Electrolux top-loading washing machines: tips for selection and use

A modern functional washing machine is undoubtedly one of the best inventions of mankind - it becomes much easier to live with it. It is not surprising that any modern owner wants to acquire such equipment, but there is one problem - a typical unit can hardly be called so compact, and in the meantime, the bulk of the domestic housing stock was designed in those distant times, when architects did not even think about any washing machines.

Fortunately, there is a definite way out of this situation - these are models with vertical loading. At one time, the first washing machines mostly looked like this - it was a kind of huge bucket that quickly rotated water with laundry instead of a person. Today, this technique is much more functional, and most importantly, it takes up a little less space and can be squeezed into a tight corner. Understanding the needs of its potential customers, the production of such machines was also set up by the Swedish giant Electrolux, and we will consider its products.

The Electrolux top-loading washing machine may seem like a panacea and a real solution to the problem to a person who is overwhelmed by the issue of placing the unit in a cramped apartment, but do not forget that this form factor is not the main one. People who do not suffer from a lack of living space do not particularly chase such units, which means that such a technique has both advantages and disadvantages.

Let's start with the positives.

• Compactness - the main reason for buying a vertical model. You can't find fault here: the model range includes units with a width of less than 45 cm, while they have a drum depth of up to 65 cm and can accommodate a lot of clothes. If you don't even have a 45 cm width, then hardly anyone will help you.
• Capacity. The most capacious vertical model from Electrolux allows simultaneous loading of 6.5 kg of clothes - at the level of good frontal units designed for an average family.
• Practicality. Front-facing models usually have transparent glass drum covers that are difficult and expensive to replace in the event of a breakdown. Electrolux vertical machines are equipped with plastic covers - replacing them will not be a big problem.
• Caring for cleanliness. The rubber seal, typical of front-facing models, promotes dirt build-up and mold growth, and if it has to be replaced, the task becomes even more difficult. In Swedish vertical models, it simply does not exist, which means there is no problem either.
• It's never too late to remember! If the wash has just begun, and then you realized that not everything was loaded into the machine - it's okay, you won't have to restart the unit for one thing! Electrolux has provided an early stop function - even if water has already entered the drum, you can still open the lid and add what you have forgotten.

Unfortunately, it also has some drawbacks. Some of them can be corrected, others are the costs of this type of model and they simply cannot be avoided or leveled. In any case, you must be aware of these aspects of vertical technology.

• Disassembly for cleaning is not possible... The compartment for the detergent powder is one-piece, and if dirt accumulates there, it will be extremely problematic to remove it.
• High cost. You will have to pay money for compactness - vertical models from all manufacturers are more expensive than ordinary front ones. By the way, the same goes for maintenance repairs.
• Space on a typewriter cannot be used productively. On the front models, the top surface is stable and usually flat - the basket of dirty laundry can be stored directly on it. The opening cover of the vertical units excludes this option for space optimization.
• The insertion hole is comparatively small. The compactness of the machine is good until you are faced with the task of washing something voluminous and large, despite the fact that the drum itself is quite roomy, problems can arise when loading coats and blankets through a narrow neck.

The concept of the best model in this case is rather arbitrary: you must agree, since we are looking for a compact model, then even impressive functionality at a low cost will not force you to buy equipment if it is an immense unit. For this reason, we will not allocate seats and choose a winner, but we will look at the characteristics of several popular Electrolux top-loading models.

One or another degree of compactness is typical for all vertical models of this manufacturer, which means that the main criterion for getting into our rating will be high consumer demand.

• EWT1062IFW – relatively simple, but no less functional model. It is distinguished by its compactness, which even affected the volume of the drum - you should not put more than 6 kg of clothes into it. A set of 16 programs is responsible for the optimal mode of operation, while the AutoSense function helps to adjust the mode to the number of things that have been loaded. The unit is protected from the intervention of children, but allows adults to make changes to an already started wash, the design is also equipped with a delayed start.

• EWT0862IFW - another super-compact model, which, with a modest width of 40 cm, takes up to 6 kg of linen. There are a little less programs here - 15, but the unit is equipped with an LED screen and uses water sparingly, using no more than 49 liters per wash. The drum and the body as a whole are reliably protected from possible leakage, but the model is often criticized for its significant operating noise. The disadvantage can also be considered a relatively low spin speed - it is carried out at 800 rpm.

• EWT1377VIW - a suitable option for those who are not so tightly constrained in space, but need increased washing volumes. Here the drum is designed for 7 kilograms of laundry at once, and the inverter motor saves energy and does not overload the eardrums. A convenient control panel is combined with good functionality: steam treatment of washed clothes, a short wash in 14 minutes, a quick spin at 1300 rpm. Maintenance of the powder tray is also easier, as this part is removable and the lid can be opened by pressing a dedicated button.

• EWT1066ESW will be the last in our small rating. This unit has enough advantages: it is not devoid of a timer and consumes a minimum of energy during operation, while allowing the removable powder compartment to be cleaned with maximum simplicity. Separately, the drum auto-parking function should be noted.At the same time, among all the most popular Swedish vertical machines, it is this one that is criticized for a completely atypical whistle during operation, and at maximum spin power, it begins to make an unpleasant noise.

When purchasing any equipment that will cost tens of thousands of rubles, the consumer has the legal right to inquire about how good and reliable the products are from the brand. In theory, of course, much may depend on a specific model, and even on a single instance of a car, but still the company did not appear yesterday and has a certain reputation... We asked for the opinion of not just the owners of such equipment, but of repair experts - they come across broken washing machines of different brands every day and can competently comment on the level of quality of each company. Let's say right away that the opinions turned out to be quite versatile.

One of the foremen pointed out that the most common breakdown of Electrolux vertical machines should be considered drum jam... The essence of the problem lies in the fact that when the flaps are open, the user accidentally turns the drum, and then the same flaps prevent it from returning to its initial position. Erasing in such a situation will no longer work, but the master strongly discourages trying to apply force, hoping that everything will be corrected at home.

Another specialist points out that Electrolux, against the background of other manufacturers of washing machines, should generally be taken as almost indestructible.... According to him, twenty years ago the company produced such high-quality and durable equipment that only today they began to bring those models for repairs a little, and even then in many cases they are subject to restoration and can still serve.

As for the vertical models of a later release, then those options that were assembled in Europe and have relatively little electronics have increased reliability: as a rule, the more functions there are, the more often something will break.

Another specialist spoke out in a negative spirit, pointing out that vertical models are often very expensive to repair, and because of this it is not always advisable to repair them... According to him, the models of the Swedish brand, produced over the past ten years, most often suffer from engine breakdowns and burnout of control modules. Affected by the transfer of part of production to China - the situation there is no longer as bad as it was at the end of the last century, but they still did not learn how to do it perfectly with high quality.

Vertical washing machines from Electrolux are quite easy to operate, the principle of operation of all their mechanisms is intuitive. Nevertheless, each copy comes with instructions that are worth reading before turning on the appliance for the first time - this way you can avoid common annoying mistakes.

We will not study the entire instruction in full, but only dwell on a few tips that for some reason turn out to be a surprise for many consumers:

• since the drum cover is at the top of the housing, install the unit in a place where there will be no obstacles to opening the hatch, loading and unloading clothes;
• choose a washing program wisely, focusing on the type of material and the degree of soiling - otherwise, washing may be either ineffective or detrimental to textiles;
• if the thing only requires washing at relatively low temperatures, stains and other contaminants should be pre-treated before loading;
• even without doing a wash, the washing machine, being plugged in, is in standby mode and consumes a certain amount of electricity - pull out the plug to save;
• to achieve a positive result, use washing powders and other products on which it is marked that they are specially designed for automatic machines - experiments with all other detergents can end unpredictably;
• you can achieve perfect cleanliness of things only in a completely clean machine, so do not forget to take care of the equipment.

You can also get a certain idea of ​​whether to buy a washing machine from Electrolux thanks to the comments of consumers, which are posted on various specialized forums. Let's be honest - there are both positive and sharply negative opinions regarding product quality. The fact that there are approximately equal numbers of them, and the brand is still considered good and ranked among the leaders, is explained quite simply - a breakdown can often be triggered by careless handling by the owner himself, and comments are usually eager to write only those who consider themselves unfairly offended.

If we talk about the positive aspects, then we need to start with the fact that for many owners, Electrolux vertical washing machines, with careful handling, really serve for years and do not require any repairs. The machine is not too picky about the quality of the powder: it is probably better to wash with an expensive and good one, but even the cheapest will not cause any harm to the unit, if it is, in principle, adapted for automatic washing machines. Stacking clothes on top is much more comfortable than sitting on your knees in front of a typical front-facing model, and the overhead control panel is already a good protection from nosy kids.

Overflowing water from the drum in the case of a vertical model is impossible, and Electrolux products are not found to be in poor washing. The selection of materials for the case is carried out in such a way that with regular ventilation you will not encounter undesirable phenomena in the form of mold and unpleasant odors.

However, there are also enough critics. Due to the fact that production in recent years has been partially transferred to China, Electrolux should no longer be unconditionally considered Swedish technology, and the quality did not benefit from this at all. For some, the machine works for years and does not cause complaints, but it is possible that you still have to turn to the master, and the repair of the vertical structure is much more expensive. In short, such a purchase can be both a godsend and a disappointment.

An overview of the Electrolux top-loading washing machine, see below.