To get a perfect laundry, it is essential to buy the right washing machine and to do this you need to focus mainly on the dimensions, the number of turns of the spin and the capacity. There are over 200 types of washing machines, and knowing which one to buy is the question most prospective buyers ask.
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Top Loading or Front Loading Washing Machine?
When choosing a washing machine, it is essential to evaluate the space in which to place it properly. Depending on the size, there are three types of washing machine appliances that can be found in any retail store – the first is the one with front loading and with classic depth (that is about 60cm); then there is the one with top loading (useful when there is little space or in particular situations); finally there is the so-called slim with frontal loading (useful especially for those who do not want to give up the frontal load but does not have the canons 60 centimeters deep available).
Given that the most popular models on the market belong to the first group, in the classic 60×60 front-loading washing machines the manufacturers invest more to get the best results. Therefore, in general, the slim and top-loading models still cannot compete in terms of washing performance.
In recent years, in general, models with a higher number of revolutions and with greater load-bearing capacity are those on which the manufacturers invest more and therefore technologically more advanced, as well as more expensive. The standard washing machine has now become the 1,200-rpm washing machine, with at least 7 kg of load.
1000 laps – enough for daily laundry
Another thing that you typically should look at before buying a washing machine is the spin speed of the centrifuge. In the market there are 800 (but these are models of minor brands), 1,000 and 1,200 rpm; although not widespread, you can also find 1,400 and 1,600 rpm models (which are the most expensive), even if the most advertised ones remain the 1,000 and 1,200 rpm models. Aiming at 1,400 or 1,600 rpm models does not increase centrifugal performance much.
Furthermore, highspin speeds are one of the leading causes of mechanical stress on the washing machine, responsible for a life of use not too long. Then consider that the spin speed affects only one aspect – the amount of water extracted from the laundry at the end of the wash so, to have the laundry completely dry, you will still need the drying rack. From the point of view of the effectiveness of washing and rinsing, even the 1,000 rpm models can guarantee satisfactory results.
Maximum capacity – 7-8 kg goes just fine
When buying a washing machine, we must have in mind the amount of laundry we usually need to wash each time. The producers try to offer models with an ever-increasing capacity, able to wash even the duvets, making us believe that the more load capacity we have available, the better for us. But do we really need to wash 10-12 kg of laundry? Often the more capacious models are also those that cost more, but they are not always the ones that wash better.
Safety, energy saving, rinsing, and temperature
Here are other things to look at carefully when choosing a washing machine model.
- Security systems – the washing machines are generally provided with anti-overflow and anti-water leakage security measures; in practice, it is an automatic discharge and water blocking system in the event of a malfunction. Furthermore, the anti-foam system prevents faults in the washing machine, preventing the accumulation of foam.
- Energy saving classes – the washing machine is one of those appliances that has significantly reduced consumption in recent years. The energy label, mandatory by law on all models on the market, has long replaced the old energy classes with the new A +++, A ++. A + (up to D), some brands still indicate further energy savings compared to the standard (for example A -20%, A + -10%). It is good to remember that in these appliances the greatest energy consumption comes from water heating, so the general advice is to prefer washing programs that do not exceed 40 ° C, already effective with detergents on the market to remove dirt. A further energy saving (but not always correlated with an economic saving) can be obtained with those models that can be fed directly with hot water,
- Rinsing – it is the weak point of washing machines on the market, especially due to the low use of water. Putting less detergent helps to improve rinsing, also because the most important mechanical effect of washing (i.e. the fibers that creep on themselves) also occurs without detergent. Most models have the extra rinse function to add to the normal wash cycle (which increases water consumption, however).
- Temperature – wash at 60 ° C only in rare cases (or if you really need to sanitize the clothes).For daily laundry 40 or 30 degrees are more than enough against normal dirt.
