Shopping Tips

Shopping Tips

A refrigerator, washing machine or clothes dryer could be the
most important home appliance you will ever buy.

Make sure that your existing refrigerator has enough space to
stock fresh vegetables, fruit and meat ahead of the Idul Fitri,
Christmas and New Year holidays. You also need to check the
condition of your washing machine or clothes dryer to ensure that
when your maids go home for the Idul Fitri holiday, they are all
in working order.

If you want to buy one, you will want it to last long enough
to get your money's worth. Therefore, it is good to shop around
carefully before finally buying one.

Below are some tips for choosing a refrigerator, washing
machine or clothes dryer for your family.

Buying a refrigerator

- Make sure a new refrigerator you are selecting is big enough
for the needs of the family.

- Choose the color that you like most. You may have a color that
you need to coordinate with the other appliances in your kitchen,
so ask the sales person if your desired color is available.

- Compare the products in terms if size and price. Bigger stores
often have sales and you can get a bigger model with more
features for a lower price than a smaller one with fewer
features.

- Make sure when you are buying a refrigerator that the door
opens on the correct side and that there is enough space in your
kitchen to put the refrigerator itself.

Choosing a washing machine

Look for the following features when choosing a washing machine:

- A water-level control or a small-load capacity, either
of which will allow you to use less water for small loads.

- A variety of temperature controls that allow you to
choose hot, warm or cold water. If you always do small
loads, consider a compact machine. These units consume less
energy.

- Using a compact unit to wash larger quantities of clothes will
increase your energy costs, since you will end up doing more
loads. Therefore, choose the machine according to your needs.

- Consider buying a front-loading or tumble-action washing
machine. They use less energy than top-loading washers.

Buying a clothes dryer

- Look for a dryer with a sensor that automatically
shuts off the machine as soon as the clothes are dry.
This is preferable to a timer, which often keeps the
machine running after the clothes are dry, wasting
energy and possibly shortening fabric life.

- Look for a cycle that includes a cool-down period.

- If you always dry small loads, consider a compact dryer. As a
rule, compact dryers use less energy per cycle than full-size
models. -- The Jakarta Post