How to Choose A Good Washing Machine
There are many criteria of choice of washing machines:
- Type of loading
- Size
- Capacity
- Engine (inverter or direct drive)
- Spinning speed
- Tank and drum material
- Control type
- Washing programs
- Additional options: classes of washing, spinning and energy efficiency, device security and noise level
All these criteria are important, and every buyer must consider them, choosing a washing machine.
First one – loading type. So we’ll start with it.
Loading type
There are two types of washing machines: front and top load. Devices with front load are more popular and common. Laundry load into the drum from the side of the device, so it can be used as a small decorative table in the bathroom or kitchen – an additional place for keeping some things. Top-loaded washing machine doesn’t give you such opportunity, so its construction is the first shortcoming. Additional usable space is very important in small bathrooms and kitchens, so front-loading washing machines have priority of using here.
Some words about reliability. Many experts talk about improved reliability of top-loaded washing machines because of using in the two bearings (in front load washing machines always uses one bearing), so drum mounted stronger as a result. In defiance of this belief, both types of washing machines have a long life under normal use. However, there is a small minus of the machine with front loading – hatch, which requires extra space when opened.
Dimensions of the washing machine
This is the other one criterion of choosing. The main parameter here is a depth. That it allows you to choose the model which will fit in the allotted place in the apartment. The height and width of most washing machines with front-loading the same: about 85 cm and 60 cm, respectively. Rare you can find washing machines with a depth of 33 to 39 cm (also called super narrow), as well as narrow models with depths ranging from 40 to 49 cm. Devices with the depth from 50 to 59 cm or a little more than 60 cm (generally up to 62 cm) are called full-length.
Also, there are compact washing machines with front type of loading. Their height is about 70 cm, which allows to set them under the sink. Their width is typically about 50 cm, and depth – 44-47 cm. As for top-loading washing machines, the diversity of the dimensions isn’t so widespread. Their height normally about 85-90 cm, width – 40 cm, and depth – 60-65 cm.
Capacity
Another very important point – the amount volume of laundry that washing machine can wash for a cycle. Capacity is directly related to its dimensions. Models of smaller size usually contain less, although recently the trend – increase the capacity of small size machines. First of all, it concerns the most popular in our country narrow washing machines. Many of them already contain 7-8 kg of laundry while more recently such loading was available only for the full-size models.
Front-loading washing machines with 3-4 kg refer to … Continue Reading