Some innovations of washing machine manufacturers are primarily marketing in nature. The functions that will be discussed below often have their pitfalls. But we tried to tell not only about their advantages and scenarios when they will be useful, but also about the nuances and possible disadvantages.

Remote control

Washing machines were among the first home appliances to be supported by smart home technologies. And today, even individual models at the junction of the initial and middle price segments can be connected to the Internet for remote control.

For this, the washing machine has a Wi-Fi module, and manufacturers have developed proprietary mobile applications. With their help, it is proposed to turn the device on and off, select programs, receive notifications about the end of the cycle. The more advanced the washing machine, the more smart features, as a rule, are offered, up to creating your own programs, voice control, collecting statistics on energy consumption, water and powder consumption.

Smartphone control will not only allow you to remotely load and unload things from the drum.

Who will benefit from remote control in practice?

Access to management, settings and control of the washing machine from anywhere with an Internet connection will be useful for technical geeks, very busy or slightly forgetful users. You can start washing when things are loaded into the drum, but there is simply no time to stand in front of it (it is easy to turn on the cycle already in transport, at lunch in the office, that is, when you have a free minute). Also, smartphone control is a good replacement for a delay start or cycle end timer.

Plus, usually the application interface is more visual than the keypad on the washing machine itself: accordingly, it is more comfortable and easier to interact with the device from a smartphone.

Are there any nuances?

In older washing machines, mobile control is implemented via Bluetooth or even NFC. Both options (especially the last one) seriously limit the remote access distance to the washer.

Another potential pitfall is stability and application localization. In some cases, synchronization with a smartphone cannot be done without “dancing with a tambourine”, and incorrect translation or its absence, various glitches negate the main advantages.

Advice! Even before buying a remote control washing machine, we recommend that you find out the name of a mobile application compatible with it and check its ratings on Google Play and / or the App Store.
Web Controlled Washing Machines

Steam washing

Steam washing today can hardly be called a novelty. The function can be found in the range of washing machines in 2018-2019, but then it was typical for advanced devices. Today, steam washing is a frequent guest even in middle-class models, and a variety of brands have it. LG has a function called True Steam, Miele and Electrolux - Steam Care, Whirlpool - Steam Hygiene, Candy - just a steam function or Easy Iron, Gorenje - Steam Tech, Samsung - Hygiene Steam or Steam Wash, Beko - SteamCure .

Steam washing will not replace a steamer or steam cleaner, but it still has undeniable advantages.

Marketers are very flattering about the possibilities of steam processing. It also increases the effectiveness of stain removal, and disinfects linen, eliminating all bacteria and allergens. And the consumption of water and light with it only decreases. In practice, all these advantages can be counted on if there is a separate steam generator in the washer and providing high steam supply pressure. But manufacturers do not talk about such specifics. So a washing machine with such a function will not become a full-fledged replacement for a steam cleaner.

In fact, if the steam treatment is a self-sufficient cycle, it serves primarily to refresh things, and not to remove impurities.

Much more often, the steam function acts as an additional washing step. Hot steam enters the drum along with water and powder (when removing dirt) or already during rinsing. And such scenarios also have their advantages:

  • detergent residues are removed;
  • unpleasant odors are removed;
  • disinfection and anti-allergic treatment;
  • wrinkling is reduced: after steam treatment, there are fewer wrinkles.

Who can benefit from steam washing?

This feature is recommended for families with children and allergy sufferers. She is also able to interest bachelors who are “not friends” with an iron: many everyday items of clothing after steam treatment do not require ironing.

Are there any nuances?

The benefits of steam washing are real, but often overstated for marketing purposes. In addition, no one talks about the minuses, but they are. To produce steam, you need to heat water, which increases energy consumption. Another invariable "side" of steam generation is a more intense scale formation than with the standard operation of the heating element. Therefore, without additional water filtration, the heater may fail earlier.

Advice! To offset the potential disadvantages of steam treatment, it is worth considering washing machines with ceramic, and even better, nickel-plated heating elements. They are less prone to scale formation.
Steam Washing Machines

Intelligent washing

Against the background of the previous function, intelligent washing today can be considered a real innovation. It aims to minimize the number of presets or even do without them. Different manufacturers implement this function in their own way. Here are some examples:

LG washing machines offer Al DD technology. This is a system for determining the type of fabric and selecting the optimal washing cycle. It works regardless of what mode the user sets. Sensors determine not only the weight of the linen, but also its softness, which allows you to determine the type of fabric and start the optimal drum rotation cycle (find a balance between effective removal of dirt and a gentle effect on the product). It is stated that in the Al DD database there are 20 thousand combinations of fabrics.

The processor, not the user, is responsible for setting the washing parameters.

Samsung washing machines use the intelligent AI Control function. It saves all the modes you have previously set and offers quick access to them, taking into account the usage schedule. Additional automation options open up when there is a tandem with a branded dryer : based on a given cycle for the washer, the optimal mode for drying is automatically selected. Plus, additional recommendations for choosing modes are available in the application.

The fully automatic Automatic 30 °C programme debuted in Bosch washing machines in 2020. In it, the device itself will set the washing parameters, taking into account the type of fabric and the level of contamination. And the low temperature of the water will suit even the most delicate fabrics.

Candy also has its own vision for intelligent washing. In 2021, the company offered the Snap&Wash feature (works in tandem with remote control). It is proposed to take a photo of the laundry before washing, and the mobile application will offer the optimal mode, which will remain to be set on the device manually.

Who will benefit from intelligent washing?

The maximum automation of the washing process will be appreciated by most men who are not very versed in the types of fabric and do not want to spend time studying the tags on things. This feature will also be potentially useful for those who want to extend the life of their clothes, because, according to the idea of manufacturers, intelligent washing should ensure gentle handling.

You can take a photo of things, and the application itself will tell you how best to wash them.

Are there any nuances?

The function is still found mainly in advanced and premium washing machines from famous manufacturers. They are not cheap, such as Bosch WAV 28K90. And a budget alternative to the smart mode with a stretch can become a programme for daily or everyday washing.

Smart Washing Machines

Automatic detergent dosing

In recent years, the automatic dosing function has also gained popularity. Previously, mostly expensive washing machines could boast of it, but now it also appears in middle-class models.

Different manufacturers use their own name for this function, for example, Auto Dispense for Samsung, i-Dos for Siemens and Bosch, AutoDose for Electrolux, DoseAid for Gorenje, TwinDos for Miele. Everyone has their own characteristics, but the principle of operation is usually the same.

The dosing system determines the required amount of liquid detergent (as a rule, the function does not work with powders) and fabric softener, taking into account the load, type of fabric and other individual parameters. There is a special container from which the right amount of detergent is taken. This capacity is large enough and can store supplies for 15 - 20 washes.

We fill the tank, and the auto-dosing system itself will determine the right amount of detergent.

Who can benefit from autodosing?

The function is able to interest everyone who wants to save detergent and not use measuring containers to fill it up before each wash. Additional advantages of auto-dosing systems include reduced water consumption, the possibility of reducing the overall cycle (additional rinses to wash out the remaining liquid powder are usually not required).

Are there any nuances?

This function has two main controversial points: a noticeable difference in price against the background of washing machines without auto-dosing and working only with liquid powders. Also, some manufacturers have a system “sharpened” for branded detergents, such as Miele’s TwinDos. And they are more expensive than universal ones.

Washing machines with automatic dosing

Jet rinse

The essence of this function lies in a special way of supplying water during the rinsing stage. Special nozzles are provided in the upper part of the drum. From them, water is supplied under pressure. The liquid during jet rinsing is distributed more evenly, and its total consumption is reduced. The use of the function also has a positive effect on energy consumption, as the total duration of the wash is reduced.

Jet rinsing is like a shower in the background of the bathroom - faster and more economical.

A similar option is found in Samsung (called Speed Spray), LG (Jet Spray), Bosch (4D Wash System), Beko(AquaTech), Miele (PowerWash) and other manufacturers. In some cases, the water supply is combined with a fast or other type of drum rotation to better penetrate the water into the fabric.

Who can benefit from jet rinse?

The function will appeal to families with children and/or allergy sufferers, as well as to all those who are interested in reducing water consumption and washing time. With it, additional rinse cycles are not required to remove detergent residues. Jet rinsing is also useful in the fight against heavy soiling, requiring the use of a large amount of powder.

Are there any nuances?

The function is not the most common and is found in medium and advanced washing machines. In a rich assortment of washing machines, there are enough alternatives to jet rinsing. The simplest analogue is the additional cycles of the traditional rinse or the intensive rinse function. You can also improve the quality of washing out detergent residues by steam washing or using special programs, such as hygiene or children's clothes.

Stain removal

Modern washing machines increasingly provide for the function of targeted action on various stubborn stains. Some manufacturers offer a special washing programme, such as Beko's StainExpert or LG's "stain removal". Others have an additional function that is compatible with different basic cycles. Let's say Bosch has AntiStain, and Miele has Stain Removal.

Technologies for removing complex stains have proven themselves well in practice.

The list of stains automatically displayed usually starts with the four most common (grass, red wine, grease and blood) and can go up to 16 or 24. Other stains already appear here, including ketchup, chocolate, fruits and citrus fruits, cosmetics, old sweat and etc.

The general meaning of the corresponding functions is as follows: the automation itself sets the temperature, duration and intensity of washing, taking into account the stain you specified and / or its complexity. And when it is removed, the tissue should not be damaged.

Who will benefit from the stain removal function?

This option can be useful in different cases. Grass or juice stains are common in families with children of all ages. The struggle with fat, traces of ketchup or red wine is also quite a typical scenario from everyday life.

Washer manufacturers themselves declare that to remove difficult stains, you don’t have to soak things, wash them by hand and / or use special stain removers.

Are there any nuances?

The function of automatic stain removal in advanced and premium washing machines is supported. As a rule, the higher the price tag, the more types of stubborn stains the device is ready to eliminate. And the stain removal cycle itself is quite long in time (usually from 2+ hours).

Advanced service features

Basic service options include even budget washing machines. For example, the ability to diagnose faults is implemented in Atlant 's entry-level models. But here we are talking about recognizing typical malfunctions and displaying an error code on the control panel screen. Then the user needs to study the instructions on their own or report the code to the repairman.

It is possible to identify a breakdown of a washing machine with a self-diagnosis function even over the phone.

An advanced level of self-diagnostics is typically offered in tandem with Wi-Fi remote control. Additional information about errors and malfunctions is available in the mobile applications of most popular washing machine manufacturers. Similarly, it is realistic to identify about 8 dozen typical breakdowns.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the Smart Diagnosis function from LG, which can work not only in tandem with a mobile application. Washers with this option, when you press the desired combination of buttons on the control panel, emit a special sound signal. Its representatives of the official support service are ready to listen even over the phone and report the cause of the device malfunction and the necessary further actions.

Another useful service function is the self-cleaning programme. With its help, it is easy to remove pile and other contaminants that accumulate on the walls of the drum.

Who will benefit from advanced service features?

It is definitely worth taking a closer look at the models with them for residents of remote settlements, for whom it is not easy to provide repair and maintenance of large household appliances.

Are there any nuances?

Advanced self-diagnosis is found in models with "smart" control. But self-cleaning is often provided even by budget washing machines. If suddenly there is no such cycle, then to clean the drum, you can run any high-temperature cycle without loading. True, it will be longer in time and more wasteful in terms of energy consumption.

In conclusion, we note that you can choose models according to a variety of criteria and functions using a convenient filter (selection by parameters) in the general catalog of washing machines.