How to choose a small washing machine?

Compact automatic washing machines are a real breakthrough in household appliances. This device is necessary in any house, but not in every apartment there is a place for a full-sized assistant. In this case, small washing machines come to the rescue, which easily fit even under the sink in a small bathroom or in a cupboard in a small kitchen. The smallest representative of this class Solo, was invented in 2013. Its dimensions are minimal: about 40 cm long and 13 cm wide. The device can be fixed to the wall under the sink, there is the possibility of drying with steam, but since the dimensions are small, such a machine can accommodate only one thing.

The advantages of small washing machines

Small washing machines are no different from their counterparts in terms of washing quality. They also have a large selection of programs for different types of fabric, additional functions (for example, steam generation or “easy ironing”), more expensive models are equipped with LCD displays that show the duration of the wash, there is the ability to adjust programs (setting the temperature, time or number of revolutions during spinning). In addition, compact machines have a number of advantages over full-size:

1. Saving space. Due to the fact that the sizes of such washing machines are small, they are popular among consumers. In height, such machines reach 67-70 cm, so they are easy to fit under the sink. Since many apartments of old layouts are not designed for such devices, full-size models are not suitable for everyone;
2. Save energy and water. As a rule, the washing machine's tank under the sink is designed for 3-5 kg ​​of laundry, while washing the resource consumption, compared with the tanks is 6-8 kg much less.

See also - Pros and cons of a wall mounted washing machine

Are there any disadvantages of "babies"?

Little washing machines are also called "Malyutki", which are not produced by all leading manufacturers, so the choice is not large enough. Since to create such household appliances, it is necessary to significantly modernize production. This also explains the high market price for such models.

Another feature is a small load of laundry. For small families or single consumers, this criterion is not the most important, on the contrary, it is beneficial, because you can significantly save consumed resources. But for large families washing large quantities of clothes, the capacity of the drum of a small washing machine may not be sufficient.

See also - How many kilowatts a washing machine consumes

Free-standing and built-in compact washers

The simplest option is compact free-standing models, their installation is no different from standard washing machines. The difference is only in size, as a rule, compact devices of this category in height reach only 67 cm, so it is so easy to fit under the sink in any bathroom.

The most presentable option is the built-in “babies”. This is not only saving space in the kitchen to expand the recreation area, for example, a corner with a sleeping place or a spacious dining table for the whole family, but also an excellent design solution. Built-in appliances are designed in general form with the interior of the room and often hide under countertops and doors, made in the same style with furniture.

To build the washing machine under the sink in the bathroom, special cabinets are used. Often they come immediately with a sink, the drain of which is located in accordance with the space left for the washing machine.

See also - How to choose a stabilizer for the washing machine

Small washing machines: selection criteria

1. Type of loading and model. Before buying, you need to decide how the washing machine will be installed: as a stand-alone element or built into the cabinet, and with what type of load the device is needed: vertical or frontal. The most popular are automatic devices with front loading; they are easily built into furniture or under the sink. Compact machines with vertical loading do not always justify their size, since their installation requires special conditions: the space on top should not be occupied, because it is necessary for loading linen. Such washing machine under the sink do not deliver. But on the other hand, in such models, larger tanks, even in compact machines, and there is also the opportunity to open the machine during washing and put clothes on there;
2. Maximum load of laundry and revolutions. The compact sink machines are designed for medium loads of laundry. Depending on the model, this is 3 - 5 kg. For one consumer, 3.5-4 kg is enough, for a family it is better to choose the maximum possible volume. Optimum speed up to 600 - 800 per minute;
3. The material the drum is made of. It is best to choose washing machines with a tank made of composite materials or stainless steel, they will last much longer than drums using enameled and plastic materials;
4. Control type: mechanical or electronic. With the mechanical one, everything is quite simple, you just need to put the regulator knob on the desired program and start the washing process, some models provide the ability to change the spin speed. There are many more possibilities in e-government. For "advanced" models, the machine itself weighs the laundry, calculates the powder, fills in water in accordance with the loaded volume, selects the temperature and the number of rinses depending on the specified type of fabric. But the cost of such washing machines is higher. The presence of special programs and functions. Modern “babies” provide for all major washing programs. If additional capabilities are required, you can choose a model with a specific set of functions. For example, the program switching lock, which is important for families with small children, the “easy ironing” system, provides more water during washing and eliminates the intermediate spin, so that the laundry is wrinkled less.

Small-sized washing machines are very convenient for small apartments, they not only are not inferior in functionality to standard automatic machines, but also significantly save space, therefore they are available to every consumer.

See also - How to choose an inexpensive and high quality washing machine