How to choose a washing machine according to its parameters?
When buying a washing machine, almost all people are faced with the problem of choice. Any large retail outlet offers dozens of model ranges of washing machines from several brands at once, and how can you choose when you have before your eyes a good hundred “home assistants” that don’t look much different from each other? There is only one way out - to make a choice of washing machine, assessing its parameters, and we will tell you how to do this in this article.
What to focus on?
When you go to a household appliance store to choose a new washing machine, you must already decide on the criteria for such a choice. If you go at random, you will probably be manipulated by the sellers, and you will buy not what you want, but what the caring managers of the sales floor “sell” to you. I would not like to speak badly about sellers of household appliances, but they have such a sin.
It is much more difficult to deceive a prepared buyer who knows what to look for and already understands something about washing machines. What should a potential buyer of a washing machine focus on, what parameters of the equipment should attract his attention? Let's start with the primary parameters, mainly the most important ones, which should interest you first.
- Price. The vast majority of potential buyers of washing machines are not rich people, and it is not surprising that they want to spend as little as possible on purchases. The main thing here is not to get carried away; remember that not every expensive machine is worth the money and not every cheap washing machine is worth your attention.
- Dimensions. The selection of a washing machine is often tied to its size.Buyers are willing to put up with many shortcomings of equipment, as long as it fits into a cramped bathroom or kitchen. For their reasons, let there be at least some washing machine in a small bathroom, than there will be none, and there is a reason for these considerations.
- Reliability. Washing machine reliability is a relative concept. Some people judge reliability by the brand, others by the place where the model is assembled, and only a small number of people evaluate objective criteria that can affect the overall reliability and durability of the “home assistant.”
- Appearance. Not least among the parameters being evaluated is the appearance of the washing machine. Very often, modern users make a choice in favor of equipment with an unusual and beautiful design, without paying attention to its technical characteristics.
- Brand. The choice of a washing machine brand is largely due to its popularity and publicity. It often happens that the technology is nothing, but samples of it do not leave the TV screens and users choose it, since advertising information settles in the brain against their will and often for this reason manipulates the behavior of buyers.
Note! Often the brand of a washing machine is associated with the place of its production, thinking that, for example, a Bosch washing machine was necessarily assembled in Germany, which means it is good, in fact, you should not focus on this, since the country of assembly can be anything.
Stock. Quite often, sellers manipulate buyers by organizing various promotions, sales, and bonus programs. Often, while offering a good discount, they try to push away not entirely successful or outdated models of washing machines.And the buyer looks at the price tag with a discount, he gets excited to buy a cheap washing machine and forgets to think about any characteristics, before his eyes is only the price tag with a huge discount.
In addition to the basic characteristics of a washing machine, which you should pay attention to when choosing a particular model, there are additional parameters that can also be very important. It is impossible to ignore them, so let’s first simply list them, and only then “expand” them within the framework of subsequent paragraphs of the article.
- Load type.
- Drum design and capacity.
- Noise level during operation.
- Number and composition of functions and programs.
- Control features.
Where is the washing machine hatch?
All modern automatic washing machines can be divided into two types: machines with vertical loading, in which the hatch is located on top, and machines with horizontal loading, in which the hatch is located in the front wall. For some, the issue of loading their future washing machine does not seem important at first glance, but if you think about it, this is a very important parameter.
- If you are looking for a narrow washing machine to fit into a tight pantry or bathroom, then it is better to choose a top-loading washing machine, since its body is narrower than many horizontal ones.
- A horizontal-loading washing machine can be pushed under a sink or countertop, while vertical ones can mostly be freestanding.
- The type of loading is often tied to the drum volume and price. Top-loading washing machines are often more expensive than horizontal ones, and they are also less spacious for a number of reasons.
- Top-loading machines are much more convenient for folding laundry because you don’t have to bend over. On the other hand, if you choose a front-loading washing machine, you can put powders and various detergents on its top cover, like on a shelf.
For your information! The location of the hatch greatly affects the appearance of the washing machine. Stand-up machines often look rustic, while side-loading machines can reflect an ideal of technical aesthetics.
Looking at the drum
If you have a large family and, accordingly, you have to do a lot of laundry often, you need a washing machine with a large load that can accommodate 8 or more kilograms of laundry at once. A machine with a large drum is also needed when you often wash bulky and oversized items, which by definition cannot fit in drums with a load of 4.5-6 kg. What do experts recommend in this regard?
They advise, before making a choice in favor of one model or another, to calculate the composition of the things that you wash more often and their quantity. In most cases, a drum capacity designed for 8 kg of dry laundry is sufficient - you can wash a large item and, if necessary, a lot of small laundry.
Inspect and feel the inside of the drum. The cells and rib punches should be smooth and sloping; if, while feeling, you come across a steel or plastic burr, you should not choose such a washing machine.
Noisy or quiet?
Many buyers want to choose a quiet “home assistant” so that they can load laundry into it and then start the wash overnight. But many models are quite noisy to use at night.And some washing machines are so noisy that even if you use them during the day, you will scare small children and neighbors, because during the spin cycle they work almost like a hammer drill.
In order not to run into such a rattling machine, but to choose a washing machine that is normal in terms of noise, look carefully at the description of the model. Almost always, manufacturers indicate in the model description the noise level during washing and the noise level during spinning in dB. We will be interested in the noise level during the spin cycle, since at this time it is usually greater.
So, if the model of washing machine you are interested in produces more than 80-85 dB during spinning, it is better to choose another technique, because the normal noise during spinning is within 70-75 dB. It will be better if you find a model that produces 60-65 dB during spinning, but in this case it will most likely spin at low speed, which is also not good.
Be careful! Some unscrupulous manufacturers of washing machines indicate incorrect data in the model description. In particular, about the noise level of the machine during spinning. If possible, it is better to listen to how the washing machine works before purchasing it.
Functions and programs
Some people try to choose a new washing machine, considering how many functions and programs a particular model has. And as soon as they find a washing machine model with the maximum number of programs and functions, they take it. How justified is this?
- You will have to pay more money for additional and unusual washing programs and functions in a particular washing machine.
- The more functions and programs a machine has, the more complex its electronics are and the more likely it is to fail.
- Quite a lot of the advertised functions of modern washing machines are completely useless in a practical sense, but you will have to pay a tidy sum for them. The question is why?
Our advice, in this case, is the following - carefully study the functions that are integrated into the washing machine model you like. Mark for yourself only those that are really needed, and then, based on this, try to choose a “home assistant” for yourself. In 95% of cases, the following washing programs and functions are actually required:
- quick wash (within 30 minutes);
- synthetics;
- quick wash cotton;
- outerwear;
- shoes;
- gentle wash;
- rinsing;
- spin;
- child lock;
- easy ironing;
- half load.
The effectiveness of such a function as, for example, Eco Bubble has not been proven, so, in our opinion, there is no point in paying extra for it.
Control
When choosing a washing machine, look at how intuitive its controls are. Preference should be given to washing machine models that have informative control panels, on which every button and every selector is labeled in Russian. It would be great if the machine has a display that will reliably display the progress of the washing program, this is very convenient.
Ideally, activation of all available functions should be carried out intuitively by the user. No complex codes or key combinations; this should only be present in exceptional cases. In this regard, washing machines of Korean brands are considered the most accessible to the user, and washing machines of Italian brands are considered the least understandable.
In conclusion, we note that we have listed the parameters by which you should choose an automatic washing machine.If you have the above information and have the desire to understand this issue, you will never be deceived by some cunning seller of household appliances. Happy shopping!
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1 reader comment
Thanks for the info!!!