Living in an apartment should not inhibit your use of using washing and drying facilities. Everyone regardless of space requires clean clothes and bedding to live with, without this simple necessity we may find it difficult to get anything accomplished.
Deciding what washer and dryer to fit into an apartment can be tricky, because as business goes – smaller is always more expensive. Often, this doesn’t make sense to the average customer, but to businesses it is one of the most important aspects.
Pros
When buying apartment sized washers and dryers you need to account the good points and the bad points of having such a small appliance. They, on the plus side though, take up less space than average sized washers and dryers and are therefore suitable for smaller homes or apartments.
Cons
On the downside, due to their small size, a normal wash and drying load which could take thirty minutes in an average sized machine may take over an hour, two hours in some extreme cases. This can also cause massive energy consumption so if you live in a high rate water or electricity rate area, this kind of washer and dryer may not be suitable for you.
Shopping
Apartment sized washer and dryers can be made by many manufacturer’s and often your favourite manufacturer will have a product which is apartment size. If not, you could always browse and research to find different manufacturers which provide apartment sized washers and dryers.
These apartment size appliances can often be purchased for around $600 and often you can find combo washers and dryers in many high street stores and large retailers such as Argos or you could go direct to the manufacturer yourself. As with anything, you should always research a product before purchasing as you don’t want to spend a large amount of money for a product not of equivalent quality.
Lets face it, everybody needs a refrigerator. If you don’t currently have one, you will not be able to store dairy or meat products as they would go bad very quickly.
But say you are living in an apartment, kitchens in apartments tend to be smaller than kitchens in houses so you may be finding it difficult to find a refrigerator that is suitable for your needs and space. This is where apartment sized refrigerators can be useful.
On the current market more and more companies are beginning to make refrigerators apartment sized. Some of the most important things you should consider when purchasing a small refrigerator is what do you need to store within it, what size would realistically fit into your kitchen and do you require freezer space as well?
Compact Cube Refrigerator
There are three main types of apartment sized refrigerators, these are; the compact cube refrigerator which measures in at around 1.5 – 2.7 cubic feet, making them quite small and perfect for someone who lives in a studio apartment property. Generally, you’d only be able to fit a few fresh ingredients in here along with some cans and other bits and pieces. More often than not these do not come with freezer storage space and can be purchased for around $60 from leading retailers.
Compact Refrigerator
The second type of apartment sized refrigerator is known as the compact. This measures at around 3.5 – 6.0 cubic feet giving it that extra bit of space. These are perfect again for people living in studio apartment properties, yet they give they extra bit of space, some also come with freezer storage space, though be aware the space will not be that big.
This can be purchased from high street stores for about $100 making them a perfect choice for those living in an apartment who don’t wish to take up too much space with appliances.
Mid Size (Apartment Size) Refrigerator
The final type of apartment sized refrigerator is the midsize; this is often commonly called the apartment refrigerator due to its popularity with apartment living people.
This product measures up at 7.0 – 16.0 cubic feet giving a lot more space than the previous two. This is perfect for a couple living in an apartment as it provides a fair amount of freezer space as well, allowing food shopping to be more conclusive and long lasting. You could easily fit enough food for two in this product.
The fridge can be bought for around $200 brand new and many different companies now make them including Sanyo and Danby.
Of course, price is reflective of quality and to find the best price for your refrigerator it is worth researching and looking around for the best deal and size.
Almost every type of appliance has models that are designed smaller in order to fit in an apartment and leave your living area with as much room as possible.
Getting a Deal
There are many online retailers that offer good deals on there appliances. That is the first place I usually look before buying. If you are looking to by used, then I recommend giving craigslist a shot. Many people are always listing their unneeded appliances on there and there are quality buys to be had on there. A good tip to follow when buying off of craigslist is to bring only the cash you are willing to pay so they are forced to bargain with you. People will always work with you so you can always strike a good deal.
Apartment Sized Washers
When shopping for apartment sized appliances you are first going to need to know which models are the best quality and the most reliable. Here are a few apartment sized washers on the market today:
Haier Portable Compact Washing Machine XQJ50-31
This is a great alternative to using crowded inconvenient and quarter taking laundry mats. It can accommodate 11lbs of load. It is a silent washer and very easy to use. It cleans clothes very well and is overall a great compact washer for an apartment as long as you’re careful not to overload it. This cost of this washer ranges from $300 to 400.
Avanti W798SS Top-Load Washer
This is another portable washer that is suitable for apartments and houses. It features multiple wash settings and is listed to hold loads up to 12 lbs. It also features a digital control display and many different water level settings. It will get the job done and looks nice with its platinum finish.
Avanti W797X Portable Washer
Just like the previous models mentioned, this model works without any washer hookups. it will get your clothes nice clean and fresh conveniently in your apartment. Overall it performs great and runs quiet and sturdy. Price ranges from $300-400