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Purchasing a washing machine is a large investment. You hope theyll last more than 10 years, keep your clothes clean and mildew-free, and not cause your water and energy bills to skyrocket. If you can achieve these three things then your investment has undoubtedly paid off. If you happen to be an older homeowner, however, there may be even more features that can increase your washers value exponentially. For starters, top-loading machines are far easier on the back than front-loaders. They are also less expensive and more dependable than front-loading machines, but they do use more energy.Below is a list of features we think may benefit an older individual in the market for a washing machine.Large, Easy to Grip KnobsMany of todays washing machines are equipped with touch-pad controls. They make look sleeker than clunky knobs and push buttons, but they can be difficult to activate, expensive to repair and hard to tell apart.If youve got sight or hand-eye coordination problems youll definitely want to skip this feature altogether. Knobs may not be the most futuristic feature ever, but at least youll know you didnt accidentally set your machine to wash silk.Opt for a model that has large, round knobs. Theyre easier to grip, and their large sizes wont leave you guessing as to whether or not the knob turned to your desired setting.Danby Portable Top-Load WasherThis washer comes with four knobs, all of which are labeled with bold, dark-colored print that makes them easy to read. The knobs are large, and although theyre the same color as the washing machine theyre still easy to locate because of the text and icons that surround them.Legible Text and IconsThere is a great irony to washing machines: they are very large in size but feature numbers, hash marks and icons that are very small in print. Part of this is due to the numerous setting, including water levels and temperature controls, that must be displayed on the machine. While one solution may be to strip the washer down, offering less settings and returning back to the basics. However, this is rather dramatic reaction to small-sized text.Instead, simply look for a model that has found a way to strategically space and display its text in large, readable and color contrasting fonts.Whirlpool : WTW5100VQ 27in Top-Load Washer with 3.2 cu. ft. Capacity WhiteIt can be really tough to find a washer with large, legible labels, which is why this Whirlpool is such a diamond in the rough. The categories, such as load size and temperature, contain the largest text, which is displayed in red. The settings, such as small, medium, heavy and cold, warm and hot, are bold and in black, with hash marks extending from the base of the knob to the writing.Practical SizeAll washing machines are bulky, so its difficult to cut down on the size of your model. However, you can reduce its capacity, which will impact price and energy usage. A smaller washer will also mean you can use less energy doing laundry because the load sizes are smaller. This decreases the amount of weight youll have to lift when loading the machine and unloading the machine - at which time clothes are significantly heavier because theyre wet.If you live alone or with only one other person you dont need a huge model designed for families. You can buy a 24-inch compact washing machine that can still handle up to eight pounds of laundry per load. By comparison, traditional-sized models are three inches wider and wash up to 11 pounds at a time.Haier HLP23E Electronic 1-1/2-Cubic-Foot Touch Pulsator Top-Loading Portable Washing MachineThis 20-inch machine can wash a little less than four pounds of clothes, which should be perfect for those living alone or couples who wash a few times a week. This machine is small, weighing only 65 pounds, so it may not withstand frequent major use, but it should be fine for clothes and towels. Bedspreads, shoes and other objects may need to be washed somewhere else.Deep, Wide Lid LipAfter much research weve discovered that no one makes an ergonomically friendly washing machine lid. Some do, however, make lids with dramatic lips, which provide ample room for fingers to grip. Being that a good grip is essential to successfully opening and closing the washers lid without injury or damage, an easy-to-grip lip is key for anyone who has trouble with their hands. Plus, the deeper and wider the lip is, the easier it will be to see and locate for those with vision problems. The lip should be thick with the finger grip rounded.Haier GWT700AW 3.5-Cu-Ft Washer, WhiteJust one look at this Haier and you can tell this lids easy to lift. Thats because it has a large lip that allows fingers to slide under it, gripping it securely. Those who may still have trouble lifting the lid can easily slide a butter knife underneath it, a common trick of the trade when it comes to unfastening lids.High Spin CycleIf youve ever had your spin cycle malfunction on you, you know that your clothes will come out of the washer soaking wet - that is if you can even lift them out of the washer with all that extra water weight. Even when the spin cycle doesnt malfunction a significant amount of water can still be left in the clothes if this mechanism doesnt spin efficiently.This can leave you laboring and straining to remove your clothes from the washer. On top of that, youre likely to get yourself, your floor and even your cat wet. This excess water may also put extra stress on your dryer since it will have to work exponentially harder to dry your clothes.Most top-loading washers have spin cycles that run from 500 rpms to 1,300 rpms. Naturally, the faster the spin cycle the more water it will be able to remove from the clothes. A spin cycle that boasts more than 1,000 rpms should remove a sufficient amount of water from clothes, leaving them light and easy to maneuver, with minimal risk of back, leg, hip or arm injury.Cabrio - 27 High Efficiency Top LoadEven with an extra rinse cycle this machine will leave your clothes reasonably dry when you go to remove them from the washer. Its got a 1,000-rpm spin cycle and a glass lid, which actually lets you see the water flying off the clothes.Convenient Automatic DispenserIf youre a fan of extras, such as bleach and fabric softener, youll want to purchase a model with an automatic dispenser. This allows you to add these extras at the beginning of the cycle so you dont have to worry about dispensing them at the right time. This job is left to the machine. An automatic dispenser is a particularly nice feature if youre forgetful, as they allow you to set the washer and forget about it until clothes are done.Kenmore Elite Oasis HE 4.7 cu. ft. Capacity Top-Load Washer - 2806Fabric softener, bleach and detergent are all released at the proper intervals thanks to Kenmores Triple Smart dispenser system. Simply fill the compartments you wish to use at the beginning of the cycle and walk away.All-Day Delay StartSpeaking of forgetfulness, if you always intend to use your washer at night when utilities cost less to run but dont traditionally do your laundry at night then delay start the feature for you. You can still load your clothes at your normal washing time, be that 9 a.m. or 3 p.m., but with time delay the cycle wont start until it reaches its pre-programmed time.Aside from saving energy and money on bills, this is also an ideal setting for grandparents who babysit frequently. Anyone whos had young grandchildren knows that naptime is when you get all your chores done. However, washing machines can be loud, awakening young grandkids. With time delay you can still load your clothes while the little angels are sleeping, simply program your washer to start an hour or so after theyre due to wake up.Whirlpool WTW6800WL 5.0 cu. ft. Cabrio Top Loader WasherIf laundrys on your to-do list but you dont have time to dry and fold the clothes before wrinkles set in then set this Whirlpool on delayed start and walk away. This machine can delay the start time by up to 10 hours.