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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Dear Washerhelp
I have ordered a Miele WT2670 1600rpm washer dryer which is coming next week and am looking forward to it. I don’t suffer with any allergies or skin conditions so the rinsing shouldn’t be an issue. Although I may put Water Plus on if I feel that it doesn’t have enough water and I won’t be having washes which are too sudsy. Detergents such as Ariel Excel Gel can get very sudsy iof too much is used. I discovered this in my Hotpoint WD42O washer dryer. If you know of the rinse water levels then please let me know as it would be very good to be aware of this before the machine arrives. Like I said above the machine is due for delivery on 28th August.
And could you or someone else please tell me about its tumbles that it does as I would like to know. I am thinking that the tumbles are 13/2 for the cottons programme but could also be the same on other programmes. I think that good and fast tumbling can help improve wash and rinse performance. Please could you help. Many thanks.
Hi Gary,
No problem. Thats right it should only fill that high on fast wash 60 and super wash 60, but only on those 2 programmes the rest should just touch the bottom of the door, the synthetic cycles use a touch more, sorry I should have been more explicit! I don’t have the Hotpoint any more, got a reconditioned Bosch. The intermediate spins should be 800rpm on cottons and 500rpm on synthetics and fast wash 60.
Laura Mitchell
Re: tumbles.
If it tumbles too fast the washing will not fall correctly in the drum and will just cling to the outside thus providing poor wash performance. Also tumbling too fast on rinses will whip up a hell of alot of foam, Hotpoint machines do this and then cannot spin it away properly. So the balance has to be right, Bosch from 15 years ago and IAR Siltal from 8 years ago seem to have it perfect, cannot comment on Miele, never owned one (or ever will) or had me hands on one!
HTH,
Oliver.
Hi again Oliver :D
Ah cool yes thought Fast Wash 60C rinses should be high as they are only quick and as for Super Wash 60C well my machine doesn’t have it. The new Hotpoints don’t have that programme anymore. The synthetics programme is a fair bit below the fast wash 60C rinse water level on mind which is good too. Shame you don’t have the Hottie anymore :( but the reconditioned Bosch sounds great, what model is it :) infact I know someone on YouTube which has a recondtioned Bosch I think. You might not know me from there though, my account is HooverAC110. As for the intermediate spin speeds well Hotpoint have changed the Cottons to 1000rpm and the Synthetics 600rpm. Fast wash 60C is a little faster at 800rpm, this is only between the rinses though because on all programmes (which do spin after the wash) are all at 600rpm.
Thanks again :D sorry for the delay though :S
Gary
Hi Gary,
My Bosch is a WFF2000, about 15 years old or so. Sorry mate not me on YouTube, never been on that site in my life!! It would appear they have changed Hotpoint machines yet again, they are consantly peeing around with them and making them even MORE unrelaible. Thats why I haven’t got it anymore. It never washed that well anyway, never as good as my Mums IAR Siltal (8 years old), whereas the Bosch does!
They do keep increasing the spin speeds on the Indesit based machines to try to get a better rinse but all they are doing is wearing everything out alot quicker, and doing very little for rinsing. After about 800rpm the extraction rate tales off some what, the difference between 800rpm and 1000rpm is a thimble full of water! The difference between 1000rpm and 2000rpm is 4 table spoons full of water, so not worth the bother! The Bosch spins at 400rpm after the wash and between the rinses for about a minute, but uses alot of water so gives a perfect rinse on any load as it does 4 rinses 1/3 up the door, and it NEVER sudslocks, it would appear all modern machines do this.
All the best,
Oliver.
Well, I had 2 Hoover washing machines that, between the two of them, lasted over 27 years. No problem whatsoever with smell or grey slime. Didn’t even know it could be a problem.
My new machine is a Bosch and grey slime is a mega problem, though I haven’t changed my habits at all. I don’t use fabric conditioner, don’t add too much powder (I am mean if anything) and do the occasional 60 deg wash. I guess it must be the poor rinsing that is to blame.
So, does anyone know if the new Hoover machines have developed this problem? Have they sacrificed the rinse to be eco-friendly?
I would put up with the noise (if they are still noisy), anything to escape the grey slime. I only changed to Bosch because the Hoovers were noisy and my Bosch dishwasher lasted 20 years. I just hope this machine doesn’t last 20 years.
Hi Cath,
This sounds as if you are not using the correct amount of detergent. Are you using a bleach containing powder, eg. not a colour friendly type? Also are you doing a lot of low temperature washing, as this will cause slime also.
To help remove the slime select a 90/95 wash with bleach containing powder, such as Ariel biological (using the correct amount of course). Do not use liquid or colour powder as none will contain bleach. This is called a maintenance wash and should be carried out monthly. If it is really bad using a specialist washer cleaner such as “Maytag Affresh” will also reduce the slime.
The lower water level on the wash phase is not going to help with slime build up, and as you say the lack of water in the rinsing cycle does not flush the machine through properly. If this machine has “Aqua plus” it may be worth while having it constantly selected.
I also have a Bosch (15 year old) and have no trouble with slime but I always wash at 60 and regularly do a maintenance wash.
Sadly your Bosch may last a few years they are still built quite well, though not as well as they used to be. Also Hoover will have reduced water in the rinse to be eco-friendly, all manufacturers have. No modern machine will rinse like the old ones did!
HTH,
Oliver.
Our 21 year old Hotpoint 96700 Top Loader has just expired having given no previous trouble at any time in it’s long life. The repair man says the gearbox may have seized and of course these are now obsolete. In our opinion this is a superb machine of which this is the third we have purchased. They have all lasted into double figures. Nothing else washes as white or rinses as clean. My wife was a chronic eczema sufferer and these machines have played their part in her relief from allergies. Does anyone know where a replacement gearbox or machine may be found? Any of the original Hotpoint Top Loaders will be acceptable.
Hi David,
The gear box has been obsolete for sometime now, unless there are any kicking around in back street retailers, but I wouldn’t have thought so, but all is not lost…..
Try taking the gear box to a car garage and see if they can repair it. This is a shot in the dark but well worth a try! Another option is to get a specialist to make you a new one, it can be done but will be expensive, there isn’t that much inside so making a copy shouldn’t be too hard!
As regards buying a Hotpoint top loader, I haven’t seen one in 20 years! Nor have I seen a reconditioned one either, but if I come across one I will let you know via this site, but don’t hold too much hope out though!!
HTH,
Oliver.
There is a simple way to get more water into the drum for better rinsing.Every washing machine contains a water level transducer to which are connected tubes from the drum.When the water reaches a certain level in the drum,the pressure transducer activates and sends a signal to the electronics to close the water inlet valve.
However there are ‘adjustable tuning slugs’ on the pressure transducer so that the level of water can be adjusted.I experimented on a Hotpoint and manage to get the drum completely full of water!.So careful how you make adjustments.
I am a retired electronics engineer and would love to design a washing machine complete with PID temperature control,brushless motor, etc etc.but I’m afraid the cost would be prohibitive.
Sounds good Richard (comment 96). Most of us have no idea how to alter the “adjustable tuning slugs”. I would be too scared to take the lid off my washing machine!
Making a video on how to do this and uploading it to youtube might help, but explained in plain English.
One trick that most of us could try on modern washing machines is to take advantage of the pre-wash. Add your powder or liquid detergent directly in the drum and a tablespoon of soda crystals in the “main” compartment of the soap drawer (not the pre-wash compartment). The pre-wash will allow the clothes to soak up the detergent solution. After the pre-wash finishes, the machine will pump out the water and may perform a short spin. On the main cycle (at the temperature you chosen), the clothes will still have plenty of detergent absorbed and the main wash water will facilitate later rinsing. Pressing the “extra rinse” button or whatever it’s called on your machine will also help when you try this pre-wash experiment. I’ve only tried this once, so don’t know if it affects cleaning performance.
Note that on old washing machines the pre-wash would be followed by a boil wash, so check carefully that your machine won’t boil your laundry to death!
It’s a shame that we have to resort to drastic measures to achieve proper rinsing. If we don’t, our clothes will still contain detergent and this causes no end of trouble. I sometimes wonder, after reading these comments, if allergy sufferers have no idea their condition can be traced to the washing machine not rinsing properly?