To prevent the washing machine from breaking due to overload, you need to monitor the weight of the laundry. How to calculate the weight of laundry for a washing machine - do not weigh it every time?
Of course, modern models are equipped with a weighing function, but what to do if your machine is more than a year old? We'll talk about this further.
Preparing laundry for washing
Each fabric requires special conditions for washing to be effective. These are the following parameters:
- temperature regime;
- washing program;
- spin speed and so on.
During the preparation process, the laundry is sorted by fabric type.
Next comes sorting the clothes by color. One pile should be white, the second should be colored.
Do not neglect the degree of contamination. If there are very dirty items, you should use the pre-wash mode.
Advice! Be sure to store soiled laundry in special wicker boxes or baskets. Things should not get wet, otherwise mold will form on the fabric. It is also better to wash dirty laundry immediately, without leaving it in the basket for a long time.
When washing bedding sets, duvet covers and pillowcases, the linen should be turned inside out.
When preparing clothes for loading into the drum, be sure to check the pockets to ensure there are no foreign objects in them. It is recommended to wash small items in a special laundry bag.
Summary
Careful operation of the automatic machine guarantees its uninterrupted operation for many years. Following washing recommendations also extends its service life, and also improves the quality of the process itself, removing dirt without pre-treatment.
Conclusion: observing the weight standards of the laundry when starting the machine allows you not only to wash it perfectly, but also to rinse it well and remove excess liquid. Otherwise, things will have to be washed or dried longer than usual, not to mention possible equipment breakdowns.
I'm waiting for questions in the comments. But first, I suggest watching the video in this article with visual evidence of how important it is to comply with acceptable standards when loading laundry into the machine.
Determining the weight of laundry for a washing machine
The instructions that come with your washing machine will help you determine the weight of the laundry and calculate how many kilograms can be loaded into the drum.
Initially, you should rely on the technical characteristics and year of production - the weight depends on these indicators. Almost all modern machine models do not have minimum weight restrictions, so you can wash even one handkerchief.
Earlier models do not wash laundry weighing less than 1.5 kg.
When filling the drum of the machine, you need to pay attention to the type of fabric, since when wet, things will have different weights. For example, things made of lightweight material become much heavier when wet compared to clothes made of fabric with a dense structure.
The operating instructions for the machine indicate that the drum can be filled completely, but it is not recommended to compact things tightly.
When washing synthetic items, fill the drum halfway. You can fill a third of the drum with woolen items.
Video
An important criterion for the efficient operation of the machine is correct loading. By maintaining the permitted load volume in the washing machine, its service life is extended. At the same time, both the maximum and minimum weight of things affects the operation of the equipment. It is measured in a dry state before starting the wash cycle. By observing certain operating requirements, the owner of the washing machine receives clean laundry and working equipment.
Determining weight is not a difficult task. It can be solved using home measuring instruments or using an online calculator if the model does not have a built-in weight sensor. Data regarding volume on product materials, washing modes and weight of laundry is contained in the technical passport of the machine.
Minimum load of laundry in the machine
Not sure what the minimum load is for your model? The amount of laundry in the drum during washing is directly proportional to the level of vibrations during the spin cycle. And this directly affects the service life of the washing machine.
Sometimes manufacturers do not indicate this characteristic, citing the fact that you can put a lot of things in the machine, supposedly to save on electricity. But not everyone cares about saving as much as the ability to quickly freshen up a couple of T-shirts, a shirt or a dress. That is why in many machines the minimum load is 1 kg.
At maximum spin speed, the distribution of laundry throughout the drum must be uniform, otherwise imbalance will occur, which can lead to serious damage.
If you do not follow the above rule, the drum will shake and vibrate. And no matter how well the automatic washing machine is installed, internal vibration will still remain. This threatens the appearance of microcracks.
Conclusion: it is better not to test the technique by washing several items whose weight does not reach 1 kilogram.
Rules of application
Before using any fabric bleach, first read the instructions carefully. Determine for which fabrics and at what temperature it can be used.
Before you begin bleaching, remove all metal elements from your clothing (or cover them with tape). The active components included in the products can lead to corrosion of the metal and the appearance of dark spots around it.
Chlorine-containing bleaches are used before the main wash of the product. Dissolve a small amount of product in warm water and soak items according to the instructions on the package. Do not pour bleach directly onto fabric as this may damage it. Wash the item as usual and rinse well to get rid of the unpleasant odor.
Add liquid oxygen bleaches to the washing machine or a bowl of water. To increase efficiency, use them in combination with powders that include enzymes. If there are two compartments in the washing machine, fill the detergents at the same time, but if there is only one, then initially fill it with powder, and after a while (when the water temperature reaches +60 ⁰C) with bleach.
Maximum laundry capacity
The maximum load of the washing machine is an equally important washing parameter. The capacity of modern models is stated to be even more than 12 kg of dry laundry, but experts are skeptical about this fact.
For example, let's try to calculate how much a duvet cover and sheet weigh: approximately 900-1100 grams. This means that 5 such sets will fit into a machine with a capacity of 10 kg. But in reality, you are unlikely to put that much laundry in the drum at one time.
Important! Manufacturers often try to show that their equipment is better than it actually is, so the capacity of the drum is deliberately overestimated. Whether this corresponds to reality is up to you to judge.
The maximum capacity of the washing machine is an indicator of how much weight the drum can rotate without overloading the appliance’s engine. But you don't have to constantly load the machine to its limit.
Often you have to wash bulky items that are light in weight. In addition, how much water the fabric absorbs depends on the density and structure of the material.
Let's say you want to wash a blanket. When dry, it will easily fit in a basin, but washing it in a basin by hand is more difficult, because the blanket will absorb water and become larger and heavier. Therefore, the easiest way is to place the product in the bathroom, which is much more spacious.
The same thing happens in the drum. The higher the maximum load number, the larger the item will fit into it. That is, a 10 kg machine is taken not to wash 10 kg of laundry in it, but so that its drum can accommodate bulky items - jackets, coats, rugs, blankets, etc.
Important! The weight of the loaded laundry is measured dry!
About numbers: according to GOST and in reality
The sizes of children's bedding in the GOST standards table are designed for ages from birth to three to four years. The next type of product belongs to teenagers. As you can see, the grid is quite narrow, but in the same document there is a note that some deviations are acceptable.
Download or print yourself a reminder on the parameters of DPB right here:
This is what the table looks like: (from 0 to 4 years)
In fact, there are many more options: the “children’s bedding” label includes sizes up to primary school age; There is no clear division by age, for example, cribs with a 60x120 mattress are used from birth until 2-3 years, the same linen is purchased accordingly; bedding intended for preschool and primary school age can be considered teenage, but it is logical to call it children's. Below are the standard sizes of children's bedding that are relevant today.
3-4 years, from 3 to 11 years
The fitted sheet in single bed linen sets for children must be exactly the same size as the mattress. But you can’t make a “reserve for growth.” We are looking for a crib set with a minimum discrepancy, a maximum of 5 cm. You don’t need to calculate anything, just measure your mattress and look for the resulting numbers on the packaging. For example, for a bed 120x60, opposite the word “size” there will be a designation like:
- "for a mattress 60x120".
- “60x120, side N cm.”
- “60x120+N cm.”
The proportions of a “regular sheet/mattress” set of bed linen for children in the size for kindergarten and primary school age are standard for adults. The tension ones must also fit exactly to the size of the bed.
Important clarification: children's sheets must be sewn from a whole piece of fabric; extensions are not allowed. The skin of babies is more delicate than that of adults, and a seam on the bed, even a flat and neatly made one, can cause them discomfort
In bedding for a child, the size for newborns and toddlers is often one pillowcase, 35x45 or 40x40 cm. In sets for younger schoolchildren - 40x60, 50x70, 70x70 (less often) cm. However, here the division by age is very arbitrary, since in the same sizes According to the parameters of the duvet cover and sheet sets, the pillowcase can be either 40x40 or 50x70.
Features and definitions of laundry weight for a washing machine
What is the weight of laundry usually measured in? Each item is measured in grams; for example, the weight of a women's T-shirt varies between 70-140 g.
Don't know what weight your bed linen is and whether it's suitable for washing? Typically the weight of a complete set is 1.26-1.5 kg.
Especially for your convenience, we have prepared approximate data indicating the weight of dry laundry for washing (table below). You can easily calculate the weight of the laundry loaded into the drum.
If the capacity of your machine is only 5 kg, on any program for cotton fabrics it will fit a couple of bathrobes and several towels. There should be enough space in the drum so that the laundry does not curl and rotates freely.
As for jackets, down jackets and other outerwear, it is recommended to wash them separately from other clothes.
Important! To avoid imbalance of the drum, do not load small things with large things so that they do not get tangled into one big lump.
Automatic weighing of laundry by washing machine
The washing machine can be equipped with a smart automatic weighing function. In this case, you will not have to calculate the weight of dirty laundry when loading, since the machine itself will receive important information.
Plus function: having determined the weight of the items, the machine itself will calculate the amount of water needed and set the optimal washing mode. This function is also good because it guarantees reliable protection against breakdowns, as it will prevent the drum from being overloaded.
Now you can independently calculate the weight of dry laundry when loading it into the drum. Follow the rules and use the data in the table above and you won't have any problems. Washing will not be a troublesome task for you, requiring calculations.
How to determine the correct volume without weighing
Since scales are not included with the machine, not every home has them. Even if such a technique is present, weighing bulky laundry is not always convenient, and you don’t want to waste time on this procedure. You can make the correct loads by approximately understanding the weight of each product. The most common ones are shown in the table:
| Product name | Average weight, depending on size, kg | ||
| Male version | Female version | Children's version | |
| Home bathrobe | 500-700 | 400-600 | 150-300 |
| Pajamas (shirt, pants) | 350-500 | 300-400 | 50-150 |
| Winter outerwear | 1400-1800 | 800-1000 | 500-900 |
| Windbreaker | 800-1200 | 400-600 | 300-500 |
| Jeans | 650-700 | 400-500 | 200-400 |
| Trousers | 600-700 | 300-400 | 150-200 |
| Shorts | 250-350 | 150-250 | 80-150 |
| Tracksuit (pants, jacket) | 1000-1300 | 650-750 | 400-600 |
| Business suit | 1200-1800 | 800-950 | |
| Rushaka/blouse | 120-180 | 100-250 | 60-120 |
| T-shirt/undershirt | 220-300 | 70-140 | 30-80 |
| Bed linen | |||
| Towel | 200-600 | ||
| Pillowcase | 180-200 | ||
| sheet | 400-450 | ||
| Duvet cover | 500-650 | ||
On average, you can wash approximately 3-4 towels, 2 pillowcases and 2 towels in one wash. In this volume, the laundry will not twist and tie in knots, preventing the laundry detergent from being fully rinsed. Jackets and down jackets are best left alone in the drum. The quality of washing can also be affected by misalliance such as washing things that are too different in size and structure, for example, denim trousers and thin underwear.
Bed sets
The weight of bed linen for washing can be difficult to calculate on your own - the sets are different in size, and the texture of the material is also different. Don’t worry, we are already in a hurry to help and are ready to do the calculations for you!
Isn’t the table of approximate laundry weights bookmarked yet? Don't hesitate - click the star so you don't lose the article!
| Set size | Calico (kg) | Flax (kg) | Cotton (kg) | Silk (kg) and similar materials |
| One and a half bed sheet | 1,6 | 1,9 | 1,7 | 0,9 |
| 2 bedroom set | 1,9 | 2,1 | 2 | 1,3 |
| Euro size | 2,4 | 2,5 | 2,3 | 1,6 |
| Children's bedding set | 1,2 | 1,5 | 1,4 | 0,6 |
Our washing machine dry weight chart determines how many items you can put in the wash without damaging your appliance.
Don’t forget about wet products - the approximate value in kilograms is given below:
- One and a half - 4.5-4.7;
- Double – 4.2-6.3;
- Euro – 6-7.5;
- Children's – 3.5;
- Duvet cover about 2.4;
- Pillowcase about 0.3-0.6;
- Sheet – 1.5-1.8.
If you are unsure of the pounds of bedding loaded into the drum, just make sure it is one third full. No more! Then everything will be fine
We calculated the weight of laundry for the washing machine in the table - would it be nice to know similar data for everyday clothes? Let's move on! By the way, in another article we’ll tell you how to wash a huge teddy bear.
