How to choose a small washing machine?

Compact washing machines are a real breakthrough in household appliances. This device is necessary in any home, but not every apartment has a place for a full-sized assistant. In this case, small washing machines come to the rescue, which can easily fit even under a sink in a small bathroom or in a closet 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 mounted on the wall under the sink, there is the possibility of steam drying, but since the dimensions are small, such a machine can only hold one thing.

The advantages of small washing machines

Small washing machines do not differ at all from their counterparts in terms of washing quality. They also have a large selection of programs for different types of fabrics, additional functions (for example, steam generation or "easy ironing"), more expensive models are equipped with LCD displays that show the duration of the wash, it is possible to adjust programs (setting the temperature, time or number of revolutions when spinning). In addition, compact machines have a number of advantages over full-size ones:

1. Saving space. Due to the small size of such washing machines, they are popular with consumers. These machines reach a height of 67-70 cm, so they can easily be placed under the sink. Since many apartments of old layouts are not designed for such devices, full-size models are not suitable for everyone;
2. Saving energy and water. As a rule, the tank of a washing machine under the sink is designed for 3-5 kg ​​of linen, during washing, resource consumption is much less than for 6-8 kg tanks.

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Are there any disadvantages of "babies"?

Small 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 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 load for the drum of a small washing machine may not be sufficient.

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Freestanding and built-in compact washing machines

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

The most presentable option is 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 a general way with the interior of the room and are often hidden under countertops and doors, made in the same style as the 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 leaving of space for the washing machine.

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Small washing machines: selection criteria

1. Load type and models. Before buying, you need to decide how the washing machine will be installed: as a free-standing element or built into a cabinet, and with what type of loading 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 top-loading vending machines do not always justify their size, since their installation requires special conditions: the space above should not be occupied, since it is necessary for loading the laundry. Such washing machine under the sink do not deliver. But on the other hand, in such models, the tanks are of a larger volume, even in compact machines, and there is also the opportunity to open the machine during washing and add clothes 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 quite enough, for a family it is better to choose the maximum possible volume. Optimum speed up to 600 - 800 per minute;
3. The material from which the drum is made. 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 enamel 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 number of rinses depending on the specified type of fabric. But the cost of such washing machines is also higher. The presence of special programs and functions. Modern "babies" include all basic washing programs. If you need additional capabilities, you can choose a model with a specific set of functions. For example, blocking the switching of programs, which is important for families with small children, the “easy ironing” system, provides for more water during washing and the exclusion of intermediate spinning, due to which the laundry is less wrinkled.

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

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