My attention was drawn to rinsing efficiency after noticing that out of dozens of washing machines reviewed by Which? most of them had a poor rating for rinsing. Even those singled out as Best Buys were “poor” at rinsing. Believe it or not, at least one Best Buy was “very poor”. I found that pretty shocking.
From studying the figures it is clear that if “good”, or “very good” rinsing was one of the prerequisites for a Best Buy there would be no Best Buy washing machines or washer dryers at all – not a single one. It appears that Which? have decided to allow the poor rinsing results to be a caveat instead of a best buy killer. Please note however that several Which? best buys are “satisfactory” at rinsing which is something at least.
Out of 125 washing machines and washer dryers tested, a remarkable 75 of them (60%) were rated either “poor” or “very poor” at rinsing with only 3 getting the rating we should expect for all washing machines which is “good”.
The rest were a mere “satisfactory”. To summarise, just less than 3 % of the 125 washers & dryers are “good” at rinsing according to Which?
Since writing this article I’ve discovered Which? no longer give the majority of washing machines 1 or 2 star ratings for rinsing ability, and the majority appear to get 3 or 4 stars. Which? tell me they’ve readjusted their rinse marks to more accurately reflect the degrees of abilities between even poor rinsing machines. However, they are still critical of many of their rinsing abilities in the comments and the pros and cons.
What does this mean?
Well for a start it doesn’t mean that we can settle for one of the three washing machines that are “good” at rinsing because they unfortunately let themselves down in other areas such as with “noisy spin, and poor brand reliability”. However, if you really need a washing machine that rinses better than any other – maybe because of allergies – then at least Which? have identified three candidates out of the 125 they’ve tested so far.
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Why aren’t they rinsing properly and does it really matter?
Surely all washing machines should rinse well? It’s surely quite simple, you just use enough water to rinse them properly. It’s astounding that we have reached the situation where the majority of washing machines and washer dryers on sale in the UK are apparently poor at rinsing.
This has probably come about because people have been focussing on other aspects, which has left rinsing as a low priority. Two explanations spring to mind. Firstly, the focus on using less and less water is clearly impacting on our washing machine’s ability to rinse effectively. Whereas modern detergents can facilitate efficient and effective washing results at lower temperatures and with less water, no such product is currently allowing effective rinsing with much less water.
Good rinsing needs plenty of water which is in direct opposition to the current environmental concerns and clamour to be the washing machine using the least amount of water.
Eco LabelsThe second explanation I can think of is that the eco-labelling system which awards ratings for energy efficiency, spin efficiency and wash efficiency do not appear to take into account rinse efficiency.
As such, manufacturers aren’t being judged on how well their washing machines rinse, only on how well they wash and how well they extract water on spin. I’m speculating at this stage, but I can’t see how so many washing machines could be awarded an “A” wash efficiency rating if the tests took into account how well the clothes were rinsed. Presumably, as long as all stains are removed and laundry looks “clean” no one bothers about how much soap detergent residue is left.
It might be a good idea to create a fourth category, “rinse efficiency” on the eco labels, or at least include the rinse efficiency as part of the wash efficiency test.
Ultimately if customers don’t notice an issue then it could be argued that it doesn’t really matter.
Maybe it doesn’t for most people, but it surely does to anyone sensitive to wash detergents and with allergies and a lot of people are. There were 581 comments added on this topic from such people before I had to close comments to prevent it being endless.
The current situation is that to anyone keen to buy a washing machine with good rinsing I have no washing machine to recommend because none of the companies producing the best, and the most reliable washing machines currently supply one that rinses above average according to Which? although this could easily change and you would need to check out the latest to be sure.
Are Which? being too critical? Are Which? applying too stringent a rinse test? I must admit I’ve not had many complaints from people saying their washing machine isn’t rinsing properly and my own Miele washing machine, which although a Which? Best Buy, didn’t receive a “good” rating for rinsing yet it appears to rinse perfectly well as far as we can see.
In fact I remarked to my wife that my clothes don’t smell of detergent like they used to in the old washing machine and deduced that it rinsed much better. However, neither of us have any reactions to washing machine detergent. The thing about Which? is that they are totally independent.
They work only for their subscribers interests and are actually a registered charity. They don’t make any money directly by recommending any product (even though they could) because they want to be seen as 100% unbiased. They are highly respected and I expect they test products fairly. However, my understanding is that the do charge for companies to display their “Best Buy” logo!
I suspect Which? are right and that modern washing machines don’t generally rinse very well because of the reasons I speculate about above. Whether it matters or whether it will change depends on whether enough of the public are bothered, or even notice. The 581 comments added to this article below show that many people do find this a big issue.
Which? research
NOTE: Which? do rate some washing machines as satisfactory for rinsing and even a couple are rated as good, although unfortunately the few rated good (so far) are not so good on reliability.
Which? are constantly reviewing washing machines so if rinsing is particularly important to you it makes sense to become a member and see all the buying advice. I can’t print their advice for copyright reasons.
Here’s how they describe their reviews –
We are of course well known for our traditional product testing. And when we test something like the proverbial washing machine, we will ask the laboratory not only to measure how clean the clothes get, but how much water and energy is used? How easy is it to work out the programmes? What is the machine like on specialist cycles? How long does it take? All these things feed into our best buy criteria.
We will devise the testing schedule by looking at things from the ordinary user’s point of view: and if standard industry methods are not good enough we will devise our own methods ”
Causes of poor rinsing
There are some common causes of poor rinsing even in washing machines that do rinse well that it might be useful to point out. Anyone experiencing poor rinsing problems where washing comes out with detergent residues or white powder streaks should read this – White streaks or residual washing powder after washing
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Hi Richard and Whatmatters,
I’ve heard of this before and is a viable option, but if an incorrect adjustment is made it could cause a serious flood. Which may not be covered be home insurance as it would be the homeowners fault. So I would say extreme caution is needed.
However I do agree with what you both say, I am very tempted (and have been for a long time) to adjust the pressure switch on my Mums Siltal as rinsing is so bad.
In all fairness selecting a prewash and adding nothing or soda crystals to the main wash probably will affect cleaning drastically as the main wash will ineffect be the first rinse. There will be hardly anything in the main wash to facillitate cleaning, it may work on light soil only though? Never tried this but please do come back with your experience Whatmatters.
I have found when it comes to laundry soda crystals are just plain snake oil! They do not work as they say, plus prolonged use may damsge the aluminium drum spider in your washing machine.
All the best,
HTH,
Oliver.
Oliver
The pre-wash “trick” seems to work and during the main wash programme I still notice plenty of suds. If you put slightly too much detergent in or don’t put enough laundry in the drum my machine is prone to foaming too much. Not tried this with stained laundry, but you have to treat stains before washing anyway. If anyone copies this “trick” (comment 97) and finds it cleans well and improves rinsing (or not), I would be keen to find out.
I’ve noticed rinsing is better and I’ve not had to fill the machine with extra water during the rinses, but have enable the “extra rinse” option every time I use the machine.
I know some people who have used soda crystals for years and never had any problems. The packet would not say you could use them in washing machines if they were known to cause damage. I know they soften water and are well known for removing grease and oil stains. There is a page on this site about soda crystals and washing machines:
Soda crystals and washing machines
Could you make a video on youtube on how to adjust pressure switches for higher water levels, in Plain English? It would be wise to warn viewers of the risks involved lol!!
Cheers.
Hi Folks,
Many of you will have seen my regular posts on the Hot Water Valve boards (both of them) and will know about my LG washer.
Not having actually read much on this board until Oliver pointed out to Michelle on the “I want a machine with a hot valve” board that her post on Rinsing should have been on here, I was unaware 3 days ago, when I fiddled with my LG’s pressure switch, of the post a bit further up this board about the “adjustable tuning slugs”.
That aside, I have made 2 interesting discoveries about my LG WM1444TDS washer, which may be of use to anyone else with thai machine and infuriated by it’s diabolical rinsing.
Discovery number 1 was that the “Duvet” cycle, which I always use to fill the machine up as it uses the pressure switch not the stupid and useless “fuzzy logic” sensors and controls to supposedly detect when the laundry is properly wet, has only TWO rinses if left to run right through.
Discovery number 2 was that, having adjusted the pressure switch, to get rinse water to come 1/4 up the door glass, I can now wash non-fast coloureds (40 degree wash) on “Duvet” and not only does it wash in water that comes 1/4 of the way up the glass, but it also rinses in the same level of water and, surprise surprise, it gets the washing pretty much soap free (almost as good as the 26 year old Hoover I used to have) in just TWO rinses.
The only down side to this is that I still have to switch back to cottons to get a 60 degree wash, which means that the rinses, although they now fill up to 1/4 up the door, are all interspersed by spins which take positively eons to start due to “balancing” so the cycle takes hours as always.
Interestingly the Duvet wash doesn’t seem to bother with “balancing” but just spins and be b*ggered to the noise.
I’m very pleased by this development, but must point out to anyone with this (or any other) machine and thinking of making the same adjustment that it will undoubtedly invalidate your warranty, so don’t do it unless you are prepared to accept that fact.
I forgot to mention something that’s really obvious… over 2/3’s of our planet Earth is WATER. In fact, 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water (look on Wikipedia for water, it currently says 71%). Also the oceans are miles deep! I’m sure many people know about the “water cycle” too. In plain English: water never disappears, it comes back!
So why are we being told off for using “too much” water? Really, why? Washing machines need LOTS of water to rinse all of the detergent out of fabrics, which they did fine before the do-gooders told the washing machine manufacturers to use less water.
You never heard of so many cases of allergies years ago, nowadays most people are allergic to something! It’s obvious there’s a correlation – less water in rinsing = more allergies!
Okay, the MAIN wash doesn’t need as much water because it’s being heated, obviously more water being heated uses more electricity. But during the rinse cycles the extra water uses no more energy because it doesn’t get heated.
I can keep mentioning obvious things forever, but the last one: I don’t remember old washing machines having an “extra rinse” button, because they rinsed properly anyway. Am I right in saying that old (1970’s and 1980’s) washing machines did not have options for rinsing better?
That is totally Correct!
Oliver.
Has anyone tried Amway SA8 laundry detergent and if so do they think it is good? I have found you need to wash at 50C to get stains out even stains like mud whereas Persil or Ariel get mus out at 30C or 40C.
Also I have noticed some of my clothes have shrunk in the wash lately but I do not why. They have been put on the appropriate programme and spin cycle. Could detergents cause shrinkage?
Simon: 50 degrees may well shrink some items. It’s temperatures that usually shrink things. I’ve not heard of anything other than too high a temperature shrinking things.
The allergy UK website has a tips page which suggests that you re-rinse your clothes when the machine finishes. Look on the page under the section about \”Windows mirrors and glass\” in the last paragraph of that part – yes that *is* typed properly and *is* under \”Windows mirrors and glass\” and it does indeed mention that new washing machines now use a lot less water than the older ones
If nobody likes the idea of filling their machine up with extra water or trying other ideas mentioned above such as tampering with the washing machines \”adjustable tuning slug\” whatever that is and so on and so on…… the simplest way is to follow the suggestion and run the rinse cycle a second time. Yes it means waiting longer but worth it!
It’s always the simplest solutions that work best. I would think every washing machine made in the past 10 years can be forced to re-rinse, whether it involves switching off and turning the dial back to the beginning of the rinse cycles or something else.
Anyway… I thought I’d try this “easy” method and re-rinse. I used the rinse-hold option on my machine, so the clothes are left in water until I’m ready to advance the programme: I turned the selector to “off”, added the fabric conditioner, turned the dial selector to the “rinse” position and choose the correct spin speed. Switched on and let it do the rinses again and perform the final spin.
So far so good :)
Clothes no longer feel like sandpaper, there’s no smell of detergent perfumes, no little white marks on the clothes and no traces of foam on the door seal or inner door glass. What a difference!!
You may want to forget my previous suggestions and other drastic ideas mentioned previously. Anyone can do this re-rinsing and it really works (preferably if you have “rinse hold” on your machine, it reminds you to re-rinse). Also you won’t need to press the “extra rinse” option (or whatever it’s called on your machine). Ironically, I found that by NOT pressing the “extra rinse” button, the machine spins faster between the rinses (without sudslocking), I have no idea why.
Only one thing to be careful with: if you have to select the spin speed when you re-run the rinse cycles, be careful not to spin your delicates too fast e.g. curtains or they won’t look nice afterwards!
Readers – please let me know if this works after trying it for a few weeks. One last thing: fabric conditioner can also chemical sensitivity, something to consider if you’re having allergic reactions to laundry and chemicals.
Thanks for reading and good luck. :D
Hi Whatmatters,
Glad that a simple solution works for you. The only downside will be time I guess. What make and model is your machine please. How many rinses does it perform in total with the re-rinsing?
My 15 year old Bosch spins slower between the rinses with “Higher water Level” selected, but still rinses better because it does 4 rinses 1/3 up the door, whereas it does 3 rinses with 2″ of water in the bottom of the drum if not. My feeling is the water is removing the detergent opposed to the spinning, so the machine does not have to work as hard.
Correct about fabric conditioner, I stopped using it and my skin did improve, there again it is only nicely scented grease!!
The intermediate spins do not play as much as a part in the rinsing as you think, if there is not enough water to remove the detergent in the first place, the spins will sudslock. The residue takes a hell of alot of diluting in order to remove properly, the spins then aid the process.
E.g.
4 Rinses 1/3 up the door with 300-400rpm spins rinses properly.
3 Rinses with 2″ of water and 800rpm spins is as close to not bothering to rinse as you will get.
On the synthetic cycles it does a Dilution rinse and then 4 rinse 1/4 up the door but seems to rinse as well as the 1/3 cotton cycles.
Anything past 800rpm is pointless as the water removed is negligable, the difference between 800rpm and 1000rpm is a thimble full. Difference between 1000rpm and 2000rpm is 4 table spoons all for full loads, basically not worth the wear and tear and expense.
All the best,
Oliver.