Well, keeping in consideration the extensive research I did over the period of last eight days that made me take the buying decision of a washing machine for my home just a few hours ago, I would state that when it comes to buying a washing machine, one of the most crucial factorsthat influences the decision of purchase is making a choice between a semi and a fully automatic one -

·Physical form of the Washing Machine

As the name suggests, a fully-automatic washing machine automates the entire process of washing the clothes. Apart from loading and unloading the clothes and choosing the ‘wash-mode’, one does not generally need to perform any further manual inputs. This facet of fully-automatic washing machines is especially a boon for homes where the members find themselves occupied by their profession for the most part of their day. In addition to that, a fully automatic washing machine typically requires just about half the quantity of water to wash a certain volume of clothes in comparison to a semi-automatic one. Thus, in the homes where water supply is slightly at a premium, a fully-automatic washing machine is more advantageous.

In contrast, semi-automatic ones require manual inputs at several intervals during the wash cycle. Filling the water to the desired capacity based on the volume of the clothes to be washed, transferring the damp clothes from the ‘washer’ drum to the ‘spin’ drum, once the washer timer is complete, draining the water from the washer drum after the wash cycle, etc. The manual control one is able to have over the wash cycle in a semi-automatic washing machine is highly appreciated at homes where the ones who do the laundry generally are the elderly and/or the non tech savvy individuals.

On the flip side, due to the manual inputs a semi-automatic washing machine demands at certain intervals and absence of provision of cut-off mechanism to restrict the supply of water into the washer drum once it is filled to its fullest capacity might lead to immense water wastage if one gets engaged in another activity during the course of the wash cycle and forgets about turning off the water supply. However, one aspect where a semi-automatic washing machine beats a fully-automatic one hands-down is its initial price. Being a more economical choice, the users who are slightly conservative about finances would appreciate its lower price tag.

Thus, if one is considering to make a purchase in a limited budget, a semi-automatic washing machine makes for a better choice. However, if peace-of-mind and quality of wash are the priorities, one would find oneself gravitating towards a fully-automatic one.

In addition to the insights shared above, factors such as the essential specifications a washing machine should possess in order to perform reliably, the resistibility from rust and corrosion of the materials used in the fabrication of the outer and the inner body of the washing machine, the capacity of the washer drum to fulfill one’s cloth wash requirements and the spin speed of the electric motor one should purchase a washing machine with so as to facilitate faster drying times, too play critical roles in determining the product one should decide on.