Drum volume
The internal volume of the drum of the washing machine.
A larger drum can accommodate more laundry, but there is no rigid dependence here: models with the same volume may differ in maximum capacity. It is because to process a large mass of laundry you need not only a capacious drum but also an engine of appropriate power. At the same time, it should be noted that in a larger drum, the same mass of laundry will be washed and dried more efficiently than in a small one. On the other hand, a volumetric drum takes up more space — the size of the device is largely determined by the size of the drum.
Max. spin speed
Maximum drum rotation speed in spin mode. The higher it is, the more intense the spin. However, note that not all types of fabric normally tolerate high speeds — a speed
of 1000 rpm or more should be used only for especially durable fabrics, and delicate ones need to be wrung out at low speeds, so the best choice is a machine that allows you to choose the spin speed.
The maximum spin speed (
1200 rpm,
1400 rpm), in particular, determines its efficiency (see Spin class), but this parameter is not decisive — the duration of the spin cycle and the diameter of the drum also play an important role. Therefore, for machines with the same spin speed, their efficiency class may differ.
Water consumption per cycle
The volume of water used by the washing machine during a standard wash cycle. It is measured while washing the maximum amount of cotton underwear for this model with a normal programme and a temperature of 60 degrees.
When evaluating efficiency, one should consider not only the actual water consumption but also the maximum load. So, for example, a model with a load of 7 kg and a consumption of 49 litres per kilogram of laundry will be more economical than a model of 5 kg with a consumption of 40 litres: the first consumes 49/7 = 7 litres per 1 kg of laundry, the second 40/5 = 8 litres per kilogram. This moment is important, first of all, if a large amount of washing is expected.
Many modern automatic washing machines are equipped with intelligent systems that can adjust the water consumption to the actual load and avoid overspending.
Inverter motor
Washing machine with an
inverter electric motor.
Such motors are also called brushless because they do not have commutator brushes. Thanks to this feature, the noise level, heating and wear are significantly reduced, which has a positive impact on efficiency, reliability and durability. In addition, the accuracy of rotation speed control is increased. The reverse side of the coin is the rather high price of such machines.
Noise level (spin)
The maximum noise level produced by the machine during operation. Most often indicated for spinning — this is the noisiest mode of operation; for units without spinning (such as semiautomatic devices), this paragraph indicates the overall volume or the volume in the noisiest mode.
The
quieter the machine works, the more comfortable it is for others. This moment is especially critical if there are small children in the house. However, the decibel used to measure loudness is a non-linear unit, and the actual noise level is best estimated from comparative tables in special sources.
