Washer's capacity is listed in cubic feet. One cubic feet is 12in x 12in x 12in. A regular washer is between 3.1 and 4.0 cubic feet and will hold 12 to 16 lbs. of laundry. A large capacity washer is between 4.2 and 4.5 cubic feet and will hold up to 20 lbs. of laundry. ^[1] You can fit about 25 to 50 bath towels in a 4.5 cubic feet washer. ^[2] To accommodate a king-sized comforter, a washer capacity of 3.8 cubic feet or more is required. For a queen-sized comforter, approximately 3.1 cubic feet or more is needed.^[3]

Decide on the capacity of washer based on your family size. Overtaxing your washer by cramming it beyond the recommended capacity can add wear and tear to your clothes and shorten the washer's lifespan.^[4]

Manufacturers use different adjectives to describe the washer capacity but there is no official industry standard. One brand's "Super Capacity" or "Super Capacity Plus" might be equivalent to another brand's "King-size capacity". ^[4][5] Look at the tub size specified in cubic feet to compare washer capacities.

An average American family washes 300 to 400 loads of laundry every year, using about 40 gallons of water per full load.^[6][7] Washing laundry accounts for 15% to 40% of the overall water consumption in a typical four persons household.^[8] Energy Star certified clothes washers use about 20% less energy and 35% less water than regular washers.^[6] On average, new Energy Star certified clothes washers use 270 KWh of electricity and cost $85 to run, each year.^[6]

A full-sized Energy Star certified clothes washer uses 15 gallons of water per load, compared to the 23 gallons used by a standard machine. Clothes washers that have earned the Energy Star are about 20% more efficient than non-qualified model.^[6]

Today washers come with many features. Carefully select the features that are important for your family. Here is a list of some useful features:

Wash Cycles: Most standard washers come with basic cycles like quick wash, normal, permanent press, delicate, and heavy duty.^[2][4] Some washers also offer an extra rinse cycle. This is helpful to clean detergent residue.^[9] Some advanced models offer preset cycles options for specific needs laundering like towels, beddings, baby clothes, woolen clothes, Wash Now Dry Later, etc.

Automatic Temperature Control: Standard washers mix hot and cold water in preset proportions.^[9] Some advanced washers use thermostats to ensure that the water temperature is proper. Detergents require a minimum water temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit to activate cleaning enzymes.^[3] More advanced models may offer internal water heater that can boost temperatures beyond the household water heaters can.^[4]

Steam Cleaning: Steam washers push extra hot steam into the clothes for deeper cleaning. Steam can penetrate through fabric better than water, resulting in a deeper, more effective cleaning.^[3] Steam helps in killing bacteria, allergens (especially dust mites), remove stains and prevents wrinkles.^{[10][9][2][4]} Most steam washers are at higher end of the price scale.^[9][10] Before paying extra for the steam feature check on the efficiency of steam cleaning since this will vary between washers.^[10]

Noise Reduction: If your laundry room is near your living area you may want to consider the noise reduction feature. Many washer models feature treatments and technologies to dampen vibration and significantly reduce washer noise.^[4] Higher end washers use better suspension systems, shock absorbers, insulation and motor design in an attempt to ensure silent operation.^[3]

No-Slam Lid: Some washers come with transparent glass lid with no-slam feature for safety. The lid gets locked when machine is in use.

Washers come in various sizes. Top Load washers, depending on the brand and model, usually run from 20 to 27 inches wide, 40 to 43 inches high and 20 to 27 inches deep.^[11] The average dimensions are 27 inches wide, 27 inches deep, 43 inches high and 53 to 59 inches with lid open. Additional clearances might be required for wall, door, and floor moldings. Additional spacing on all sides of the washer is also recommended to reduce noise transfer.^[12]

Some high efficiency clothes washers qualify for rebates through state and utility programs. California's Rebate Program has selected three residential appliances categories to be eligible to receive rebates: clothes washers (rebate $100), refrigerators (rebate $200), and room/window air conditioners (rebate $50).^[13] These rebates are in addition to existing rebates offered by California's utilities or appliance manufacturers. For e.g., clothes washers that are Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) Tier 3 Model qualify for $50 rebate from PG&E.^[14] Energy Star partners also occasionally sponsor special offers, such as sales tax exemptions or credits, or rebates on qualified products. Find special offers and rebates on Energy Star Rebate Locator website by entering your Zip Code.^[15]

Electronics (including appliances) reliability stats show low rate of failure during the first four years of ownership.^[18] According to December 2010 issue of Consumer Reports, extended warranties on electronics, appliances and other products are unnecessary waste of your money. You can also check the reliability statistics for different brands of Top Loading Washing Machines on the Internet. For e.g., the repair rate of Top Loading Washing Machines from Amana, Whirlpool and Kemore is 10%, and the repair rate of GE and Frigidaire washers is 11%.^[17] However, according to SquareTrade, an extended warranty company, the repair rate for 3 to 4 year old Top Load Washers is 22%.^[16]

Most manufacturers offer one year limited warranty on their washers. However, if you decide on getting an extended warranty, compare warranties offered by third-party providers and your local stores. Some popular third-party warranty providers are SquareTrade.com and ElectronicWarranty.com. If you own an American Express credit card, you can double the original manufacturer's warranty on any product that you purchase with it.^[19]