What does the energy label of your washing machine mean?

The energy label of a washing machine consists of the following sections. We'll highlight them on this page:

• QR code
• Energy label and consumption
• Load capacity
• Cycle duration
• Water consumption
• Spinning result
• Noise level

You can find a QR code at the top right of the energy label. Since 1 March 2021, this takes you to the database of the European Union. Hold your smartphone in front of the code to view all the specifications of the washing machine. This way, you can find everything you need to know about the appliance in every store.

On the old label, A+++ was the most energy-efficient. Because of stricter criteria of the European Union, plus labels don't exist anymore. The scale now starts at A and ends at G, with A being the most energy-efficient. This doesn't mean that current washing machines are less energy-efficient. But it does mean that there are stricter requirements to indicate the class. You can also find the energy consumption in kWh on there. The EU bases this consumption on 100 cycles with the Eco cycle on 40°C and 60°C.

The load capacity indicates how many kilograms of laundry fit in the drum. We recommend the following capacity depending on the amount of laundry:

• Extra large and small loads of laundry: 10kg or more
• Large and small loads of laundry: at least 9kg
• Medium and small loads of laundry: at least 8kg

Do you have a small household, but do you wash a lot of bed bedding, for example? Choose 1kg more, so you always have enough space.

The cycle duration indicates how long it takes the appliance to wash a full drum with the Eco 40-60 cycle. This is a required cycle that all washing machines have nowadays. It's suitable for medium soiled cotton laundry that can be washed at 40°C or 60°C

In addition to the energy consumption, you can now also see the water consumption of the washing machine. That's the number of liters the appliance uses per cycle.

Every washing machine spins your laundry at the end of the cycle. This ensures that you don't have to dry your bedding as long. You can find the spinning result on the energy label. With an A energy label, your laundry comes out of the drum the driest. To find a washing machine that spins your laundry well, look at the speed. You can find this in the specifications and on the display. A speed of 1600RPM provides the best result.

Lastly, you can find the noise level of the washing machine on the energy label. The noise level indicates how many decibels the washing machine produces during the spin cycle. The lower the number of decibels, the less you're bothered by the noise. Did you place the washing machine close to your living room or home office? Choose washing machine that's more silent or much more silent than average:

• Much more silent than average (70dB or less)
• More silent than average (71 or 72dB)
• Average (73 to 76dB)
• Loud (77dB or more)