The choice of an appliance, especially the washing machine, is of fundamental importance for home life. In fact, a wrong choice can bring you considerable problems in the future and a considerable loss of money given the prices with which these technological devices are sold.
Therefore it is understandable that the choice of the washing machine must be made following a certain criterion, not determined by the emotionality and the rush to buy an appliance, but determined by a series of rules that will help you understand what you need.
Index
- Choosing the washing machine: what to pay attention to
- Energy efficiency class
- Top or front loading
- Electronics or mechanics
- Load capacity
- Centrifuge
- The slim models
Choosing the washing machine: what to pay attention
to When you set foot in an appliance store or open one of the many e-commerce sites that also offer washing machines, you will immediately realize that there are many models , apparently also similar to each other. Untangling the various features and features may not be as simple as it sounds. Here are the main functions and types that could help you identify the best washing machine for your needs. Energy efficiency class
Like any other appliance, the washing machine must also show the energy efficiency class on a label affixed to the front and clearly visible. Let’s start by saying that today it is almost impossible to find models with low energy classes, since the manufacturing companies have long since stopped producing them, however a quick check is always good to do so.
Very often the producers in addition to indicating the energy class (which we remember is mandatory by law) also provide a comparison on the percentage of savings compared to other models of lower energy class (it is not uncommon to find indications such as 10% or 20% less ).
However, it should be borne in mind that each washing program has different consumption levels in the various phases: one of the moments in which the appliance consumes the most is when it heats the water. On the market there are also state-of-the-art washing machines that allow you to significantly reduce consumption thanks to the possibility of feeding them with hot water. There are not many yet, but they could be an excellent solution when, for example, we can have hot water in the house produced from renewable energy sources (such as solar thermal).
Another solution to save by cutting costs in the bill consists in choosing a washing machine with a high energy efficiency class combined with the habit of doing laundry (where possible) at low temperatures.
Beko WUX61032W washing machine Freestanding Front loading White 6 kg 1000 RPM A +++
239,59 EUR
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Samsung Appliances WW10T554DAT / S3 Washing Machine 10 kg AddWash, Ai Control, 1400 RPM, White
689,00 EUR
Buy on Amazon Top loading or front loading
Better a top loading or front loading washing machine
If we analyze the two types from a practical point of view, surely the top loading washing machine offers better performance. This, unlike the front-loading washing machine, allows you to add items even after you have activated the start, when, for example, you realize that you have inadvertently forgotten to put a suit or a T-shirt in the drum. There are also some front-loading washing machines that make it possible to remedy this oversight: these are the latest generation models that have a second door that can be opened if necessary, but they are not yet widespread.
Samsung washing machine with double door, 7 kg capacity, 1400 rpm
508,00 EUR
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Samsung washing machine with double door, 9 kg capacity, energy efficiency A
659,44 EUR
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Even analyzing the practicality , the washing machines with top loading seem to offer some more advantages: they allow you to insert the laundry and take it out of the drum without having to bend , making it perfect for all those who suffer from back problems . Another advantage offered by top-loading washing machines concerns the state of conservation of the gaskets: if in the models with front loading the water tends to stagnate in this point, causing mold, bacteria and bad smells if not periodically removed, in washing machines with top loading this does not happen.
Offer
Whirlpool washing machine with top loading, free installation, capacity 6 Kg, 1200 rpm
348,17 EUR
−14%
299,00 EUR
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Offer
Hotpoint washing machine with top loading, free installation, capacity 6 Kg, 1200 rpm
519,00 EUR
−31%
359,89 EUR
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But if top-loading models offer many more advantages than front-loading washing machines , why do they have the most preferences?
This is the question that may arise after reading this first comparison. In reality, on closer examination, the fact emerges that the front loading washing machine offers greater efficiency, because it consumes 40% less water .
The laundry you remove from the drum of a front loading washing machine will have a lower percentage of water, because the centrifuge rotates much faster. And what about the possibility of placing, in the same space, washing machine and dryer by stacking
them. Once the laundry has been transferred from the washing machine to the dryer, it can be ironed and put away immediately. Those who wish to have this convenience will not be able to give up the front loading washing machine, which, unlike the top loading one, allows stacking in a column. Electronics or mechanics
Those who are in the process of changing their old washing machine will probably think about buying a mechanical one again, because they are fine with it. In reality, mechanical washing machines have almost completely disappeared from the market, giving way toelectronic models that ensure optimal performance. As always happens in retail consumption, technological innovations give us appliances with ever greater functionality. But what differentiates an electronic washing machine from a mechanical one
In the first, each washing phase was characterized by the classic forward movement of the knob on the front and to select the chosen washing program we had to rotate the knob to position it in the desired point.
With electronic washing machinesall this does not happen: we are no longer the ones who choose the type of washing based on the garments inserted, but it is the appliance that establishes the best conditions for a perfect housewife-proof wash, thanks to the settings on the card. In this way, even the less experienced housewives will be able to wash their laundry in a workmanlike manner!
Even if by now mechanical washing machines are almost impossible to find (not to mention the spare parts, almost totally disappeared) it is possible that some models remain in some shops, which could perhaps be confused with an older model of electronic washing machine (with the knob on the front). How to recognize them
Try turning the knob: if it also rotates counterclockwise it is an electronic washing machine, while if it only slides forward you have a mechanical washing machine in front of you. Load capacity
Most washing machines on the market offer a load capacity of 7/8 kg . This capacity can be considered more than enough for a family of 4, while households with a greater number of components can use maxi washing machines, capable of holding up to 15 kg of laundry (so-called supersize models). It should be noted that a correct choice of load capacity is of fundamental importance, both in terms of space (a maxi washing machine will be larger) and in terms of consumption.
One of the main rules for limiting energy and water consumption is to operate the washing machine only at full load, and having a too large drum would inevitably lead to leaving dirty clothes for too long (causing germs and bad smells) or washing with half load.
Hotpoint washing machine, free installation, 8 kg capacity, 1200 rpm
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Offer
Hoover washing machine, free installation, capacity 10 Kg, 1400 rpm
399,00 EUR
−15%
340,46 EUR
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Household washing machines have a spin speed per minute usually between 1000 and 1200 . It is a value perfectly capable of guaranteeing excellent results in the laundry of the whole family, so if there are no particular needs, our advice is to move towards appliances with these values. Since they are the most requested, they are generally also offered at very competitive prices.
There are also smaller models that offer 800 revolutions per minute, while other more expensive ones can even reach 1400/1600 revolutions per minute. However, keep in mind that you can always decrease or reset the spin cycle, while you can never increase its power, so choose the model taking into account the maximum number of revolutions you may need. The slim models
The space where you are going to put your washing machine is quite large or it is a small corner
. Very often this appliance is placed in the service bathroom , in spaces that are anything but abundant. If you are looking for a model that can be installed in confined spaces, the slim washing machinecould be for you. If a traditional model has standard measurements of 60 X 60 cm, the slim models can offer a depth of just 33 cm, while maintaining the functions unchanged.
Unavailable.
Offer
Beko Slim washing machine, free installation, 6 kg capacity, 1400 rpm
330,00 EUR
−12%
289,47 EUR
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However, it should be noted that, although in recent years the increasingly smaller apartments have contributed to the demand for slim washing machines, the market still does not offer as wide a choice as it does for classic washing machines.
