A look at the Indesit XWD-61452 Washing Machine

The Indesit XWD-61452 Washing Machine is a free standing energy efficient front loader washer with a full load capacity of 6.0 kgs and maximum spin speed of 1400 RPM. It is sold in ceramic white. It features, dial knob programme controls with a convenient Push & Wash button that starts a wash cycle even when the machine is "cold" or off.

Attractive Features of the Indesit XWD-61452 Washing Machine

This washer machine has a number of attributes that make it particularly suitable for its function and include the following;

• Sport

By pressing this button you are able to select the most suitable programme for your sports clothing, and is designed to remove dirt while preserving fabric properties. This option presents you with three levels of wash cycle customization;
- Sport Shoes, a wash cycle designed to safely wash up to 2 pairs of sports shoes in one go.
- Gym Kit, a wash cycle designed for washing any type of sports clothing together with gym towels.
- Technical Wear, a wash cycle designed for washing waterproof garments or clothing with special fibres like
Gore-Tex, etc. It optimises washing performance and preserves fabric technical properties over time. Fabric softeners are not advised for technical wear.

• Easy Iron

The Easy Iron function modifies the wash and spin cycles in such a way that crease formation is greatly reduced. In effect, what your Indesit XWD-61452 does, is to reduce the speed of rotation of the drum towards the end of the wash cycle.

• Extra Rinse

When you select this option, your washer's rinsing efficiency is increased and more detergent is removed from your laundry. This is particularly applicable for garments with sensitive skin.

• Fast Forward

The Fast Forward function allows you to end the wash cycle in less than the select programme time. Pressing this button ends the wash programme in only 20 minutes. In effect, the machine performs a brief rinse cycle followed by a spin cycle at maximum 800 rpm or lower. You should note that the Fast Forward function reduces the washing and rinsing performance.

Tech specs of the Indesit XWD-61452 Washing Machine

• Water inlet hose pressure

You should connect your washing machine to a water inlet that delivers water at a pressure within the range of 0.5 bars to 10 bars for optimum performance.

• Dimensions

This washing machine measures approximately 59.5 cm on its width, 85 cm on its height and 54 cm on its depth.

• Load and Drum Capacity

The lowest garment load this washing machine can take is 1 kg, while at full load; it takes a maximum of 6 kgs of garment load. Its drum capacity is rated 52 litres of water.

• Spin speed

You can vary the Spin speed from 0 up to a maximum of 1400 Rotations Per Minute (RPM) using the spin speed knob. The zero (0) corresponds to the delicate wash cycle in which the spin cycle is turned off, while 1400 is for extremely soiled cotton fabric wash cycles.

• Power Requirements

• Power input

The Indesit XWD-61452 takes in AC 220-240V, at 50/60Hz. Be sure to check the nameplate as this will always differ depending on your region.

• Power Consumption in operational mode

The Indesit XWD-61452 Washing Machine is an A++ class machine according to the EU power rating labels. The rating tests are carried out on Cotton Standard 60° (Programme 8) and Cotton Standard 40° (Programme 9) and conform to the 1061/2010 directive. Programme 8 and 9 are for normally soiled cotton laundry; they give you the most energy efficient and minimal water consumption. Accordingly, this Indesit XWD-61452 uses approximately 172 kWh of electricity per year. These values are subject to change depending on how you use the machine.

• Power consumption in off-mode 

This washing machine still consumes power when in off-mode; approximately 0.5W. Therefore, you should always power off the mains from the wall socket when you are done with your laundry.

• Power consumption in on-mode

To cut on your power bills, never leave your Indesit XWD-61452 powered on. In the on-mode, it consumes about 8.0W. It might seem insignificant, but if on average, you leave your washing machine on for an hour each week, in a year that adds up to approximately half a unit. And from my experience, if there are more people handling the machine, the more likely it is to be left on. On the other hand, the washer has mechanism that turns it off after 30 minutes if left without any load.

• Water Consumption

Basing on 220 standard washing cycles for cotton programmes 8 and 9, at 60 and 40 degrees temperature at full and partial load, the Indesit XWD-61452 washing machine approximately uses up 8376 liters of water in one year. You should note that this is just an estimation, actual water consumption can vary depending on which programmes you use.

• Spinning and Washing Noise level 

We all detest noisy washing machines. Thankfully, the Indesit XWD-61452 is not one of them! The washing cycle produces low humming noise about 59dm noise level. It becomes slightly noisy for spinning cycles giving out 81dm of noise. for is quiet during its washing and spinning phases. smelly washing machine.

• Spin-drying efficiency

Spin drying efficiency is measured on a scale from G to A; where G denotes minimum efficiency and A maximum efficiency. Basing on this scale, the Indesit XWD-61452, scores a class B efficiency. Residual moisture content for programmes 8 and 9 is estimated at 53%.

How Cleaning Washing Machine regularly will prevent bad odours

If your washing machine smells, just know cleaning is long over due. You should make it a habit to clean your washing machine regularly; preferably once in every three months. That way you will stave off any bad smells and keep your laundry smelling ever fresh. The cleaning tips presented here much as have been used on an Indesit XWD-61452 washer, very much apply to any front loader washing machine since they change very little from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Causes of bad smells in a Washing Machine

If your washing machine smells, just know there is an accumulation of any of the following;

• Scum

Scum will always be a problem if your washing machine uses hard water. Hard water naturally contains dissolved magnesium and calcium salts that make it difficult to foam lather with ordinary soap and react with detergents and soap to give a froth called scum (chemically called stearate) during the washing cycles. Sometimes, during the rinsing and draining process this scum is not completely washed away and gets stuck onto the drum, and rubber seals. Due to dampness, the scum presents a good breeding ground for microbes to grow in a process known as fermentation. The fermentation process creates bad smell in your washing machine.

• mildew and molds

Mildew and Molds are fungi plants that thrive in moist conditions. If your washer machine has residual dirt, scum or detergent inside the drum, and is not allowed to dry fully by leaving the porthole door ajar for some time, then mildew and molds will sprout and hence the bad odors.

• Residual bleach, soap and detergent

Sometimes, you may run your XWD-61452 washer without performing the rinsing process. This leaves some residual soap and detergent inside the machine. This over time begins to ferment giving off a bad odour.

• Residual dyes from coloured garments 

There are certain fabrics that are delicate to washing with your washer machine because they give off a residual dye. Such clothes include most Jean clothing. During the wash cycles, this clothing leaves a residual dyes and once mixed with detergent over time give off a bad odour.

• Clothing with Bad Odour 

Sometimes you may use your washer to wash clothes that have been 'stained with bad odour' from say sweat, smoking and fried foods, baby poop, urea, etc. By not using a proper rinse for such clothing, these odours remain in the machine and if the drum is not allowed to dry after the wash, a foul smell results.

How to clean Your Washing machine

Your Indesit XWD-61452 washing machine has an internal Auto Clean programme for automatically cleaning the internals with no load in the drum.

1. Add vinegar to the detergent compartment in the detergent dispenser and fill to the mark. [Do not exceed the mark]. Vinegar comprises of mainly acetic acid that dissolves all the dirt, scum and mildew inside the drum of your washer.
2. Add caustic soda to the fabric softener compartment.
3. Press the "Fast Forward" and "Easy Iron" Buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds to start the Auto Clean cycle. The Auto clean Cycle will last approximately 70 minutes. You may interrupt the Auto Clean cycle by pressing the START/PAUSE button.
4. When the Auto Clean programme is completed cut off the water and electricity supplies.
5. Clean outer parts and rubber seals of the washing machine using a soft cloth or sponge soaked in lukewarm soapy water. Do not use abrasives and solvents as they will degrade the aesthetics of the washing machine.
6. Remove the detergent dispenser drawer and thoroughly clean it using a sponge soaked in lukewarm soapy water and rinse it thoroughly under running water. An old toothbrush can be handy in removing "stubborn" stains. To remove your Indesit XWD-61452 detergent dispenser drawer, locate the lever latch inside the drawer. Press the lever downwards and pull the drawer outwards.
   
7. Locate and clean the your washers pump pre-chamber. Your washing machine is fitted with a selfcleaning pump but sometimes, small items (such as coins or buttons) may fall into the protective
   pre-chamber at the base of the pump and have to be cleaned out from time to time. To access the pre-chamber: Locate the cover panel at the base of the front face of your Indesit XWD-61452. Using both hands press it in the centre from either side while pushing it downwards until you can remove it. Upon removing the cover, you will see a lid, turn it anticlockwise to access the pre-chamber. Clean the inside thoroughly, screw the lid back on and reposition the cover panel, while ensuring the hooks are properly aligned to your washer.