The spin speed of a washing machine says how fast the drum turns during the spin cycle, in revolutions per minute. It decides one thing only: how much water is left in your laundry afterwards. The drier the laundry comes out, the less time it spends on the line or in the dryer.
This article covers what the numbers actually mean, what the step from 1200 to 1400 really saves, and when more rpm stops being useful.
What does 1400 rpm mean?
At 1400 revolutions per minute the drum turns 1400 times in a minute during the spin. Centrifugal force pushes the water out of the fabric, and the pump drains it away. More rpm means more force and therefore less residual moisture.
That residual moisture is the point. At 1000 rpm roughly 62% of the dry laundry weight remains as water, at 1200 about 53%, at 1400 about 44% and at 1600 about 40%. A five kilo load of dry laundry therefore weighs some eight kilos after spinning at 1000 rpm, and about seven and a quarter at 1400 rpm.
How much drying time does that save?
The step from 1000 to 1400 rpm is the one you genuinely notice: about a fifth less water in the laundry, and roughly twenty minutes less in the dryer. On the line it easily saves a couple of hours.
The step from 1400 to 1600 is far smaller. Four percentage points less moisture works out at a few minutes of drying. Manufacturers like to print that figure large on the machine, but in practice you barely notice it. That is why our range stops at 1400 rpm: beyond that the gain becomes negligible while price and noise keep climbing.
When more rpm helps
More rpm is most useful if you have no dryer. Every percent of moisture removed is time your laundry does not spend on the line, and in winter that makes a real difference.
If you do have a tumble dryer, the sum shifts. Spinning uses little electricity, drying uses a lot. Everything the washing machine removes, the dryer does not have to evaporate. A high spin speed therefore lowers your total energy bill, even though the washing machine itself uses slightly more.
When it does not help
For delicate fabrics you should lower the spin speed instead. Wool, silk and fine synthetics crease and wear at high speeds. Every machine lets you lower the speed per programme, and on wool programmes it happens automatically.
Your floor matters too. On a wooden floor or upstairs, a machine at 1400 rpm can vibrate noticeably. If it is not level, that gets worse. Adjust the feet properly before concluding the spin speed is too high.
Spin speed and wear
High speeds are harder on fabric. Cotton takes it well, but elastic fabrics, sportswear and bras stretch out faster at 1400 than at 800 rpm. A practical rule: spin at full speed what is sturdy anyway, and turn it down for anything you want to keep looking good.
For the machine itself it matters little. Bearings and springs are designed for the maximum speed. What does matter is balance: a single heavy item, such as a bath mat, can throw the drum off. The machine notices and lowers the speed by itself, so your laundry comes out wetter than you expected.
Spin speed and the energy label
A washing machine's energy label does not account for what the dryer uses afterwards. A machine spinning at 1000 rpm can therefore look more efficient on paper, while you use more electricity in total because the dryer runs longer.
So look at the combination. If you have a dryer, a high spin speed is almost always the more efficient choice, even if the washing machine's own label is a fraction less favourable.
Which spin speed suits you?
1000 rpm is enough if you line dry everything and have the time, or if you mostly wash delicates.
1200 rpm is a sound middle ground if you use the dryer now and then.
1400 rpm has become the standard and is the best choice if you have a dryer or want laundry dry quickly. See the 1400 rpm washing machines.
1600 rpm and above saves a few more minutes of drying, at a higher price and with more vibration. For most households that is not a worthwhile step, so we do not stock those models.
Veelgestelde vragen
What does 1400 rpm mean on a washing machine?
1400 rpm means the drum turns 1400 times a minute during the spin cycle. That decides how much water is left in your clothes: about 44% of the dry laundry weight at 1400 rpm, against roughly 62% at 1000 rpm. Less residual moisture means a shorter drying time.
Is 1600 rpm better than 1400?
Barely. From 1400 to 1600 rpm the residual moisture drops from about 44% to 40%, which works out at a few minutes of drying. The real gap sits between 1000 and 1400. Above that you mainly pay for a higher number on the machine, while vibration and noise increase. Our range therefore runs to 1400 rpm.
Does a higher spin speed use more electricity?
The washing machine slightly more, but less in total if you use a dryer. Spinning costs little energy, drying costs a lot. Every bit of water the washing machine removes, the dryer does not have to evaporate. Without a dryer, a high spin speed mainly saves you time.
Which spin speed is right for delicates?
Below 1000 rpm, and for wool and silk often 400 to 800 rpm. High speeds crease fine fabrics and stretch elastane faster. Every machine lets you lower the speed per programme; on wool programmes it happens automatically.
Why does my laundry come out wetter than expected?
Usually because of imbalance. If a heavy item, such as a bath mat or a duvet cover the rest of the wash has crept into, ends up on one side of the drum, the machine lowers the speed itself to prevent damage. Spread the load better or wash such items separately. Also check that the machine is level.
