Are you sick and tired of the laundromat? Or are you looking for a suitable washer for your laundry business? In this article, you will learn what to look for when shopping for a washing machine.
A portable washing machine is one of the important assets to have in your home. It not only helps you save the cash you’d be spending in a laundromat but also makes it possible to do laundry conveniently and at any time.
Not to mention being able to take care of your clothes as you’d be washing them yourself.
But perhaps you don’t know how much money to expect to spend. Maybe you don’t know what suits you in terms of capacity, loading style, and more. And hey, what’s the difference between automatic and semi-automatic washers?
If you’re wondering all these things, you’ve come to the right place.
I am going break down the things you should look for when buying a portable washing machine. I’ll also answer your most burning questions regarding washers.
By the time you’re done reading this guide, which should be within just about 10 minutes, you should be in a position to choose the best portable washing machine for your needs.
Let’s dive in.
The 10 most important factors to look for when shopping for a washer:
- Loading Type
- Capacity
- Noise Level
- Energy Efficiency
- Spin Speed
- Integrated or Free Standing
- Auto Sensors
- Auto-Dosage
- Wash Cycles
- Semi-Automatic or Fully Automatic?
We’ll dive into each of these factors to help you figure what suits you best.
- Loading Type
I’ll start with the main feature that people look at – the type of loading. There are two main types of washers based on the loading style – top and front loaders.
Which one to go for? Perhaps the pros and cons of each will help you decide.
Top loaders
This is the more familiar type of portable washing machine. As the name suggest, the loading of clothes is done from the top. Many of us used this when growing up, and stats indicate that 75 percent of households still do.
Advantages of top-loading washing machines:
- They’re low priced
This is perhaps the main benefit. You can get a pretty good top loader for as low as 200 dollars. The same cannot be said of front loaders, which go from about 700 dollars if you’re to get something quality.
- They’re comfortable and easy to use
For most people, bending to load a machine is too much of a hassle. If you have a back problem, you definitely don’t want a front loader. You want a top loader, as you can load this even while standing.
- They can be loaded mid-cycle
If you notice a dirty shirt on the floor that you left out when loading the machine, you can pause the wash, open the lid, and add the shirt. You cannot do the same with a front loader, since the water and the clothes will flow right out.
- They’re familiar
Top loaders were there way before the front loaders were invented. They’re the type that most of us are familiar with, even growing up. An appliance we’re used to will always be easier and more convenient to operate than something new.
Disadvantages of top loaders
- They’re not very energy efficient
This is the main problem with front loaders. They use almost 50 percent more power than the front loaders. Also, they use an average of 7000 gallons of water more than the front loaders per year. That being said, newer models are designed to minimize energy and water usage.
Front loaders
As the name suggests, these are loaded from the front.
Advantages of front loaders
- They save energy and water
If to reduce/minimize your bill at the end of the month is your prime target, I’d encourage you to get a front loader. As said earlier, you can save 50 percent of energy as well as 7000 gallons of water per year.
- Less drying time
The spinner of front loaders normally operates at higher speeds than that of the top loaders. That means the clothes come out with less water, thus reducing the drying time.
- Smart features
On average, front loaders are packed with a wider range of smart features. With some, you can load the washer and then start the load remotely with the touch of a button.
If you’re a tech enthusiast, you might find a front loader more suitable.
- Bigger capacity
Top loaders usually have an agitator inside the wash tub, which helps in cleaning the clothes. As many front loading portable washing machines don’t have an agitator, that frees up the space, meaning you can load more clothes.
Disadvantages of front loaders
- They lack comfort
Having to bend over every time you’re loading or unloading the washer is not very convenient. If you have a bad back, a front loader isn’t something you want to get. Purchase a top loader instead.
- Price
This is another major drawback. On average, front loaders cost much more than top loaders. While most of the good front loaders go for over a thousand bucks, there are numerous good top loaders going for less than 500 bucks.
- You can’t load extra items mid-way
With a front loader, if you notice a sock on the floor that you forgot to put in with the other clothes, you cannot pause the wash and put it in there. Once you start a cycle, that’s it. You have to finish it before loading anything else.
So, bottom line?
By now, I bet you know what to choose between a top and front loader.
For obvious reasons like price and ease of use, I would recommend purchasing a high-quality top loading washing machine with great features.
- Capacity
What capacity of a washer do you need?
First, realize that that the capacities range between 3 kg (6.6 pounds) to 13 kg (28 pounds).
But how do you measure the weight of the clothes? On average, 5 tshirts weigh in at about 2 pounds (or 1 kg). Thus, a 6.6-pound machine should be able to accommodate 15 tshirts. A 28-pound machine should be able to wash around 70 shirts.
If you’re on a budget, go for a small-capacity washer. These small washers are often called portable washing machine units. Some 6-pound models go for as little as 55 dollars.
Got a very tight budget? A good portable washing machine non electric unit might be a great choice. The Wonder Wash unit is a popular high-quality manual washer going for just over 50 bucks.
But if you want to be able to wash many clothes at once, and your budget allows, get a large-capacity washer. Unless you’re looking for a washing machine for business use, a 28-pound large capacity washer is not necessary. You can get a nice 15-pound washer for around 560 USD, and it will suffice for your needs at home.
Note that the larger the capacity of the washer, the higher the chances of being able to wash heavy items like duvets and curtains.
- Noise Level
One question you cannot afford to leave out when looking for a portable washing machine is: how noisy is the washer?
You don’t want a washer than wakes everyone up when turned on at night. And you don’t want a machine that makes the neighbors report you to the homeowners association for noise pollution.
The noise level of a washing machine is measured in units called decibels (dB).
The higher the value, the more noise the machine produces.
As a rule of thumb, don’t go for anything above 50 dB. It will be too noisy. The lower the better.
With the advancements in technology, manufacturers are integrating systems that reduce the noise as much as possible. If your budget allows, look for features such as anti-vibration system, inverter motors, and “brushless”.
- Energy Efficiency
How much energy the washing machine consumes matters for two reasons. We all want to conserve the earth’s resources. And secondly, we all want to reduce our bills at the end of the month.
If energy efficiency is important to you, be sure to look at the EU rating. This is indicated by an A, followed by “+” signs. The more the “+” signs, the higher the energy efficiency. A+++ is the best rating for energy efficiency.
Apart from the EU rating, some washing machines come with features meant to minimize the energy usage. The “eco wash” is one such feature. This one can reduce the energy usage by up to 60%.
Apart from the energy consumption, think, also, about the water consumption per cycle.
In the past, washers would consume 110 to 170 liters (30 to 45 gallons) of water per wash, which was seen as inefficient. Newer washers consume as little as 56 to 110 liters (15 to 30 gallons) per cycle is considered efficient.
Look for a machine that consumes as little water as possible per cycle.
- Spin Speed
Spin is the function in washing machines that pushes the water out of the clothes when they are done washing. It’s not really a dryer. It works in a similar manner to wringing.
The object is to get as much water as possible out of the clothes, so they take less time in the dryer or drying in the air.
Spin speeds vary from 1000 to around 1600 revolutions per minute (rpm).
Of course, the higher the spin speeds, the greater the efficiency of removing water from the clothes.
- Integrated or Free Standing
Also called a built-in washer, an integrated washer is one that has to sit inside a kitchen cupboard unit. These normally don’t have a reliable lid, and depend on the cupboard door as the lid.
Integrated washers cannot be used outside of a kitchen unit as they lack stability. The kitchen unit is what provides the needed stability.
Free standing washers are stable units that can sit anywhere. As long as there is a water supply and a drainage nearby, you can place a freestanding unit wherever you want.
Note: integrated washers are usually front loaders.
- Auto Sensors
If you have some money to spare, consider looking for auto sensors on the machine you’re intending to get. Auto sensors are features that make the task easier through automation.
The main auto sensor features include:
- Weight sensors – these calculate the weight of the items you’re washing automatically, so you don’t have to struggle with figuring the load is suitable for the washer. Weight sensors also calculate the time required to clean the load.
- Fabric sensors – doing laundry correctly requires knowing the type of fabric you’re dealing with and choosing the correct wash cycle or program for it. Fabric sensors remove this hassle by detecting the kind of fabric loaded, the dirt levels, the weight, and the hardness of the water. And then, they automatically select the appropriate wash program.
- Auto-dosage
Most of us are used to adding the detergent manually. But this is associated with the problem of whether the detergent dose is too little, just enough, or excess.
But do you know you don’t have to deal with this problem?
These days, they’re making machines that can be loaded with detergent, after which the machine automatically adds the right amount based on the load.
- Wash Cycles
Washing machine programs are important as they determine the degree of freedom you’re going to enjoy while doing laundry.
The basic wash cycles on a washing machine are three:
- Delicate
- Normal
- Permanent press
Let’s quickly see what each of these is about.
- Delicate cycle
Also called the gentle, the delicate cycle washes using the most gentle settings. It uses cold or hot water, with little to no spinning.
This cycle is also the shortest of the three.
The delicate cycle comes in handy for washing delicate items like innerwear as well as items prone to fading, such as denim.
- Normal/regular cycle
When it comes to the length of the wash as well as the degree of agitation, “normal” or “regular” happens to be the most intense option. Typically, the cycle asks you to choose the temperature based on the load.
This is also the appropriate option for everyday items such as tshirts, towels, sock, linen, and more.
- Permanent press
Permanent press is the cycle used for washing things that are prone to wrinkling, such as cotton, denim, and wash and wear items. The cycle uses warm water to remove wrinkling, and applies slower than normal spin speeds to prevent the creation of new wrinkles.
Those are the main cycles on the washing machine. It’d be good to get a washer that has all three at the very least.
Apart from the three, some washers come with extra cycles, usually for a higher cost. The extra cycles include:
- Heavy duty – suitable for heavy items like duvets
- Whitest whites – suitable for white clothes
- Presoak – which removes excess and dried-on dirt before the main wash cycle. Great for dealing with tough stains.
- Semi-automatic or Fully Automatic?
This is one of the features that confuse most people when it comes to washing machines. But it doesn’t have to be confusing. What is the difference between semi automatic and fully automatic washers?
The difference is in the number of tubs, as well as what the present tubs can do.
- For semi automatic washers, there are two separate tubs. One is for washing the clothes, and the other is for drying them. That means you’ll need to shift the load when doing laundry, which can be tiring.
- Fully automatic washers come with just one tub, which performs both functions – washing and drying/spinning. So, there’s no need to keep shifting the load.
Perhaps these pros and cons of both types of washers will help you decide.
Semi-automatic washer pros:
- They use less water than fully automatic models
- There’s no need for a permanent connection to the water
- Cheaper than fully automatic
Semi automatic washer cons:
- Having to keep shifting the load – it can get exhausting
- Larger – so you need more space
Fully automatic washer pros:
- No need to keep shifting the load – the single tub performs all functions
- More energy efficient
- Consume less space as they’re smaller than semi-automatic models
Fully automatic cons:
- They need more water
- Need for a permanent connection to the water
Additional Features to Look For
If you’re looking for the best portable washing machine with a couple extra features, here are some worth looking for:
- Automatic dispenser – I already talked about detergent dispensers, so you get the idea. Other items that washing machines have reservoirs for include bleaches and fabric softeners.
- Air dry – some washers are made such that when the wash tub spins, air gets sucked in and gets blasted on the laundry. The idea is to speed up the drying process. The feature also gets rid of odors, so if you’re looking for extra freshness, it’d be super handy.
- Extra rinse cycle – got sensitivity to detergents? An extra rinse cycle would help!
- Memory button – this feature lets you save and use settings you had used earlier.
A Couple More Questions Worth Asking
Does the washer have a dryer?
If you’re a busy person, laundry is not something you want to spend eons dealing with. You especially don’t want the hassle of taking clothes outside and waiting for hours as they dry. A washing machine that comes with a dryer unit would be most useful.
What material is the wash drum?
A washer’s wash tub is arguably the most important part to look at when trying to figure how long the machine will last.
Washer tubs are usually made of plastic, porcelain, enamel, or stainless steel. Of these, stainless steel is the most long lasting.
What kind of control panel does it have?
There are three kinds of control panels – dials, LED, and LCD. LED and LCD provide a beautiful panel that is easy to work with.
Are there smart washing machines?
Yes. Smart washers are those that come with an app. The app can be integrated with a device such as a PC or a smartphone, allowing you to control the washer from your device. You can start, pause, and stop your washer remotely. The app also gives you notifications, such as when the cycle is done. Some washer apps also give you tips and advice on how to do the wash.
Note: washer apps are usually operated via WiFi.
Is there a way I can stop my kids from messing with the washing machine?
Some washing machines also come with child safety features. There are 2 main types of child locks for washers.
- The common one inactivates the control panel, so that your kids won’t be able to operate the washer when the lock is engaged.
- The other one keeps the door open. And as you know, washers cannot operate with the door open. That will keep Bennie from locking the cat in there!
Final Word
I hope my guide has been helpful. You can now shop for a portable washing machine knowing exactly what to look for. If you’d allow me to recommend a washer, I’d tell you to go for a top loader with a capacity of at least 11 to 25 pounds. Make certain it has all of the three main wash cycles – delicate, normal, and permanent press.
That being said, you got to consider your exact needs. If you have little space to spare, get a small-capacity washer, but if you have more space, you can choose a large-capacity unit.
Again, think about the price. Larger capacity washers, washers with many special features, and front loaders are all relatively expensive. The vice-versa is true.
That’s it, my friends. If you’re looking for the best compact washing machine, here is a review worth looking at.