Photo: Candy
Candy machine with Mix Power System+ technology. Photo: Candy
The development of more efficient washing technologies, which make it possible to wash a large number of items in a short period of time, is proceeding in several directions. Firstly, the mechanics of the washing machine are being improved, and more advanced drum designs are being created. Secondly, new detergents are constantly being developed (for example, instant or designed for cold water). Thirdly, new washing programs and algorithms appear. What exactly can washing machine manufacturers offer users?
Hansa WHP8141DBLS model with Steam Touch steam washing function and Add+ reloading system (from RUB 19,999). Photo: Hansa
Improved drum
Bosch WVG30463OE washer-dryer with “Wash&Dry 60'” program. Photo: Bosch
Let's start the review, perhaps, with the main structural components of modern machines - the tank and the drum. For almost 50 years, their design remained unchanged - a uniformly rotating drum had a smooth inner surface. The situation changed in 2001, when Miele released a washing machine with a drum that had a honeycomb-shaped inner surface. Since then, many manufacturers have begun to develop more efficient designs in which additional mechanical stress is exerted on the items being washed. These could be, for example, blades that pick up laundry. The drum now not only rotates at a certain speed - it can sway, sharply change the direction of rotation, make half-turns, thanks to which the laundry is better repelled, moistened with water and in contact with detergents. For the first time, such technology “6 care movements” (six different drum movement algorithms) appeared in 2010 from LG.
Electrolux PerfectCare washing machines and dryers are equipped with the Sensi Care system, which allows you to select the effective duration of washing and drying. Photo: Electrolux
The main drum allows you to wash up to 12 kg of laundry at a time. Photo: LG
The latest design improvements include equipping washing machines with steam generators. Steam is used in a range of “refreshing” programs designed for items that do not require intensive washing. These are, for example, washing machines with the FreshCare+ system (Whirlpool), models with the True Steam function (LG), and the steam function in Electrolux 3-in-1 washer-dryers. In addition, steam eliminates creases and folds in fabrics and thus reduces the time for further manipulation of the laundry.
Dispensers for liquid detergents have come from professional equipment to the household segment. Owners of washing machines with such dispensers no longer need to measure out the required amount of laundry detergent each time. The machine will do this itself faster and more accurately than a person - exactly as much detergent will be used as needed.
FreshCare+ steam washing machine line (Whirlpool). Steaming prevents items from becoming wrinkled (c). Model FreshCare+ FWSF61052W (Whirlpool) (RUB 18,990). Photo: Whirlpool
The system for supplying powdered detergents is also being improved. For example, in the Ultra Care system (Electrolux), detergents are pre-mixed with water and supplied as a solution, which allows you to shorten the wash cycle. Other manufacturers have similar technologies, for example MIX POWER SYSTEM+ from Candy. A washing machine with Mix Power System+ technology mixes water and detergent into a homogeneous, highly concentrated solution at the beginning of the cycle, which is then injected into the laundry drum under high pressure to penetrate deep into the fabric fibres.
Among the latest original developments, we also note the line of double-load washing machines TWINWash (LG). They are equipped with two independent drums, and this allows you to load two different types of laundry into the machine at the same time - despite the fact that up to 12 (!) kg of laundry can be loaded into the main drum.
Washing two different sets of clothes at the same time is possible in the LG TWINWash dual-load washing machine. Photo: LG
Model Siemens WM14W740OE with SensoFresh technology. Photo: Siemens
Another drum improvement recently (in January 2018) appeared in the WW6850N washing machine (Samsung) - QuickDrive technology. Its essence lies in the fact that at the back of the capacious drum there is an independently rotating plate. Due to its rotation, a new vector of movement of the laundry along the axis of the drum is created. The achieved effect allows you to quickly and effectively remove dirt, maintaining a delicate attitude towards things and reducing washing time by 35% compared to other similar Samsung washing machines.
Quick wash programs
Samsung WW6850N washing machine with QuickDrive technology, which speeds up washing, and an additional AddWash loading door. Photo: Samsung
The user will find a specific embodiment of the effectiveness of new technologies and design solutions in the form of washing programs. What are the current performance records?
For lightly soiled items, special quick wash programs are used. Now the shortest quick wash programs take only 15 minutes. Hansa, Bosch, Siemens and other manufacturers have similar programs. The record so far is held by Candy - 14 minutes (washing at 30 °C with no more than 1.5 kg of laundry loaded into the drum). A full accelerated wash takes 30–40 minutes.
In Miele machines, the combination of the PowerWash 2.0 system and condensation drying allows you to wash and dry 4 kg of laundry in just 2 hours 45 minutes. XL models require only 3 hours 15 minutes to wash 5 kg of laundry. Photo: Miele
A number of quick wash programs are available in Indesit machines - five short RapidWash wash cycles, each of which is designed for a specific type of fabric and will help you carefully wash things in just an hour.
In addition to programs using steam, washing machines also have other options for refreshing laundry. For example, in the ActiveOxygen program (Bosch), the machine refreshes laundry using active oxygen. Siemens has a similar program using ozone called SensoFresh.
Bosch washing machines are equipped with the ActiveOxygen program, in which, without a standard wash cycle, the machine refreshes the laundry using active oxygen. Photo: Bosch
Washing machines from many manufacturers also provide intelligent washing programs, in which the user can reduce washing time by increasing water consumption and the intensity of drum rotation. Bosch and Siemens call this function speedPerfect. With the speedPerfect function, the wash program is 60% shorter. Electrolux also has similar programs (EcoTime Manager).
The duration of complex washing and drying programs directly depends on the amount of laundry loaded. For example, the QuickPower program in a Miele washing machine allows you to wash and dry 4 kg of laundry in just 2 hours 45 minutes, while washing 5 kg of laundry will take a little longer, 3 hours 15 minutes. And Bosch (model WVG30461OE) and Electrolux washer-dryers have accelerated wash and dry programs that can wash and dry small amounts of lightly soiled laundry in just 60 minutes.
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Washing rules
- Be sure to sort your laundry by fabric type and color. It is convenient to do this in advance by dividing the dirty laundry basket into compartments (plastic dividers are sold in hardware stores). This way you will save time and will be spared the need to dig through dirty laundry.
- Be careful when choosing a detergent . It is optimal to have in your home not only general-purpose powder, but also detergents for wool and silk, sports and membrane fabrics, as well as bleach. It is enough to turn black items inside out before washing, as modern dyes do not fade so easily.
- Try to choose the right washing mode , temperature and spin speed. As already mentioned, it is necessary to focus on the labels that clothing manufacturers always supply their products with, but if such information is not available, you can use the recommendations above.
- Use fabric softener - it will make your towels soft and your bed linen can be ironed easily. If you use specialized products when washing wool or silk, rinse aid is usually not used.
- Keep in mind: if you wash only at low temperatures, the machine may “bloom” , that is, black mold will appear in it, and a putrid smell will appear, which will be transmitted to the laundry. To prevent this from happening, thoroughly dry the detergent tray, wipe the rubber gaskets between the drum door and the machine body, and wash at high temperature at least once a month.
Additional features and lifehacks
Modern records: a washing machine requires only 14 minutes for the entire cycle, and a washer-dryer cycle requires only an hour.
Reloading without interrupting the wash
Did you forget to put a scarf, sock or something else in the drum? There is no need to wash them separately if the machine has the ability to reload items into the drum during the washing process. In some machines, you can pause the wash program and add more items to the drum. The AddWash system (Samsung) is even simpler and more convenient: a small additional door in the main one allows you to reload without stopping the wash.
For quick washing, manufacturers have developed a number of programs that allow you to wash both fabrics of one type or another, as well as perform a universal wash of different types of linen.
Photo: Whirlpool
Remote control
This option will be especially useful for owners of large houses, such as country cottages. You can control the operation of the washing machine remotely using an application on your smartphone. For example, the smart assistant Q-rator (Samsung) automatically gives recommendations on suitable washing modes depending on the color, material and degree of soiling. And with its HomeCare Wizard option, the user can remotely monitor the washing process, receiving warnings about problems and tips to fix those problems.
LG TWINWash dual load washing machines have a remote control feature. Photo: LG
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Mixed wash
The Turn&Wash (Indesit) mode is designed for simultaneous washing of items made from different materials. At a temperature of 30 °C, the washing machine will remove dirt from both cotton and synthetic items. The cycle duration will be 45 minutes.
Liquid detergents
The benefits of using liquid detergents have long been appreciated by owners of professional equipment used in laundry complexes. I downloaded them once in a few months - and you don’t have to worry about the quality of the equipment. Now liquid detergents can also be used in washing machines adapted for this purpose in the household segment. Automatic dosing not only saves your time, but also allows you to use the detergents themselves more accurately. In addition, liquid detergents do not need time to dissolve in water, like, say, regular powder; the liquid mixes more efficiently with water, which does not need to be heated for this.
Automatic two-phase dosing system for UltraPhase 1 and 2 (Miele) - a complex of liquid detergents that is suitable for both white and colored laundry. Photo: Miele
Quick approach
To increase the washing speed, it is advisable to have free space near the washing machine, approximately 0.5–1.0 m2. To have somewhere to place both clean and washed laundry. When loading horizontally, the loading hatch must open freely. If there is not enough free space, in cramped conditions it makes sense to use machines with vertical loading.
The slim Indesit TopLoad top-loading washing machine has five short RapidWash cycles for different fabric types. Photo: Indesit
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Advantages and disadvantages of quick wash
It would seem that the “Quick Wash” function can always be used, because it is convenient and economical. But that's not true.
The fact is that the program takes place at low temperatures. In such conditions, you can wash lightly soiled items that you change every day: T-shirts, socks, shirts, blouses. At the same time, there should be no complex or old stains on the fabric. A quick cycle only allows you to freshen your laundry and rid it of unpleasant odors.
At what degrees does the fast mode work? The water temperature is 30-40 degrees. You cannot always use the program, since to remove dust mites and stubborn dirt you need to run a full wash cycle at 60 degrees.
If you smell a musty smell from your laundry or drum, it's time to run a hot water cycle. Constantly running the washing machine in cold water leads to the formation of mold and mildew on the hatch cuff, which then ends up on your clothes.
How long does a quick wash last?
How many minutes does Quick Wash last? Depending on the washing machine model, the cycle duration ranges from 30 to 40 minutes. There is a “Super Quick Wash” program that will take 15 minutes.
Despite the short cycle time, the machine carries out the cycle completely: washing, rinsing, spinning.
How to use the mode correctly
Sort your laundry before loading. Separate items from each other by type of fabric, separate white clothes from colored ones. Set aside heavily soiled and stained laundry for a full wash cycle.
For better washing quality, do this:
So, consuming less electricity, you can wash your clothes efficiently.
How to speed up drying
CapDosing capsules (Miele) with detergent for fabrics requiring special care. Photo: Miele
Of all the manipulations, the greatest amount of time was spent on ironing and drying clothes. Housewives sometimes spent more time just hanging clothes to dry than doing the laundry itself. Add to this a day or two directly to dry the laundry to the required condition. It is not surprising that drying drums, which make it possible to abandon “manual” drying, have turned out to be in great demand. And even more popular are combined washer-dryers, in which there is no need to transfer the items being processed from the washing machine to the dryer drum. And one combined washer-dryer takes up much less space than two devices.
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