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 Washerhelp
I believe the main ingredient in most modern detergents is a negatively charged (anionic) surfactant. This works by reducing the surface tension of the water so it penetrates the clothes better but also it acts by binding to the fabrics and the dirt particles at the same time and by doing this neutralising the electrical attraction between them and allowing the dirt to be released and dissloved. So the detergent molecules are actually it seems designed to cling to the fibres in the fabrics. The only way of getting rid of them is to dissolve them in the water (release them from the fabric) and then take the water away (rinse cycle).
The formulation of detergents has changed a great deal over the years to improve washing efficiency but perhaps these changes have actually made the rinsing problem worse?
Putting technicalities aside the only way I found I could solve the problem was by using warm or hot hand rinsing. Even multiple cold rinses just didnt work. Using the pre-wash as a main wash cycle (omitting detergent for the main wash therefore using it as a warm rinse) works pretty well except if the clothes are really dirty – then they stay pretty dirty.
I have had engineers out numerous times to challenge them to fix the rinsing problem. I have actually demonstrated to them how detergent remains in the clothes (using new towels so they cant use the excuse that the detergent was from past washes etc). I have returned a Bosch to John Lewis for not rinsing properly (to their credit they didnt argue) and they replaced it with a Miele with extra (cold) rinse and high water level button. This was just as bad as the Bosch.
As I mentioned before the new LG machine with warm rinse will be my next choice!
It seems that the Nordic countries, and in particular Sweden, where I live, have traditionally demanded better rinsing. Test-winning machines here often have one or several programmes with extra rinsing cycles.
Yours,
F
Oliver: it is extraordinary that you are getting good rinse performance from your machine, and I am not.
We have moderately hard water here – hard enough for the kettle to get that brown scale on it – do you have soft water? Maybe this might be at least part of the answer?
I agree with you Oliver, these fancy fragrances in detergents, softeners etc. It seems that everything must have perfumes/fragrances, whatever it’s called. Laundry detergent, fabric conditioner, spray perfumes and aftershaves. Let’s not forget bottles of ironing water which claim to make the ironing smell nice. I’m sure all these things don’t do the skin much good and adding these perfumes to detergents and other things also increases the price. I notice that even dishwasher tablets have perfumes, bizarre really when the stuff gets rinsed off thoroughly (if only modern washing machines rinsed that well!!). I know that proper rinsing should rinse away the smell of detergent from the clothing.
@Francis Thyresson. As the Nordic countries demand better rinsing, I hope other countries like Britain will follow suit and only buy washing machines that rinse better. Then manufacturers will be forced to make washing machines that customers demand.
@Nikki Jenkins. I’m also doing the pre-wash and omitting the detergent for the main wash. If things are stained, I give these items a good coat of “Shout” fabric stain remover spray, rub it slightly and leave to soak into the stains for about 10 minutes before washing. I agree with your sentence about the formulation of detergents changing and affecting rinsing. If I use the recommended amount I still see lots of suds towards the end of the main wash.
Would rinsing improve if detergent is added directly to the drum and not the soap drawer? I’m wondering because bits of detergent often get left behind in the soap drawer and maybe end up being flushed down during the rinses? What’s the point in using the soap drawer when it ends up in the drum anyway?
Hi Nikki,
Our water is according to Yorkshire water “soft”, but we get the brown limescale in the water and as you say the kettle and a hell of alot of it around taps and shower heads. So my feeling it is “moderately soft”. I cannot be certain of this as I am no scientist, but we are the end of the line and get no end of crap coming through the pipes. I changed the fill hoses on the Siltal about a year ago and when doing so also cleaned the inlet filters and the cold one was almost solid with white chalky limescale. So thats a yearly job from now on, especially as it now uses alot more water. Same for my Bosch. The dishwasher is not as badly affected as it is on a hot water supply but I’ll clean that as well. I think water quality depends up on its source, it does not all come from as locally as you would imagine.
I have being observing the Bosch and in the final rinse there is always some foam in the water, not alot so it shows 4 rinses is perfect and anymore would be a waste as even towels are coming out completely residue free.
Oliver.
Hi WMUser,
Its funny you should mention dishwasher detergent, we use Finish powder, and that to has a perfume additive. We were having this conversation the other night about why dishwasher powder has any fragrance, as like you say it all gets rinsed away, ours does 3 rinses, 2 at incoming water temperature (about 50oC)and the last heated to 70oC. I will not use rinse aid of any kind as it goes in the last rinse and I feel it taints the pots so you are eating and drinking it. It doesn’t work anyway, its as useful as fabric conditioner. If machines worked proprerly in the first place there would be no need for the likes of rinse aid and fabric conditioner.
I too add the powder to the drum, as like yourself I feel it should get flushed in with the rinses, plus if it doesn’t all go in the wash things won’t be proplerly clean. It also makes a mess of the machines dispenser, I do not use the drawer on my machine at all. The theory on soap drawers is, if powder gets damp on your clothing and stays there it can remove the colour, never had it happen, sound like the usual level of bo11ocks from the manufacturers as usual!
Ironing water is just pure snake oil, its only distilled water with a smell, utterly pointless!
Shout stain removing spray is good too, works very well, been using it for years.
Oliver.
Hi Oliver,
You say you use Bleach containing powder on all your clothes as opposed to using coloured powder too? Do you not find it fades any of your coloured items? I used to used Persil Colour care powder as it had no bleach but whether I fell for a marketing gimmick I don’t know lol. Surely the bleach in powders is oxygen based and not chlorine so that would surely mean that is a colour safe bleach? I do not bother with stain removers as they are a waste of money in my oppinion. I find a half a tsp of washing up liquid on difficult stains works! I wouldn’t use enzymes on wool anymore but used to though they never fell to bits.
Hi Simon,
Firstly the main reason I use bleach containing powder for everything is it cleans and kills bacteria effectivley. To me no bleach equals substandard results. Also permanent use of liquid/colour detergent damages the machine, if it is not keeping the machine clean it is not keeping your clothes clean either.
The oxygen based bleaching agents are colour safe. It is just recommended people use 2 or 3 different types of detergent for different fabrics. Whether colour powder is a scam I really don’t know, the only difference is the lack of bleach and brightening agents (which do not effect colour anyway). None of my clothing and household linen is that badly faded, considering I wash EVERYTHING on 60oC with biological bleach powder. Clothing must fade whist being worn, hung on the line in bright sunlight and just generally being stored. Most washing machine engineers recommend you use colour powder for coloureds and bleach powder for whites.
No bleachless detergent will remove sweat properly, this is why I will not use them, putting on a clean T-shirt covered in secondhand sweat is a disgusting thought. Liquids and colour powder offer very limited stain removal in general, I am far from happy with the results they provide.
Non-biological detergents fair about the same although the powdered varieties contain bleach their stain removal is very bad also. To remove biological staining (sweat, skin grease and skin flakes etc.) you need enzymes to break them up and to remove the bacteria from sweat etc. you need bleach to neutralise it. Enzymes and bleach work in tandem to produce excellent results, remove one and you are left with second rate cleaning performance. Brightening agents are just pure rubbish they make virtually no difference at all, they make a permanent bond with the clothing and will not come out even after only one wash with them in!
Going back a good 20 years ago there were just laundry powders there was no such thing as coloured detergents, so they may be a gimmick.
My own theory is why clothes fade so badly today is washing machines wash for far too long, up to an hour and a half in some cases. Such repeated beating even with a colour powder will remove colour anyway. My washing machine washes for about half an hour on a normal 60oC wash and about 45 minutes on whites economy. Thats probably why nothing of mine is so badly faded even very old items (10 years old plus). This could be another reason why we are all being talked into washing at very low temperatures, because modern washing machines are actually ruining our clothing with such excessive wash times.
Tried the washing up liquid trick many years ago, it created alot of foam, there are very few stains my Bosch cannot shift on its own, the ones that won’t shift get “Shouted” at! Its is an excellent product, the best stain removing spray by along way.
Oliver.
Thanks for the info Oliver. Think I will go back to using a bleach containing powder for all washing then. Much simpler and will save money too.
Simon
Oliver. I agree with your everything you say in your comment (#241). My washing machine takes way too long to finish the main wash. As I use a pre-wash to help with the later rinsing, that adds about another 20 minutes to the time. On the other extreme, the “quick” cycles are too short to be effective.
Excessive washing and repetitive agitation just shortens the life of clothes. Long wash times are fine for REALLY dirty clothes. If someone has bought a new washing machine because the old one didn’t wash things properly, then long wash times are fine for a few months, by which time the clothes should be thoroughly clean.
This may be another reason why rinsing is so poor on modern washing machines? The long wash times create more foam – I notice it every time I wash the towels – I’m now considering using just HALF the MINIMUM dose of powder for towels, as slightly more just creates foam which hinders rinsing. During the first hour or so (whenever I get a chance to look), there’s the usual small amount of bubbles, but towards the end of the wash, there’s always too much foam.
Yes, the “Shout” fabric stain remover is excellent. I shake the bottle, spray onto the stains and rub gently. Leave for just 10 minutes and wash. It works better than adding more detergent – which makes rinsing more of a challenge!
If wash times were
shorter“normal” instead of aeons, then oxygen-bleach powder would probably not cause any noticeable colour fading. Biological detergents always score better in “Which?” tests and people who are sensitive to them wouldn’t have a problem using biological detergents if washing machines rinsed PROPERLY.