Washing machine reviews: Features explained
Large washing machines
Washing machine manufacturers are trying to outdo each other to produce the machine with the biggest capacity so you can do more washing in one go. These are useful in large households or for bulky items like duvets.
The biggest washing machines we've tested allow you to pack in 10kg of dirty laundry. A 7kg washing machine is about average.
Heavy users (who do more than five washes a week) are more likely to opt for a larger-capacity washing machines. See the table below to find out how much extra washing a bigger drum allows you to do.
| Washing machines: What size drum do you need? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Size |  6kg |  7.5kg |  10kg |
| Capacity | 6 small towels 2 pillowcases 6 T-shirts 2 sheets 2 pairs of jeans 14 socks | 6 small towels 2 pillowcases 10 T-shirts 2 sheets 4 pairs of jeans 14 socks | 8 small towels 5 pairs of jeans 30 socks 4 pillow cases 3 sheets 15 T-shirts |
| Verdict | A 6kg load is usually large enough for most households | 7.5kg provides an opportunity to squeeze in an extra pair of jeans or two | 10kg is over double what a Which? member would do in one goa |
Table notes
- A typical Which? member washes 4.5kg of clothes in every load
Water and energy use
Water and energy use per kilogram of washing are often lower for big washing machines – but only when you fill them up. Larger capacity machines can be very water-hungry. If you don't fill them up, you'll be wasting a lot of water.
If you wash with a full load, they use less energy and water per item washed than a smaller washing machine. So they're efficient if you have a large family, but not if there are fewer of you.
Washing machine spin speed
Many washing machines boast a high 1400 revolutions per minute (rpm), 1600rpm or even 1800rpm spin speed rather than the more common 1200rpm, which helps save time on the line or energy use in the tumble dryer by removing more water.
However you'll usually pay extra for this feature, and 1200rpm is generally adequate for most loads.
Washing machine convenience features
There are several features to look for, depending on how you use your washing machine. See which washing machine has which feature by clicking on the model name in our Overview section.
Extra rinsing
This washing machine feature is useful for people with eczema, sensitive skin or allergies, as an extra rinse removes more detergent from the washing.
If you have a problem with undissolved detergents, consider switching to liquid detergents, particularly for quick-wash programs.
See our tests of laundry liquids and laundry tablets for more.
Variable spin speed
This feature lets you lower the spin speed of the washing machine to protect woollens, handwash-only clothes and delicate items from damage. It’s useful if the default spin speed for your washing machine is higher than 1,000rpm.
Delayed start
Some washing machines allow you to set washing to start later in the day. For example, you can set a load to wash overnight, to take advantage of cheap electricity. The exact amount of time a program can be delayed varies between one and 24 hours.
If you use the delayed-start feature at night, fit a smoke alarm nearby.
Electronic display
This feature can be useful for checking which stage of washing a program has reached and how long it has left to run. Some new washing machines are fitted with LCD touchscreens.
These let you program a wash using a series of pop-up menus. This removes the need for the usual proliferation of dials and buttons. However, you'll have to pay more for fancy displays, and they don't always make the washing machine easier to use.
Overdosing
Some premium washing machine models include this feature to stop too much detergent being used in a wash. The washing machine will automatically add an extra rinse cycle if too much detergent has been taken into a wash.
For more
See also our guide to how to use your washing machine. For details of other laundry appliances, see the Which? tumble dryer and washer-dryer reviews.