Washing Machine buying guide

Kitchens may be the heart of the home, but laundries are the engine room. Discover our extensive Washing Machine range from Front Load, Top Load, Washer Dryer Combo, Auto Dosing Washers and more from great brands including LG, Fisher & Paykel, Haier, Bosch, Miele and Samsung.

When deciding which type of washing machine is best for you, the first thing to consider is where your machine is going to go. You’ll need to make sure you have adequate space to open the door and load your machine, and decide whether your dryer will be placed next to it, stacked on top of it or wall-mounted above it. Once you’ve worked this out, you can start looking at the different benefits of each type of washing machine. Click the 'Read More' buttons below for a deep dive on each type of washing machine!

Front Loader

A front load washing machine has a door on the front and can be placed under benchtops. As the internal drum spins, it tumbles your clothes around and uses the natural force of gravity to drop them into water, to be washed.

“Front loaders use less water than top loaders and are more energy-efficient,” says Peter Simic, The Good Guys Buyer – Laundry. . Although they generally take longer than top loaders, you can find models with quick-wash options for lightly soiled items. Due to the washing process, they are gentler on clothes and also allow you to fit more inside the otherwise empty drum.

Because most front loaders heat water internally, they only need to be connected to a cold tap. The internal heater also allows higher washing temperatures and only heats the amount of water needed for each wash. Front loaders also have higher spin speeds than top loaders, allowing your clothes to dry faster.

Top Loader

A top load washing machine has a lid on top that hinges open to allow you to drop your clothes inside. An agitator or impeller inside the drum is used to move the clothes around in the water to wash them.

“Top loaders are faster than front loaders as the clothes are immersed in water during the whole wash cycle,” says Peter Simic. They need to be connected to a hot and cold tap for warm washes, which can be beneficial if you use solar hot water.

Although clothes can get tangled around the agitator or impeller, one of the benefits of top loaders is you can quickly add a forgotten item to the load or throw one in that’s been soaking for the spin cycle. The machine will simply pause and restart once the lid is closed again.

Auto-Dosing Machine

Are you guilty of adding a full scoop or lid of detergent to your wash, regardless of how big the load is? If so, an auto-dosing washing machine can keep your detergent usage in moderation.

Auto-dosing washers are front loaders that allow you to fill a reservoir with laundry detergent. The automatic dosing system then dispenses the precise amount of detergent for your wash. Not only does this save you effort by not having to add detergent to every load of clothes you put on, it also stops you from adding too much detergent to your wash and potentially damaging your machine.

Washer Dryer Combo

Get your clothes clean and dry with minimal fuss with a two-in-one washer-dryer combo. These front loaders ingeniously wash your clothes first, then dry them, all in the one machine.

Even if you usually hang your clothes on the line and only use the dryer mode occasionally, a washer-dryer combo is a great space-saving idea for smaller sized laundries.

Alternatively - you could opt for a Wash Tower. An all-in-one stackable washer dryer solution, with a central located control panel, it could be the stylish finish your laundry deserves.

Choosing the right washing machine can help keep the household running and get clean clothes back in drawers and cupboards faster. By making sure you’ve got the right type, size, features and energy rating, you’ll not only simplify this household chore, but save money, too. Discover what features you should keep an eye out for below!

Size guide

Make sure your new washing machine will fit in the space available in your laundry. It should also be an appropriate size for the number of people in your household.

Product size

Most washing machines are 650mm deep to match your benchtops. The height will depend on the type of machine. “Standard front loaders are designed to fit under your bench, while taller dual washers will need to be placed either next to your bench or in a custom-built cabinet,” says Peter Simic.Top loaders also need to be placed next to your bench with enough room above it to open the lid. Before making your final choice, measure up your space and make sure there’s enough room to fully open the door, above or in front, and load your machine.

Internal capacity

The number of kilograms associated with washing machines refers to the amount of dry clothes the internal drum can hold and wash. Most machines range from 6kg to 9kg. For singles or couples, a 6kg machine will do the trick. If there are three or four of you, you’ll want a 8kg load machine. Bigger families will need a 9kg-plus washer to handle all those school uniforms.The best way, however, to work out what size machine you need is to weigh a full load of laundry. Step on your scales with an empty basket first, then with a basket full of your biggest load of dry, dirty clothes. The difference will tell you how big your machine should be. While it might be tempting to go even bigger, remember a larger machine will likely use more energy and increase your running costs.

Installation tips & tricks

The first and most important thing is to make sure your new washing machine gets home safely.Need help installing your new washing machine? The Good Guys Home Services can organise a professional to do it all for you.When you’re ready to see how the latest washing machine technology can transform your laundry come and see us at The Good Guys, either in-store or online.It's important to note - if you’re stacking a washer and dryer, you’ll likely need a stacking kit to safely secure it. Alternatively, look out for washer/dryer towers that come pre-assembled.

Water & energy efficiency

Not only is saving water and energy good for the environment, it’s also good for your bank balance.Compare water rating labels to know which machine uses the least amount of water to get your clothes sparkling clean. The more stars, the better.Likewise, the more stars a machine gets for its energy rating, the less power it uses. It also lowers your electricity bill. Be sure to compare machines of the same size, as smaller machines generally use less energy than larger machines.

Wash programs

Certain programs make doing your laundry a lot easier. They also help take care of your clothes and take the guesswork out of temperature and time settings.*Selected washing machines only, check product Technical Specifications for more information.

1 Sku slider component not ready yet.

2 Brand slider - component not ready yet

3 Video Review Slider - component not ready but used content card grid instead for time being

We’ll break down all the tech talk and acronyms that you need to know.

Inverter Motor

A lot of our auto-dosing washing machines are made with an inverter motor. Essentially, inverter technology uses magnets in the machine's motor that reduce friction, meaning quieter operation. Washing machines with an inverter motor are ideal for those in smaller apartments and living spaces.

Ultramix

This technology comes with most of our Electrolux auto-dosers and makes sure your linens come out looking the best they can. Ultramix is the process where your water, detergents and softeners get mixed together before reaching your wash load, evenly distributing them and preventing any detergent stains from forming on your darker fabrics.

UltraPhase

Our Miele washers require an UltraPhase detergent cartridge for the auto-dosing function to work. Lasting up to 47 washes, set the cartridge in the detergent dispenser and let the machine do the rest.

Varioperfect

Most Bosch auto-dosing machines comes built with a VarioPerfect drum, allowing you the flexibility to wash the way that suits you. If you're in a hurry, choose the SpeedPerfect setting to complete a wash in under one hour. Alternatively, if time is not an issue and you're after a more economical wash, simply set it to EcoPerfect and let the machine handle the rest.

TwinWash

Our LG TwinWash auto-dosing washers are great for those with larger families. A TwinWash is a type of LG washing machine complete with a mini washer, so you can wash two different loads of laundry at once without mixing different colours.

iDos/ActiveIntelligence/TwinDos

You might see these terms used a lot on our auto-dosing machines, but don't worry, they all just different ways that our brands refer to auto-dosing technology.

Inverter motor

Also knows as a brushless motor, these washing machine motors are designed to be quieter and more robust than regular motors.

Agitator

An agitator is a stick-like thing that projects from the bottom of the top load washing machine’s drum. It has fins or vanes that rotate clockwise and anti-clockwise to move the clothes from the bottom of the drum to the top in repeated cycles. In this process, dirt from the clothes is removed. Agitators are generally harsh on clothes. But are more effective than impellers in cleaning clothes. Agitators are being replaced by impellers ( also known as pulsators) in newer washing machines.

Impeller

Impellers are seen in most top-loading washing machines these days. It rotates in such a way that the clothes move from the outer rim of the washing machine to the centre using a small quantity of water, thereby creating friction between the clothes to remove dirt and stains. Impellers use less water and less motion compared to agitators. They are also gentler on clothes.