Make washing machine choices 'with care'
11/02/2008
New technology may not necessarily make for a better appliance, especially if on a tight budget, according to a source.
Consumer Reports have recently conducted tests on washing machines and tumble dryers, to find the best features for the best value, reports Modbee.com.
The report found that steam technology, germ killing features and sleek styling offered by appliance companies may not always be worth the extra money.
Research found that the three companies offering steam settings, LG,
Whirlpool and Kenmore, cleaned clothes well but did so even without the steam option.
The website also reports that the matching tumble dryers to the Kenmore and
Whirlpool models, which use steam to reduce wrinkles in clothes, can only take four items at a time.
Consumer Reports also found these models were about twice as expensive as the "best buys".
Silver technology, used in Samsung's washer, uses silver ions to help reduce germs but has been determined as unsafe to aquatic life by authorities as it releases silver into rivers and lakes.
As washer and dryer owners tend to keep their appliances for 10-13 years, according to the National Association of Home Builders, energy-efficient models may prove better value in the long run, reports the website.
LG claims that its steam washer is eco-friendly as it uses less water and energy, it also claims to reduce shrinkage and extends clothes lifespan by 21 per cent.
