Washing machine eco labels Part 4

Spin Drying Performance

Spin drying performance is rated on the familiar A to G scale, where A represents the most effective extraction of water from laundry. On the surface this looks useful, but the rating has a significant limitation: it tells you that one machine extracts more water than another, but not by how much. Without knowing the actual residual moisture content, the difference between a B and a C rating may be trivial or it may be meaningful – the label alone does not tell you.

To achieve an A spin efficiency rating, most washing machines need to spin at 1600rpm or above. This creates a problem for budget machines. High spin speeds place significant mechanical demands on a washing machine – the suspension system, out-of-balance detection, motor quality, drum bearings, and cabinet rigidity all need to be engineered to cope with those forces consistently over time. A budget machine that achieves an A spin rating by spinning at 1600rpm may do so at the cost of longevity, noise, and stability.

A-rated spin does not always mean a better machine

A budget washing machine with an A spin efficiency rating may be noisier, less stable, and shorter-lived than a higher-quality machine rated B. Build quality determines how well a machine handles high spin speeds over time – the label does not measure this at all.

In practice, the real-world difference in drying times between adjacent spin speeds is often small. For more detail on this, see our guides on whether washing machine spin speeds are a con and spin speed efficiency and tumble drying costs.

Water Consumption

Unlike the spin and wash performance ratings, the water consumption figure shown on the label is a direct, concrete number – the volume of water used during the rated wash cycle, expressed in litres. This makes it one of the more straightforward comparisons available, provided you compare like with like: an 8kg machine washing a full load will naturally use more water than a 6kg machine, but may still be more efficient per kilogram of laundry.

The limitation here is what the figure does not capture. A lower water consumption number tells you the machine uses less water – it says nothing about whether that reduction affects how well laundry is rinsed. Rinse performance is not independently assessed as part of the energy label.

If water efficiency is a priority – for environmental or cost reasons – the consumption figure is the most directly useful number on the label. Just be aware that a lower figure does not automatically make a machine a better wash.

Noise Levels

Since the 2021 energy label reform, noise levels are now mandatory on washing machine labels. The label shows separate decibel ratings for the wash cycle and the spin cycle, which is genuinely useful information – spin noise in particular varies considerably between machines and matters significantly to households where the machine is installed in a living area or open-plan space.

The limitation of the decibel figures is one of context. Most people cannot intuitively judge the real-world difference between, say, 73dB and 76dB without a reference point. You can determine that the lower figure is quieter – but not whether the difference would be noticeable to you in everyday use, or whether either figure would be acceptable in your home.

What the Decibel Figure Tells You
Which machine is quieter in relative terms. A lower number is always better, and larger differences – 5dB or more – are generally perceptible in normal use.

What It Does Not Tell You
How the machine will sound in your home. Installation environment, flooring, cabinetry, and load balance all affect perceived noise significantly, and these cannot be tested in a laboratory.

Noise figures are also measured under standardised laboratory conditions. Real-world noise levels vary depending on how the machine is installed, what type of flooring it sits on, whether it is housed in a fitted unit, and how well balanced the load is. A machine that tests quietly in a lab can become noticeably louder if installed on a suspended timber floor or in a poorly damped cabinet.

As a general rule, a well-built machine with quality suspension, a rigid cabinet, and properly engineered drum bearings will be quieter in real use than a cheaper machine with a similar decibel rating achieved under test conditions. Build quality is the strongest predictor of long-term noise performance – and the energy label cannot measure build quality.

Energy Label Series: All Parts

Part 1: Energy Efficiency Ratings
What the A to G energy efficiency rating measures and how to interpret it when comparing machines.


Part 2: Energy Consumption (kWh per Cycle)
How to read the energy consumption figure and what it means for your actual running costs.


Part 3: Wash Performance Ratings
How washing performance is rated, what the test involves, and the limitations of the result.


Are Eco Labels Misleading?
Why energy labels do not tell the full story about running costs, reliability, or environmental impact.

Frequently Asked Questions