Washing clothes when you have too many of them or when they are highly dirty can be a challenging experience but with a good washing machine this would become easy for you. A washing machine will clean and dry your clothes to some extent even during the rainy season. It is but expected that the first question that will strike your mind is which washing machine is best for home.
Well, the initial considerations that one would make in deciding which washing machine is best for home would be the load type, functions, capacity, budget (for automatic or semi-automatic), other factors like material of the drum, wash settings, etc.
Table of contents
Which type of washing machine is best for home – top load or front load?
Whether to buy a top load or a front load is always a question when selecting the best washing machine for home. Which washing machine is best for home depends upon your needs, budget, and also the features you are looking for in a washing machine. One primary advantage in top load washing machine is it is easy to load and unload as it opens at waist height for almost all users. Further, more clothes can be put into the washing machine while it is working in both standard and high-efficiency top load washers.
Front-load washing machines are useful even for those who are confined in wheel chair. It is to be noted that unlike a top loading washing machine, a front loading one would lock to prevent the water overflow thereby making it impossible to add last minute laundry. However, some of the washing machine manufacturers have started adding features whereby you could add laundry after the cycle time has started. This however would add to the purchase price significantly.
| Top Load Washing Machine | Front Load Washing Machine |
| Doesn’t have large front door so the look is smoother and sleeker | Has got a thick glass which enables you to see the clothes getting washed. You can track the progress of the wash cycle. |
| Twists and swirls clothing to clean the dirt and stains. | Tumble clothes against each other while washing. Clothes scrub one another in the process. |
| Force of gravity and tumbling motion is absent. | Has more cleaning power due to these functionalities. |
| About 8 inches taller | About 8 inches deeper (from front to back) |
| Motors are easy to access. Basic repairs can be done yourself or by a local electrician. | Simple tasks like cleaning the tub can be done by the users themselves, trained technicians are required to carry out maintenance tasks. |
| Maintaining is less expensive but would require it often. | Maintaining is costly but frequent repairs are not needed. |
| There is an impeller plate at the bottom of the washer tub with which clothes are moved during washing. More wear and tear of clothes are likely. | Uses the tumbling action which is similar to hand washing and hence the wear and tear of clothes would be lesser compared to washing in top load washing machine. |
| Uses close to 20 gallons of water per load. A standard top load washing machine uses about 40+ gallons of water per load. | Uses around 15 gallons of water per load. It is more energy efficient |
| Top load washing machine prices range from Rs\. 12,000 to Rs. 70,000 | Front load washing machine prices range from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 4,50,000 |
So which washing machine is best for home, top load or front load is clear from the chart given above. Front load washing machine cleans clothes better than the top load ones with lesser water and tear. However, buying a front load washing machine is not pocket friendly although they provide a better service.
How to select the right washing machine capacity?
While selecting the right washing machine for home use it is important to understand about the washing capacity in kilograms. When you look across the various brands of washing machine one thing that would be prominent is the load capacity. This is nothing but the maximum amount of clothes that one can wash in the washing machine in one cycle. If the load capacity of the washing machine is higher the then the machine’s weight and running cost will also be higher. It is to be noted that the load capacity of a washing machine is measured based on the weight of the dry clothes that you put inside to wash. For example, where the washing machine has a washing capacity of 6 kg then you can load up 6 kg of laundry for cleaning, and beyond that is not advisable.
An effective way to determine the load capacity for your homely use is to weigh the average load of the laundry that you may wash in a single cycle. It would then be easy to select which type of washing machine is best for home with optimum load capacity.
The below table will demonstrate the washing machine capacity for your homely use:
| Washing Machine Size | Bachelor / Family | Washing Capacity |
| 6 – 6.5 kg | 1 – 3 people | 10 – 12 clothes: 2 shirts / t-shirts, 2 pants, 2 towels, 2 pillow covers, and 1 bed sheet and 1 jeans. |
| 6.5 – 7 Kg | 4 – 6 people | 15 – 20 clothes: 2 shirts, 2 pants, 1 jeans, 2 towels, 2 pillow covers, and 1 bed sheet. |
| 7 – 8 kg | 6 – 8 people | 30 – 35 clothes: 3 shirts, 3 pants, 3 towels, 3 pillow covers, 1 jeans, and 2 bed sheets. |
| 10 kg | 8+ above people | 50 clothes: 4 shirts / t-shirts, 4 pants, 4 towels, 4 pillow covers, 2 bed sheets and 2 jeans. |
If you have space constraints in your home then a top loading washing machine would be an ideal choice due to its sleek design. Measure the space in your home and buy according to the correct dimensions so that the machine can be placed correctly.
Should we buy a semi-automatic washing machine or an automatic washing machine?
Which washing machine is best for home, semi-automatic or a fully automatic one depends on your individual needs and budget. For semi-automatic washing machine, manual intervention is required to some extent. There are two drums, one for washing the clothes and one for drying and once the washing process is complete you have to lift it from one side and put it in the other drum for drying. Semi-automatic washing machines are all top load ones by default. A fully automatic washing machine doesn’t require manual work, once you load the clothes and switch on the program you need not bother till the end. There are two types in automatic ones, the top load ones and the front load ones. Semi-automatic washing machines consume more energy but are less expensive than automatic ones.
What should you know about washing machine’s drums before buying a new washing machine?
It is important to know about the washing machine drum capacity. This is measured by the net weight of dry clothes that can be washed in one cycle. Normally, the drum capacities of washing machines range from 5 kg to 12 kg. For a medium size household a drum capacity of 6 kg in front load washing machines and 7 kg for top load washing machines is ideal. Washing machine drums come in different types – enameled steel, plastic, and stainless steel, and of these stainless steel are considered to be the best.
FAQs
1. How much power will a washing machine consume? Is washing machine heavy on electricity?
Although it won’t consume electricity the way air conditioners do, yet washing machines do consume some amount of energy. Normally, using a washing machine can result in consumption of somewhere from around 400 to 1400 watts of electricity and this may wary based upon the model that you are using. Using a washing machine about 3 times in a week would result in an average consumption of around 140 kilowatt hours of power per year.
2. Do I need a special detergent for high efficient washing machine?
One shouldn’t put regular detergent in a high efficient (HE) washing machine as it would lengthen the wash cycle and negatively affect the cleaning performance of the machine. You should use a HE detergent one for washing your clothes. Use about ¼ cup for a normal load.
3. What happens when you put wrong detergent in the washing machine?
You shouldn’t use a wrong detergent in the first place and even if by accident you did then first cancel the wash and start again using the spin cycle. Afterwards, follow the rinse and spin only cycle to remove the suds.
4. Do high efficiency washing machines consume more electricity?
No. High efficiency washing machines consume less electricity and run more efficiently. This is one thing that people look forward to when upgrading their washing machine.
5. What type of washing machine is most energy efficient?
Inverter washing machines are highly energy efficient and becoming popular among buyers. It uses an inverter motor which is less noisy than the traditional ones. Inverters control the speed of the motor allowing it to run efficiently with optimum results.
6. How many times can we use a washing machine in a day?
It is fine to use the washing machine 3-4 times in a day. However, there must be a gap of about an hour between two consecutive washes to give the machine some good rest before beginning the process. Remember, there is always a risk associated with any electrical appliance if you use it for a prolonged period consecutively.
7. Is quick wash more energy efficient?
Quick wash has got shorter spin time and it uses cooler water saving your electricity bills. It will also help your washing machine last longer. When you have less number of clothes then quick wash function is good. However, it wouldn’t help when your clothes have stubborn stain. Also, you may find residual soap left over either in your clothes or in the washing machine itself.
8. How to clean the washing machine?
Fill the empty washer with warm water; add bleach or a cleaning wash powder that would have been provided by your washing machine company. Let the washing machine run for about a minute to mix up the cleaning powder and water. Thereafter set extra rinse and spin, repeat this process at least once in a month as part of maintaining your washing machine.
9. Is it better to use detergent liquid or a normal washing powder?
Using a liquid detergent is better for your clothes and for your washing machine. As it is liquid, it wouldn’t clog your machine and cause clothes to stain. Also it wouldn’t fade your clothes. On the other hand powder contains bleach which will damage your clothes.
10. Can I use washing machine on an inverter connection?
You can but ensure that your inverter has good battery capacity and avoid loading the washing machine to full capacity.
11. Can I wash my shoes in a washing machine?
You can wash canvas shoes and not leather ones. Remove the insoles and shoe laces to prevent any damage to your shoes.
12. Which washing machine program should I use?
Quick wash is good for lesser clothes. For woolen clothes and silk clothes use Gentle wash. For jeans, bed sheets, etc. use Rinse+ function, and for the rest use Normal function.
13. How do I install my washing machine?
First check the availability of manufacturer’s service person to visit and do the demo installation. In case the manufacturer isn’t providing this facility then you may check with any local service personnel or you can do it yourself by following the instructions in the manual provided by the company or by watching the video on YouTube.
14 . How to move a washing machine?
Wrap it thoroughly either with blankets or heavy cloth or with a good plastic cover and cardboard box while shifting. Lift it and put it on the trolley to move it.
15. Which washing machine brand is the best to buy?
There are many brands to select from either on online shopping platforms like Amazon or Flipkart, or from a shopping mall, company exclusive showrooms or local shops. Videocon, Whirlpool, LG, Samsung, Bosch, IFB, Godrej, Haier, etc. are some of the sought after brands available in the market.