothing per day: School and crèche clothing, a change of clothes in the afternoon and their sleep wear, so i have a total of 6 sets of clothes per day to wash, this excludes mine and their dad's clothes. Whispering "I also do not enjoy washing" Haha!

 Okay, I want to get a machine that would do all the job, the loading, the washing, rinsing, drying, folding and arranging neatly in the wardrobe,  LOL. But seriously,  I sometimes wish such machines exists.

Anyway, I have been doing a bit of research on what kind of machine to get and I thought I would share...

If you're in the market for a new washing machine, one of your most important decisions is figuring out which configuration will best meet your family's needs:Semi Automatic or Automatic.

Semi-automatic

These entry-level washing machines have two tubs; one for washing and the other for drying or in single tub. They require manual intervention to change tubs and to move clothes to be rinsed in the case of single tubs.

 Semi-automatic washing machines don't need a permanent water connection and also use less water than the fully automatic ones. They are also the cheapest.

Automatic

These washing machines have only one tub, where you can perform all functions. So you don't need to move clothes.

They are energy-efficient. They need to be programmed only once before each wash load, which is why they offer more preset wash programs.

 In general washing machines are of two types:  Front-loader, and Top loader(Traditional top-loader or a high efficiency top-loader). Here are the pros and cons of each to help you make the right choice.

Front-Loading Washer 

Pros:

·         Front-loaders provides the best cleaning performance due to its ability to be configure wash cycles to meet your specific cleaning needs

• It has a large capacity, allows you to wash more items at once and accommodates bulky items, without sacrificing cleaning performance.
• Its wash cycle uses less water
• Its high spin speed extracts more moisture from wet loads, which means you can cut down on drying time.

Cons:

• A front loader can be quite expensive to buy.
• Wash cycle time can be longer by 30 minutes or more than the cycles on other types of washers if you select one of the customized settings.
• It may vibrate quite a bit on the spin cycle, especially if it’s not installed on a reinforced floor.
• Because of its design, water can get trapped inside, causing musty odors to form in the washtub      and the detergent dispenser.

Traditional Top-Loading Washing Machine 

• Wash cycles are much shorter.
• Minimal vibration.
• It is cheaper
• You’re unlikely to have musty odors to deal with.
• Its control panel is uncomplicated and easier to operate.
• It is easy on the back as you don’t have to bend as much when you’re putting clothes in and taking them out.
• Some top-loaders still give you the freedom to add laundry after the cycle has started.

Cons:

• Cleaning performance may not be up to snuff when it comes to heavily soiled clothes or full-to-the-brim loads.
• Wash cycles can't be adjusted to fit your specific cleaning needs.
• More water can remain in the wet load after the spin cycle, which can lengthen drying time.

High Efficiency (HE) Top-Loading Washing Machine 

Combines the functionality of a front-loader with the styling of a traditional top-loader.

Pros:

• It can accommodate larger loads and bulkier items.
• Its cleaning performance is comparable to front-loaders.
• Uses less water as it only fills part-way to allow room for the load to tumble, which translates to energy savings.
• Here too, musty odors are unlikely to be a problem.
• While you'll pay more than for a traditional model, if you don't opt for lots of extras and high-tech design, you'll still find it quite affordable.

Cons:

• The wash cycles can be just as lengthy as on front-loaders.

Other points to note:

• The size of your laundry room or the space available in your home to keep the washing.machine. If you do not have space, you might need to opt for a small sized washer.
• The availability of water: If you do not have a constant water supply, then a semi- automatic might be the best buy for you.
• Power supply: You would need power to use both the semi automatic and manual.