This might seem like a weird query, but our baby's not born yet so we're not up to cloth nappies. However, we have to buy a new washing machine and I want to make sure it's up to the job of washing everything baby related when the time comes.

Please tell me how big a washing machine needs to be to contend with the demands of baby, especially loads of cloth nappies. I have no concept of how much washing I'll be doing.

Does anyone have any recommendations about what to look for and what to avoid? It's just a big cost and I don't want to get a machine that isn't up to the task.