If you’re in the market for new laundry appliances, we’ve got you covered. We’ve pulled together a selection of the biggest considerations when it comes to buying appliances.
Love your laundry
More so than any other room, the laundry is a workhorse. In some households, the washing machine is on every day, perhaps even several times a day. But a good washer offers more than just clean clothes; it will wash your clothes with care and provide savings on household bills. And who knows, it may even make doing the laundry more enjoyable. With so many models to choose from, we air the dirt on washers, so buying yours is a breeze.
Types of washers
Top load
As the name suggests, with a top load washer, you pack your garments from the top of the machine. Traditionally top loaders came with a large centre agitator. These days modern washers have what’s called a low-profile impeller, so you’ll find the cycle isn’t as tough on clothes as it once was. Still today, top load washers tend to use more water and power.
Front load
With front load washers, you pack clothes in the front opening door. They are gentler on your clothes because the tumble action mimics handwashing. Front load washers are more economical to run than their top load counterparts. They use less water, energy and detergent, and are more energy-efficient when washing in warm water. Front loaders offer far more design versatility because their sleek, compact form can slide under a bench or be stacked with a dryer.
Combo
The washer/dryer combo is absolutely perfect for small laundries or apartment living where the European style (cupboard inset) laundry is commonly seen. The two-in-one unit is a space-saving gem and usually doesn’t require venting for the clothes drying function. Combo machines are, however, costly to buy and run.
What size washer is the right size for me?
Carefully considering the right size washer is important for several reasons. First, the washer needs to accommodate the household’s needs. The other is about fit. An 8-9kg washing machine is typically built to the standard cabinetry depth of 600mm and is more than capable of taking on a classic household wash. Whereas 10kg plus models, the shell is more often higher and deeper, meaning you’ll need to consider customised joinery.
6KG AND UNDER | 7KG – 8.5KG | 9KG – 10KG |
HOUSEHOLD SIZE: Small (1-2 people) | HOUSEHOLD SIZE: Medium (3-4 people) | HOUSEHOLD SIZE: Large (5+ people) |
TYPICAL LOAD SIZE: around 5 towels per load | TYPICAL LOAD SIZE: 7 towels per load | TYPICAL LOAD SIZE: 8 towels per load |
Today, the features of modern washing machines make doing laundry a breeze.
At Hart & Co., it’s important to us that you are well informed on what laundry appliances can do. Not only can they save you time and money, but with the right model, you may actually enjoy doing the laundry! Here’s some of the latest technology, which you can see in action in our interactive Laundry Lab.
We’ll happily throw in your king size doona or dry your clothes to make sure it’s a good fit. It’s all part of our interactive try before you buy experience, so you can make sure the appliance meets your expectations.
Quick Wash
Wash your load in less time, varying with different makes and models, as low as 15-mins to 30-mins.
Eco Wash
An economical wash cycle that reduces water and energy consumption. While a longer process, the function provides far greater efficiency, resulting in a lower running cost.
Fabric Care
A gentle cycle for delicate, hand wash or woollen fabrics that uses cold water with low or no spin. It’s the quickest and softest cycle.
Anti-Crease
Hands up for less ironing! ‘Anti Crease’ or ‘permanent press’ cycles are designed for easily creased or pleated fabrics and reduces the need to press your clothes.
Auto Dosing
Take the guesswork out of how much detergent you need. Fill the dispenser, and the machine intuitively works out the amount of detergent necessary for the cycle.
Delay Start
Set and forget, and clothes are ready to hang when you get home from work. Simply load, choose when the cycle is to start, and the washer does the rest.
Add Garment
Forgetting an item will never be an issue again. Select the function, and the washer pauses so you can throw in an additional item.
Load Sensing
The washer takes control by sensing the size of the load and adjusting the water and detergent required for the load.
Wi-Fi Connectivity
Connect your washer to Wi-Fi and control it through your smartphone. You can start or pause a load from the app, and you’ll be told when the cycle has finished.
Allergy Fighting
New generation front load washers are equipped with technology to combat dirt, dust and grime allergens making them a better choice for asthmatics and allergy-sufferers.
How to read the energy and water label
The introduction of energy and water rating labels has made us more aware of the efficiency of the appliances we buy. Yet today, some of us struggle with understanding how to read the label. One thing we know, be sure to compare apples with apples. The products you’re comparing need to be of the same size and same wash temperature. The rating label tells you how much energy and water the product will use. The more stars, the more efficient the appliance.
Energy Star Rating
The more stars, the more efficient an appliance is to run, which means savings on your bills. The rating shows it will use less electricity to achieve the same level of performance of similar models with the same capacity.
Energy Consumption
The energy consumption figure tells you how much electricity, in kilowatt-hours (kWh) the washing machine or dryer will use each year. When comparing appliances, the lower the KWh figure, the less energy the product will use.
WELS Water Rating
The rating label highlights how much water is used per load and what cycle was used for testing. Water efficient washing machines can save you money on both your water and energy bills, particularly when using a warm or hot water cycle.
Different ways to install your laundry appliances
When it comes to designing your laundry, we recommend choosing your laundry appliances first. Sure, you may know the style you’d like to achieve, but front load washers don’t come in standard depths or heights. While the average capacity front loader will fit typical 600mm deep cabinetry, a 10kg plus washer has bigger proportions. This means if you want to create a flush finish, you’ll need to customise joinery to fit the appliances.
Side-by-side
As it suggests, the washer and dryer sit alongside each other, which not only creates a seamless look but makes moving wet clothes into the dryer easy.
From a practical sense, the layout gives you additional countertop space.
Stacked
Perfect for compact laundries where you need to maximise space, the dryer is stacked on the washer using a stacking kit. This setup can be built into a
niche or concealed into cabinetry, but you need to consider the location of power and water connections early in the design.
Elevated side-by-side
A raised layout sees both units positioned on top of cabinets or pedestals, which combat the need to continually bend down to load and unload clothes. This layout can also create handy storage below the appliances
Types of clothes dryers
Heat Pump
A heat pump dryer works by blowing hot air and taking the moisture out of the clothes. There’s absolutely no residual lint, which is great for asthmatics and allergy-sufferers. The latest innovation we love is you can dry silks and woollens, which has been a no-no until now. While you’ll need a higher upfront investment, heat pump dryers are by far the most efficient to run and suited to households that use their dryer several times a week.
Condenser Dryer
Condenser dryers draw the moisture from your clothes and
convert it into water stored in a reservoir within the machine. Most modern dryers alert you when the water container is full, and you simply empty it. Because the dryer doesn’t require it to be vented, you can position the appliance wherever you like, giving you total control over laundry layout and design.
Vent Dryer
More affordable to buy yet the most expensive of the dryers to run. Vented dryers are designed to be wall-mounted, so they are a good option for anyone needing to maximise space. Because of the way it draws moisture and water from clothes, the appliance needs to be vented to the outside of the home through the installation of ducting. Once the cycle has finished, and clothes removed, leave the door open for an hour or so. This allows any residual water to evaporate and stop any smells that may arise due to a lack of ventilation in the laundry.
With heat pump and condenser dryers, the residual water drawn from the clothes is turned into distilled water which can be used for your iron to avoid calcium build-up.
Book your laundry appliance consultation
Hart & Co.’s interactive Laundry Lab brings technology to life with the ultimate ‘try before you buy’ showroom experience. Now you can put our appliances to the test and find the perfect solution that meets your laundry and lifestyle needs only with WA’s laundry specialists, Hart & Co.
Book a complimentary discovery session so you can see what the appliances can do first-hand.
Can’t make it in-store?
Our Appliance Specialists can take the journey with you over the phone with our Laundry Appliance Consultation.
