The washing machines are considered complex home appliances and they can become tough to use, but with our comprehensive washing machine guide, you would soon become a walk in the park. From offering all the knowledge about the fundamentals of washing machines to take a smart decision to explain the usage of washing machines appropriately and the associated problems, this informative guide would surely help you use your washing machine to the best advantage.
In case you’re planning to purchase a washing machine, it becomes significant to know your requirements and what are the different types of machines in the market. Thus, before you plan to purchase a washing machine, here are a few important things you need to know:
Semi-Automatic or Fully-Automatic
Choosing one is going to rely on your budget and requirements. Both these washing machines have their own pros and cons; hence, choosing one solely depends on your preference.
Spin Cycle
Relying on the types of garments and fabric you need to wash, the spin cycle, which represents the number of revolutions per minute, is quite significant. The delicate clothes must solely be rotated on a cycle ranging in between 300-500rpm, whilst the stronger clothes might be worked at 1000rpm.
Wash Settings
A majority of fully-automatic washers provide a variety of programs for a variety of washes, such as the wool wash and delicate wash programs. Some settings might be customized, and you might as well save your desired settings so that you can wash your clothes as per your requirement.
Size
The top-loading machines incline to be slimmer when compared to the front-load washing machines. The space you have for the laundry area is going to help you decide the appropriate size.
Efficiency
The efficiency of the washing machine depends on how much power and water the unit consumes when performing the laundry. Choosing an efficient washing machine would surely offer plenty of savings in due course.
Dryer Availability
In case you have a hectic schedule and don’t have ample time to hang and let the clothes dry, then the washing machines with the inherent dryer would prove to be quite valuable.
Load capacity
In case you have a bigger household you would like to choose a washing machine, which can wash the bigger loads contrasted with the person having a smaller family or a bachelor living away from home.
Drum Material
A washing machine’s drums are crafted in different forms using distinct materials, like stainless steel, plastic, or porcelain enamel. The washing drums that are crafted out of steel are costly yet suite durable when compared to the other versions.
Moreover, the enamel drums are relatively lesser long-lasting compared to other drum materials even if you look at their affordability.
Pre-Soak Feature
If there are kids at home who tend to play around and get their clothes dirty, you would need to invest in the washing machine that offers a pre-soak program or cycle.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WASHING MACHINES IN INDIA?
The washing machines are considered to be an important home appliance and help you keep away from the requirement to perform the painstaking manual washing. In this way, the washing machines help you save both time and effort irrespective of the size of your family.
But, there are various types of washing machines you can buy; hence, we have prepared a guide to help you choose the perfect washer to suit your requirements and budget:
Semi-Automatic Washing Machine
Different from the fully-automatic machines, these washing machines are partially automatic in their work. This signifies that you would require performing a few actions physically, such as filling the washing tub with water and moving the clothes to the drying tub if you have a twin-tub unit.
Fully-Automatic Washing Machine
These washing machines are capable of performing every action with the buttons provided on the control panel. The fully-automatic washing machine offers a single tub, which acts as both dryer and washer along with rinsing the clothes.
These washing machines are further categorized into 2 main types, which are namely the front and top load washing machines.
Top-Load Washing Machine
In the market, the fully automatic and manual washing machines are top-load units. The top-load washing machines are valuable for the people who prefer a washer using which they won’t require bending completely whilst loading the clothes into the drum.
The top-loaders generally consume lesser space; hence, it proves to be a good decision for those who don’t have ample space in their laundry area.
Front-Load Washing Machine
The front-loaders are the units in which you have to load the clothes into the drum from the face of the machine. Such washing machines tend to consume lesser power and water, and customarily deliver superior laundry performance when compared to the top-load washing machines.
TOP-LOAD WASHING MACHINE vs. FRONT-LOAD WASHING MACHINE
The position of the door is the primary difference between these two washing machines. Apart from that, here are a few other differences that you need to know:
Capacity
In case you buy a top-loader that is equipped with an agitator, then the unit is going to consume more space; hence, the front loaders can house bigger loads.
Structure
In addition to the door location, the front-load washing machines don’t have an agitator and instead utilize a paddle installed to the drum’s side. This implies that the front-loaders are comparatively gentle on the garments.
Water
The front-load washing machines tend to utilize lesser water for doing the laundry when compared to the top-loaders.
Electricity
As you can perform the laundry for a bigger load with the front-load washing machines, this signifies that you would require relatively lesser washing cycles.
This is going to help you save ample money on the energy bills, particularly if you bring home an energy-efficient washing machine.
Price
You are going to discover that the top-load washing machines are affordable when compared to the front-load options. However, front-load washing machines would prove to be a cost-effective choice in the long run.
Space
The top-load washing machines are thinner in design, so they are easier to install in a smaller space in comparison to their counterparts.
CHOOSING AN ECO-FRIENDLY & AFFORDABLE WASHING MACHINE
If you purchase an effective washing machine, at times you would be able to save money by bringing home an energy-efficient washing machine or by selecting a washing machine that won’t require using a lot of water. Green-washing is the need of the hour as it is eco-friendly and assists in saving plenty of money in the long term.
What are the advantages of green-washing?
The energy-efficient washing machines offer several advantages above solely being eco-friendly in their work. Such a washing machine doesn’t make a lot of noise and save energy in the process.
Owing to the green-washing, the washing machines would last longer whilst diminishing the water usage and the harmful carbon emissions!
How can energy-efficient washing machines save money?
By diminishing the power consumption of the washing machine, you tend to utilize lesser electricity whilst doing the laundry, which signifies that the utility bills are going to be low.
Which are the most energy-efficient washing machines?
Talking about efficiency, fully-automatic washing machines tend to be more energy-efficient, but you would require doing your research to discover a washing machine that is low on energy consumption.
Which washing machines consume lesser water?
Considering the water consumption, the semi-automatic washers offer the advantage of manual water top up so that you can control the amount of water you would pour in while laundry. On the other hand, at times, you would find that the front-load washing machines would consume lesser water whilst being an energy-efficient unit.
WASHER-DRYER COMBO vs. WASHING MACHINES
When you have made up your mind to buy a fully-automatic washing machine, the next thing that comes to your mind is if you can purchase the washer-dryer combination or a washing machine? To get you out of this anomaly, we would be discussing the difference between the washer-dryer combos and a fully-automatic washing machine.
The washer-dryer combination is the washing machine, which comes with the built-in tumble dryer to help dry the clothes rapidly. Hence, it would be a decent choice as it can perform the washing and drying in one cycle. Thus, you would solely need to take out your clothes from the tub and ready-to-wear.
How good are the washer dryer combos?
In case you need a dryer but there is a space crunch at home, the washer dryer combos would help you as they are a combination of 2 appliances. This would help you save space and feasibly money as you would only purchase a single machine.
On the other hand, for the effective usage of a dryer, you would require loading it with a smaller bunch of clothes, which isn’t the case with the separate tumble dryers. In the process, you would take a longer time to perform the laundry chore at home.
Indeed, using only a single appliance would help cut down energy consumption; hence, it would prove to be a cheaper alternative in place of buying two separate machines.
Washer-Dryers vs. Separate Machines
If you have both the money and space, opting for the separate machines to perform the drying and washing offers its distinct advantages. To get the finest washing performance, the washing machine has to rub the garments together, so you would discover that the drum dimensions would be smaller.
However, the tumble dryer would require more space to dry the clothes using hot air; hence, it comes with bigger drum dimensions. Therefore, you will be able to wash & dry a bigger load in one go, which is another perk of owning two separate machines.
Moreover, if you need to launder a lot of clothes, you can easily manage it by drying a bunch of clothes whilst the other bunch is being washed.
BEST WASHING MACHINE IN INDIA – USAGE GUIDE
Using a washing machine effectively isn’t a born art; everybody has to learn how to do it by having a look at the instruction manual. With our washing machine instruction guide, you’ll get all the info you require to use this appliance irrespective of the type of washing machine you choose to buy!
How Do We Need to Regulate the Control Panel?
Wash
The washing machine comes with 3 primary settings, which are namely length, agitation, and temperature
Agitation
When washing the delicate clothes you need to set the agitation level as low. To launder the stronger items, synthetics, cotton, and deeply soiled clothes, you have to set the agitation level high.
Length
To wash the lightly dirty clothes, the faster cycles prove to be quite handy. Moreover, the faster washing cycle like rapid wash & quick wash is a blessing for those who are often in a hurry.
Temperature
The temperature setting allows you to wash your clothes at different levels of heat to offer superior removal of stains whilst saving energy.
How to Load a Washing Machine Effectively?
To check if you have properly loaded the washer’s drum, you must be capable to fit your hand inside the drum. You should refrain from overloading the drum as it can affect the washing performance.
BEST WASHING MACHINES IN INDIA – IMPORTANT TIPS & TRICKS
For the finest washing results, you should unload within 2 hours in any case following the completion of the wash cycle.
How Can We Load a Washing Machine Properly?
Loading the washing machine properly will help you get a much better wash whilst diminishing the waste and lint. To load the drum effectively, you primarily need to sort the clothes you need to wash.
You need to separate the dark clothes, white ones, light clothes, and delicate ones and wash them individually. For the bigger loads, you must sort the clothes by their color.
Drum Size
The larger washing drum would necessitate a bigger detergent dosage. Apart from the extra dirt, but you need to add more water as well. You will have to follow the dosing instructions properly to get the desired results. Adding a lot of detergents wouldn’t just lead to wastage, but you will have to wash the clothes all over again to get rid of the residue.
Adding a smaller quantity of detergent wouldn’t solve the sole purpose of washing clothes as they would be as dirty as they were before the wash. To keep this problem away, the palm trick is going to help you check whether you’ve stuffed plenty of garments inside the drum.
Full Load
It would be worth the wait until you completely load the washing machine with a whole bunch of clothes. In case, the washing machine isn’t loaded properly, then it would result in the wastage of water and power. You need to wait until you get a full load of clothes to wash. Or else, you may wash your clothes appropriately using the half-load feature if you have it.
To check if the load is full, you solely need to place your hand inside the washing drum. In case the hand tends to fit in and nothing else, then the drum has been loaded ideally. You will have to take some clothes out if you haven’t been able to put your hand inside the washer’s drum. However, you can add more clothes if there is space inside the drum when you use the palm trick.
Apt Dosage
Whenever you load the washing machine, the correct dosage of the detergent becomes quite significant. Irrespective of loading the washing drum perfectly, at first, you need to check if you have added less or more detergent.
If you need to wash a half load, make sure that you use lesser detergent, and take note of the hardness of water and the garment’s dirtiness.
TOP WASHING MACHINES IN INDIA – CLEANING GUIDE
Similar to washing the clothes, your washing machine also requires cleaning. A lot of people have the notion that the detergent you use for cleaning the clothes would also clean the washing machine in the process. On the other hand, the washing machine is prone to the accumulation of bacteria, dirt, muddy soap, and mildew owing to regular washing.
If you don’t maintain and clean the washing machine regularly, it is going to smell musty after some time. Here are a few tips for cleaning your washing machine meticulously to enhance its life expectancy:
- You have to eliminate the load when the wash cycle gets completed to evade the musty smell.
- Run a cleaning process every month with the washing machine cleaning solution to do away with the contaminants and foul odors and avoiding any sort of buildup inside the machine.
- Following every wash cycle, you have to keep the door partly open. This would permit proper aeration of the machine and assist in drying the machine.
- Eliminate the detergent, water, and fabric softener deposits out of the dispenser drawer and leave it open for a while.
- Then, using a wet cloth, clean the washing machine’s exterior frame.
- After that, you have to freshen up the inlet hose filters as the flow of water during the cycle gets affected if it is clogged.
How to Take Proper Care of a Washing Machine?
The washing machine needs to be maintained and cleaned properly for effective performance. By taking care of the washing machine regularly, you might as well save the money you would need to invest in the repairs.
On the other hand, every single washing machine requires a different type of care, so in the next section we will be discussing the important tips for cleaning the top load and front load washing machines:
Cleaning a Top-Load Washing Machine
- First of all, you need to run the hot cycle when the machine is empty for eliminating the detergent build-up.
- Afterward, you have to run an additional hot wash using a good-quality machine cleaner to evade the odors.
- Let the hot cycle do its work for 30 seconds and then leave the machine idle for the next 30 minutes.
- Then, you need to restart and complete the cycle.
- Switch off the machine and wipe the interiors using a hot & wet cloth for meticulously cleaning the tub’s rim and the drum.
Cleaning a Front-Load Washing Machine
- Same as a top-loader, you will have to run the hot cycle whilst the machine is empty to get rid of the accumulated detergent.
- Then, you have to operate the 40-degree wash using a machine cleaner to eliminate the odors.
- After that, you have to take out the detergent drawer and let it soak inside a sink or bowl. You might as well add some bleach in the hot water if the machine is quite dirty.
- Wipe down the door and machine using a cloth dipped in the hot water. Then, you have to pull the rubber seal back on the door to remove all the scum below.
- Then, you also have to wipe in the hole where the dispenser drawer was positioned.
- Using an old toothbrush eliminate the residues present inside the drawer before putting it back in its place.
How to Make your Washing Machine Long-Lasting?
If you have been looking at the tricks and tips on providing the much-needed daily care, the instruction given below will help you extend the life expectancy of your washing machine:
Take note of the clothes
You have to avoid washing heavy items such as carpets, which might put undue pressure on the washing machine.
Comprehend the wash settings
Ensure that you utilize the apt cycle for the wash you require, which would not only protect your garments from any damage but also the washing machine.
Don’t overload the machine
Putting a bigger bunch of clothes into the machine at once will put unnecessary pressure on the motor of the washer and can give rise to overheating. If the drum has been packed to its capacity, spinning the load would become quite hard.
If your washing machine has the heavy-load feature, bring it to use as this cycle adds more water for cleaning the clothes more efficiently. Moreover, ensure that you avoid heavy loads except you have no other choice.
Eliminate Rust
In case you have started finding some red spots on your clothes, you will have to eliminate the rust accumulated in your washing machine. Check if the detergent dispenser or the drum has caught rust. You can eliminate the rusting by running a wash cycle and then wiping the corroded portion off.
However, in extreme cases, you might require replacing the drum. Likewise, the rust might as well be inside the water pipes, so perhaps have a look at those too.
A washing machine that’s properly maintained is going to deliver the best laundry performance for a prolonged time. So, ensure keeping your machine clean and dose the right quantity of detergent to get the prime washing performance.
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