Public relations advisors to dodgy politicians love a ‘spin’, but the inescapable fact of the rotational matter is that ‘spin’ is generally a grating irritation to the ears.
Of course, I’m not speaking of the marvels of Miss Minogue’s eye-popping ‘Spinning Around’ video or, indeed, Dead or Alive’s mid-80s banger ‘You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)’, nor am I including Pearl Jam’s grunge grate ‘Spin the Black Circle’ in my sweeping generalisation, but rather the relentless racket of a washing machine in full spin flight.
Yep, even the most well-balanced of clothes-cleaning appliances tend to bang on a bit. So much so that by 2012 the human race had collectively had enough of it all and, to great fanfare, ‘Quiet Mark’ was created by the Noise Abatement Society; although there was no real fanfare, obviously, because that would be painfully counter-productive.
Seeking to bring some little piece of peace back into everyday life, Quiet Mark sources the most near-silent of home appliances via scientific testing and assessment, then rewards them for their relative hush with a badge (Q logo) that attests to their muted machinations for all to see.
But what actually counts as “quiet”? Well, the average conversation level is reckoned to be between 60- and 65dB, so when it comes to washing machines, anything under 75dB and under is generally considered to be extremely quiet (in the relative terms of washing machines) and anything at that mark and slightly over is still considered mouse-like in its audible operation.
So, if you’re sick of the constant cacophony in your kitchen every time your current machine kicks into a spin, ease your ears with an investment in an option that puts the “sh” in washing machine…
Best quiet washing machines at a glance:
- Best for the sound of (not quite) silence: Hisense 7S Series WF7S1247BB - £749, Currys
- Best for quiet marking the spot: Haier X Series 11 - £999, Currys
- Best for cut-price quiet: Hoover H-WASH 500 - £359, Amazon
- Best for highest-quality quiet: Miele WEK365 WCS Pwash - £1,399, Miele
- Best for Scandinavian supremacy: ASKO Steel Seal - £1,899, Harvey Norman
- Best for cut-price cutting-edge: LG VX70 Series AI Direct Drive F4X7009TSB - £670, John Lewis
Find out more below
Hisense 7S Series WF7S1247BB
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Best for: The sound of (not quite) silence
I’m a big fan of Hisense. They make exceptional appliances that tick all the right boxes for innovation and design - as is shown with the 7S Series machine from its reasonably extensive range. A minimalist-looking marvel, it is seen here in a rather striking Premium Black and not only saves electricity and the environment with its ‘A’ energy rating, but also registers at a serene 70dB, making it one of the quietest models available in the UK.
With a top spin speed of 1400rpm and a capacious 12kg drum, this flexible freestander comes armed with 20 programmes to tackle loads of all types and even an AI-enhanced Super Wash that automatically senses exactly what you’ve stuffed inside it and picks the perfect cycle to match, dosing with detergent as required.
Also offering smart control over the ConnectLife app (Android and iOS), you can access and control your machine remotely and even monitor energy and water usage, should that be the kind of micro-management you wish to command over your machine.
Priced at a shiny pound under £750 too, thanks to a recent reduction from £899, the Hisense 7S Series is more than a bit of a bargain to boot. So, if it’s relative silence you seek, there’s never been a better time to buy yourself some 7th heaven.
Buy now £749.00, Currys
Haier X Series 11
Best for: Quiet Marking the spot
A crowned prince amongst appliance brands, Haier produces machines of meticulous engineering for those seeking a machine that sits firmly in the upper echelons of affordability. What’s more, the X Series 11, for me, is the pinnacle of its powers, being an 11kg capable freestanding minimalist obelisk of ablution with an energy efficiency rating of – beat this (you can’t) ‘A-40 per cent’, which means that the X Series 11 actually uses some 40 per cent less energy than standard A-rated washing machines. So, not only is it green, it also saves you pounds-money-cash in the long run, something pretty much essential with energy prices ever on the up.
Which brings a sense of the sedate to your otherwise battered bank account, but how is it on bringing hush to your home? Well, with a Spinderella speed of 1400rpm you might expect a revolutions racket, but the Haier actually comes Quiet Mark-approved thanks to a Direct Motion Motor delivering a low-level 71dB at full pelt, so you can be assured of relative harmony around the house.
Packing some 15 programmes to cover all clothing type eventualities, Smart Dosing calculates detergent use for you, Smart AI Cycle tailors its task to your load, and Smart Dual Spray keeps the seal and window of the nicely sized door clean. Wi-Fi connected too, you can check in and control the whole soapy shebang from your smartphone, adding even more convenience. In fact, Haier takes care of so much of the whole process that all you really have to do is get your stuff dirty in the first place.
A decidedly dashing-looking machine in a monochrome black and white finish and equally eye-enticing white on black display, the Haier X Series II looks after the planet, your pennies and your peace.
Buy now £999.00, Currys
Hoover H-WASH 500
Best for: Cut-price quiet
Of course, not everyone who enjoys a bit of muffled machine can afford to fork out upwards of a monkey, leading to the question: Is it difficult to find a washer under £500 that comes close to conforming to Quiet Mark? The answer, of course, is yes, very difficult – unfortunately, the tech to turn down the volume doesn’t come cheap, so that’s generally that. However, if 75dB is considered the “quiet” sweet spot, how about an option that costs from just £349 and only creeps the clamour up by two decibels to 77dB? You’d be tempted, wouldn’t you?
Well, that’s the delicious reality of the H-WASH 500 from Hoover, a freestanding washing machine that comes in at ‘A’ rated for efficiency, has optional drum capacities of 9kg, 10kg, 11kg and 14kg (with corresponding price increases, natch), features some 14 wash programmes to cover all cloth eventualities, a spin speed of 1400rpm , and even Wi-Fi connectivity over to hOn smartphone app (Android and Apple) to let you keep a keen eye on your load and, should you require such absolute automated assistance, lets you scan clothing labels to let the app pick the most suitable cycle.
As already mentioned, the Hoover also manages a revolution rumpus of just 77dB which, again as already mentioned, is just two decibels above what Quiet Mark classifies as “quiet”, so it’s hardly likely to be a noise nuisance to either you or the neighbours. And with prices starting from a smidgeon under £350, it’s not going to break the bank either.
Is it difficult to find a washer under £500 that comes close to conforming to Quiet Mark? The answer, of course, is yes. But not impossible.
Buy now £359.00, Amazon
Miele WEK365 WCS Pwash
Best for: Highest-quality quiet
Miele, the multi-award-winning German appliance brand that’s renowned for creating home appliances of the highest calibre seems to simply go from strength to strength, thanks to a combination of unerring engineering and testing of its kit so rigorous that it borders on torture.
So, you might expect the WEK365 to be approaching the pinnacle of current washing machine technology, like some kind of clothes cleaning Chris Bonington, and you would, as per, be absolutely bang-on. Energy efficient to the tune of class ‘A’, this 1400rpm spinning freestander comes with a commodious 10kg load capacity, 11 programmes to take immaculate care of everything from your densest denims to your most dainty delicates and everything in between. It also does this at a din-defying 71dB, leaving your ears unencumbered and free to enjoy more embraced audio.
As you might imagine, it comes loaded too with cutting-edge technology such as Automatic Load Control, CapDosing and FoamSensing, all created to provide the perfect cycle environment for every load, plus AutoClean to cleanse the detergent drawer after use, thus keeping everything spick and span with minimum effort from you.
Naturally, it also comes ready to link to your home network via the Miele@Home app which adds in all the advantages of smart control and monitoring, including the option to operate the whole thing using voice control.
A laundry legend in the making, yes, the price tag of £1399 might seem rather steep, but given the Miele is good to go for up to 20 years of premium performance, your continued status as a savvy shopper is absolutely assured.
Buy now £1399.00, Miele
ASKO Steel Seal
Best for: Scandinavian supremacy
Not familiar with the name ASKO? This 9kg capacity slice of Scandinavian super-soaker is a sleek, minimalist monolith of a washing machine with a Steel Seal door that does away with the conventional idea of a flimsy, degradable rubber seal to extend product lifetime, a ‘Quatro Construction’ which sees four shock absorbers transfer drum vibrations to the solid bottom plate, thus keeping noise to a minimum, and a clever hour-glass-shaped drum design that keeps laundry central to reduce fabric wear.
A class ‘A’ efficiency machine, with a spin speed of a break-neck 1800rpm, the ASKO offers a staggering 26 programme options, blanket-covering all the expected options, but also with specific cycles for the likes of shirts, sportswear, bedding, etc., so that you get perfect results whatever you’re washing.
Operating at 76dB, the ASKO is but one decibel over the sweet spot, and while a 1dB increase translates to roughly a 12 per cent increase in sound pressure and a 26 per cent increase in sound energy (that’s the technical stuff), it’s still low-pitched peanuts.
With a full-colour display adding to the aesthetics, Auto Dosing, and Detergent Compartment Auto Cleaning, it's easy to operate and automated enough to let you luxuriate in the lazy laundry life which, when all is said and done, is really what we all want.
The product of over 70 years of experience in designing and creating truly innovative, brilliantly engineered and, I’ll just come right out and say it, sexy-looking stuff spinners, the ASKO may ask considerably more moolah than most, but for the ultimate in reliability and flexibility for countless years to come, most others can only wallow in its epic washing wake.
Buy now £1899.00, Harvey Norman
LG VX70 Series AI Direct Drive F4X7009TSB
Best for: Cut-price cutting-edge
LG’s VX70 is a veritable boost to your bank account, not simply because of the reduction in initial cost, but also because its ‘A-40 per cent’ energy rating means it costs less to run, saving those vital pennies each wash and turning them into a pile of pounds the longer you own it.
A freestanding machine with a 9kg capacity drum which spins at a clop of 1400rpm, this LG comes armed with an absolute array of programmes for all a household could hope, plus AI to detect fabric types and do all the dirty work for you, and Wi-Fi connectivity to let you monitor and control your LG via smartphone fingering or voice control over the LG ThinQ app.
Running at an almost inaudible 71dB, the LG is as easy on the ear as it is on the eye, that latter part of the statement qualified by the sleek, minimalist good looks, the central focus being that touch-tempting black dial, complete with white-on-black LED display, bang in the centre.
Lean, green and nicely serene, the LG VX70 is worth every penny of the normal fee of £850, so the cut rate of £670 makes it a load-soaping steal. For clean lines, the cleanest of clothes, and a money- and planet-saving edge, follow the link below now before that price goes back up.
Buy now £670.00, John Lewis
Verdict
Silence is, as they say, golden. There isn’t much of it around these days, either, what with even more cars on the roads, ever more planes overhead, and ever more people wailing and gnashing their teeth in public as the price of absolutely everything continues to go up like a helium balloon on hash, so grab your pittance of peace where you can.
Okay, washing machines will never be famed for their stealth, but the six assembled here will at least provide you with a reasonable helping of hush in the home. So, seek your serenity with the Hisense 7S Series WF7S1247BB and go take it for a spin…
