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Hi all, first time poster here.
I was looking at washer tests and I noticed that some front loaders wash better than others. Meaning that they are better at removing stains and dirt from the clothes. Why is that? They all spin the clothes, they all have cylindrical drums, detergent is the same (in these tests), I assume water temperature is similar. What exactly is different? Is it longer washing times? Can you tell from the specs if a washer will wash better than others? Thanks.
Re: Washing machine performance
They lift and drop which is a superior wash action compared to a top loader that removes more dirt.
As simple as I can make it. 😉
K.
Re: Washing machine performance
I think the OP was referring to the performance of one front loader compared to another, not front loader v top loader K. 😉
Re: Washing machine performance
Well in that case, things get more interesting. But surprisingly hard to answer succinctly.
Wash action and the lift, drum design, temperature stability, wash times and so on all come into play.
From the specs its really hard, if even possible, to tell the difference but as a general rule of thumb (as usual) if the cheaper the machine, the more engineering compromises have been made.
There are exceptions of course but more generally on the side of paying more for less as opposed to paying less for more from what I see.
K.
Re: Washing machine performance
Yes, I was referring to the performance of one front loader compared to another. Thanks for the answers.
Still, is temperature stability an issue? I think most washers have one heating element and I suspect the insulation of the machine doesn’t vary too much between different models. Drums/tubs are made from similar materials, usually plastic/stainless steel. Also, we’re not baking cookies, we’re washing clothes. Is a machine which maintains a temperature very close to 60*C better than another which lets it vary between 55-65*C? Do detergents actually need precise, stable temperatures?
Concerning design, most inner tubs look similar to me. I’m looking here at the standard design from the low and middle ranges, excluding improved designs like the Miele honeycomb, Samsung diamond and so on. I’m just trying to understand why a more expensive model would wash better than a less expensive one.
Looking at the wash times, a few of the better rated machines have lower washing times than some lower rated ones, so longer washing doesn’t necessary mean better washing.
Re: Washing machine performance
Ehm, the thermal properties of plastic and stainless steel or enamelled metal (of various properties) are stunningly different.
The quality of the drum stainless is different. Which leads to the number of holes that can be accommodated being different. Increased or better flow of water etc.
Paddles design, often dictated by the quality of the drum. But the lift afforded can be remarkably different dependent on the design.
Thermistor quality and accuracy, which leads to the accuracy of the electronics reading the thermistor.
Detergents and, specifically, those that employ enzymes rely on a stable temperature curve to perform at their best and accurate “holding” of the preset temperature where it’s supposed to be. So, the more accurate that is, the better the performance overall.
Given the typical margin of error is +/- 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} but can go 15-20{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}, when you set a 60?C wash on some machines the tolerance allows a 12?C inaccuracy then, yes, it can make a massive difference.
K.
Re: Washing machine performance
I meant that the plastic (polypropylene) from one machine has similar thermal properties as the plastic from another; and so has the stainless steel. I wasn’t comparing plastic to stainless steel.
Some machines probably have an inner tub made from thinner stainless steel, which means less/smaller holes, while others have a thicker/heavier tub, which has different holes. I can see how that matters.
Thanks for clearing things up for me.
Re: Washing machine performance
cib3k wrote:Some machines probably have an inner tub made from thinner stainless steel, which means less/smaller holes, while others have a thicker/heavier tub, which has different holes. I can see how that matters.
Short of explaining Eistein theories of relativity and mixing that in with Darwin’s thesis on evolution, it’s hard to see where you arrive at that conclusion?
I venture to suggest the solution you seek is more akin to the invention of the wheel. All current washing machines are designed to wash clothes. All come with operating instructions to enable the user gain the best results from that product. All, like the wheel, do as the original designer intended, wash your clothes. Some washers have big drums, some small, some have straight paddles, others curved. Some drums have hundreds of small holes others have raised cone-shaped holes. Some have angled drums, others lateral, some have variable tumble action others spin and stir every few seconds.
You put your dirty washing in, take your clean out. Be they thin drum holes or fancy looking drum paddles. Like the wheel, big wheels, little wheels…..
“Thermal properties?” “Thicker heavier tubs?”….oh please!
Re: Washing machine performance
Here’s the thing – I’m not from UK, I’m from Eastern Europe. I’m about to buy my first front loader. At the beginning of this thread I knew nothing about washing machines. The models sold in my country are well below what’s sold in the UK – most are really low-end, made in China or Turkey. That’s why they all look similar inside – they have drums and paddles with virtually the same basic design. When looking over performance tests made on foreign models, I couldn’t understand why some machines were washing better than others, so I imagined that some have a thicker/heavier tub, with larger holes and so on. Then I read some more, watched a few presentations on youtube and also noticed that as you go from the lower range to the upper range the design of the drum and paddles really changes. I now know that washing performance depends mostly on drum and paddle design and the way they are used.
Re: Washing machine performance
I guess it’s really like anything mechanical – small differences in design and quality can add up to a noticeable difference in performance. Like comparing any two cars – if they’re working correctly both will get you from A to B, but they will have different acceleration, different steering, different suspension, etc. More expensive models tend to have more refinement and therefore a more consistent, high-quality performance.
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