It's hard for a modern citizen to imagine what a hand wash is. Well, except that especially delicate things can be put in order with their own hands, and even then many will better take such things to the cleaning (and correctly do). And that's why sooner or later, but the question of how to choose a washing machine will rise.

For example, the taraya will break, or you will decide to move from a rented apartment to your own, or it will simply come time to separate from your parents and acquire your own home appliances. And perhaps, you are going to equip modern amenities not only with urban housing, but also with a dacha.

Types of washing machines and selection parameters

Stiralki are automatic and semi-automatic. Other can be found only in branch museums and on the flea market, in the section "I'll give free of charge, self-delivery". To "other" can be attributed and ultrasonic devices, such as "Retona".

The ultrasonic model is almost useless, so we will not remember it again. The automatic ones require you to load detergent, dirty things into them, after which you will only have to choose a washing program.

All the rest they will do themselves, leaving for you only one more action: take out the laundry washed.

All washing machines, whatever brand they are, belong to the family of drum units.

Washing semi-automatons can be drum and activator. The set of programs they have limited or nonexistent, and you can choose only the duration of the process.

At present, such machines are not in demand, as compared to automatic machines, they lose greatly in all respects. One exception is still there: products of Russian industry, basins with a motor and a lid, called affectionate names "Baby" and "Fairy". This is a plastic tank, in which you can quickly wash a couple of things, but then have to squeeze them with your hands.

The only advantage of these babies is mobility and compactness. You can carry and transport them anywhere, use at the dacha, in rented accommodation and in hostels. They will not give special quality, but to some extent they are able to facilitate life and make life better and more pleasant.

If a student living in a rented apartment decides to choose such a model of the brand "Baby" or "Fairy" from the Russian manufacturer - his choice is fully justified. Cheap and very angry, but then you can throw away without regret.

Washing machines

It's machines that mean people who are wondering - how to choose the right washing machine. Automatic machines can be different in size, cost, can combine the functions of washing and drying, and all this matters. In order not to get confused and choose the best machine, we will understand each criterion separately.

Drying function

If you do not suffer from extravagance and an inordinate desire to spend as much money as possible, you do not need drying. Neither combined with the stylalko, nor separately bought. Things with machine drying much faster wear out and fail. In addition, drying consumes a lot of electricity. And after a good spin, things go almost dry already - so why waste money on drying? You can choose a good machine with a sufficiently strong spin, and save a lot of money.

If the drying function is available in the washing machine, this leads to a significant increase in the cost of the unit. And it makes it less durable, because the use of the drying regime leads to rapid damage to the rubber of the sealing elements. To replace them, you will have to part with a decent amount, the size of which depends on the manufacturer and the degree of relevance of the model.

And this is the first thing you need to know about which washing machine to choose: better without drying, just washing.

Let them have to wait a little while the laundry is dry, but the machine will also last longer.

Classes denoted by letters

Automatic machines are divided into different classes of washing, spinning and power consumption. All classes are denoted by letters, the best of which is the first letter of the alphabet, A. Very good, if pluses are added to it.

In fact, in the store it is difficult to find washing units, the class of which would be lower than V. And if you tried to distinguish the result of washing a car class A and class B by eye, you would hardly notice the difference.

Only the energy consumption class has some significance, but this designation is relatively arbitrary. Manufacturers indicate these classes for cotton fabric when fully loaded and standard mode. If you wash light delicate things, or heavy woolen rugs, the rates of energy and water consumption will be quite different.

So you can orient yourself to letters, but you should not take them seriously. In the end, at any home appliance store you will be able to make sure that classes A are assigned as cheap Chinese models, and super-expensive German units, comparable in price and quantity of bells and whistles with space ship.

However, this does not apply to the pressing class. Experts believe that it is worth choosing brands with a class of pressing A and B. This class is provided by units that develop at speeds of 800 to 1000 rpm. The underwear comes out semi-dry, but not too crumpled.

For units that spin at higher speeds, 1400-1800 rpm, more expensive motors are used, stronger fasteners, which necessarily leads to a rise in the cost of the unit. The quality of spin does not increase as much as the cost. In addition, many types of tissues are generally not recommended to squeeze at such speeds, so that they do not tear and do not lose sight.

And this is the second thing that needs to be taken into account when it's time to figure out how to choose a washing machine as an automatic machine: we are only satisfied with the best, that is, class A. In extreme cases, class B. Pros are welcome.

Dimensions and type of loading

This is one of the most pressing moments, especially if you live in a conventional small apartment. Washing machines of any brand - things are quite cumbersome. If you do not have the opportunity to allocate a special room, you will have to look for a place in a close bathroom or at least a cramped kitchen.

Standard washing machine machines belong to the family of machines with front loading: on the front panel they have a glass (or plastic) hatch that opens into one of the sides. The diameter of the hatch, even the smallest, allows you to load with sufficient convenience even large volume things.

Frontal machines can refer to embedded appliances. Their upper plane is successfully used as a shelf or as the base of the working surface in the kitchen, being topped with a top.

Typical sizes of front-end machines: height 80-85 cm, width 55-60 cm, and depth can be from 30 to 65 cm. The most capacious standard large units: they can push from 5-6 to 10 kg of laundry. Usually enough 5 kg of loading, both for a large family, and for a single bachelor.

Washing machines with a hatch, located on top, easier to find their place in the apartment: they are smaller in width. At the same height of 80-90 m their width is 40 cm, depth - 60. The merits of vertical machines include the following qualities:

• You can add or remove things without draining the water from the tank, which is impossible with front-end machines.
• There is an opinion that the design of vertical machines is somewhat more reliable due to the other fastening of the drum.
• They have less hatch than front models, so loading large and large items is less convenient.

Vertical machines are not built into kitchen furniture, however they are, as more compact, easier to install in the bathroom.

We advise you to read: how to choose a washing machine with vertical loading

There are still compact machines that look like ordinary frontal, but on a reduced scale. Their dimensions: height 65-70 cm, width and height - 45-50 cm. They stand under the sink in the kitchen or the sink in the bathroom, some brands come to the stores already with a sink instead of the top panel. These mini-cars stand much more expensive, the capacity is smaller, and they erase, as a rule, worse. But they save space, as it should be in miniature things. To choose such automatic machine for washing it is possible for those at whom the flat absolutely small.

Material of the tank and drum

Most modern models have a tank made of durable plastic or composite materials that are complex in composition and properties. Usually, its strength is quite sufficient until the end of the working life of the machine. The tank made of stainless or enamelled steel is much more durable and much more expensive. Such tanks are used in the production of expensive premium cars by well-known European companies (like German Miele, for example).

Machines with a steel tank are noisier and heavier. Which of the tanks to choose, you decide for yourself. But the car rarely breaks due to the fact that it broke the tank.

The drum of most units is made of steel, sometimes of special composite materials.

Protection from leaks

The more expensive the model of a washing machine, the higher the class of its protection from leaks. On low-cost models, a partial protection is installed, which will shut off the water if the tank has leaked out. More advanced systems respond to leakage of inlet and outlet hoses. Of course, it is better to choose a machine with more perfect protection.

Number of programs and modes

Every year, there are sets of new modes and programs for washing that do not represent a particular user value and are perceived as worthwhile advertising gimmicks. In real life, most consumers actively use only a few modes and programs that most fully meet immediate needs. The main of them are:

• a mode of washing cotton at various temperatures;
• washing of synthetics, silk;
• delicate wool washing;
• hand washing for the most capricious things;
• express laundry;
• half load;
• additional rinsing;
• pre-soaking regime for heavily soiled items;
• delayed laundry.

Interesting mode is "easy ironing." With this function, if after the end of the last spin you do not immediately remove the washed laundry, the machine rotates the drum from time to time. Pressed things do not cake, they do not form strong folds.

Rating of producers

Traditionally, the first place is occupied by European countries, and Germany is a long-standing and permanent leader in the home appliances market. It is here that the most durable, high-quality and at the same time insanely expensive units of the elite class are produced - Miele, AEG. The technique of BOSCH works well.

On the heels of Germany comes Sweden, where well-proven firms producing household appliances produce a wonderful, reliable technique. They are followed by Italy and France. Most buyers decide to choose medium-priced and quite decent in quality Italian washing machines.

Turkish products are significantly less reliable. But the devices of the Korean assembly can be trusted more: they most often successfully complete their term.