Semi-Automatic and Fully Automatic Washing Machines.

Want to know more about the difference between Semi-Automatic and Fully Automatic Washing Machines?

I am sure that by now we have all realized how important a washing machine is in our homes. These machines have made our days less hectic and they have given us, especially women, more time to engage in other productive activities. Let us refresh your memory of how life was before the washing machine.

Cleaning clothes is a daunting but very necessary task that you can't do without. People wear clothes every single day for several activities and unless you are rich enough to get new clothes every day, you have to wash your clothes. If not every day, you have to wash your clothes every week else you would run out of clean clothes to wear.

One of the first things people notice about you is what you are wearing. This doesn't just mean the style and fit of your clothes, but also how clean and new, or dirty and torn those clothes are. Because our clothes are so important to us, we have to put a lot of energy into keeping them clean.

When there was no washing machine we had to work very hard to get our clothes cleaned. Doing the laundry took enormous amounts of time and energy as water often had to be pumped or drawn from a well, carried in, heated, clothes scrubbed, rinsed, and wrung out by hand.

Today's washing machines are designed with convenience and energy efficiency in mind.

In these modern times, the washing machine has become the most important gadget in our lives. It gives us complete comfort while washing clothes. A washing machine may be a huge time saver over hand washing, you are don’t need to sit and monitor the washing machine.

You will load your clothes within the machine, start the cycle, and get on with whatever it is you were doing. You can then return to your machine to hang your clothes outside to dry or put them within the dryer.

Today's washing machines work with the same principle as the original washing machines. They loosen dirt from clothes and linens with soap and water, rinse and squeeze out as much water as possible.

Let us dive into a bit about how these washing machines operate.

The first thing you see when you open the lid or door to your washing machine is a large drum.

The inner part of the drum that you see is often called the “BASKET” and is perforated for water to drain. The outer part of the drum that you can't see is the “TUB”, a solid compartment surrounding the basket that keeps water in or allows it to drain out. The basket can be moved, but the tub is fixed.

The two drums are the most important parts of a clothes washer, but there are lots of other interesting bits too. There is a“thermostat”(thermometer mechanism) to test the temperature of the incoming water and a heating element that warms it up to the required temperature.

There's also an electrically operated pump that removes water from the drum when the wash is over.

There's a mechanical or electronic control mechanism called a“programmer”, which makes the various parts of the clothes washer go through a series of steps to wash, rinse, and spin your clothes. There's also a pump that removes the water from the drum after the wash, and pipes and valves that allow the water in and out of the washer.

How then does the washing machine clean clothes?

After you load the dirty laundry and slam the door of your washing machine, the magic begins. It takes a combination of water, detergent, and mechanical action to get the cleaning done.

Here is the general sequence of the steps involved in getting your laundry clean:

• The tub spins slowly to balance and sense the load inside the washing machine. It may take a few spins for the washing machine to determine the size of the wash load.
• Based on the size of the load in the washing machine, an appropriate amount of water begins to run into the tub. Water pours over the detergent dispenser to bring liquid or poured detergent into the mix. And if you use pods, most washers have you toss them right into the tub. When the detergent gets into the tub, it dissolves.
• The machine halts while the detergent dissolves in the washer. Detergents work best because the molecules in its surfactant are attached to the oils on one end and water on the other end. This is the method by which grease and dirt are drawn out if your cloth into the wash water.
• Then the tub moves back and forth, pushing the clothes into each other and to the side and the bottom of the tub. This mechanical action helps to force the dirt out. Clothes rub against each other and the sides and bottom of the tub help to remove stains and dirt.
• Dirty water is drained out of the tub, then the tub spins to get the rest of the dirty water out of the clothes. Then the washing machine refills with clean water for the rinse cycle. The laundry tosses around in the rinse water, detergent and dirt rinse out.
• Some washing machines allow you to add more rinses, to ensure that every drop of detergent gets out of the laundry.
• The washing machine then drains out all of its water and spins rapidly. The spin speed differs depending on the type and model of your washing machine, the tub spins speed ranges from 800 rpm to 1600 rpm. The spin cycle is to ensure that as much water is removed from the clothes. The more water is removed, the faster the clothes would dry.
• The wash cycle is over after this, you can either hang your clothes to dry out or put them in a dryer.

Understanding just a little about how the machine gets your clothes clean can help you get the most out of your appliance. There are four main types of washing machines and each works slightly differently to the next. So for best results, you need to know how these machines functions and see what type falls right on your criteria, budget, and needs of washing.

I would be discussing two of the main types of washing machines with you. They are“Semi-Automatic and Fully Automatic Washing Machine”.

While the fully automatic machines offer more convenience, the semi-automatic machines allow you more control, and they also tend to be a little more budget-friendly.

Here is a simple explanation of the two different types of washing machines, and their advantages and disadvantages.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE

In semi-automatic machines, you have to do a decent amount of work manually, not all. They, however, come with longer durability and sturdy design and built. The semi-automatic washing machine is partially automated; this means that you need manual intervention.

They are the most basic type of washing machine with basic features and efficient performance. The two washing and drying tubs are adjacent and can work separately. In the case of a semi-automatic washing machine, you need to first add water to the tub before starting washing. Once the washing procedure is finished, you will have to drain the water.

Afterward, you manually take the clothes out from the washing tub and put them in a dryer. The dryer takes time to get them fully dry and sometimes half dry. So with a semi-automatic washing machine, you have to do a lot of work manually.

This washing machine doesn't require a constant water supply and allows you to save on water. However, you are required to regulate the water supply and manage the machine settings during the wash cycle. These machines are mostly “Top loaders.”

Semiautomatic washing machines are larger than fully automatic ones. The reason is that they have the extra drum for drying clothes. So they have a bigger width. They are very cost-effective too as they use less power for operation.

A semi-automatic washing machine requires less time for one wash cycle. But there is additional time needed to take out the clothes from the washer and put them into the dryer. The dryer tub works on the spin principle;the higher the number of circulation per minute, the faster the drying will be done.

You also have to give the command to drying, like for 5 minutes you want them to remain in the drying tub. The semi-automatic washing machines withstand the wear and tear and offer services for years with easy to repair features. The semiautomatic washing machines fill the bill and offer a great range of functionality and power.

Some of their advantages include:

1. Very cheap compared to the fully automatic washing machines.
2. Require less amount of water to actually function and is water efficient.
3. Easy to repair and operate.
4. The clothes can be dried and washed at the same time, using both of the tubs at one time.

They however have some disadvantages too. They include:

1. It occupies lots of space.
2. Manual drain and refill options.
3. Requires regular attention, you rarely do other jobs.
4. No child safety.

FULLY-AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE

A fully automatic washing machine consists of one tub where you add your load and take it out. It does not require a distinction so that anyone doing laundry doesn’t confuse what tub does the washing and which one does the drying. With everything happening in one tub, maintenance is also easier.

This washing machine is a powerhouse; it does all the work by itself and saves you the trouble of constantly monitoring the water level or manually dumping the clothes from one tub to another. Fully automatic washing machines are available in two models, the top-loading washing machine and the front loading washing machine.

Get to know more about the Top loading and Front loading washing machine HERE!

The fully automatic washing machines are energy-efficient and light weighted as compared to the semi-automatic washing machines. They are also very compact and space-saving, especially the front-loading design. They feature so many advanced functions so you can expect the electricity bill to be slightly higher with these.

This type of washing machine as the name suggests comes with several programs and washing features that you control by pushing a button. Once you have picked a program, the rest is left to the washing machine to carry out the job efficiently without demanding the next command.

A fully automatic washing machine is connected to a water supply. This is more convenient, but having a poor water connection will cause problems. You cannot manually pour the water. You will need to maintain an adequate amount of water percentage to them for optimal functioning.

Fully automatic washing machines unquestionably provide a better wash. It scrubs and washes the clothes thoroughly, and leaves no stains behind. This type of washing machine, however, takes more time to wash and dry the clothes, when compared with the semi-automatic washing machine. You may find it a little slow to get the operations carried out.

When we compare the price with semi-automatic washing machines, we see these are expensive. You would spend more money to purchase them and operate them. They however come with an in-built heater. The heater provides you warm water to carry out cleaning and washing. Here you see the delicate clothes wash program using warm water effectively.

The fully automatic washing machine is the consumers’ best choice because of its numerous advantages. However, to every advantage there is a disadvantage, I would mention a few of them.

Advantages of the Fully automatic washing machine:

1. You get advanced options to carry out your operations at great ease.
2. Automatic drain water.
3. Advance scrubbing and rinsing controls.
4. Child safety features.

Disadvantages of Fully automatic washing machine:

1. You cannot open them in a cycle.
2. Without an adequate amount of water, they do not carry out operations.
3. Expensive.
4. Difficult to operate for a novice and illiterate.

For a household that is not literate enough, it will be difficult for them to operate fully automatic machines. As, they work on commands, and all placed on the dashboard. You will have to control the switches and buttons to carry out the simplest operations.

In conclusion, I would say that fully automatic washing machines are better. They give a much more thorough wash, and they require less manual work from you. So if you've got money and can afford, the fully automatic washing machines would be the right option to opt with.

However, semi-automatic washing machines are especially great in areas that have a water shortage because you're in control of the amount of water the machine would need.

They are also very cheap and easy to operate. You can get one for as low as N39,000.

If you don't mind doing a bit of work to get your laundry clean, then a semi-automatic washing machine would serve its purpose for you.

Now that we have discussed the essential features of these two types of machines and you understand their advantages and disadvantages. You can now make your decision and get the best fit for your laundry needs.

Looking for where to shop for high-quality Washing machines online?

Visit Zit Electronics Store/Washers to get dependable Semi-Automatic and Fully Automatic Washing Machines at the best price in Nigeria.