What temperature water should I use to wash my clothes?

The water temperature you choose will depend on what kind of clothes you’re washing, your hygiene needs, energy efficiency considerations and garment recommendations. In order to kill dust mites, for example, your water needs to be 60 degrees celsius or hotter. If you’re trying to save on energy, a cold wash is the most energy-efficient temperature, and if your garments are delicate or likely to shrink when exposed to heat, this will affect which setting you choose.

Do front-loaders clean clothes better?

All Westinghouse washing machines clean clothes to the highest possible standards, regardless of whether they are top-loader or front-loader models. That said, studies have shown front-loaders to be more effective at tough stain removal, as well as being gentler on garments.

Does my washing machine need a hot and a cold tap?

No. Westinghouse front-loader washing machines only require one water outlet - the cold. This is because our models heat your water to the required temperature based on the setting and wash cycle you select.

Why are front-loader washers gentler on clothes?

The reason front-loader washing machines are more gentle on garments is that they use gravity to their advantage. Once the drum of your front-loader spins halfway around, the clothes naturally fall to the bottom of the drum again, meaning less vigour is required to agitate the clothes, helping them last longer. In addition to this, our front-loader washing machines have more diverse settings, allowing you to choose the correct cycle for your needs.

Front Loader Buying Guide

1. Choosing The Right Washing Machine For You

There are plenty of things to consider when purchasing a new washing machine. You might be thinking about the dimensions to fit into your space, types of cycles and capacity for your household. This front loader buying guide allows you to discover the best washing machine for your family's needs.

FRONT-LOADER OR TOP-LOADER?

When it comes to choosing between top-loader and front-loader washing machines, there are benefits to each.

Front-loader washing machines are gentler on clothes, given that gravity does half of the work in moving laundry around the drum, and can typically accommodate larger loads than top loaders. They also provide a superior clean in terms of stain removal and are more water and energy efficient than their top-loader siblings.

Considering a top-loader? View our top-loader washing machine buying guide here.

2. Space

The size of your household’s laundry area, as well as the volume of washing itself, is a big factor in what size washing machine you should buy.

Consider the space in which the washing machine will sit - is there room to easily open the door in order to load laundry in? Is a stacking system a better option for the space, where you can position your dryer on top of your washing machine? Having your front-loader washing machine positioned next to a sink makes for easy transfers when soaking stained items, and a shelf within easy reaching distance means less potential for messy spills with detergents and fabric softener.

The average dimensions of a smaller front-loader washing machine are about 850mm(H) x 600mm (W) x 575mm (D), whereas a larger model averages around 850 (H) x 600mm (W) x 660mm (D), so in terms of size variation you can afford to have a larger model in a similar space.

3. Size

The amount of people in your household or family will directly determine the best-sized front-loader washer for you. If you’re on the fence about which model is the right choice, we recommend choosing the larger of two options, given your needs may increase with house guests and into the future.

Household size	Dryer capacity (kg)
2-3 people	7.5kg
3-4 people	8kg
4-5 people	9kg
5-6 people	10kg

4. Water Efficiency

Front-loader washing machines are more water-efficient than top-loader models. Additionally, there are several ways in which you can make your laundry habits even more efficient.

Choosing low water levels instead of high, and ensuring you do full loads instead of smaller loads can make the best use of your water supply. The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme is an Australian government initiative that helps consumers understand the way their whitegoods use water through labels that convey vital information.

The star rating at the top correlates with how water-efficient a product is, and can be used to compare across different models. These labels will also list the product’s rate of water consumption, which on a washing machine correlates with the litres of water used per wash, and the load capacity of the machine.

5. Energy Efficiency

Likewise, Australia’s Energy Star-Rating scheme allows consumers to compare their products with similar models to understand how much energy they consume. The more stars, the more energy efficient a product is. All Westinghouse front-loader washers have an energy star-rating of above 3.5, with most in the range achieving a 4 or 5. In addition to this, choosing a front-loader washing machine can allow you to save up to 70 percent on energy usage with each load.

All Westinghouse front-loader washing machines include a range of features allowing you to control the amount of energy consumed in a wash cycle, including ‘cold’, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 90 degree wash options, giving consumers the ability to choose according to their needs for individual wash cycles.

6. Speed

The spin cycle on your washing machine works to extract moisture, as well as prevent creases from setting in. While clothes will never be fully dry after a spin cycle, removing excess moisture reduces their drying time overall, whether in an electric dryer or on the line.

All Westinghouse front-loader washing machines come with six spin-speed options: 1200rpm, 800rpm, 600rpm, 400rpm, Rinse Hold and None. You should always choose the highest spin speed that is appropriate for the weight and type of laundry load.

For example, lower spin speeds are best for delicate or lightweight fabrics, as this can protect garments. Higher spin speeds are perfect for denim or towels that need additional wringing out before drying.

7. Wash Cycles And Programs

Understanding the features and wash cycles of your Westinghouse top-loader washing machine will help you get the best results for each load of washing you do.

Full Load 60	Our Full Load 60 lets you wash an entire load in 60 minutes – see Full Load 60 video – less time than it takes to play a game of Monopoly – and without compromising on wash results.
Fast 15	If washing that top that’s not dirty enough for the laundry basket, but not clean enough for the cupboard has slipped your mind, our Fast 15, a quarter hour wash, can refresh any urgent items you might need.
Daily 39	When you’re looking to create more hours in your day, our Daily 39 delivers the kind of quality wash you expect for light loads, in less time – 39 minutes to be exact.
Plus Hygiene	Where there are kids, there are germs – and a hygienically clean laundry is more important than ever. Our Plus Hygiene function uses vapours to neutralise 99.9%* of selected common household allergens & bacteria
Delicate cycle	We haven't forgotten about your favourite items that you wear on special occasions. With our delicate cycle, you can trust your clothes will be protected and cleaned without any worry.

8. Care Considerations

There are certain measures you can take to keep your Westinghouse front-loader washing machine in excellent condition. These include cleaning the coin-trap from time to time which is located at the bottom right of your machine.

There is also a mesh cover at the end of the drain hose which can become clogged over time; as such it’s a good idea to remove and clean it regularly.

9. FAQs

What temperature water should I use to wash my clothes?
The water temperature you choose will depend on what kind of clothes you’re washing, your hygiene needs, energy efficiency considerations and garment recommendations.

In order to kill dust mites, for example, your water needs to be 60 degrees celsius or hotter. If you’re trying to save on energy, a cold wash is the most energy-efficient temperature, and if your garments are delicate or likely to shrink when exposed to heat, this will affect which setting you choose.
Do front-loaders clean clothes better?

All Westinghouse washing machines clean clothes to the highest possible standards, regardless of whether they are top-loader or front-loader models. That said, studies have shown front-loaders to be more effective at tough stain removal, as well as being gentler on garments.
Does my washing machine need a hot and a cold tap?
No. Westinghouse front-loader washing machines only require one water outlet - the cold. This is because our models heat your water to the required temperature based on the setting and wash cycle you select.
Why are front-loader washers gentler on clothes?
The reason front-loader washing machines are more gentle on garments is that they use gravity to their advantage. Once the drum of your front-loader spins halfway around, the clothes naturally fall to the bottom of the drum again, meaning less vigour is required to agitate the clothes, helping them last longer.
In addition to this, our front-loader washing machines have more diverse settings, allowing you to choose the correct cycle for your needs.