The short answer is that some models seem to be, but according to Which? at least one is not. Samsung have created a new technology for washing machines called EcoBubble, which they claim, “improves wash performance, reduces energy consumption and saves money”.
How does it work and what are the main claims? In plain language, they mix air bubbles in with the water and detergent which they say gets detergent into the fabric 40% faster allowing lower temperatures to achieve good results using 70% less energy (at 40 degrees).
It sounds impressive, and clearly any figures quoted will be provable in some way, but I’m always sceptical of percentages without context. So when I see percentages quoted like this I immediately think, 70% less energy than what? And what does the 70% equate to in actual money? We all know 70% is very impressive, but 70% of a pound is nothing to get giddy about. Potentially, the implication most people may take is that it uses 70% less energy than all other washing machines, but does it?
Let’s compare a Samsung 7kg ecobubble with a normal Bosh 7Kg washing machine
The Bosh 7Kg washing machines claims to cost only £21 a year in energy to run. So if the Ecobubble was 70% cheaper than that it makes it £6.30 a year. This doesn’t seem right, surely no washing machine costs as little as £6 a year to run. According to the specs on the Ecobubble 7Kg washing machine, it costs £25 a year to run – which is more!
So 70% less energy consumption doesn’t look so impressive when I can already see a rival washing machine without the ecobubble that costs even less to run. And it was just the first one I looked at. It clearly doesn’t equate to being 70% cheaper to run per se.
Also, what does 40% faster mean in real terms? 40% faster could mean just over half a second instead of 1 second for example, which isn’t remotely significant. The point is, percentage figures are meaningless without context but they are always used to impress in adverts, so be careful what you assume from impressive looking percentages.
The ecobubble washing machine I’m currently looking at does wash 10 minutes faster than the same Bosh WAE24490GB washing machine, which is quicker, but not significantly quicker to me. However, the ecobubble takes 20 minutes longer to wash on the Time Easy Care cycle than the Bosh, so it’s only faster under specific circumstances, or maybe on just a few programmes.
Putting aside the percentage claims
Out of the 5 ecobubble washing machines reviewed by Which? so far some of them are reportedly very good at cleaning but one model was found to be so poor at cleaning that they gave it a Don’t Buy icon. To be fair it’s probably an older model, possibly one of the first.
Ultimately most of the reviews say they wash well and relatively quickly, how much of that is down to the bubbles is unclear because many washing machines without ecobubble also have fantastic cleaning results and are Best Buys, so the bubbles aren’t necessarily some new discovery set to revolutionise washing machines.
It does seem that there may be something in the bubble system. The best advice is to check out Which? reviews on any model you are interested in. I suspect the Ecobubble may mainly be useful at reducing wash times on low temperature washes. So if you are into washing at really cool temperatures it is worth looking into, but choose your model carefully. (continued below..)
In my experience and opinion, the washing machine manufactures who also make brown goods tend to rely too much on fancy “innovations” to sell washing machines. Possibly because brown goods always sell on fancy features. I’ve yet to see one that I genuinely think improves washing machines…
Samsung EcoBubble reviews
Which? have so far reviewed the following EcoBubble models –
- WF80F5E5U4W Ecobubble
- WF0704W7W Ecobubble
- WF1124XAC Ecobubble
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I purchased a Samsung ecobubble and it lasted just four weeks! Water didn’t drain and the door would lock. When it eventually unlocked it drained with the door open. Initially reluctant to replace it with the same I did on deciding perhaps I was just unlucky. Second one didn’t work either and is sat waiting a collection. I bought a Bosch in a hurry as I needed a machine this, is working fine as did my Indiset but only lasted five years though I am told this is good.
Hello, if I can add my two-cents worth, here goes:
There are a few different mechanisms that act to clean clothes in a washing machine. Firstly, the detergent is chemically designed to facilitate water and oil to bond and to make water “wetter”. This allows the water to remove greasy stains when combined with the second mechanism: mechanical action. The mechanical action is important because it gets the dirt out from inside of the clothes fibres. In the old days, people used to bash their clothes on a rock or use one of those corrugated wash boards to achieve this. The modern front loader is far more gentle of course. The final mechanism in modern detergents is via enzymes which also act to break down and liberate dirt, especially stains.
With modern detergents, the use of hot water is a double edged sword. It enhances the action of the detergent on greasy stains but it also kills the enzymes.
I have just seen a youtube clip of the bubble wash in action. I will not buy one because I do not believe it will wash effectively. I observed the drum turning back and forth with the clothes effectively suspended in a foam. This means that one crucial element of clothes washing is missing: mechanical action. Indeed most detergents for front loaders are designed to be low-sudsing to avoid this problem of foaming entirely.
There are only two out of three washing mechanisms being employed by the bubble wash. You may as well just soak your clothes in a bucket of detergent, then put them on the rinse cycle.
To me, it appears as if the bubble wash is entirely a gimic at the expense of effective cleaning.
Hello Al, without a full understanding of exactly what the science behind them are I agree it seems a bit gimmicky. However, Which? have tested later versions and found it washed very well. But of course so do many many other washing machines without any “bubbles”.
what a nightmare!! I’m having so much trouble getting my Samsung 12kg machine repaired.
It broke down two weeks ago,the drum started to jolt and wasn’t turning or spinning,domestic and general sent out an engineer to fix it,he told me it needed a new motor and pcb contro but I was told the next day that it couldn’t be fixed as the parts were too expensive,so i decided to ring Samsung myself,the operator was a nightmare as she couldn’t understand me,she gave me a number for a service centre who could come out and fix it as the motor has a 10 year warranty,after I rung the number but the number didn’t exist,I then rung back and she gave me 2 more numbers,I proceeded to ring them but to my disbelief 1 number was our local sainsburys supermarket and the other was a local mobile phone shop,that same day I decided to ring the company know how(currys) who sent an engineer out yesterday he told me that it definitely was the motor and pcb control he then went to see if he could get prices for replacements and to his shock he found out the pcb control was obsolete and no longer available,the engineer told me not to give up and to go to sale of goods act to get advice,how can a machine be just 2 1/2 years old and can no longer buy parts to fix it! Does anyone have any advice on this or on SOGA?
Hello Chris, this is why I personally wouldn’t buy any of the brown goods manufacturers white goods appliances. Your only option now is to pressure the retailer you bought it from under the Sale of Goods Act as it clearly hasn’t lasted a reasonable time. I have plenty of consumer articles if you check here – All my articles tagged with Consumer issues related to white goods appliances
Not had my eco bubble 24 hours and I am on the phone booking engineer . 3 out of the 5 washes done have got a sock trapped between to door and rubber mid wash so the sock is soacking and I’m getting a residue left in machine. Samsung suggest I may like to put my washing in a net. I find this unacceptable and have not seen any where on sales pitch that you will need to purchase washing nets . I have suggested they take machine away so I can go back to my original choice of a Miele,
Hello Amanda. The door glass in a washing machine is usually designed to keep the clothes away from this area but if socks are by any chance very small children’s or baby socks I would recommend putting them in a washing net as they can be difficult to stop from getting under the door glass. At the very least I would always place them in the back of the drum first to try and keep them away from the front.
Also, make sure you are not overloading the machine which would cause the laundry to just turn in one big lump and some small items could slip under the door glass. It’s always possible for a small item to slip under there and get stuck but this should be a rare occasion if loaded properly. If you are loading it properly and still having problems you would probably be better complaining to the retailer.
I can’t comment on their latest machines, but our Samsung washing machine has lasted ten years with only a belt replacement required. It is now wearing out, but ten years of heavy use isn’t bad. Obviously if current models are not as good, then they may no longer be worth it, but based on the prices a Miele is twice as expensive for only at most 50% more hours (using their rating of 10,000 hours, and my estimate of how many hours our machine has racked up), plus the fact that I am comparing a smaller Miele with a bigger current Samsung. Most of the fancy features are things I ignore, but being able to do fewer, bigger loads of washing would be helpful.
It is good that you’re raising these issues though and I do wish that manufacturers would be honest about the quality of their products.
WE bought a Samsung ecobubble washer over a year ago and couldn’t be happier. It performs extremely well–better than any machine we had before and is very quiet and so far maintenance free. We are happy campers.
Has anyone had a problem with the Samsung ECO BUBBLE machine door? I have had mine for less than a year and debris has gone behind the Perspex facia. I have e mailed Samsung a few times and have basically been told to call out an engineer and if they deem it to be my fault there will be a charge? It was even suggested I did not clean it enough????? I can’t clean it because I can’t get to it?