Washing machines45 products
Start with the drum size
Built-in? Integrated modelsChoosing a washing machine
Most homes choose a freestanding washing machine between 8kg and 10kg. Start with the drum size, as it sets how much you can wash in one go; the tiles at the top of this page match sizes to households. Then check the EU energy label: it rates each machine from A to G, and also shows water use per cycle, programme time, spin-drying class and spin noise.
Spin speed matters if you tumble dry or dry indoors: 1400rpm is standard, and higher speeds leave clothes a little drier. After that, look at the features that change how you wash: auto-dosing adds detergent for you, steam programmes help with creases, and app control lets you start or check a wash from your phone. If the machine will sit behind a kitchen door, choose an integrated model.
Guides
Common questions
What drum size do I need?
7 to 8kg suits 1 to 3 people, 9kg suits 3 to 4, and 10kg or more suits bigger families or anyone who washes duvets at home.
What does the energy class mean?
The EU label rates washing machines from A, the most efficient, to G. The class is based on the energy the eco 40-60 programme uses over 100 cycles, and the label also shows water use, capacity, programme time and spin noise.
What spin speed do I need?
1400rpm suits most homes. A faster spin leaves clothes drier, so they dry quicker, and each machine's label shows a spin-drying class from A to G.
How quiet is it?
The energy label shows how loud the spin is in decibels, with a noise class from A, the quietest, to D. The lower the number, the quieter the machine.
Freestanding or integrated?
Freestanding machines stand on their own and come in the widest choice of sizes and colours. Integrated machines sit behind a kitchen door that matches your units.
What is auto-dosing?
An auto-dosing machine holds a tank of detergent and adds the right amount for each load, so you refill the tank now and then instead of measuring every wash.
