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When buying a dryer and washing machine, the most important features you have to consider nowadays are energy efficiency, and whether the appliance you buy suits your lifestyle and the space you have available. When we speak about lifestyle, we consider how often we actually use these appliances and what we use them for. In this case, what clothes or items we actually wash.

A stainless-steel tub is useful if you wash often. Those who wash less frequently will probably do fine with porcelain-coated steel or high-grade plastic. If you don't have much space for a large washer, you can get a stacking washer/dryer machine. This comes in either full-size or apartment-size capacities. Remember also that the size of your washer should match your dryer's capacity.

Think about what you will use them for. If your laundry includes a variety of fabrics and levels of dirtiness, choose a machine that offers specialty cycles such as delicate and extra soak, as well as one for a second rinse. You need multiple water-level settings to get efficient washing for different load sizes. You might also like to consider a washer with the ability to raise water temperature, which can be useful for cleaning laundry faster and more efficiently. Automatic temperature regulators are a must in cold climates, so that water comes into the machine at a constant temperature, depending on the setting.

There are two styles of washers: top-load, which is the most common, and front-load, which provides the greatest energy efficiency. Top-load washers allow the user to put in and retrieve laundry from the machine without bending over. These models have to be placed beside a dryer, however. These models are less energy-efficient, even though they are cheaper initially.

The front-load machine is gaining in popularity because of its energy efficiency. They only need around one-third to one-half the amount of water of a top loader, which means that much less heating. Clothes also come out needing less time in the dryer because the agitators spin a lot faster. They are usually more expensive than top-load washing machines, however, and you may need to buy special detergent for some models.

When selecting a dryer, the capacity you choose should complement your washing machine's capacity. A washer with a 3.5-cubic-foot capacity, for instance, requires a 7-cubic-foot dryer capacity. If space is a problem, you might think about getting a stack washer-dryer model that can fit in a closet.

Dryers are powered by either gas or electricity. Gas models are typically more costly to purchase, but it will prove to be more energy efficient and economical in the long run. By law, dryers must have at least one automatic-drying cycle, but the best dryers include moisture sensors, which automatically shut down the machine whenever the moisture level in the drum drops below a certain point. Other options include a cool-down cycle that keeps garments from wrinkling, a damp-dry cycle that prepares clothes for ironing.