Guide written by:
Julie, Interior Designer, Manchester
A washing machine is one of the most useful appliances in the home, given that washing your clothes is essential.
Featuring a drum supported by a structure into which laundry is deposited, washing machines work by the electric motor making the drum spin for the time and at the speed set for the chosen program. The water and other products needed to clean (detergent, stain remover, etc.) or treat (softener) the clothes are added into the drum.
Lastly, the laundry is spun to remove excess water before drying.
Washing machines are usually installed in the kitchen or bathroom, but in spacious houses it's not unusual to find a separate laundry room with a washer and maybe also a dryer. This room might also have an ironing station and storage for clothes, and be near to the washing line.
Other places suitable for your washing machine include the basement or garage, or less frequently, communal areas of a building - but you should keep in mind the need for nearby water supply pipes, as well as a plug point.
This means that the location of the washing machine can influence both the type of machine, as well as the position of the loading door.
In line with the space available to install the washing machine and its accessibility, you will have to opt for one of these options:
These are the most common option, with a circular door that opens outwards. Remember that it will require sufficient space in front of the machine for the door to be opened.
The majority come with a white finish, although for a few years now there have been stainless steel versions to match other household appliances.
There are also some versions available in colours or with patterns, allowing you to customise your kitchen decor.
These are the best option when you don't have much space in front of the washing machine to open the door, as well as for people with limited mobility, or even just for greater ease-of-use when it comes to loading and unloading the machine.
Choosing an integrated washing machine is more a matter of design than space. The great thing about these washing machines is that they can be hidden behind doors or under worktops with the same finish as the rest of the kitchen units.
Remember that true washing machine measurements are a few milimetres less than those stated on the labels and manuals, because they need a certain amount of clearance for the space where they're being installed.
Choosing the right washing machine essentially depends on the needs of those living in the house, as well as how much space is available. In the UK, it's a must-have piece of equipment, no matter how small the home.
Professional or industrial laundrettes sometimes also replace the need for a household washing machine. The advantage here is the time and electricity saved at home, as well as being able to make the most of space available in small flats.
This is how many kilos of clothes a washing machine can accommodate inside the drum during a wash cycle. It will depend on the type of clothes, and it's important to remember not to pack them in because when the drum fills with water, the clothes need room to move around. Overloading the machine can also block the drum and stop your washing machine from working.
In general, household washing machines hold 5 - 8 kg, although professional washing machines can handle from 10 kg to over 30 kg, and more for industrial versions.
To calculate the load capacity you need, consider the needs of your household in terms of number of members and frequency of use (how many washes per week), which tends to be significantly higher in households with children.
The dimensions of a washing machine, like other appliances, are normally standardised and in line with standard kitchen furniture sizes, as that's where they're generally kept. There is always the option of made-to-measure units that can house washing machines with specific or special dimensions, which is often the case with designer machines.
The most common sizes are 60 cm wide and 80 to 85 cm high for front-loading washing machines. The most common depth is also 60 cm, although smaller versions are available, at around 50 cm deep for areas with limited space, such as the bathroom or a narrow kitchen.
When washing machines are installed in an area specifically for washing clothes, such as a laundry or utility room, there will be more space and therefore the dimensions are not so limited, allowing you to opt for a freestanding model that's not built in to a specific space.
Top-loading washing machine dimensions tend to be smaller, starting from 40 cm wide and 90 cm high.
Integrated washing machines are smaller than front load washers as they're designed to be concealed behind a unit which, unless tailor-made, can't exceed the size of the other units.
Spin cycle is the mode used to wring out clothes and ensure they don't hold excess water, cutting down on drying time. However, this mode depends on the type of fabric, as some delicate fabrics shouldn't be wrung out too much to prevent damage. This is the case with wool or linen.
However, other fabrics such as cotton can withstand a strong spin and it's even recommended to do so, because if they absorb a lot of water they'll take longer to dry, especially in damp climates. If the laundry is dried in a dryer, this will consume more electricity.
The spin speed is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM), i.e., the number of times the drum spins round in one minute. The instructions will indicate the maximum speed your machine reaches, which is generally from 1,200 to 1,600 RPM.
Washing machines are responsible for consuming a large amount of electricity in the home, in particular in households with many members, and especially if there are children.
The wattage (W) of your washing machine's electric motor indicates the operating capacity, but also dictates its energy consumption.
Nowadays, household appliance technology has improved to achieve maximum performance for minimum energy consumption. The use of brushless inverter motors has significantly improved the performance of machines that incorporate them.
Energy ratings serve to indicate how much electricity your appliance uses, helping you to choose the most efficient one for your needs.
The amount of water your washing machine uses depends on which program you choose and, just as energy efficiency has improved, eco-cycles that use the right amount of water for the laundry load have also been developed.
Besides water and electricity, modern washing machines often have an automatic dispenser for detergent and softener, or other cleaning products.
These automatic dispensers make better use of the products according to the washing machine's load and the selected cycle.
The noise washing machines make can be pretty annoying, especially on the spin cycle. A machine with a low noise level avoids disturbing not only the members of the household, but the neighbours too, if the machine is being used at night or off-peak times. This comes in handy if you want to save money on your energy bills.
In the specifications for your washing machine, you can see how much noise it makes, expressed in decibels (db).
Since 1992, the date on which the EU implemented its first directive on the energy ratings for certain products "related to energy" (white goods and appliances that consume energy), use of the Energy Label has spread across many EU countries and is currently compulsory in the case of white goods, including in the UK.
The energy label shows the energy rating of each appliance, in line with certain parameters, in a scale from A to G, where A means that the appliance is more efficient (i.e. consumes less energy) and G is least efficient (i.e. consumes more energy).
Until 1 March 2021, the scale went from A+++ to G, but the EU decided to simplify things for greater consumer transparency - and the UK followed suit.
Now, the new energy label for washing machines includes:
Energy consumption for 100 cycles
Water consumption for 1 cycle
Capacity and duration of the "Eco 40-60" cycle
Noise emission and rating
Washing machine technology has evolved to provide new functions that offer greater versatility, as well as better machine performance. Some of these include:
Automatic dispenser for cleaning products
Crease prevention
Stop and load
Delayed start
Fabric sensor
Quick wash cycles
Gather enough laundry for each load.
Choose short or mixed programs to mix different types of fabric or, conversely, use specific programs for specific types of clothes.
Use only the amount of detergent etc., indicated by the manufacturer, to avoid waste. If you can, choose a washing machine with an automatic dispenser.
Select cold wash cycles when clothes aren't very dirty.
Make the most of sunny days to wash and dry your clothes.
Installing a washing machine is fairly straightforward, and only requires a few components:
A water supply pipe that connects to a flexible hose included with the washing machine
A waste water hose
An electricity outlet to connect the machine to
In homes with no room for a second machine or for large families who use a washing machine a lot, the best option is a washer-dryer.
These incorporate the dryer into the washing machine, and come in handy in rainy and cold climates.
A washer-dryer uses a bit more electricity than a simple washing machine, but it saves time hanging out and taking in the laundry, and the clothes are ready to be worn as soon as the machine comes to a stop. They can also be programmed to do the washing and drying in a single cycle.
Washer-dryers are available as either front loading or integrated machines.
Some versions are fitted with a heat pump to dry clothes at lower temperatures, which is better for the fabric. It also saves energy.
Other types, known as condensing dryers, heat the air with resistors to dry the clothes. These dry well, but use a lot more energy than heat pump models. Water from the drying cycle is collected in a tank.
If you are replacing an old washing machine, always try to recycle by taking it to a local household waste recycling centre.
Guide written by:
Julie, Interior Designer, Manchester
After years of DIY, renovation and designing, I decided to turn my passion into a career. Starting in 2006, in the South-West, I helped people with renovation or construction projects. My expertise and curiosity led me to look further into innovative ideas for myself and my clients. Indeed, to live your passion is also to transform the space you live in and the objects you use daily. My family love my creations and ideas that I bring into their lives! My favourite thing to do: use colour to brighten up interior space. But also tips to hide away clutter. Your home is just never big enough, is it? It is therefore a great pleasure to share my tips with you, so that you also can take as much pleasure as I do when starting up your next project!