What to look for
Water matters
Energy matters
The Australian Consumer’s Association (ACA) verdict
Innovations
For people with a disability
Washing problems and tips
Need to know more?

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Want to get the dirt on washing your clothes? The Australian Consumer Association supplied us with this article written for the Choice website in February 2004.

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What to look for

Capacity
The rated capacities of washing machines are sometimes overstated. Look inside machines you’re considering to compare drum sizes.

Space savers
If space is limited consider a front loader or a top loader with a lid that folds back leaving space to put a dryer or shelves above it. If width is a problem, consider a top-loading drum type (they’re narrower than most machines).

Time savers

• Top loaders usually have a shorter normal wash cycle but, if you prefer a front loader, look for one with a quick wash cycle.
  Note: not all quick wash cycles are suitable for a full load.
• Front loaders tend to have a higher spin speed, extracting more water so lessening the drying time. But this may crease the clothes more.
• Want to spend less time ironing? Then look for anti-crease features, such as a rinse or spin hold, end of cycle tumbling, or a permanent press program to minimise creasing.

Ease of use

• Is the labelling on the controls clear and the program selection straightforward? You won’t want to consult the manual every time you use a different program.
• Access to a front loader drum is easier when the door opening is large, and the door opens through 180°.
• Is the lint filter easy to clean, and are the detergent and fabric dispensers easy to use?

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Water matters

If you have a limited water supply:

• Front loaders are more water-efficient.
• Look for auto-sensing water level options.
• Reduced load functions can help save water when washing smaller loads (mostly for front loaders).
• A suds or rinse water save feature reuses sudsy and/or rinse water.

Hot and/or cold water connections

• Some machines need both to operate correctly, or a special connector or a sealing cap for the hot water inlet, if you want to connect it to cold water only.
• Check the maximum temperature recommended for the hot water inlet. Many manufacturers recommend a lower temperature than most hot water systems deliver – particularly solar hot water systems. You may need a tempering valve to reduce the temperature. (A tempering valve or mixing valve mixes hot and cold water together automatically to achieve a maximum tap temperature of 50ºc. It should be fitted by a licensed plumber.)

If you have a limited hot water supply or you only have a cold water tap, look for a washing machine with a heater. (Some machines offer a “controlled cold” option, which brings the temperature up to around 20°C, either by adding hot water, or heating the cold water.)

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Energy matters

Based on the energy rating system:

• Generally, the more stars, the more energy efficient.
• Front loaders are usually more energy efficient.
• If you use a dryer, look for a machine with a high spin speed that extracts more water from the clothes. Front loaders tend to have faster spin speeds than top loaders.
• Some machines still use a little energy when they’re not washing your clothes, so switch it off and unplug it from the power point when it’s not being used. It could also save your machine from damage if there happens to be a power surge.

The Australian Consumer’s Association (ACA) verdict

Front loaders perform better overall than top loaders: they use less water and energy, and are not as tough on clothes. You also tend to get more wash programs, wash temperatures, and features. Though a front loader can cost more to buy, it’s likely to save you a lot in running costs over time.

A top loader with an impeller gets the washing clean, but they use more water than those with an agitator or front loaders. This makes them more expensive to run.

Impellers also have a tendency to tangle clothes, and don't cope with an out of balanced load as well as other types of machines.  

Innovations

Does handwashing give you better results?
One manufacturer has research that claims that 15 minutes of handwashing can wash better than 67 minutes of machine washing. This was the basis for a front loading design with a double drum that rotates in opposite directions, mimicking a hand-washing action.

Autosensor and fuzzy logic technology
Thanks to sensors and microprocessors, most washing machines tested do most, if not all, the thinking for you. Their capabilities range from detecting the size of the load and adjusting the water level.

One machine can even sense the fabric type by measuring the ‘slip’ of the clothes and then selects the appropriate program for water level, wash intensity, spin speed.

Detergent 'smart'
Another manufacturer’s innovation is a ‘concentrated detergent’ start. This works by only partially filling the machine at first, creating a concentrated detergent/water mix. The water temperature at this stage is above 35°C (a normal warm wash temperature); this activates the detergent, which is circulated through the clothes for a while. The machine then tops up with cold water and the dirt floats easily away from the clothes.

Less creasing
Front loaders tend to leave the washing more creased if you don’t remove the washing as soon as it’s done. To avoid this, many machines now have a special anti-crease action. For instance, after the final spin, the drum automatically tumbles twice a minute for about 30 minutes, noticeably reducing creases. You can stop the machine and take out the washing at any time during this part of the cycle.

Upgrading facility
One machine tested by Choice had a printed circuit board that can be upgraded. If new technological developments offer improved program cycles, a service engineer can upgrade your machine’s programs via a notebook computer.

Levelling hassles?
In order for a washing machine to operate effectively, it must be level. Most machines have four adjustable ‘feet’ so you can change the level of each (by screwing it up or down) if the machine is on an uneven or sloping floor. One machine has a super-easy levelling system – you simply release the leg locks, rock it back and forth and it levels itself.

For people with a disability

Based on assessments by the Independent Living Centre, here are some things to consider.

• If you use a wheelchair or have back problems, a front loader is more convenient. You can mount it on a raised surface to avoid bending, or load and unload it while sitting down. If you prefer a top loader, you might have to use a stick to help you unload it.
• Access to the drum of a front loader is easier when the door opening is large and/or the door opens wide, and if the drum and opening tilt upwards.
• If you have problems with vision, make sure the controls are easy to read. Positive feedback such as lights and/or beeps when you press buttons is helpful. Other tactile, audio and visual feedback also helps. For better vision in dark areas, a background lit LCD display can help.
• If you have problems using your hands, look for large, raised dials with a crossbar. Buttons should require only a soft touch to activate, and keypad controls should be easy to press. Rotary controls can be more difficult to turn if you lack hand strength. Detergent and fabric dispensers should be easy to pull out (or uncover), fill and clean.
• On some machines it helps if you can ‘design’ your preferred program and store it in the machine’s memory for easy selection.
• For dementia, audible end of cycle signals or fault alarms, such as for an out of balanced load, can be useful.
• If you have limited mobility, controls at the front of the machine would be better than at the back.

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Washing problems and tips

Out–of–balance loads

• Make sure your machine is level.
• Take the time to load the machine evenly.
• Don’t wash just bedsheets or towels – include small garments in the load.
• Alternate the loading sequence with large and small garments.
• Don’t underload or overload the washer.
• Don’t wrap the clothes around the agitator.

Creasing

• Don’t overload the washing machine.
• Use anti-crease options e.g. permanent press cycles.
• Don’t leave wet clothes in your washer or laundry basket for too long.

Detergent residue on your clothes

• Don’t overload the washer.
• Use less detergent.
• Pre-dissolve the detergent in warm water.

Lint

• Wash lint producing items (e.g. towels) separately from lint collectors (e.g. synthetics).
• Don’t overload the machine.
• You may not be using enough detergent (which keeps the lint from redepositing itself onto the clothes).

Black or grey marks on clothes

These can be caused by ‘scrud’ – a waxy mixture of fabric softener and detergent – or not using enough detergent for the amount of dirt in your clothes. To eliminate scrud:

• Wash the inside of your machine regularly with hot water and detergent (don’t put any clothes in the machine during this cycle), use a long wash cycle or let it soak overnight.
• If you wash in cold water, run a warm (or hot) wash every few cycles to reduce the amount of build-up.
• Use fabric softener sparingly and don’t spill it over the edges of the dispenser.
• Clean the dispensers regularly.
• Alternatively, you may not be using enough detergent and can try using a little more.

Tangling

• Don’t wash with too much water.
• Don’t wrap the clothes around the agitator.
• Don’t wash colourfast and non-colourfast clothes together.
• Don’t leave wet colourfast and non-colourfast clothing sitting together in a laundry basket.

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Need to know more?

This article is an edited version of an article that was published by the Australian Consumers’ Association. For further information a full version can be found at the ACA’s website CHOICE Online (www.choice.com.au) at a cost of $9.85 This price includes access to an interactive ‘Compare-a-washing machine’ function which evaluates dozens of different models based on a ‘wishlist’ of features.

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