Washing machine key features

[daffodilbrain]

I'm about to buy a new washing machine it's been 9'yrs since my last one. Can you give me your top tips on best features and unnecessary ones
I'm hoping to buy one with a large drum 8k ish
I need delayed start and some sort of quick wash but over and above that can't think what else -top tips welcomed

Do you need one that you can child lock? I’ve just got a new machine, it’s a kenwood, and the child lock feature is so handy! Agree with the delayed start and also look at how fast the spin is. I used to have to spin everything again with my old machine as it would still be very wet but this Kenwood I can adjust it within the setting (if that makes sense) so I don’t have to do two cycles anymore.
I used to have a beco and it was awful, luckily I had a direct debit set up with Curry’s so they had to come out and repair it every few months. They’ve eventually replaced it as it was so rubbish!

shoe setting, variable temp (40 or 30 and 90 once a year for a clean), and as you say quick wash and delay start. That's all you really need imho. I think machines are getting simpler again as most people don't use the 50 differernt settings they used to come with.

Oh and A for energy efficiency and water useage.

if you have pets or allergies a steam washing machine is ideal, it helps with the whites and can do some dry clean fabrics only. One steam setting can be used within the wash, the other is great for freshing up clothes that have been hung for a while. I have a hotpoint ultima with a 9k drum, its very cheap to run and i love it. It doesn't have half load and the pre wash only runs within the whites cycle. It is also very cheap to run compared to some of the cheaper machines.

I wouldn't be without it now. It also takes a king size duvet just.

I like the half load function on my Bosch, along with the delayed start. Being able to change temperatures and spin speeds is helpful but I find if I use anything less than 1200rpm the washing is too wet when it comes out, so I wouldn't buy a machine that didn't have at least that spin speed.

You can get machines now that you can work from your mobile phone! Seems silly when the mobile won’t actually load the machine 😂

Extra rinsing is mine. Is it available on most programmes I use or only one.

Also for the rare occasions I want a fast wash, is it only for a few kg (e.g. my old Indesit) or for a full load (like my current Blomberg)

Delay start is fairly important, but can always get around it with a timer switch on the plug.

The ability to add in the escapee sock after the wash started!!

Bosch have that. Invaluable.

One that opens when it actually finishes. Not 5 mins later.
That gives me the rage.

Check which side the door opens if that's important with where you put it. Ours is in the corner so we have to have the hinge on the left. We have 1400 spin which is very useful and a 15 min cycle which is great for emergencies/freshening up. Had the machine 10 years and never used the delay timer though.

I may be a little ignorant here but can I ask why a delayed start is so important? I have honestly never used it and I'm wondering if I'm missing out on anything?!

My old machine had a "soak" setting so you could put the wash in, it would fill up and then just sit there until you wanted to start the wash. It was brilliant and I really miss it as if I want to soak anything now I have to use the sink or a bowl and it just gets in the way.

I love the soak setting, and mine has a feature to change the speed of the spin cycle which is actually quite useful. I also would never be without the quick wash setting. I can have a load of laundry washed and dried within an hour.

@ChangingMyNameFromMUUUUUMMMM delayed start means I can load at night, set it to start at 6 and can hang out before leaving the house in the morning. Alternatively load it and set it so it finishes when I get home ready to hang it out. (I don't dry in a machine so want to hang immediately to reduce creasing.)

Haven't read other replies but the ability to change the spin speed independently of the wash cycle. Mine doesn't do this but my Mum's does and it's very useful.

Yes and the ability to alter the temperature independent of the wash cycle as well as the spin speed. You can soak in my Bosch by letting it fill up then pausing the cycle with the on/off button.