A question that is often asked of us is if the capacity of a washing machine is measured in wet or dry laundry? Capacity is always measured in the weight of dry laundry and should not be confused with dryer capacity which is instead, measured by the weight of damp laundry.
The kilogram capacity is in reference to dry clothing, yes, dry. When you see a washer that says it's capacity is 6kg, know that the 6kg is the weight of dry clothes you can put in. Now obviously when these clothes get wet they might weigh up to and even above 12kg. However, don't fret the machine will cope with that.
Is the washing machine capacity measured in wet or dry clothes? The capacity of a washing machine is measured in dry clothes. A 9kg washing machine, should fit around 9kg of dry laundry inside.
1) Meaning of “Capacity”
Simply put, it is how many clothes the washing machine can hold at once. If you notice, every washing machine comes with a specification in kilograms. That is not the weight of the device but the load or the weight of dry clothes that can be safely washed at a single time.
A 9kg washing machine is a good option for most people. It fits into a very similar footprint to 7kg and 8kg washing machines - it's only a tiny little bit bigger but gives you so much more flexibility. 9kg washing machines are great for even medium sized loads because they don't compress the laundry into a small area.
Medium-sized washing machines include 8kg, 9kg and 10kg models and measure between 550-600mm in depth. If you have a family of two or three, this capacity can handle your weekly laundry, while also fitting in some bigger items like duvets.
If you only want to do a few small loads a week, then a capacity of 4 kg to 6 kg should be just right. Tumble dryers with a 7 kg to 8 kg capacity can handle more clothes if you do more laundry, or if you occasionally need to dry a few larger items.
Capacity is always measured in the weight of dry laundry and should not be confused with dryer capacity which is instead, measured by the weight of damp laundry. So, for a 7kg washing machine, you can expect to fit a maximum of seven kilograms of dry laundry.
9 kg washing machine
As expected, these machines can be used to wash the most towels at once. They take up to eight small towels or six of the largest, fluffiest bath sheets. Although they take up more space in your home, they're great for large families.
For example, if you have a machine with a diameter of 1.5 feet and its depth is 0.5 feet, the volume will be 1.5*1.5*3.141*0.5 = 3.533 cubic feet.
We recommend a 9kg washing machine or larger for a king-size duvet. For the best, most thorough wash, your duvet should fit in the drum loosely, allowing water and detergent to flow through the drum and duvet freely. Even some thicker king size duvets may not fit properly inside a 9kg washing machine.
The bigger the washing machine, the more laundry you can wash at one time. A 10kg washing machine can easily fit up to 50 items, a king-sized duvet, or even a set of curtains!
Machine Washing Duvets
If your washing machine has a capacity of 7 kilos or more, you should be able to machine wash your double duvet at home. If your washing machine has an 8 kilo drum, this will comfortably wash even a heavy (greater than 10 tog) double duvet, and can handle a queen size duvet too.
A washer dryer combination has less drying capacity than laundry capacity. This is because your laundry needs more space in the drum to dry. If there's not enough space, the hot air doesn't reach all your wet laundry properly. This makes it necessary to wash and dry less laundry at a time.
10kg does not reference the weight of the machine, instead, it refers to the maximum weight your washing machine can handle at one time. So the higher the weight of your machine, the more washing you can do at one time. A 10kg washing machine can generally hold up to 50 items.
Doubles will need 7kg, Queens 8kg, and Kings 9kg. And for a full-sized set of floor-to-ceiling curtains, you'll want a washer with a capacity of at least 10kg to clean them well.
Smaller households with one or two people will be fine with a small-capacity washing machine (5-7kg). However, households with more than 4 members or those who wash clothes more than once a week should consider large-sized washing machines (9-10kg).
On average, you could wash 22-24 pairs of jeans at once (jeans weigh 0.5 kg per pair).
A washing machine with a capacity of 6-7kg should be ideal for a family of four, In case of fewer people in your house, opt for a smaller machine, And if you're a bigger family, then choose a larger washing machine.
Ideal for families, our medium capacity washing machines come with 7kg and 8kg load capacities. A 7kg capacity washing machine can wash up to 35 shirts in a single wash cycle. A 8kg washing machine can wash up to 40 shirts in a single wash cycle.
Measuring the washing machine capacity
The load capacity of the washing machine is always measured based on the weight of the dry clothes. So, if the washing machine has a 7kg washing capacity, you can load up to 7kg of dry laundry for cleaning.
A 7 kg drum can wash a double duvet or the towels and sheets for a small family. An 8 kg drum can wash a queen or a lightweight size duvet. This is suitable for a medium size family. A 9 kg machine can wash a whole king size duvet and is the best option for large families.
Most machines range from 6kg to 9kg. For singles or couples, a 6kg machine will do the trick. If there are three or four of you, you'll want a 8kg load machine. Bigger families will need a 9kg-plus washer to handle all those school uniforms.
A 5kg or 7kg dryer suits medium households, fitting 5-7 outfits or 5-7 towels per load.
A 7kg to 8.5kg dryer will cater for three to four people, while 9kg-plus will handle clothing for five or more people. The size you need will depend, of course, on whether you're using it regularly for a full load or for items here and there. Matching it to the size of your washing machine will cater for both.