Washing machines · 5 min read
How to choose the right washing machine
Capacity, spin, depth and running costs: what to check before you buy a washing machine.
In this guide
1. How many kilos do you need?
Capacity is the dry laundry the drum washes at full load. Rule of thumb: 7 kg for one or two people, 8–9 kg for a family of three or four, 10 kg and more if you often wash duvets or curtains or have small children. A bigger drum does not use more at half load: models with automatic weighing adjust water and energy.
2. Where does it go? Measure the depth
Standard washers are 55–60 cm deep; slim models go below 50 cm: the answer for narrow bathrooms. Add 3–5 cm for the hoses behind and check the door can open fully.
3. Spin speed: how many rpm?
More rpm means drier clothes and faster drying. 1200 rpm is enough if you dry outdoors; 1400 is the sweet spot; above 1400 pays off if you dry indoors or use a tumble dryer. The spin-drying class (A to G) on the label sums it up in one letter.
4. Read the energy label
Since 2021 the scale runs from A to G with no pluses. Look at the kWh per 100 cycles of the Eco 40-60 programme: a class A 9 kg washer uses about 50 kWh every 100 washes. The label also shows water per cycle, Eco programme duration and spin noise with its class (A to D).
5. Features that matter
- Inverter motor: quieter, with fewer wearing parts.
- Steam: refreshes clothes and eases creases.
- Auto-dosing: one detergent tank lasts weeks, no waste.
- Wi-Fi: remote start and end-of-cycle alerts, handy with time-of-use tariffs.
Delivery and installation
Oblò carries the washer to your floor and, if you choose installation, the technician connects it to your existing points, removes the transit bolts and runs a test wash. On delivery we take the old washer away for free, as the WEEE law requires.
