6. Settings available
Of course, you will want to make sure that your washing machine comes with enough settings and cycles. While an abundance of settings gives you more versatility, make sure you only get what you need — too many settings can clutter the control panel and will likely end up unused anyway.
Look out for steam options if you care about sanitization. Extra rinse programs are useful if you have sensitive skin as well. Quick wash settings are equally important too. The shorter the setting, the more quickly you can rinse a load in a hurry, but bear in mind there’s a time when you should and shouldn’t use the quick wash setting. Eco settings are becoming more widely available as well if you want to save on electricity and water consumption, although these take longer to run than standard cycles.