1,400, 1,200, 800 or better yet 600? The speed of the washing machine indicates how many revolutions per minute your laundry is spun. The higher the speed, the drier your laundry will be when it comes out of the machine. However, delicate textiles can be damaged when spinning in the washing machine. You should avoid these mistakes.

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During the spin cycle, the drum of the washing machine spins at an increased speed. But not all clothes and textiles should be spun at high speed. Regardless, there are other things you should consider when spinning clothes in the washing machine.

Spinning laundry in the washing machine: Here is what you need to pay attention to

  • Textiles made of viscose should only be spun very briefly at low speed in the washing machine.
  • Materials that wrinkle easily, such as linen or polyester, should also only be spun at a speed of 600.
  • Silk belongs to the category of delicates. Textiles made of this material should not be spun at all or, even better, washed by hand.
  • In contrast, cotton is much more robust. Most textiles made of this material can be spun in the washing machine at a speed of 1,400. However, shirts and blouses are an exception to this rule. Since they can easily wrinkle, it’s best to choose a maximum speed of 800.

Before washing or spinning, you should always check the label of the respective textile. There it is noted whether the material may be spun in the washing machine at all. If the label shows a washing tub with one line underneath, the garment may be spun at a maximum of 600 revolutions. On the other hand, a washing tub with two lines below it means that it is a delicate wash. In this case, it is better not to use the spin cycle.

Saving electricity when spinning

A high speed automatically means a higher energy consumption, because the drum moves much more than when spinning at a lower speed. However, it is a rather small difference, since most of the electricity is consumed when heating the water.

If you really want to save electricity, you should avoid using the dryer and spin your laundry at a higher speed. This way, the laundry is less damp and dries faster – and it’s best to hang it out in the fresh air. If you put the textiles in the dryer after washing, the overall energy consumption would be significantly higher.

Tip: Spinning at high speeds can cause your laundry to become very wrinkled. We therefore recommend a healthy balance. With a speed of 800, you are almost always on the safe side. Your laundry will not wrinkle, but it will still be pre-dried well enough so that you can safely do without the dryer.

Every now and then, the washing machine wanders during the spin cycle or even bounces on the spot. The reason for this is a so-called unbalance in the washing machine. This problem occurs mainly when the washing machine was loaded unevenly, or the laundry is distributed unevenly in the drum.