Capacity
The maximum amount of dry laundry at which the washing machine provides normal washing quality and does not experience overload. For two people, a machine with a capacity of up to
5 kg is enough, for more — accordingly, more. The optimal value for families are
models for 6 and
7 kg. For large families,
washing machines for 8 kg,
9 kg and even
10+ kg will be appropriate. For small apartments, it is worth noting
narrow washing machines that have a depth of up to 40 cm, but at the same time capacity like in full-size machines.
Note that for different work programmes the allowable capacity can also be different. For example, for a quick wash, this number is most often noticeably less than the maximum stated in the specifications. These details should be specified in the instructions for the unit.
Max. spin speed
Maximum drum rotation speed in spin mode. The higher it is, the more intense the spin. However, note that not all types of fabric normally tolerate high speeds — a speed
of 1000 rpm or more should be used only for especially durable fabrics, and delicate ones need to be wrung out at low speeds, so the best choice is a machine that allows you to choose the spin speed.
The maximum spin speed (
1200 rpm,
1400 rpm), in particular, determines its efficiency (see Spin class), but this parameter is not decisive — the duration of the spin cycle and the diameter of the drum also play an important role. Therefore, for machines with the same spin speed, their efficiency class may differ.
Water consumption per cycle
The volume of water used by the washing machine during a standard wash cycle. It is measured while washing the maximum amount of cotton underwear for this model with a normal programme and a temperature of 60 degrees.
When evaluating efficiency, one should consider not only the actual water consumption but also the maximum load. So, for example, a model with a load of 7 kg and a consumption of 49 litres per kilogram of laundry will be more economical than a model of 5 kg with a consumption of 40 litres: the first consumes 49/7 = 7 litres per 1 kg of laundry, the second 40/5 = 8 litres per kilogram. This moment is important, first of all, if a large amount of washing is expected.
Many modern automatic washing machines are equipped with intelligent systems that can adjust the water consumption to the actual load and avoid overspending.
Number of programmes
When selecting a washing machine based on the number of programs, it's important to keep in mind that having 12 to 16 modes is typically sufficient. More programs, such as 25 or more, may simply offer variations of the same standard programs with different settings for duration, temperature, spin speed, etc. This may not necessarily provide a wider variety of programs. Additionally, machines with the same number of modes may have different specific sets of programs. While more modes increase the possibilities for selecting an optimal mode, it also significantly increases the cost.
Display
The type of display provided in the design of the washing machine.
The display located on the control panel provides additional convenience: it can show various information about the operation of the machine. In this case, the specific functionality of the display depends on its type. So, in the vast majority of cases, the simplest
LED displays are used. They can only display numbers and some special characters, but even this is usually sufficient. In some models,
TFT displays can be installed — similar to those used in smartphones. Such a display can display not only text information but also various graphics, and sometimes it is even made touch-sensitive. However, it makes sense to use such displays only in high-end washing machines with an abundance of functions.
Noise level (spin)
The maximum noise level produced by the machine during operation. Most often indicated for spinning — this is the noisiest mode of operation; for units without spinning (such as semiautomatic devices), this paragraph indicates the overall volume or the volume in the noisiest mode.
The
quieter the machine works, the more comfortable it is for others. This moment is especially critical if there are small children in the house. However, the decibel used to measure loudness is a non-linear unit, and the actual noise level is best estimated from comparative tables in special sources.
Country of origin
The country in which the washing machine was manufactured (according to the manufacturer's statement). Despite the fact that production facilities in
China are often used to assemble household appliances, specifically among washing machines there are many products assembled in Europe (
Germany,
Italy,
Poland,
Romania,
Slovakia,
Slovenia, Turkey) or in the post-Soviet space (
Belarus,
Russia,
Ukraine).
There are many stereotypes about how the build quality depends on the specific "homeland" of the device. However, most of them are not justified: the thoroughness of quality control does not depend directly on the location of production. And within individual brands, the situations in this regard can be completely opposite: relatively speaking, for one company, Polish-assembled machines can be considered more reliable than Romanian ones, and for another, vice versa. In addition, such information (about which plant a given brand has is better) often turns out to be unconfirmed rumours. In light of all this, it makes sense to pay attention to the country of production. Especially if you fundamentally want (or do
...not want) to support a certain state by purchasing products manufactured in it.