Measure the space available and the room needed to load your laundry. A shallow-depth front-loading machine is a good fit if there’s enough room to open the door, while a top-loading model is better when width is the main constraint, provided you can open the lid. Then choose a capacity that suits your usual laundry load. The ADEME says 7 kg is enough most of the time, but this is only a general guide: consider your own needs too. UFC-Que Choisir describes a mini washing machine as a handy backup when it’s impossible to install a standard model.
If you’ll be using the washing machine for everyday laundry, measure the access route and the space needed to open the door too. Choose a capacity that suits the amount of laundry you wash; don’t assume that a small home means you need the smallest drum.
Check that the appliance can be installed using the existing fittings. In France, the ANIL reminds tenants that any alterations to rented premises or equipment require the landlord’s written consent.
A mini washing machine may be useful as a backup when it’s impossible to install a standard model, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. Check how the specific model is filled, drained and used for spinning.
First, choose a style you can install and load easily. Then check that its capacity and features suit the laundry you usually wash.
Consider this if: there’s enough room in front of the machine to open the door and load your everyday laundry.
Bear in mind: a reduced depth doesn’t eliminate the space needed to open the door or access the connections.
Consider this if: width is your main constraint and there’s enough space above the machine to load it.
Bear in mind: a top-loader isn’t necessarily shallow. UFC-Que Choisir lists the Whirlpool TDLRB6242BSFR/N as 40 cm wide and 65.4 cm deep.
Consider this if: it’s impossible to install a standard washing machine, in line with the occasional-use solution described by UFC-Que Choisir.
Bear in mind: check the laundry load it can handle and how to fill, drain and spin the specific model.
| Criterion | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Measure the width, depth and height of the space where you plan to put the machine. Allow extra room to open the door or lid and load your laundry. | I want to load the machine without blocking the way or having to move a piece of furniture every time I do the washing. |
| Capacity | Compare the capacity in kg of dry laundry with the amount you usually wash. The 7 kg figure given by the ADEME is a general guide, so adjust it to suit your needs. | I want to fit my usual laundry load without running lots of cycles, but I don’t want to choose a drum that’s often only partly full either. |
| Everyday use | Check the energy label for water and electricity use, then compare noise levels, spin performance and test results where available for the exact model. UFC-Que Choisir includes these criteria in its washing machine tests. | Noise matters to me in a studio flat. I’d also like to compare water and energy use, as well as spin performance, before choosing a compact model. |
| Installation | Check the model’s instructions for connections, electrical requirements and clearance. In France, the ANIL reminds tenants that alterations to rented premises or equipment require the landlord’s written consent. | Before I order, I want to know whether the machine can be installed using the fittings in my home, without any unauthorised work. |
A narrow top-loader can still be deep, and you need enough clearance to open its lid. For example, UFC-Que Choisir lists the Whirlpool TDLRB6242BSFR/N as 40 cm wide and 65.4 cm deep.
Before choosing this style, measure all three dimensions, the access route and the clearance above the machine.
A machine with too small a capacity may mean doing more loads. On the other hand, a large drum that’s regularly underfilled won’t suit every household either. UFC-Que Choisir highlights both of these risks.
Estimate how much laundry you usually wash and compare it with the available capacities. The ADEME gives 7 kg as a general guide that’s enough most of the time, not a rule for every household.
UFC-Que Choisir describes it as a backup option when it’s impossible to install a standard model. Practical requirements depend on the product you choose.
Before planning to use it regularly, check the instructions for the maximum laundry load, filling and draining, spin function and power connection.
In France, the ANIL reminds tenants that they must not alter rented premises or equipment without the landlord’s written consent.
If installation requires a permanent alteration, ask for permission before starting work. For a simple connection, first check that the machine is compatible with the existing fittings.
This foldable mini washing machine is an option for occasional washing when it’s impossible to install a standard appliance. Check that its features suit your laundry and the proposed installation.
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Worth considering for occasional washing if you can’t install a standard washing machine. The product title lists a 10 L volume, three timed modes of 2, 5 and 10 min, a 40 W motor running at 320 rpm, a draining basket and suction cups. The 10 L volume doesn’t tell you the maximum laundry load in kg. Check the instructions for the dimensions when in use, how to fill and drain it, electrical requirements and spin function.
In France, alterations to rented premises or equipment require the landlord’s written consent, as the ANIL points out. If installation involves permanent work, get permission before starting. You should also check the requirements in the washing machine’s instructions.
No. The main advantage is usually its narrower width, and you’ll need enough room to open the lid. UFC-Que Choisir lists the Whirlpool TDLRB6242BSFR/N as 40 cm wide but 65.4 cm deep. So remember to measure the depth and the clearance above the machine you’re considering.
Start with the amount of laundry you need to wash, rather than the size of your studio flat. The ADEME says 7 kg is enough most of the time. Adjust this guide to suit how often you do the washing and the space available, to avoid choosing a capacity that’s too small or a drum that’s often underfilled.
Don’t assume it will handle all your everyday laundry. UFC-Que Choisir describes mini washing machines as backup appliances for when it’s impossible to install a standard model. Before relying on one as your only machine, check the maximum load and how to fill, drain and spin the specific model.
Compare capacity, installation requirements and the water and energy information on the label, as recommended by the ADEME. For noise, rinsing and spin performance, look for test results for the exact model. UFC-Que Choisir measures these criteria as part of its washing machine testing process.