THE PRACTICAL APPLIANCE SERIES · 01
Choosing a washing machine
A drum that suits your routine. A machine that fits your home.
Choosing for a busy household, a first home or a replacement that cannot wait? Like New brings graded and refurbished options together, with delivery across the Midlands towns on our delivery map—not Leicester alone.
Start with your normal wash, not the biggest number
Capacity is the weight of dry laundry a programme can accept. The headline rating does not apply to every cycle: delicates and quick programmes can have much smaller limits. Think about how full your current machine gets, how often you wash and whether bedding is a regular part of the load.
| Capacity to consider | When it may suit you |
|---|---|
| 5–6 kg | Smaller, frequent loads or limited laundry needs. |
| 7–8 kg | A useful starting point for regular everyday loads. |
| 9–10 kg | Worth considering for larger loads and frequent bedding. |
| 11 kg and above | For genuinely high laundry volumes, where the room and programme limits suit. |
These are shopping prompts, not a people-to-kilograms rule. Towels, workwear and bedding change the picture. One kilogram is not a reliable measure of one outfit, and a larger drum does not mean every duvet will fit.
Quick wash and eco do different jobs
A quick programme is for the load and soil level specified in the manual. Eco 40–60 is designed for suitable normally soiled cotton laundry and can take longer while using resources efficiently. A short cycle is not automatically the lowest-energy choice. Check the programme table rather than relying on the name.
Programmes worth looking for
- Cottons and synthetics: follow the fabric label and the machine’s separate load limits.
- Wool and delicates: use only when the garment and the programme instructions allow it.
- Rinse and spin: useful when an extra rinse or spin is appropriate; spin is not a tumble-drying cycle.
- Mixed loads: still separate unsuitable fabrics and colours that may run.
- Allergy or hygiene programmes: claims and approved settings vary by model; do not assume every machine has them.
- Load sensing: may adjust the cycle, but a half load does not promise half the time or half the water.
Spin, noise and everyday convenience
A higher selected spin speed can leave suitable fabrics with less water to dry, but the right setting depends on the load. Compare the published spin-noise figure, controls and available programmes as well as capacity. Delay-start, steam and connected features are model-specific, not standard equipment.
Before you choose
- Measure the opening and the delivery route; leave the model’s required room for hoses, doors and ventilation.
- Check the exact model suffix and energy label, not a similar-looking machine online.
- Ask to see the actual item’s condition and agree delivery arrangements.
- For a cupboard-door installation, read our integrated-washer guide first.
A practical running-cost check
Use the electricity unit rate from your own bill—not a fixed national price. If a label states 50 kWh per 100 cycles and your rate is £0.25 per kWh, the energy cost is 50 ÷ 100 × £0.25 = £0.125 per labelled cycle. These are example figures, not a tariff or a stock specification. Actual use varies; water charges, detergent and standing charges are not included. Check whether the label refers to washing only, washing and drying, or another programme basis.
Technical references
General guidance checked 17 October 2026. Features and installation requirements vary: the exact model’s manual takes priority.