Washing machine spin speed – Does it matter?

A good spin speed will vary according to the type of fabrics you have in the machine (e.g. cotton, synthetic or wool). The washing machine will have a default spin speed for the type of clothes (and the program you have chosen). Wool will require a slower spin speed (around 600-800rpm), whereas synthetic will need 800-1000rpm and cotton around 900-1400rpm.

Tempting though it can be to spin every load at the highest speed, a fast spin isn't always the best choice for the laundry you're washing. A high-speed spin could, for example, leave cotton business shirts full of creases, which means longer ironing time for you. However as a general rule, for washing towels, sheets and casual wear, the faster the better, as it reduces your drying time.

If you struggle to get clothes dried properly at certain times of the year by line drying them (inside or outside), or you just don't have the time for endless hanging up and taking down of clothes, a clothes dryer could be a good idea. Although tumble dryers were once notorious for using a lot of energy and damaging clothes with their intense heat and drying processes, today's dryers are comparatively much more energy efficient and gentler on fabric - especially heat pump dryers.

Heat pump dryers remove moisture without venting hot air, so they don't need external ventilation that older style vented models need (if you have ever used a vented model and found your laundry turning into a steam room, it's because you didn't have proper ventilation in place).

Heat pump dryers operate at lower temperatures, which is gentler on clothes. Though cycles do take longer than with vented dryers, heat pump models can use up to 60% less energy, which also equates to comparatively lower power bills.