Tips to Buy a Portable Washing Machine

For people who are constantly on the move, like traveling the countryside in your RV or boating, doing the laundry can be a real hassle. Or, if you happen to live in a building that has no hookups for a washer and dryer, or the apartment you live in is very small, and are sick of lugging your laundry up and down, to use the common washers and dryers, or hauling it to the Laundromat and having to scrounge for coins just to get your clothes washed, a portable washing machine can be a great option, which will work in your condo or apartment even if they do not have a hookup for a washer.

Apart from alleviating the amount of laundry you need to carry back and forth, a portable washing machine is also great for your in-between laundry. For instance, you can wash your daily wear clothes such as underwear, shorts, T-shirts, tank tops, as well as delicate clothes. It is also great for washing baby clothes.

If you are thinking of buying one, here are a few tips and features to look for when choosing a portable washing machine:

The Portability of the Machine: Portable washing machines being small are very easy to store away when not required and rolled out on their casters when they need to be used. They are also equipped with a faucet adaptor; hence, you can hook them up to any kitchen faucet.

Check the Washing Method: Portable washing machines are available with two main washing methods: pulsator and agitator. Pulsator washing means that the water is pulsed through the clothes, hence this washing method is gentler on the clothes, and hence, your clothes will last longer, especially the delicate ones. Portable washing machines that are equipped with the agitator are similar to the regular top-loading machines. They wash clothes by rotating them to and fro.

Single Tub or Twin Tub: As the name suggests, twin tub portable washing machines come with a separate tub for the spin drying process. This enables the machine to spin dry at much higher speeds, which makes drying more effective, compared to machines with a single tub.

Check the Controls and Wash Cycles: While some portable washing machines offer a number of wash cycle options, others have only one or two. Similarly, while some come with digital controls, with soft touch buttons, along with even LED display, others may just have a knob for manual control. The units that have digitized control also usually have a timer.

The Consumption of Water: Some portable washing machines consume more water compared to their capacity. Hence, when shopping for a machine ask for a unit that consumes less water, which will help to save both money as well as the environment.

Take into Consideration the Size: Portable washing machines have less capacity compared to full-size models. If you are just on your own or are living with just another person, a portable machine would be an ideal choice in a small apartment, however, if it is a large sized family, say with five members, it just may not be worth the effort.

Think about the Drying Options: Of course, one of the simplest ways to dry your clothes is to hang them on a drying rack. However, if the time it takes to air-dry the clothes is not feasible for you, then you might look at purchasing a portable washing machine that is a washer-cum-dryer combo. Since in these models the clothes are both washed and dried, hence you will not need to transfer the clothes from one machine to another. They are available in the price range of around $800-$2000.

Carry Out a Thorough Research: One of the best ways to carry out a research on portable washing machines is the Internet, of course. There are plenty of websites out there where you can compare the features as well as prices of various models simply at the click of a mouse button. You can get more insight, which written matter may not be able to give you, by going to appliance stores and talking to the sales representatives. You could also read consumer reviews and ratings online, however remember that they may not always by completely accurate since just about anyone can post an online review.