How to choose a washing machine

When choosing a washing machine, you should pay attention to the technical characteristics and installation features of the device.

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We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the rating of the best washing machines LG according to experts.

How to choose a washing machine: what to look for

When choosing a washing machine, it is most important to consider the following parameters and features:

1. Installation type (built-in, free-standing);

2. Dimensions (narrow, standard, wide);

3. Loading volume;

4. Loading type (frontal, vertical);

5. Spin speed (in revolutions);

6. Control type (mechanical, electronic, intelligent);

7. Classes of energy consumption, washing and spinning;

8. Noise level;

9. Additional functionality.

10. The manufacturer is also important.

Types of washing machines

Washing machines can be classified according to type, installation option and loading method.

Types of washing machines

By type, washing machines are divided into activator (semi-automatic) and full-size (automatic).

Activator washing machines

Activator washing machines are the most classic configuration of such household appliances. Structurally, they are a tank in which a screw is installed, which rotates the water and therefore removes contaminants from the fabric by friction of one canvas against another, as well as due to the passage of flows through the material. Washing and rinsing take place in one container.

The owner has to constantly be present at this machine during the washing process – to put clothes in the tank, change the water in it, etc. But it's still better than hand washing.

Some models are also equipped with a separate centrifuge, in which moisture is squeezed out of the clothes.

Activator-type washing machines are not the best solution for use in apartments and just for everyday clothes care. However, they are great for use in the country.

Advantages

• Minimum price (from several thousand rubles);

• Even very dirty clothes can be washed;

• No installation required;

disadvantages

• High labor intensity of the washing process;

• Large dimensions of the device;

• Not suitable for delicate fabrics;

• Leads to deterioration of the fabric with regular washing;

• The quality of washing directly depends on the powder, temperature and softness of the water;

Full size washing machines

Fullsize is the most common type of washing machine. They can work in a fully automatic mode, the user only needs to load the clothes and remove them at the end of the cycle.

The convenience and practicality of such washing machines directly depend on their functionality. Modern models will perfectly cope with delicate fabrics, squeeze and dry clothes, turn on on schedule and remove even the most difficult dirt.

Full-size washing machines are the best choice for home, apartment and everyday use.

Advantages

• Fully automatic washing;

• Compact dimensions;

• Wide functionality;

• Maximum ease of use;

disadvantages

• High cost (especially for multifunctional models);

• The complexity of the repair;

• The need for installation and connection to all utilities (cold and hot water, sewerage, electricity);

Varieties of washing machines by installation option

According to the installation option, washing machines are divided into freestanding and built-in ones.

Freestanding washing machines

The most common type of washing machine. They are easy to install – just connect the device to utilities and you can use it. These washing machines come in a variety of sizes.

It is understood that they will stand separately in the bathroom or kitchen. However, with some engineering skills, they can be built into a furniture set. But this will lead to a reduction in the operating period due to improper heat transfer.

Advantages

• Variety of models, colors, dimensions, types, loading options and other parameters;
• Simplicity in installation and connection to utilities;
• Relatively simple maintenance and repair;
• Increased power due to passive heat transfer.

disadvantages

• They take up a lot of space, which is critical for small bathrooms;

• May not fit into the bathroom design concept.

Built-in washing machines

As the name implies, these washing machines are designed to be installed in special niches of a furniture set. It is these devices that should be used if you plan to place this technique in the kitchen.

It is understood that such washing machines exist exclusively of the full-size type. And it is they who are recommended for purchase if you plan to install this device in the kitchen.

Advantages

• They can be built into a furniture set;

• They take up less space than free-standing ones.

disadvantages

• Difficulty in installation;
• Size must be carefully selected;
• Slightly less power than freestanding;
• Difficulty in maintenance.

Washing machine load type

According to this parameter, washing machines are divided into two types – with vertical and horizontal loading.

Top loading washing machines

The lid of the tank in such washing machines (we are talking about full-size models) is located at the top, and they open like a book or drawer. They also differ in the design of the clothes tank. Firstly, it is mounted on a special axis (that is, two fixation points), and secondly, it is equipped with a special additional cover, which must be closed after loading.

These washing machines are ideal for small apartments with narrow bathrooms.

Activator washing machines imply exclusively vertical loading, but at the same time they are devoid of the advantages and disadvantages of full-size ones (described above).

Advantages

• They occupy a minimum of area;

• When not fully loaded, especially with dense fabrics, the risk of damage is minimal;

• The door does not open into the passage;

disadvantages

• More expensive than front loading;
• The range of models is limited;
• It is required to securely fix the inner tank cover;

Front loading washing machines

Almost all models of full-size washing machines imply horizontal loading of laundry through a hatch on the front panel.

Advantages

• Wide range of models, sizes and design options;

• Easy to manage and load laundry;

• You can watch the washing process (to stop it if necessary – if, for example, you forgot your documents or a USB flash drive in your clothes);

disadvantages

• The hatch must always fit snugly. If, for example, the membrane dries up, this will lead to a leak;

• Some models may not be able to wash with a minimum load because this causes vibration in the drum.

• The door can open into the passage or be accidentally damaged by a person during awkward movement;

• However, these shortcomings are not critical, since they are easily corrected by replacing the membrane or hatch cover, or by additional loading of things.

Which washing machine to choose

When choosing the type of washing machine, it is worth starting from the budget, planned use scenarios and installation features:

1. For a summer residence that is planned to be visited infrequently or where there are no well-developed engineering communications, an activator-type machine is suitable;

2. With a very limited budget, without taking into account wear and tear of clothing and difficulties in installation, it is also worth purchasing an activator;

3. For small bathrooms – full-size top-loading or full-size built-in, which will be placed in the kitchen;

4. For very small bathrooms (for example, in studio apartments) – a full-size built-in one for placement in the kitchen;

5. In all other cases – full-size freestanding front-loading.

It is worth remembering that it is recommended to purchase activator machines only in very extreme cases. They really require active human participation in the washing process, take up a lot of space and wear out clothes.

Washing machine selection parameters

When choosing a washing machine, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

1. Dimensions (standard, narrow, wide);

2. Loading volume;

3. Drive type (belt, direct);

4. Class of washing, spinning and energy consumption;

5. Control type (mechanical, electronic, intelligent);

6. The number of revolutions during spinning;

7. Noise level;

8. The presence of a digital display;

9. Additional functionality.

Dimensions and loading volume

In terms of width, washing machines are divided into three types – standard, narrow and wide. They differ not only in size, but also in capacity.

The category of narrow washing machines includes devices with a width of 32 to 47 centimeters, while the effective loading depth (tank depth) is on average 25-40 cm. Due to the small dimensions of the laundry container, such devices are designed for 3-4 kg of laundry and are not intended for handling large items. But they can fit even in a very small bathroom.

There are also 'ultra-narrow' washing machines – 30 cm wide or less. Due to the extremely limited volume of the tank, they are suitable for handling only very small quantities of laundry and are therefore not recommended for use. In fact, such a washing machine can only wash one jeans, for example, as a result of which the process of cleaning several items of clothing takes too long and requires an unreasonable amount of water.

Standard washing machines have a width of 47 to 60 cm. As a result, they are designed to load a large amount of clothes – 4-7 kg. It is these devices that are best suited for everyday use.

Wide washing machines (60 to 78 cm) are equipped with a tub for 7-12 kg of laundry. They can handle jackets, blankets, small pillows, bulky soft toys and similar things. Nevertheless, such washing machines take up quite a lot of space in the bathroom and therefore are recommended for purchase only if there is a direct need for it.

type of drive

A drive in washing machines is a way of connecting an electric motor to a laundry tub. It can be implemented in two design options – belt and straight.

In the first case, the engine is installed in the lower or upper part of the machine, and a special wheel is placed on the tank. They are connected by a special belt, which transmits the torque.

Direct drive means placing an electric motor on the same shaft as the wash drum. This allows the transmission of torque 'without intermediaries'.

Belt drive

Advantages

• Less risk of engine damage due to moisture in the washing machine;

• Low cost;

• Ease of repair;

disadvantages

• Less efficiency (some of the energy is lost during transmission);

• The appearance of vibrations and noise at an incomplete load and during spinning.

• Instability of the transmission of high torque during spinning;

• High risk of belt damage due to drying out (however, it is not difficult to replace it);

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Direct drive (aka inverter, and also having the proprietary name Direct Drive) was created to solve the above disadvantages.

Direct drive

Advantages

• High efficiency value;
• Lack of vibrations at partial load and during spinning;
• The ability to create high torques (spin speed more than 1500 rpm) without the risk of mechanical damage to the components of the washing machine.

disadvantages

• High price;

• The complexity and high cost of repair;

• Less effective drum volume (while maintaining the effective weight of the laundry);

If the surrounding drum of the tank is damaged, water can enter the engine mechanism and cause serious damage.

When choosing a washing machine with an inverter drive, it is better to pay attention to those models that have a maximum warranty period. For example, the company LG offers support for these devices for 10 years. Thanks to this, inverter washing machines from this manufacturer are becoming a more profitable solution than belt washing machines from this or any other company.

It is also recommended to use a direct drive washing machine for installation in an apartment, as it has less noise and vibration.

Washing, spinning and energy consumption classes

The most objective characteristics of washing machines, showing their performance and quality of work, are classes. They are separately assigned to the washing and spinning modes, as well as the total power consumption of the device.

The washing class is determined by the manufacturer experimentally – there is a certain 'reference machine' that is compared with the manufactured one. Both are loaded with clothes made of the same fabrics, with the same dirt, the same powder is used. If the produced machine washes better than the reference one, it is assigned class A or B. If it is worse – C, D, E, F or G.

The best washing class is A, the worst is G. For the home, it is worth buying machines that belong to the C, B or A standards.

The spin class is also determined experimentally. It means how much water the washing machine can remove during the drying cycle. The technique that squeezes out the maximum moisture is labeled as class A, and the minimum as class G.

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For the home, it is worth buying washing machines with a spin class C, B or A.

The class and efficiency of the spin is determined based on the speed of rotation of the drum, its volume, type of fabric and cycle time. Therefore, the machines that are best at wicking moisture out of clothing are likely to run at their fastest speeds. This can damage delicate fabrics. Therefore, if there is no special need, it is not recommended to buy models designed for maximum spin quality.

The energy efficiency class shows how much current the washing machine consumes to process one kilogram of laundry. This is an objective indicator. Thus, A + class washing machines consume less than 0.17 kW per 1 kg of laundry. But G – the lowest energy efficiency – consumes more than 0.39 kW per 1 kg of laundry.

As a result, it is worth purchasing washing machines for the home with the highest energy efficiency – class B, A, A +, A ++ or even A +++. It is these devices that will provide the minimum current consumption.

Control type

The functional elements of the washing machine can be controlled in one of three ways – mechanical, electronic or intelligent.

Mechanical control is the simplest and most reliable implementation. The setting of the operating modes is carried out through toggle switches and rotating discs, which are connected to the functional elements of the device through a system of transmission chains and levers.

Mechanical cars

Advantages

• High resistance to moisture;

• Simple and durable;

• Is not damaged by power drops;

disadvantages

• Minimal functionality;

• Very limited number of models with this implementation of the control system;

Since modern washing machines are multifunctional devices, mechanical control is practically not found in them. It is not possible to set up many modes using levers and chains. However, it can still be found in activator-type washing machines.

Electronic cars

Electronic control is the most common implementation. Almost all modern washing machines of the budget and medium price range are equipped with it. In devices with electronic control, there is a special module through which the parameters are set, as well as the control of the internal functional elements of the device.

Advantages

• Extended functionality;

• Sufficiently accurate control of the operation of the functional elements of the washing machine.

• Possibility to select the required (not recommended) mode;

disadvantages

• Many parameters will need to be set independently;
• High sensitivity of the electronic control module to moisture and electricity surges.

Intelligent cars

Intelligent control is a logical development of electronic implementation. In this case, the washing machine is able to independently set the operating mode, as well as carry out a full cycle of cleaning the laundry – from pre-rinsing to drying – after pressing the button once.

Advantages

• Widest functionality;

• Precise control over the operation of the functional elements of the washing machine;

• Almost complete automation;

disadvantages

• High price;

• High sensitivity of the control module to humidity and current fluctuations.

• The functionality depends on the firmware of the control module;

The number of revolutions during spinning

The spin speed determines the quality of moisture removal from the fabric. The higher it is, the more liquid will 'fly out' from the material. But at the same time as the number of revolutions increases, the energy consumption of the washing machine increases, as well as – for models with a belt drive – the level of noise and vibration.

Therefore, when buying a washing machine with a belt drive, you should pay attention to models with a spin speed of 1000 drum revolutions per second or even less. There is no limitation for direct drive devices.

However, clothes made from delicate and delicate fabrics can be damaged at very high rotation speeds. Therefore, if you have such things in your wardrobe, you should not buy a high-power device. And the ideal solution would be to purchase a washing machine with an adjustable drum speed in spin mode.

Noise level

When choosing a washing machine, you should also pay attention to the noise level. The lower it is, the more comfortable the operation will be. For use in urban environments, the noise level limit is 70 dB for washing and 80 dB for spinning. The hum of such a washing machine, of course, will be heard outside the bathroom – but it will not become intrusive.

The ideal solution would be washing machines with a maximum noise level of 70 dB. There are also ultra-quiet models that, even during spinning, do not hum more than 60 dB, but they are very few in number and are expensive.

Digital display

The higher the functionality of the washing machine, the greater the need for a digital display. The selected mode, the water temperature, the remaining time until the end of the wash or start, as well as other parameters are displayed on the screen.

For washing machines with low functionality, a digital display is not needed. All set modes are quite clear from the indication on the front panel. But the models that are equipped with an intelligent control system need it.

Additional functionality

Among the important functions of washing machines that can be implemented at the hardware or software level, it is worth highlighting:

1. Availability of quick wash programs;

2. Washing mode for delicate fabrics;

3. Bubble wash technology;

4. Delayed start function;

5. Child protection system;

6. Drying mode.

Quick wash programs

The quick wash programs are designed to remove light stains from clothes. Unlike thorough cleaning, they do not imply prolonged exposure to materials, as well as pre-soaking or similar action. Just a short wash, quick spin, and possibly dry. In total, the program lasts 15-30 minutes.

Some models of washing machines (for example, the budget versions of Samsung) are not equipped with a separate quick wash program. This function is implemented through other modes, in particular 'Cotton'. If you need a quick wash, you should definitely clarify this when choosing a device.

Also, some models imply the use of a quick wash in conjunction with other modes. In this case, the cycle takes about 30% less time. This is achieved by reducing the time of washing, rinsing, spinning and other operations.

Washing mode for delicate fabrics

The mode of washing delicate fabrics implies the most gentle effect on the material. It changes the drum rotation speed, water temperature and other parameters. Therefore, the materials remain intact and the wear rate does not increase.

This mode is only necessary if the wardrobe contains a lot of delicate fabrics.

Bubble wash technology

Bubble wash technology is most effective in combating even stubborn dirt. As the name implies, when the bubble wash mode is on, the laundry is rinsed in a water-bubble mixture. Air passing through the fibers breaks down and pushes out even deeply ingrained dirt. This technology has a lot in common with boiling, but does not damage the laundry.

In addition, the bubble wash refreshes the laundry, makes it softer and also prevents damage from impacts on the drum.

However, it is not without its drawbacks. Firstly, washing machines equipped with this mode are more expensive than conventional ones. Secondly, the water in which the laundry is rinsed should be as soft as possible.

Delayed start function

The delayed start function is useful enough to fully automate the washing process. For example, in a machine equipped with it, you can load laundry in the morning, go to work, and get it clean in the evening. The only 'but' is that the delayed start needs to be configured.

Childproof lock locks

The child protection system blocks the control of the washing machine, opening the hatch and other functions. Most often, it is implemented at the software level – that is, you need to press and hold one or more buttons to activate or deactivate it. The function is quite useful, but people who are not familiar with the instructions supplied with the washing machine may lose control of the device.

Drying mode

Drying mode involves processing clothes with hot air after spinning. A useful feature if there is nowhere to place a tumble dryer. However, delicate fabrics can be damaged in this mode.

Washing machine cost

The price of washing machines depends on their functionality, type, volume and other parameters.

1. Activator washing machines cost from several thousand rubles, but most models are in the range of 6-9 thousand rubles.

2. Full-size top-loading washing machines cost from 20 thousand rubles, the vast majority of models – in the range of 40-60 thousand rubles.

3. Full-size washing machines with front (horizontal) loading cost from 10-12 thousand rubles, the vast majority of models – in the range of 18-50 thousand rubles.

The best manufacturers of washing machines – which company to choose

Among the manufacturers of washing machines are:

1. Bosch, LG – produce high-quality, reliable and durable equipment of the middle and premium classes;

2. Candy, Zanussi, Vestfrost – good budget-priced washing machines;

3. Miele, Siemens – multifunctional and durable models of the premium price segment.

4. You can also highlight the companies Beko and Asko, which sometimes have very successful models of the budget price segment.

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In the following articles, our experts tell you how to choose the right refrigerator for your apartment and the secrets of choosing a dishwasher.

Video for choosing a washing machine

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.