For a shared house, start by choosing a capacity that suits the amount of laundry you’ll actually be washing together. An 8 kg front-loader is worth comparing if you regularly combine loads, while a top-loader is mainly suited to a narrow space. Then compare water and energy consumption, spin performance and noise on the energy label. A delay function can help you coordinate washing times, but it won’t make the machine quieter.
If several people wash their clothes together, compare the capacity with the size of your usual loads rather than simply counting the number of people. ADEME recommends matching capacity to your actual needs and checking the energy label for water and energy consumption, spin performance and noise.
A delayed start or end time can help you agree on a washing slot. If the machine is near a bedroom or shared living space, check the spin noise level too: a timer won’t reduce it.
If space is tight, a top-loading washing machine may be worth considering. Whirlpool, for example, lists a 40 cm-wide, 6 kg top-loader. Measure the space and check that its capacity will suit the loads you expect to wash.
Start with your usual loads and the space available, then compare the specifications of models that suit the way you share the washing.
| Feature | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Estimate the size and frequency of the loads you’ll combine. ADEME says 7 kg is often enough; compare it with an 8 kg model if your shared loads call for the extra capacity. | We sometimes wash our clothes together, but I don’t want to choose a large drum that’s often only partly full. |
| Space | Measure the available width and depth, as well as access to the drum. A documented Whirlpool top-loader is 40 cm wide and has a 6 kg capacity; check the dimensions of the model you choose. | The bathroom is narrow, so I need to be able to install and open the machine without compromising on capacity if we need it. |
| Noise and spin performance | Compare the spin speed and spin noise separately on the energy label, as ADEME recommends. Take into account the room where the machine will be installed. | If the machine is near a bedroom, spin noise matters just as much to me as the number of revolutions per minute. |
| Timing | Check whether the model offers a delay start, a delayed end time or cycle-duration adjustment. These features don’t all meet the same needs. | With different schedules, we want to agree when a wash starts or finishes without tying up the machine for everyone else. |
| Water, energy and durability | Compare the water and energy figures on the label for the exact model. For washing machines covered by the scheme and sold in France, also check the durability index and how it is calculated. | I want to compare how the machines perform in everyday use, not just their capacity or programmes. |
If everyone runs small washes separately, a larger capacity won’t, by itself, reduce the number of cycles. ADEME recommends matching capacity to the amount of laundry you actually wash.
Talk about how often you’ll combine loads, then compare capacities with the size of those usual washes.
Spin speed alone doesn’t tell you how much noise you’ll hear in the next room.
Check the spin noise level on the energy label too, and consider where you plan to install the machine.
A top-loader may solve a width problem, but the 6–7 kg models listed by Whirlpool don’t offer the same capacity as the 8 kg front-loaders considered here.
Measure the space, then make sure the capacity of your chosen model suits the loads you’ll wash in your shared house.
You’ll need to get the washing machine to its designated spot and connect it to a water supply, a drain and a suitable power socket.
Before ordering, check the dimensions, access to your home and the options available for installation and removal of your old appliance.
These examples highlight features to check on specific models; they don’t represent every machine made by each brand.
The WAN2827TFR front-loader is one model to consider if you’re looking for an 8 kg capacity and a maximum spin speed of 1,400 tr/min.
The brand lists both an 8 kg front-loader and top-loading models for narrower spaces.
The EW5F8512AB front-loader combines a stated capacity of 8 kg with the TimeManager function.
This selection includes 8 to 10 kg front-loaders for combined loads, plus a 6 kg top-loader to consider if space is tight. Before choosing, compare each machine’s capacity with your household’s usual washing habits.
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Its stated 10 kg capacity is worth considering if housemates combine large loads; it may be more than you need for small, separate washes. The model name indicates a spin speed of 1,400 tr/min and an A energy rating. Check that its scheduling features suit the washing times you have in mind.
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A top-loader is worth considering if you have limited width, but measure the space and allow room to open the lid. The model name indicates a 6 kg capacity, a spin speed of 1,400 tr/min and a B energy rating. Check that 6 kg will be enough for the loads you combine.
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This 8 kg front-loader is worth comparing with the amount of laundry your housemates can realistically combine. If scheduling is important, check the model’s product information to see the difference between setting a cycle end time and a start time.
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Its 8 kg capacity is worth comparing if several housemates combine their washing. The model name indicates a spin speed of 1,400 tr/min. The Time Manager duration setting mentioned in the product selection information shouldn’t be confused with a delay start: check which feature will work best for your household.
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This 8 kg front-loader is worth considering if your shared loads regularly fill that capacity. Its name indicates a spin speed of 1,400 tr/min and a C energy rating. If you’re installing it near living areas, compare the spin noise level for the exact model rather than the noise during washing.
Choose a capacity based on the amount of laundry you’ll actually combine, not simply the number of people in the household. ADEME says 7 kg is often enough; consider an 8 kg model if your shared loads call for that capacity.
Yes, if you agree on washing times with your housemates. Check whether the model lets you schedule the start or end of a cycle, and what the available time range is: these features vary between models.
For washing machines covered by the scheme and sold in France, compare the score and the factors that make it up for the exact model. France’s Ministry of the Economy says sellers must display the index clearly and make it easy to access. The score doesn’t replace a comparison of energy labels.
Check the collection arrangements before placing your order. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition describes a ‘one-for-one’ take-back when you buy an appliance of the same type. Confirm with the seller how this will work with your delivery.