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What type of washing machine? |
| Firstly, think about where your washing machine is going to go. If it's under a counter top, then you'll need a front loader. Top loaders are suitable if you have a narrow space and don't want to use the machine under a counter. They use up more energy and water than front loaders, but usually have larger capacities and mean you don't have to stoop when loading laundry. An integrated machine is a front loader covered by a panel that matches the rest of your kitchen units, so when the door is closed, the machine will be completely hidden.
If your machine is going under a worktop or into a confined space, remember to measure the available space before ordering and don't forget to measure areas of access too!
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Cold fill |
| Most machines are now cold fill only which is gentler on fabrics and better for stain removal; it's also more energy efficient, and in fact energy ratings are determined on cold fill only.
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Wash programmes |
| The number of programmes will vary according to the sophistication of the machine, but broadly they will break down into:
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- Cottons (need the most rigorous washing action)
- Synthetics or easy care (need gentler action)
- Delicates (similar to synthetics programme, but gentler)
- Woollens(need lots of water and very little agitation)
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Our latest machines have handwash programmes for fabrics such as fine wools or silk, and these are actually even gentler and more effective at protecting your clothes than washing by hand. Some will also have mixed wash programmes (low temperature), and most will also have pre-wash programmes to remove surface dirt from heavily soiled fabrics before the main wash cycle, which is usually set to follow straight on.
Always check clothes labels for instructions on how to wash them. Use this handy table as your guide:
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Washing
symbol |
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Machine |
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Hand wash |
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Suitable for |
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wash in
cotton cycle
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White cotton and linen articles without special finishes. |
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maximum
wash in
cotton cycle |
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• Spin or wring. |
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Cotton, linen or viscose without special finishes where colours are fast at 60°C. |
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medium wash in synthetic cycle |
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• Hand hot.
• Cold rinse,
short spin or
damp dry. |
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Polyester/cotton mixtures, nylon, polyester, cotton and viscose
with special finishes. |
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maximum wash in cotton cycle |
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• Warm.
• Spin or hand wring. |
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Cotton, linen or viscose where colours are fast at 40°C but not at 60°C. |
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medium
wash in
synthetic
cycle |
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• Warm.
• Cold rinse.
• Short spin.
• Do not hand wring. |
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Acrylics and acetate, including mixtures with wool, polyester/wool blends. |
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minimum
wash in
wool cycle |
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• Warm.
• Do not rub.
• Short spin.
• Do not hand wring. |
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Wool, wool mixed
with other fibres, silk. |
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Hand wash only |
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Do not machine or hand wash |
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May be chlorine bleached |
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Do not chlorine bleach |
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Some washing machines have variable temperature control, so you can opt to select a lower temperature for a load which is perhaps not particularly soiled, e.g. reducing easy care fabrics from 60º to 40ºC, but the length of the wash cycle will be the same. However, it won't let you do this the other way round so you can't inadvertently select too high a temperature. Many machines have an economy setting which will automatically reduce the washing temperature but again maintain the length of the washing cycle.
Believe it or not, washing programmes on recent machines will generally take longer than on older machines. This is because the bleaches and enzymes in today's detergents work best at temperatures of 40-50ºC and need a longer working time for optimum results. With some machines you can select a short wash programme to speed things up, or a quick wash - but both are best suited to lightly soiled items.
Most machines have a rinse hold facility which holds the washing in the final clean rinse water prior to spinning in case you're not there to remove the clothes as soon as they've spun, reducing the risk of creasing. All machines have the facility to drain out water without spinning in case there are clothes you want to drip dry or you need to retrieve something from the machine such as a pen left in a pocket or a red sock in with your fresh whites! Some machines have an extra rinse facility which is useful in soft water areas or if anyone in the household has particularly sensitive skin.
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Spin speeds |
| Most machines have a minimum of two spin speeds: |
- 1000 - 1800 rpm - a higher speed for cottons
- 400 - 800 rpm- a lower speed for synthetics and delicates
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Usually a machine will auto select the spin speed based on the programme used, but some will also have a variable spin speed function so you can select it yourself. If you're intending to use a tumble dryer, it's worth choosing a machine with a good high spin speed as it's more economical to extract water from spinning than from tumble drying.
Top of the range machines will have a long spin cycle for cottons for more efficient water extraction, and an interval spin for synthetics to reduce creasing. All machines will try to balance a laundry load before the main spin cycle begins, and if it can't achieve even distribution, it will automatically select a slower spin speed for safety.
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Energy efficiency and the environment |
| All machines will have an energy efficiency and a performance grading A - G, with A being the most economical. Standardised tests, monitored by Trading Standards, are carried out across the industry and manufacturers are responsible for grading their own machines.
Performance is based on washing performance and spin efficiency. You will generally find that the more expensive the machine, the higher its grading as it will include a number of energy saving features, eg. a timer delay will allow you to use cheaper overnight electricity and variable temperature controls allow you to use lower temperature for lightly soiled loads. Most machines incorporate a pressure switch mechanism and automatically use the correct amount of water for the load; others will have a half load facility for small quantities of laundry.
Fuzzy Logic (some manufacturers use a different term to describe this feature) means that the machine uses advanced electronic technology to monitor conditions during the wash and make any adjustments required to get optimum cleaning performance using minimum water and energy; it can influence the main wash, water intake, temperature settings, wash time, rinse performance and spin speed. Many machines with Fuzzy Logic earn AA or AAA energy efficiency gradings.
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Delivery, recycling and disposal |
| If you live within the delivery area of a John Lewis shop (you can check your postcode on the specific product page), your new appliance will be delivered by one of our vans. You will also be able to arrange for collection and recycling of your old appliance (at a cost of £9) so that we can dispose of it safely. Disposal must be booked and paid for when you place your order, and we can only remove the old appliance if it has been disconnected. Once your old appliance has been removed, it is deemed of no value and we will be unable to return it to you. Alternatively, you can take your old appliance to a local recycling centre to be recycled free of charge (visit www.recycle-more.co.uk to find you nearest site). If you live outside a delivery area, then your new appliance will be delivered by one of our couriers who are unable to collect, so you will need to take your old appliance to a local recycling centre. |
Installation |
| Before installation the transit straps must be removed, usually accessible from the back of the machine. The machine should be levelled if necessary by adjusting the feet underneath.
Bear in mind that if you have a tongue and groove or suspended floor, or your machine will be above ground floor level, because of the vibration of the machine during the spin cycle, the movement of the floor will not only be noisy but also detrimental to the life of the machine. To resolve this, it's best to mount the machine on a piece of ¾ in. blockboard cut to fit the width and depth of the machine and screwed to the floor (checking, of course, for pipework beneath).
Your machine will come with full installation instructions, but it's worth bearing in mind that it's best to place all the plumbing to the side of the site for the machine so that they are accessible in case of emergency, and ensures the machine can be located up to the wall. The hoses must not be kinked or twisted as the machine is pushed back into place.
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Washer dryers |
| These provide a really practical space-saving solution if you don't have room for both a washing machine and tumble dryer, and are also useful for small households where the amount of laundry done doesn't warrant a full sized drying machine. Washer dryers have all the usual functions of a washing machine, but they can be more limited in their tumble drying function because of the size of the drum, which with some (but not all) models will restrict you to drying only half a wash load at a time.
Of course you'll also only be able to wash or dry at one time, so for larger households or large wash loads, this can be impractical. The washing machine of a washer dryer will be as sophisticated or basic as a separate machine, and the more you pay, the more features you get, most of which help to save you energy. Click here for the tumble dryers buying guide for more information
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