There are all manner of washing machine brands out there.
There are the ones offering all the AI assistance anyone could feasibly need, the ones with more cycles than the Tour du France, and the ones priced well beyond the buying ability of most. Then there are those manufacturers who fix themselves firmly in the middle-ground betwixt budget and big-ticket, and finally there’s Hotpoint, a brand that’s been around for what seems like forever, providing appliances for those who need value-focused flexibility, particularly when it comes to washing machines.
So, yes, Hotpoint, part of the Whirlpool Corporation, is a brand famed for its affordability. With a wide range of machines on the market, costing from as little as £300, the majority of its washing machines will see change from £500, which makes them very easy on your hard-earned straight away, continuing that streak of frugality by also mostly coming ‘A’ rated (and above) for energy efficiency.
With low-cost leading the way, then, should you expect equally low innovation and flexibility too? Well, you can expect that if you like, but you’d be wrong. In fact, featuring a wealth of programmes apiece, along with some solid stain removal technology, Hotpoint machines more than hold their own when it comes to getting your clothing clean.
And to prove that (hot) point, I’ve picked a quartet of machines to demonstrate Hotpoint’s quality, three freestanding and one built-in, each costing under a monkey and each oozing exceptional washability…
Best Hotpoint washing machines at a glance:
- Best for small capacity: Hotpoint Anti-Stain NSWM 7469 W - £299, Currys
- Best for medium to larger capacity: Hotpoint GentlePower H7 99 U - £548.97, Currys
- Best for large capacity: Hotpoint Anti-Stain NSWM 1146 W - £349, Currys
- Best for integrated aesthetic convenience: Hotpoint BI WMHG 91485 - £383, Argos
Hotpoint Anti-Stain NSWM 7469 W
Best for: small capacity
Starting with the budget baby of the Hotpoint range, the Anti-Stain NSWM 7469 W comes in at a penny under 300 quid, yet still comes packing some 12 programmes, a 7kg capacity drum making it ideal for smaller families, and a reasonably powerful 1400rpm motor.
Operating at non-too-disruptive 76dB, this class ‘A’ rated option is supremely energy efficient, saving on water and electricity consumption every cycle, thereby simultaneously keeping you nicely scrubbed-up and saving you money.
Amongst that aforementioned un-dirtying dozen programmes is: 20 degrees, 30 min, Anti-Allergy to remove 99.99 per cent of dust mites, Baby, Cotton, Delicates, Duvet, Eco 40-60, Full load, Rinse & spin, Spin & drain, Synthetics, White, Wool, and Anti-Stain 40 degrees which removes common stains from clothing without the need to faff around with pre-treatments.
With an LCD display keeping you clued-up as to where in the cycle it’s at, and available in standard White, or Graphite or Black finishes at no extra cost, the Hotpoint Anti-Stain NSWM 7469 W is more than just ‘budget’, it’s a bargain.
Buy now £299.00, Currys
Hotpoint GentlePower H7 99 U
Best for: medium to larger capacity
Stepping up 2kg to a more medium capacity model, the 9kg Hotpoint GentlePower H7 99 U is an absolute beast when it comes to energy efficiency, rated ‘A-30 per cent’ which, albeit probably self-explanatory means it not only achieves an ‘A’ rating, but is actually 30 per cent more thrifty with water and power than an ‘A’ rating demands, so over the 10-years of its parts guarantee, it’ll save you money like the most parsimonious of misers.
With a satisfying spin speed of 1400rpm, clothes will require less drying time, and a fulsome 14 programmes cover Delicates, Spin + Drain, Rapid 30, Shirts, Baby, Bed & Bath, Silk, Steam Refresh, Mix, Rinse + Spin, Anti-Allergy, Synthetics, Cotton, and Duvets, which pretty much covers all stained and soiled comers save for the likes of leather, which would just be silly.
Featuring a high-performance direct drive motor, the H7 99 U runs at an ear-soothing 72dB while lengthening the life of the machine by causing less wear and tear, while the GentlePower part of its name relates to the manner in which it sprays water and detergent onto the load like a waterfall to maximise wash efficiency and minimise power and water consumption.
And finally, there’s steam. Yes, ‘Steam 3.0’ technology provides you with a trio of steamy options to treat your togs, from ‘Steam Hygiene’ that battle bacteria, to ‘Steam, Refresh’ which revitalises clothes in 20-minutes without washing, and ‘Steam Finish’ which keeps clothes soft and crease-free for hours after the cycle is done.
At £469, the GentlePower H7 99 U is the most expensive model I’ve featured here, but packed with innovative washing power and still weighing in at well below £500, the value for money it represents is phenomenal.
Buy now £548.97, Hotpoint
Hotpoint Anti-Stain NSWM 1146 W
Best for: large capacity
Another selection from Hotpoint’s budget-beating Anti-Stain range, the NSWM 1146 W has a simply mahoosive 11kg capacity drum, meaning it’s the perfect pick for larger families with a propensity for drawing in dirt.
Available in White or Graphite finishes, the first fro the traditionalist and the latter for the those who like to throw ‘white goods’ convention to the wind, the NSWM 1146 W is rated ‘A’ for energy efficiency, keeping the planet and the contents of your bank account going for longer, while the Anti-Stain element obliterates more stubborn soiling without the need for pre-treatment via a one-hour 40°C cycle.
Featuring an additional 14 programmes, covering 20 degrees, 30 min, Baby, Cotton, Delicates, Duvet, Eco 40-60, Full load, Rinse & spin, Spin & drain, Synthetics, White, Wool, and Anti-Allergy for eliminating 99.99 per cent of bacteria, you’re not going to be short of a cycle for anything.
With a spin speed of 1400rpm, laundry leaves the drum considerably less sodden, saving on time in the tumble dryer or at the mercy of the British weather, whilst a maximum spin noise level of 76dB puts it at the same volume level as the average vacuum cleaner, but as long as you don’t plan on keeping it in your bedroom it shouldn’t be too much of a nuisance.
Offering a lot of laundry loving for a distinctly low price, the Hotpoint NSWM 1146 W will keep your clothes in tip-top condition for years to come.
Buy now £349.00, Currys
Hotpoint BI WMHG 91485
Best for: integrated aesthetic convenience
Finally, for those who prefer to hide their appliances away out of sight, like a schoolboy wizard under the stairs, Hotpoint has the BI WMHG 91485, a 9kg capable clobber cleaner with a spin speed of 1400rpm and an energy rating that, although not ‘A’ as would be ideal, is still a very efficient electricity and water saving ‘B’.
Being a built-in option, this Hotpoint can be concealed behind kitchen cabinetry to keep your interior design clutter-free, while the extra advantage of this is that noise from the spin cycle is muffled, making this model quintessentially quiet at just 70dB.
Packed with some 16 programmes, including Anti-Stain to get rid of truly ground-in dirt, the BI WMHG 91485 also serves up Delicates, White, Spin + Drain, Rapid 30, Bed & Bath, Mix 40°, Mix, Rinse + Spin, Cotton 40°, Synthetics, Cotton, Cotton 60°, and Duvets, which runs the garment gamut.
Quiet, covert and costing a shade under £400, the Hotpoint BI WMHG 91485 is one of the best integrated washing innovations to be found on a budget.
Buy now £383.00, Argos
