Washing Machines: specifications, types

The type of loading depends on the location of the door through which the laundry is loaded into the washing machine.

- Front loaded. This type of machine is equipped with a door on the front panel. The door, usually, has a specific design with a transparent insert that allows you to monitor the contents of the drum without opening the lid (which would be fraught with a flood during the washing process). The advantage of front loading is that the top surface of the machine remains unused. It, in turn, allows you to use the washing machine as a stand (for example, for a dirty laundry basket), and for compact models, you can even install the unit back to back under a shelf or sink. On the other hand, for the normal opening of the door, free space in front of the machine is necessary.

- Top loaded. This type of loading assumes the presence of a door in the upper part of the machine. It is found not only in classic automatic machines equipped with a drum but also in semiautomatic machines. Anyway, top loaded models can be useful in cramped conditions, where there may not be room for the normal opening of the front door (see above). On the other hand, they tend to have fewer features than front-facing drums and a smaller drum volume. In addition, for obvious reasons, they cannot be used as a stand.

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.

The internal volume of the drum of the washing machine.

A larger drum can accommodate more laundry, but there is no rigid dependence here: models with the same volume may differ in maximum capacity. It is because to process a large mass of laundry you need not only a capacious drum but also an engine of appropriate power. At the same time, it should be noted that in a larger drum, the same mass of laundry will be washed and dried more efficiently than in a small one. On the other hand, a volumetric drum takes up more space — the size of the device is largely determined by the size of the drum.

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.

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.

Some washing machines can not only wash but also dry the washed clothes. Drying is carried out using a stream of warm air (temperature depends on the type of fabric) supplied to the drum. At the same time, the drum itself rotates, periodically changing direction and speed for more uniform drying.

Drying can be carried out both by a timer (a certain time) and by humidity (when the machine itself determines when to stop drying). Particularly advanced models allow you to adjust the residual moisture of the laundry from slightly damp (optimal for ironing) to completely dry.

The presence of the laundry drying function is useful in cases where there is no place in the apartment for hanging laundry or when there is no time to wait until it dries. On the other hand, such machines consume electricity intensively (sometimes so much that it makes sense for them to have a separate power supply line) and are much more expensive than non-drying models. In addition, due to intensive and uneven processing, the laundry is prone to overdrying and wears out faster than conventional drying.

The maximum amount of laundry that can be loaded into the washer to dry.

For more information about this mode, see "Dryer". Here it is worth mentioning that the weight of dry laundry is indicated in the specifications, and the maximum load for this mode is usually 1.5 – 2 times lower than for washing — this is due to the peculiarities of the process. In other words, you should be prepared for the fact that after washing with a full or almost full capacity, you will have to dry the laundry in two stages. However, the need to completely dry so many things at a time arises relatively infrequently — in most cases, part of the laundry can be dried traditionally.

A water tank, usually mounted on the side or back of the machine's body.

This function is found in automatic washing machines designed for use without a direct connection to the water supply: washing water is taken from a tank that can be filled with improvised means (for example, from a hose or even buckets). Such units are indispensable for situations where a semiautomatic machine is not enough, but there is nowhere to connect an ordinary “automatic machine”.

In machines with direct drive, the rotation from the engine is not transmitted through a belt drive, but the drum is located directly on the motor shaft. Such a design produces less noise and vibration. In addition, it is considered more reliable — manufacturers give a guarantee of up to 10 years for the drum and engine of such machines.

Washing machine with an inverter electric motor.

Such motors are also called brushless because they do not have commutator brushes. Thanks to this feature, the noise level, heating and wear are significantly reduced, which has a positive impact on efficiency, reliability and durability. In addition, the accuracy of rotation speed control is increased. The reverse side of the coin is the rather high price of such machines.

The material from which the tank of the washing machine is made. It is the main working container in which laundry is carried out (it is inside the tank that the drum rotates and, in semiautomatic models — the activator).

— Plastic. Plastic is low cost and relatively lightweight. It is considered not as reliable as metal due to its lower strength. However, manufacturers take this into account when creating plastic tanks, so usually, this strength is sufficient.

— Stainless steel. The main advantage of steel tanks over plastic ones is their high strength. Therefore, this option is considered more advanced and better suited for large capacity washing machines. On the other hand, metal tanks are much more expensive.

The material from which the heater is made. It is a tubular electric heater that heats the water in the machine to the desired temperature. Its durability and resistance to limescale depend on the material of the heating element. The following materials can be applied to date:

— Stainless steel. The classic material, used most widely, provides good efficiency. Hovewer, steel heating elements are prone to the formation of limescale, which can disable the heater and will need to be changed. Therefore, with the high hardness of the water used for washing, it is recommended to use a special protective agent.

— With ceramic coating. The main feature of the ceramic coating is its high resistance to scale formation, due to which such heaters can last much longer than steel heaters without additional protection, even with hard water. On the other hand, machines with ceramic heating elements are more expensive, all other things being equal.

— Nickel plated. Another option is designed to reduce the formation of scale on heating elements. Such a coating ensures the durability of the heating element, while it is considered more efficient and energy-saving than ceramics because nickel has a high thermal conductivity

— No heater. The absence of any heating element in the design of the machine. This feature is typical for the semi-automatic models..., where you need to fill in water manually. Such machines are designed for relatively simple washing; they have a minimum of features and are noticeably inferior to automatic models in terms of washing efficiency. On the other hand, they are much more convenient to transport and are well suited for conditions where there is no way to connect a machine to the water supply.

The total number of work programmes provided available in the machine. In this paragraph, a list of programmes can be indicated.

Choosing by the number of programmes, note that, in general, 12 – 16 modes are quite enough for a washing machine. If there are more of them (in some models — 25 or more) this usually means that standard programmes have several variations that differ in individual parameters (duration, temperature, spin speed, etc.). And does not at all guarantee an abundant variety of completely different programmes (for example, there can be 16 modes and only 6 – 8 programmes). Such a wide functionality increases the possibilities for choosing the optimal mode, but significantly increases the cost. Also, note that models with the same number of modes may differ in a specific set of these programmes. It should be clarified separately.

Regarding specific options, it is worth noting that the cotton, synthetics, wool, rinse, drain and spin programmes are mandatory for almost any washing machine, and there is no need to specifically specify their presence. Therefore, only more rare and specific modes are indicated here: own program, quick wash, delicate, hygiene (baby care), sportswear, dark garment, refresh (no washing) and self clean, etc. Here is a description of these and some other popular modes:
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— Custom programme. A programme, all the parameters of which can be configured manually: set the temperature, duration, spin speed, additional processing features, etc. at your discretion. It significantly expands the possibilities for working with the machine and allows you to select the optimal modes for special cases when the list of ready programmes is not enough. In the simplest models, a "custom programme" is created based on one of the standard modes, in which the user makes his changes. For the next use of such a programme, it is enough to select it on the control panel without setting the settings again. In more advanced units, it is possible to store several unique programmes in memory at once.

— Quick wash. The quick wash programme is especially useful for lightly soiled items that do not require thorough treatment (for example, casual clothes after a hot day). In addition to time, such a programme also allows you to significantly save water and electricity. Well, of course, it can be real salvation if the time for washing is limited, but you can’t do without it. Often, the design provides more than one quick wash mode — for example, for 15 and 30 minutes. It allows you to choose the option that is optimal in terms of speed/economy and thoroughness.

— Delicate wash. A programme designed for sensitive materials — fine silk, cambric, lace fabrics, some types of nylon and polyester, etc. Usually, washing in this mode occurs with an increased amount of water and the permissible load does not exceed 2 kg — all this reduces the friction of items among themselves, and large volumes of water also allow you to effectively rinse the fabric. Spinning is usually carried out at low speeds or skipped altogether. And in some models, other options for delicate washing may be provided; they should be specified separately. However, if you plan to wash things that require especially careful handling, you cannot do without this programme.

— Hygiene (baby care). The mode implies increased thoroughness of processing. It is designed to remove dirt, pathogenic bacteria, etc. from the processed items as much as possible. Such effective processing is especially important for clothes intended for young children Therefore, most often this programme is just called “baby care”. This mode has two main features. Firstly, by default, washing is carried out at an elevated temperature — this ensures the effective removal of contaminants and the destruction of germs. Secondly, rinsing after washing is done with great care — so that even in the most hard-to-reach folds there are no traces of detergent left. In some machines, other nuances are also provided; they should be specified separately.

— Sportswear. Special programme for processing sportswear between workouts. Such clothes are usually soaked with sweat but there are not so many other contaminants on them. It is sufficiently resistant to mechanical stress but does not always allow high temperatures. Workouts can take place daily, so spending a lot of time on washing can be a luxury — after all, things must also dry. This is taken into account in this mode: “sportswear” washing usually involves a small load and low temperature, and reduced spin speeds may also be provided. However, the specific features of this programme, again, do not hurt to clarify separately.

— Dark garment. A key feature of dark fabrics is that even minimal detergent residues are clearly visible on them. Therefore, a mandatory feature of the programme for dark clothes is thorough rinsing. In addition, this mode often provides gentle processing in general — so that things retain their original colour longer and do not form wrinkles on them.

— Refresh (no washing). A special mode for processing things that do not require a full wash but need cleaning. A typical example of such things is clothes that have been “idle” for a long time, accumulating dust and unpleasant odours, or things that have been worn once and not for long. In the refresh mode, the machine does not use water but other methods of processing fabrics. One of the most popular options is an intense stream of hot steam: it removes or destroys substances responsible for an unpleasant smell, blows out dust from fabrics that could accumulate there, and also facilitates the removal of wrinkles on fabrics, which are smoothed out when dry. bad. Another option for refresh is blowing with active oxygen. This method does not remove dust as effectively, but it perfectly eliminates unpleasant odours. Anyway, when refreshing, detergents are not used, and clothes are not wetted with water, and in extreme cases, slightly moistened. Often things can be used almost immediately after being removed from the drum.

— Self clean. A utility programme for cleaning the insides of the machine from various contaminants that may accumulate during operation. In this mode, things are not loaded, and the drum is intensively washed with hot water, which allows you to effectively clean it and destroy pathogenic bacteria. However, it is worth noting that in many models this programme practically does not differ from ordinary washing at a high temperature (about 90 °C). So even in the absence of a special self-cleaning mode, similar results can be achieved by running a high-temperature wash with an empty drum without spinning.

— Jeans (jeans and shirts). Despite the overall strength and reliability, denim is quite sensitive to intensive washing. Therefore, in washing machines for such things, a special gentle mode with a lower temperature and a reduced speed of rotation of the drum can be provided. This mode is also well suited for thin shirts, which is why in some models it is called accordingly — for example, "shirts/jeans".

— Down wear and blankets. Natural fluff easily accumulates water and is very reluctant to "return" it. Therefore, one of the features of this programme is usually long pauses in the rotation of the drum — so that the water that has accumulated in the product has time to drain effectively.

A function that allows you to delay washing for a certain time — for example, load the machine before leaving for work and hang up freshly washed laundry when you return. In this case, the timer is set not at the beginning of washing but at the time when it should end, and the machine automatically selects the start time of the program, taking into account its duration. For example, if you set the timer for two hours, and the selected programme takes half an hour, then the wash will turn on in an hour and a half and end clearly at the specified time. Thanks to this, you can plan time with maximum convenience.

Automatic detergent dosing system. Models with this function have the detergent poured into a special container, from where it is taken away with each wash. At the same time, the volume of the container is enough for several cycles, and the machine automatically selects the specific amount of detergent each time, depending on the amount and type of laundry, the selected program and other operating parameters. It provides savings without sacrificing efficiency. On the other hand, in most cases, automatic dosing is only available when working with liquid detergents, while the powder has to be added manually. There are exceptions, but such models are expensive.

Auxiliary system designed to ensure uniform and intensive contact of the detergent with the washed laundry.

In machines without direct injection, contact occurs only at the bottom of the drum. It is believed that this does not always provide sufficient uniformity. To eliminate this drawback, a direct injection system was created: a special pump delivers a detergent solution through a nozzle at the top of the drum. It increases the washing efficiency and also contributes to savings — with the same result, less powder is used.

Intelligent (adaptive) wash allows you to turn on the device without setting specific parameters. The washing machine will do everything for you. So in some models, the type of fabric is automatically determined and, based on the programmed programmes, the corresponding operating mode is activated. In other models, the frequency of use of a particular mode by the user is analyzed, and the washing machine adjusts to your preferences. Anyway, this solution allows you to turn on the wash without hesitation — the machine will set the mode on its own.

A special washing mode. Instead of water, hot steam is supplied to the drum of the machine. Steam penetrates better between the fibres of the fabric, which makes washing more effective than washing with hot water. At the same time, due to the high temperature of the steam — above 100 degrees — the best antibacterial effect is achieved since water in the liquid state rarely heats up above 95 degrees in washing machines. In addition, steam wash saves water and electricity, but such machines themselves are quite expensive.

Machines with this technology create small air bubbles in the drum during washing. According to the manufacturers, this significantly increases the efficiency of washing, including old dirt, and at the same time reduces friction both between laundry and between laundry and the drum, which ensures better preservation of delicate fabrics. In some models of machines, during an air-bubble wash, the drum may not rotate at all. Technically, in machines with this function, it is possible to wash without the use of powder at all. However, the effectiveness of such washing, of course, will be lower. Note that soft water is needed for air-bubble washing — bubbles form difficult in hard water, and the effect drops.

The presence of a jet rinse function in the machine. Such rinsing, by the name, is carried out by strong jets of water sprayed from special nozzles. It ensures higher efficiency than the traditional method and reduces water consumption and washing time.

Power surge protection automatically turns off the washing machine in case of power surges. It protects the device's electronic circuits from hazardous loads and prolongs their service life. In this case, the programme running at the time of shutdown is remembered. And when the power is restored washing cycle continues from the point at which it stopped.

An automatic safety system that controls the integrity of the system for supplying and draining water to the washing machine and stops the water supply in the event of a leak. The protection can be installed on the hoses, on the body, or both (full protection).

Leak-proof hoses are equipped with special sensors and solenoid valves at both ends that shut off the water supply in the event of a breach in the hose. They can be used for both sampling and draining water. It is worth noting that for most washing machines, leak-proof hoses can be purchased separately, even if they are not included in the original package.

Protection of the body of the washing machine is carried out using sensors installed on the bottom of the device isolated from water. When water enters the bottom, its supply to the machine is turned off. The presence of leak protection allows you to avoid troubles like a short circuit or a flood in the house. However, leak-proof machines are more expensive than conventional machines, all other things being equal.

A system that controls the amount of foam in the tank of a washing machine.

Excess foam can be formed either due to an unsuitable powder, an excessive amount of detergent or some malfunctions in the machine itself. Anyway, this situation worsens the quality of washing and can even lead to a breakdown of the unit. Anti-foam control allows you to avoid these troubles: if necessary, the machine automatically pumps out excess foam from the drum, drains the soapy water and fills it with clean water. Among other things, this reduces the water consumption for the final rinse.

It is the function of automatic balancing of the drum during the spin cycle. If the laundry is unevenly distributed in the drum during the washing process, an imbalance occurs. When spinning at high speeds, it increases vibrations, increases wear on the machine, and can even lead to its breakdown. To avoid this, machines with unbalance control automatically detect the uneven distribution of the laundry and, if necessary, try to correct it by rotating the drum in the opposite direction. If after several attempts the imbalance has not been eliminated further spinning will be carried out at a reduced speed or not at all.

The child lock allows you to lock the control panel so that a child cannot change the operating mode of the washing machine — stop the programme prematurely, start the machine without loading, etc.

The washing class determines its quality. It is the degree to which dirt is removed from the fabric after a standard wash. Such classes are marked by Latin letters from A to G, where A is the best quality and G is the worst. The washing class is one of the main parameters of the washing machine and directly affects its cost. However, most modern machines, even inexpensive ones, give class A (maximum). Lower rates are found mainly in semiautomatic devices.

The quality of the machine spin mode. The spin class depends on the residual moisture content of the laundry after the end of the washing programme and is indicated by the Latin letter from A to G, where A is the best efficiency, B and C are good, D, E are medium, F, G are very weak. The quality of the spin is closely related to the maximum number of revolves of the drum in this mode. Naturally, machines with better spin quality are more expensive, other things being equal.

This parameter characterizes the efficiency of electricity consumption by the washing machine. Classes are designated in Latin letters from A to G, in ascending order of energy consumption. At the same time, in class A there are subclasses "A+", " A++ " and "A+++"; more pluses means less energy consumption, and the most economical option to date — A +++ — outperforms class A by almost a third.

Machines of classes A + and above are today considered economical, class A — medium, lower classes — high consumption. However, indicators below A are typical for semiautomatic low-cost models. As well as for units with dryers (see above) in which high energy consumption is simply inevitable.

This parameter characterizes the efficiency of electricity consumption by the washing machine. Classes are designated in Latin letters from A to G in ascending order of energy consumption. This was originally conceived until more energy-efficient models pulled up to class A, which eventually received the marking A+, A++, and A+++. Further development of technology has made it possible to go even further, and in order not to produce pluses in energy efficiency labelling, in March 2021, manufacturers returned to the previous indices from G to A, where A is the most energy efficient washing machine. Accordingly, the 2021 models will have modern markings, while older models will be marked in the same way.

This indicator allows customers to decipher the values of the noise level in decibels. It is marked, like other classes, in Latin letters, where A is the quietest class of washing machines.

The type of controls provided in the washing machine.

— Rotary knobs. Operation through one or more rotary knobs only, without buttons or other additional elements. This option is found exclusively in semi-automatic (activator) washing machines with minimal functionality. In the simplest of these models, there is only one knob (it sets the duration of the wash) in more advanced ones — two or three (wash timer, spin timer, program selection). At the same time, the timer knob simultaneously works as a switch, turning on the unit when turning.

— Rotary knob + buttons. Type of control used in most automatic washing machines. The main rotary knob in such models is responsible for selecting the programme. It can be supplemented by auxiliary knobs for setting individual parameters: for example, water temperature and spin speed. And other parameters and additional functions are controlled by buttons. Such controls are quite functional and inexpensive, which led to their popularity.

— Rotary knob + touch controls. Controls, providing a combination of a rotary knob with touch controls. The first is responsible for choosing the main programme; the second is for additional functions and parameters. Such control is somewhat more expensive than the "rotary knob + buttons" combination (see above), but this moment is not fundamental. At the same time, the touch panel gives the device a...stylish and technological appearance, and on the practical side, it is more convenient for some users since it does not require effort to press. In addition, it is much easier to clean the touch controls from dirt than the buttons.

— Touch controls. Control, carried out only through the touch panel, is much more expensive than the “rotary knob + touch controls” combination and therefore is used mainly in advanced level machines. Units with such controls do not have unnecessary protruding parts on the front panel, which provides not only a neat and pleasant appearance but also ease of cleaning from dirt. And in some models, the touch panel can be placed on the lid of the drum, which allows you to increase its diameter and capacity without increasing the height of the machine itself. At the same time, in some cases (for example, when choosing a programme), the touch controls are less visual and intuitive than the rotary knob, so this option is used relatively rarely.

— Buttons. Button-only controls are fully functional but generally less user-friendly and visual than a combination of buttons with a rotary knob. Therefore, this option is not popular in modern washing machines.

The ability to control the washing machine via a smartphone, tablet or other similar gadgets. To do this, you need to install a special application on the gadget and the connection is most often carried out using NFC technology, with the gadget brought close to the machine. The specific capabilities of the application may vary. However, this function anyway allows you to use your smartphone as a remote control and control the machine from a distance. Nevertheless, the application is often more convenient, clear and intuitive to use than the unit's control panel. Another advantage is that the control gadget can receive various messages from the machine: about the beginning, end and overall progress of washing, about failures and malfunctions, etc.

The ability to control the washing machine via the Internet.

This function allows you to access the control of the unit from anywhere in the world where there is a connection to the World Wide Web. The control itself can be carried out either via a special application or via a regular Internet browser, depending on the model of the machine. In this case, feedback is also usually provided: the machine can send various notifications to the user (about the current state, the progress of washing, failures and malfunctions, etc.). Of course, you can control the machine in this way while at home — especially since the application or page in the browser can be even more convenient and intuitive than the unit's own control panel.

The connection of the machine itself to the Internet is most often carried out via Wi-Fi.

Compatibility of the machine with one or another voice assistant. It can be either a universal service like Google Assistant, or a specialized solution like Hoover Talks. it is not uncommon to support several options at once.

This compatibility allows you to control the washing machine using voice commands. Often this is more convenient than using a traditional control panel — especially since modern voice assistants are becoming more and more “smart”, able to recognize complex requests and even predict the user’s intentions (based on his past actions). However, you need to keep in mind that to use this function, you need a smartphone, tablet or another gadget with a voice assistant installed on it. It is this gadget that is the “brain” of voice control, and the machine only receives and processes commands from it. On the other hand, this format of work also has its advantages: the unit can be controlled from a distance, and the device with a voice assistant plays the role of remote control.

The specific capabilities of voice assistants (including supported languages) should be specified separately.

The presence in the washing machine of a lamp or a set of LEDs to illuminate the contents of the drum. Even in bright ambient light, drum content often remains in the shade, which increases the risk of not noticing a small item (socks, handkerchief) and forgetting it in the machine. Drum lighting improves visibility inside the drum and significantly reduces this risk. In addition, it can also play a decorative role.

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.

The presence in the machine additional hatch designed for reloading laundry right in the process of washing (although this will have to pause the programme). Such a hatch usually takes the form of a small "door" on the main door of the washing machine; by opening this “door”, you can put the necessary items in a special compartment, and when closed, they will “unload” inside the drum.

The main purpose of this function is obvious: reloading the machine with items that the user remembered after the start of washing. Reloading eliminates the need to run a separate wash cycle for these items (or stop the current programme, drain the water and start all over again). Also note that this feature can be useful in other situations: for example, you can first load laundry for pre-washing, and when the preliminary programme is over, add laundry that does not require such washing to them.

The direction in which the door of the washing machine opens.

This parameter is relevant only for models with front loading (see "Loading type"). In most of these units, the door opens to the left since users are mostly right-handed, and this arrangement is optimal for them: it is most convenient to open and close the door with your left hand and take out or load laundry with your right hand. Right opening is much less common; such machines will be useful to left-handed people and can also be useful in cramped conditions, where certain obstacles interfere with the left-hand door. There are also universal doors that can be opened in any direction; however, this design is complex and expensive and therefore is found only in premium models.

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.

Diameter of the hatch of the front loaded washing machine. On the one hand, the larger the hatch, the more convenient it is to load laundry into the machine, especially large items like bedding. On the other hand, a large hatch requires adequate space in front of the machine.

General dimensions of the washing machine in height, width and depth.

The size of the unit determines not only the size of the space required for installation but also the ability to bring it into a particular room. At the same time, even a relatively small protruding part (like a door latch) can create problems with passing through a doorway. Therefore, in our catalogue, we try, if possible, to indicate exactly the maximum size of the machine — taking into account all the protruding parts. On the other hand, not all manufacturers provide such data. So if there is any doubt, it is worth evaluating the product by size with a certain margin. And specific information on how the dimensions were measured can usually be found in the manufacturer's documentation.

Finally, let's touch on the specifics of individual dimensions. So, in the case of front loaded machines, note that additional space in front inevitably will be required to open the door. Machines whose depth does not exceed 40 cm are considered narrow. They can be a lifesaver in cramped conditions, especially if the design provides top loading. And a height of 120 cm or more is an almost unmistakable sign of a machine with 2 drums which are located one above the other. It does not only increase capacity but also allows you to simultaneously wash two sets of things in different modes. The reverse side of these advantages is tradi...tional — high cost.

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.