There are so many brand names of washing machines, from the last Maytag on the market, to a few other promising contenders. Choosing the best washing machine can be quite hard. It pays to take a bit of time to think about exactly what you want before you go out shopping for one:
- How many people are in your home? The larger the washing machine is, the more electricity it is likely to use, which means the larger electricity bill you will have. Do not buy something that is too small to meet your needs but at the same time, do not buy something larger than what you actually need.
- Washing machines have different features. Some are childproof, which may be a good idea to get if you have a small child or children in the house. Some are made to use minimum electricity; others are extra quiet, while yet others are made to handle mini-loads or heavy loads. You should know if one or more of these features are a priority for you.
- Check out the area of the house where you are planning to put your new washing machine, and see what kind of electrical outlet it has. Some kinds of washing machines or combo washer/dryers take a lot of power and can throw a breaker if it is plugged in someplace in the house that cannot handle it.
After you have decided on what features are important to you and you have an idea of what you want and what your budget is for it, you may want to consider checking out a 
washing machine review site. One such site is www.washingmachineadvisor.com, where you can see if certain models or brands have bugs, whether they are good quality and how long they will last.
Well-known brand names such as Whirlpool and AEG washing machines will put out many different models of washing machines and sometimes, certain models are better quality than others. While the washing machine you buy will be under warranty if you buy it new, it is quite a hassle to have to return something and buy a new one, or call the repair place to get them to come over and repair the machine.
If price is very important to you and you want something very affordable then Whirlpool, MayTag and Avanti are all good brand names to choose from. They all make many models, and some of their models are under $400; these are all top loaders and while they are a good size for a couple or small family, if you have a larger household then you will likely need something bigger. At the same time, it is possible to buy a mini washing machine for just a few hundred dollars that will suit your needs just perfectly if you live alone.
You can also get a combo washer/dryer – basically, two machines in one. These are quite handy to have as they do not take up as much room and often they cost less than buying two separate machines. If you just need a very small one for a one or two person household then you can get one for as little as $430; however, most of them cost a lot more than this and are larger. You would most likely have to pay in the range of $600 – $800 for a medium sized, good quality combo or integrated washing machine and dryer, although this is a minimum – if you want a high end brand name, or a larger combo washer/dryer, then you should be prepared to spend at least $1000.
If aesthetics are important to you and you want a machine that will look nice then one good brand name to consider is an Indesit washing machine. Their machines are made to look nice as well as being good quality and offering features such as heavy loads and mini loads in the same machine. Indesit is a good brand name to choose from if you are looking for a machine that can take large loads, although there are a few other brand names that make heavy-duty washing machines as well, such as Whirlpool and Westinghouse. These larger washing machines will usually cost at least $700.
You can buy what you need from a shop such as Sears or you can consider buying it online. There are advantages and disadvantages to buying from an online retailer. The advantages are that you can more easily find exactly what you want. For instance, you can decide on what size of machine you want, what features you want it to have, and what your budget is for it.
Then you can look up a few online reviews to see what brand names make good quality machines of the kind that you are looking for, and then you can search online for a retailer that sells exactly what you are looking for. You will most likely find quite a few and then you can compare prices and see which one is the least expensive. All of this can be done with just a few clicks of the mouse – no more having to drive around town to compare prices and find what you are looking for.
However, a couple things to keep in mind with buying online are: for one, you may have to pay for the shipping; washing machines are heavy so the shipping will likely cost a fair bit and you will have to calculate that into the price. Some online retailers do ship for free but many do not, or will only do so if you live in a particular area.
Another thing is that you will not get to see the item you are buying close up, you will just have a picture to go by. Also, make sure to check what the retailer’s policy is regarding refunds or exchanging the machine if you find it is not what you had in mind, or is defective in some way. It can be a lot harder to do this if you buy online than if you buy from a department store.
