Washing machine purchase: Five tips from the expert
One machine like the other: Which one suits me?
© Michael Bodmann / iStockphotoHow do I know which washing machine lasts for a long time? How big should my drum be? Is "Aqua Stop" useful? Five questions to Dirk Petersen, environmental and product consultant at the consumer center Hamburg.
What should I pay attention to first when buying a washing machine?
The first glance should be the EU energy label stuck on the washing machines. The best are washing machines with the energy efficiency class A +++ and an A for the centrifugal effect.
If I can not afford such a machine - where can I most easily cut corners?
In the spin performance - which also affects the most on the price. If you dry your laundry on a leash, spinning at 1000 rpm will suffice. Use a tumble dryer, but at least 1400 revolutions per minute make sense, so that the dryer does not have to run so long.
Do I need an Aqua-Stop system?
"Aqua Stop" prevents your washing machine from leaking in the event of a defect and causing water damage. A water protection system is therefore a must when your machine is in the home. If she is in the cellar, you can do without it if necessary.
How do I know if a machine is of good quality?
The "Stiftung Warentest" tests washing machines at regular intervals, including their durability (www.test.de). The website www.ecotopten.de of the Öko-Institut is also very good: here, machines are tested and recommended that are not only top in ecological terms.
How big should my drum be?
For a family of four, you should choose a machine that holds six kilos or more. Live alone or in pairs, a capacity of three to five kilos completely enough.
