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7 Best Washing Machines
If there is a shortage of anything in this fast-paced life, it is ‘Time.’ Everyone is in a hurry, either to go to the office or school.
Under such circumstances, washing clothes takes a backseat. The best solution is to purchase a washing machine that will take care of this vital chore and leave you with some spare time.
Washing machines come in various sizes and types. The choice of the ideal washing machine depends on multiple factors like,
- Number of people in the house
- The activity of people
- The frequency of washing clothes
- The budget
Washing machines can either be semi-automatic or fully automatic.
You have top-loading and front-loading machines, as well. Therefore, the choice becomes a bit tricky.
Besides, you have a plethora of excellent brands available on the market.
Let us discuss the best washing machines available in India today under Rs 20,000. Subsequently, we shall go through the points you should consider when purchasing your washing machine in your budget.
Best Washing Machine
1. Samsung 6.0Kg Fully Automatic 5-star Front-Loading Washing Machine – WW60R20GLMA/TL
Samsung manufactures some of the best front-loading and top-loading machines. Though the present model is available for a couple of thousands more than Rs 20k, it is good enough to rank as one of the best washing machines in the Rs 20,000 range.
Highlights
- Fully Automatic front-loading machine
- 6kg capacity
- Three wash programs
- Hexa Storm Pulsator
- Three-year warranty on the product
This Samsung washing machine comes with excellent features like Digital Inverter and Hygiene Steam Technology that contributes to its 5-star energy rating.
The Hygiene Steam technology has a powerful hygiene steam cycle to improve the cleaning quality of the wash.
The digital inverter comes with a strong magnet to ensure robust and quieter performance. The 5-star energy rating should encourage people to purchase this appliance.
This washing machine comes with a ceramic heater to protect the build-up of water scale deposit. You can experience some excellent features like the Delay End feature that allows you to pre-set a wash cycle’s ending time.
The Child lock is an exciting feature to keep your machine safe from your children’s activities.
The Quick wash mode allows you to complete the washing cycle in 15 minutes. You can wash cotton and woollen clothes using the respective Cotton Fabric and Wool Fabric Wash modes.
The Delicate Wash mode takes care of your delicate garments like sweaters and cardigans.
It features a Hexa Storm Pulsator to enhance the washing experience to a different level. The magic filter feature ensures to remove the lint and other residues to prevent the clogging of the drainpipe.
- Excellent noiseless performance
- Hot water wash available
- Different modes to ensure quality performance
- Comparatively, a heavy machine
- Not the ideal machine for large families
2. Bosch 6kg Fully Automatic Front-Loading Washing machine – WAB16060IN
Bosch is one of the leading brands of washing machines, especially the fully automatic front-loading appliances.
Highlights
- Fully-automatic front-loading washing machine
- The capacity of 6Kg, ideal for small families
- The high spin speed of 800 rpm
- 30 wash programs
- Two-year warranty on the product coupled with ten years on the motor
Bosch washing machines come with unique features like the Allergy Plus program that washes clothes at 60 degrees Celsius to ensure a germ-free and hygienic laundry experience. Bosch is one of the reputed international models available in India.
The Express Wash feature cleans your clothes and even dries them within 60 minutes. Allergy Plus feature ensures elimination of all detergent residues to deliver a hygienic performance.
The VarioPerfect feature consumes 20% less energy while reducing the cleaning time by 65%. It also features an EcoPerfect feature to save up to 50% energy while washing.
The speciality of this machine is the VarioDrum feature that takes gentle care of your delicate clothes. The ActiveWater Plus feature adjusts the water level, depending on the load and fabric type to help in effective water management.
This washing machine comes with unique features like Unlock and Reload that allow you to open the door and add/remove clothes during the wash cycle. It also comes with a Superfast mode to wash your clothes in 15/30 minutes.
The Anti-vibration design ensures a silent performance, whereas the EcoSilence drive motor minimised heat to deliver excellent results.
- Consumes less water while washing clothes
- Noiseless performance
- Express wash mode
- No digital display indicator
- Customers have complained of unsatisfactory after-sales service.
3. Whirlpool 7.5Kg 5-Star Fully Automatic Top Loading Washing Machine
Whirlpool washing machines are the favourites of Indian homemakers. Apart from the excellent performances of these machines, Whirlpool appliances are one of the most attractive. This model is a 7.5Kg washing machine with a 5-star energy rating.
Highlights
- Fully automatic top loading machine
- The capacity of 7.5Kg, ideal for the average Indian family
- Hard water wash technology
- 6th sense smart sensor
- 12 wash programs
The 6th sense technology is the highlight of this washing machine. The 1-2-3 wash feature is an excellent one. You have to press 1-2-3 for the machine’s intelligence to take over and deliver a perfect wash.
One of the remarkable highlights of this appliance is the hard water wash. It senses the water type and adapts the wash cycle accordingly.
The Spiro wash feature delivers a 20% better cleaning experience because of its advanced wash motion technique.
The 12-wash programs cater to all types of clothes in the household. The Express Wash option reduces the wash cycle timing by nearly 40% to save time.
This machine comes with Zero Pressure Fill technology to ensure that the washtub fills up 50% faster even if the input water pressure is low.
The Delay Wash feature empowers you to set your wash cycle to commence at your convenience. Some of the other exciting features are the Auto Tub Clean option that cleans the walls of the tub by reusing the wastewater from the wash cycle.
The lint filter removes any lint accumulated during the washing cycle.
The Aqua Store feature allows you to store water in the tub for the next wash. It is useful in the event of water shortages. The child lock is an exciting feature that keeps your settings safe from any tampering.
- The Aqua Store feature is a good one
- A range of wash programs to deal with all types of clothes
- Excellent power savings
- Customer service is an issue
- The machine does not have wheels.
4. Samsung 7.0Kg Fully Automatic Top Loading Washing Machine – WA70N4420BS/TL
Along with Whirlpool and LG, Samsung is one of the most widespread washing machines in India with a significant proportion of the population purchasing them. This washing machine comes with exciting features to qualify as one of the best washing machines under Rs 20,000 in India.
Highlights
- Fully automatic top loading washing machine
- 0kg capacity, ideal for the average Indian family of four members
- Excellent features and wash options
- Diamond drum
- Ten years warranty on the motor
The ActivWash+ technology that includes a sink allows you to hand wash delicate items and also pre-treat soiled clothes. The water jet functions at the push of a button.
This machine features Wobble Technology that prevents the clothes from getting tangled, thereby taking adequate care of your gentle fabrics.
The Magic dispenser feature ensures that you do not waste any detergent. This feature creates a water vortex to dissolve the detergent entirely before dispersing it into the washtub.
The Diamond drum is the highlighting feature of this machine. The diamond-shaped grooves on the drum wall provide a delicate washing experience for your clothes by treating them with care.
The presence of a Magic Filter enables the appliance to gather lint, fluff, and other particles that could go on to clog the drainpipe. The Eco Tub Clean feature cleans the tub after every wash without using harsh chemicals.
The advantage of Samsung machines is that they are designed to use the detergent and as little water as possible to ensure maximum energy efficiency. The child lock feature proves useful to safeguard your settings from tampering by your children.
- User-friendly washing machine
- Excellent performance
- Magic dispenser for detergent helps save money
- Quick wash option takes 30 minutes
- Water pressure is an issue.
5. LG 6.5Kg Inverter Fully Automatic Top Loading Washing Machine – T7569NDDLH.ASFPEIL
LG washing machines are one of the best appliances available in India because of its excellent quality performance and incredible after-sales service.
Highlights
- Fully automatic top loading washing machine
- The capacity of 6.5Kg ideal for small families
- The high spin speed of 780 rpm
- Smart Inverter Technology
- Adequate wash programs
The smart inverter technology helps in delivering a high-quality performance along with safety. It also ensures that the machine does not make much noise. The motor comes with BMC motor protection and protects it from dust, humidity, and insects.
The Turbo drum enables a powerful washing experience while removing the toughest stains through a robust water stream of rotating drum and pulsator in opposite directions.
The Punch + 3 feature creates streams of water in a vertical direction to mix the laundry up and down, thereby ensuring a uniform washing job.
The stainless-steel drum is rust-proof and hence durable. The steel tub discourages the forming of any bacteria or moulds, thereby keeping it odour-free. The tub-clean feature ensures hygienic washing as it sterilises both the inner and outer tub.
The best aspect of this washing machine is that the machine cycle starts precisely from where it left during a power cut after the restoration of power. The Smart ThinQ app enables you to diagnose up to 86 errors, thereby making it easy for repairing the appliance.
The child lock disables all the panel settings while retaining the one you had set to prevent any tampering by anyone.
- Impressive performance while making the least noise
- High-quality, long-lasting drum
- Inverter motor saves energy.
- Does not have any hot water wash option
6. Bosch 6.5Kg Fully Automatic Top Loading Washing Machine – WOE654W0IN
Bosch is renowned for manufacturing front-loading washing machines throughout the world. However, the company also manufactures top-loading machines for select markets, including India. They bring the same technological expertise in manufacturing these machines.
Highlights
- Fully automatic top loading washing machine
- The capacity of 6.5Kg, ideal for small families up to three members
- The excellent spin speed of 680 rpm
- Special wash features
- Soft closing lid
Bosch brings German engineering technology to washing machines to deliver incredible results. The Power Wave Wash system ensures to remove the most stubborn dirt from your soiled clothes.
The Intelligent Wave drum movement and the dynamic water flow system combines to handle dirt sternly while being gentle on the clothes.
One of the impressive highlights of this machine is the soft closing lit that protects the hands from unexpected injuries. It also avoids noise when closing the door.
The lid comprises a toughened glass that allows you to peep through when the machine is in action. It can also withstand heavy weights without any issues.
The Power-Off memory is an exciting aspect that enables the appliance to start from where it left off during a power cut. Thus, you save valuable time.
The machine is available in six colour options to suit your interiors designing. The control panel is user friendly. The Magic filter traps the lint and fluff from the clothes and prevents it from clogging the drainpipes.
The one-touch start is a remarkable feature that adds to the user-friendliness of the washing machine. This machine can work at low water pressure up to 0.3 bar, making it ideal for places with low water pressure issues.
The dual dispenser allows users to use powder and liquid detergents in the right proportion. This system ensures that the detergent mixes with the water well before dispersing into the machine. The child lock feature protects your settings from any tampering.
- High-quality performance
- Low noise
- Incredible features
- No hot water wash facility
- Not ideal for large families
7. LG 6.2Kg Inverter Fully Automatic Top Loading Washing Machine – T7288NDDLG.ASFPRIL
LG has an advantage over the other washing machine manufacturers in India because it has products of varying sizes to cater to the requirements of every Indian family. This 6.2Kg washing machine is ideal for bachelors and couples.
Highlights
- Fully automatic top loading washing machine
- 2Kg capacity, ideal for bachelors and couples
- High spin speeds of 780 rpm
- Excellent wash options
- Smart Inverter Technology
This LG washing machine is similar to the one described earlier, except for that the capacity of this machine is less at 6.2Kg. The smart inverter technology ensures not only less noise but also a better washing experience while providing all the safety required for the homemaker.
The highlighting aspect of this inverter is that it adjusts the washing machine’s energy consumption, depending on the load. Secondly, the BMC Motor protection feature provides complete security to the motor from insects, dust, and humidity.
This washing machine features a stainless-steel drum that is not only durable but also protects from bacteria and germs. As it does not rust, it lasts long.
The Turbo Drum feature removes the most stubborn dirt through strong water stream of rotating drum and pulsator in opposite directions. The Punch + 3 feature creates vertical water streams to extract the most challenging dirt from your soiled clothes.
The tub clean feature sterilises the inner and outer tub, whereby there is no unpleasant smell. It ensures hygienic washing.
The highlight of this machine is the Auto Restart option where you do not have to restart afresh after a power cut. The machine starts automatically from where it left off.
The Smart ThinQ app helps to diagnose errors in the machine to facilitate repairs. The child lock feature is a highlighting one, as it protects your existing settings from tampering.
- Outstanding performance complemented by exquisite looks
- The door hinge mechanism is of the top-drawer stuff.
- High-quality Turbo Drum
- No hot water washing feature
- No Air-Drying feature
Tips for selecting Washing machine under Rs 20,000
We have seen earlier that the budget is one of the crucial factors that decide which washing machine you choose for your home. In our case, our budget is around Rs 20K.
It is a decent budget that would easily allow us to go for fully automatic washing machines.
Hence, we shall restrict our discussion to fully automated machines alone and ignore the semi-automatic appliances.
With the pricing factor already decided, we shall look at the different types of fully automatic machines and their capacity.
Machine Type
Generally, you can find three types of fully automatic washing machines
- Top Loading Conventional Washing Machines
- Top Loading Washing Machines with Agitator functions
- Front-loading Washing Machines
One should understand the differences between these different types to make an informed choice.
Top Loading Washing Machines Vs. Front-loading Washing Machines
Indian homemakers traditionally love the top-loading washing machines because they are familiar with its controlling options.
In a way, the top-loading machines are convenient to use.
As a significant proportion of the population switches over from semi-automatic machines to the fully automatic appliances, they feel comfortable using top-loading washing machines.
The primary advantage of the top-loading washing machines is that they are less expensive compared to the front-loading counterparts. Therefore, you can go for a device with a higher load-bearing capacity.
In our budget of Rs 20,000, you can easily purchase a top-loading washing machine in the range of 6.5 to 7.5kg capacity, depending on the brand and other features.
The top-loading machines are advantageous because you do not have to bend down to place the clothes inside the machine.
People with back problems will welcome the top-loading machines, as it allows them to put clothes inside the machine while standing upright.
The top-loading machines come in two categories, with, and without an agitator. The agitator allows the clothes to spin in both directions alternatively, thereby providing the experience of a hand wash.
Compared to front-loading washing machines, top-loading machines consume more water.
The top-loading appliances can handle heavy clothes like duvets, bedsheets, curtains, and others.
Front-loading washing machines come with more washing cycles than the top loading appliances. Though the front-loading machine is still a westernised concept, many Indian families are opting for these machines today.
These machines come equipped with exciting features like hot water wash, timers, child lock systems, and others.
Another advantage of the front-loading devices is that they come with higher spinning speeds. Therefore, these machines can extract water faster from clothes when compared to top-loading counterparts.
The front-loading washing machines are comparatively expensive to the top loading appliances.
Therefore, you cannot go for a machine capacity more than 6kg if you select a front-loading device. Though front-loading machines are expensive, they save energy. Therefore, the cost evens out in the long run.
However, your energy consumption depends on whether you use the hot water washing facility. In India, people generally opt for cold-water washing.
Under such circumstances, the top-loading machines consume less electricity because the front-loaders come with a higher number of settings.
Front-loading machines are stackable, whereby you can place the dryer above the machine if required. It is not possible in a top-loading washing machine. If you purchase a separate dryer, you necessarily have to place it by the side, thereby occupying more space.
The front-loading washing machines are more prone to accumulation of moulds and fungus, especially around the door gasket. Therefore, the maintenance cost of a front-loading machine is higher in comparison.
Machine Capacity
The capacity depends on how many people you have in your home and the frequency of washing.
An Indian family has an average of four to five people. If you intend to use your washing machine daily, you can settle for a capacity of around 6kg.
However, if your frequency is once in two or three days, it is advisable to go for higher load-bearing capacity.
Your machine also depends on the kind of clothes you wash in the machine. If you have children in the home, the number of clothes can increase.
Similarly, children soil their clothes more than adults do. Therefore, it is advisable to choose the higher load machines.
Inverter Motor washing machines
The washing machine’s motor is a critical component of the appliance. Today, you have inverter motors that are capable of running at various speeds, depending on the load.
Thus, these motors save electricity.
As the inverter motors are brushless, they are cooler and make less noise when compared to the traditional engines.
The inverter motor that works on Direct Drive Technology does not have movable parts like belts, gears, and shafts. Therefore, they do not need as much as maintenance as the conventional motors do.
It also explains why manufacturers offer extended warranties on inverter motors.
User-friendly
When compared to the front-loading machines, the top load appliances are user-friendly.
You could stop the wash cycle at any moment to add fresh clothes if you had forgotten in the first instance.
The front-loading washing machines have complicated settings in comparison to top-load appliances.
However, the front-loading models come with more settings options, thereby enhancing the convenience aspect.
Wash settings
Washing machines come with various settings that allow you to choose the appropriate one, depending on the clothes you wish to wash.
For baby clothes and silk sarees, you can switch on the gentler settings, whereas you can opt for the heavier settings to wash jeans pants and other heavy garments.
The washing machines today feature touch screen or touchpad settings that are easier to operate when compared to the rotary controls.
Some of the devices come with options like hot water wash, delayed wash, soak settings, and so on.
The washing machines have become smarter today. They offer features like Fuzzy Logic, whereby the device determines the time, quantity of detergent and water to wash the load. Such washing machines eliminate the need for manual intervention.
Temperature control settings are also available in some of the high-end models. It enables you to select the hot water wash and set the temperature.
Some of the latest machines come with steam settings to help remove stubborn stains and dirt.
The time delay feature is an excellent one, as you can schedule your washing cycles. You can set the time for the wash cycle to begin at a convenient hour.
The soaking facility is also an advantageous one because soaking in water for extended periods enables the dirt to come off quickly.
Drum Material
The washing drum is a vital component of the machine. Depending on the budget, you have plastic drums, stainless-steel and porcelain drums.
The stainless-steel drums are the best when it comes to long-lasting efficiency. They can also withstand high spin speeds.
The washing drum comes with several features to enhance the washing experience.
Some of them have tiny holes in them, whereas some come with diamond-shaped edges and grooves. These attachments prevent the lint from sticking to the clothes, thereby ensuring a better wash.
Detergent dispensing options
Some of the latest machines available today can decide the amount of detergent you use, depending on the load.
Alternatively, you can always go by your judgement. Using liquid detergents is better for the fully automatic washing machines because these detergents do not leave any residue on the clothes.
The detergents dissolve in water entirely and ensure a uniform washing experience.
Using the auto detergent dispensing option is beneficial because it can result in saving time, water, energy, and also ensure a uniform wash.
Hard Water Processing
Except for a few metropolitan and big cities, soft water is generally not available throughout India.
The detergents take time to dissolve into hard water. Besides, one experiences the accumulation of a residue around the drum and drainpipes.
It could result in the choking of the pipes and the deterioration in the quality of the drums.
Hence, you should select your machine depending on the quality of water in your area. If you reside in a place where there is hard water, you should opt for washing machines that can tackle such issues.
Some of the latest washing machines feature hard water treatment technology to convert hard water into soft water.
Alternatively, many washing machines come with dedicated filters to break down the bicarbonates into fine crystals.
Thus, it enables the residue to drain out quickly. Washing machines in such areas with hard water can incur greater maintenance costs.
Bubble Wash Feature
Indians generally use cold water for washing clothes. However, cold water can be harsh on clothes. Therefore, some of the latest washing machines feature Bubble Wash Technology.
This technology converts the detergent particles into bubbles that inflate around the soaked clothes. These bubbles ingress into the cloth’s fibre and remove stubborn dirt.
Therefore, you get a better washing experience without causing any damage to your clothes.
Drum Sanitisation
Washing machines are in contact with water all the time. This humidity encourages the growth of bacteria and fungus, especially inside the wash drum.
The latest machines today feature a drum sanitising option to eliminate the harmful allergens and germs that accumulate inside the drum.
The technology uses a powerful jet of hot water to sanitise the drum and the gasket where there are greater chances of mould accumulation.
Smart Features
The latest high-end washing machines come with smartphone app compatibility that allows you to use the smartphones to control the machine’s operations.
Specialised apps come with Alexa-enabled voice control features that add to the convenience factor.
These smart apps come with unique diagnostic features that enable you to know if something is wrong with the machine.
Some intelligent apps also allow you to start the wash cycle remotely. Power consumption statistics are also available with these apps.
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