One of the most common appliance brands in the United States is Whirlpool Corp., which specializes in laundry machines of varying sizes and capacities. Most appliances will come with a comprehensive guidebook or instruction manual that explicitly states the machine’s specifications; in this case, the instruction manual would have the capacity in kilograms of your washing machine.
The capacity of your Whirlpool washer is up to 3.6 kg (7.9 lbs) of laundry for a small machine, 8 kg (17.6 lbs) for medium, and up to 11kg (24.25) for a large machine. It’s important to know the capacity of your Whirlpool washer so you don’t overload it and reduce the efficiency of the appliance.
Along with size and capacity descriptions, this article will take a look at how to choose the best machine for your individual needs and what may happen if you load the machine incorrectly.
Whirlpool Washer Capacity Based on Size
A Whirlpool washing machine’s capacity (meaning the size of the laundry load that the washing machine can wash efficiently) depends on the size of the appliance, as is the case with most other brands.
Whirlpool Corporation boasts seven different types of washing machines, and each one falls into one of three simple categories. They’re either small, medium, or large appliances; medium and large washers are typically the standard.
- Small Washers: If you’re using a 1.6 cubic foot (45 liters) stacked washing machine (on the smaller side), you could successfully wash eight pounds (3.6 kg) of dirty laundry. Hypothetically, as determined by this laundry weight guide, eight pounds (3.6 kg) of laundry is equal to three or four pairs of jeans and three or four t-shirts.
- Medium Washers: Medium-sized washers can hold up to eighteen pounds (8 kg) of laundry. Using the same guide as above, this might look like five sweaters, four pairs of jeans, and a towel.
- Large Washers: The largest sized washers can wash up to twenty-five (11 kg) pounds of laundry, ideal for large families with lots of clothes worn and dirtied throughout the week. A twenty-five-pound (11 kg) load of laundry could look like six or seven bedsheets and six or seven towels. Large washers are also helpful for families that tend to wash big articles of laundry, such as duvets, comforters, blankets, and couch covers.
How Many Cubic Feet is My Whirlpool Washer?
A small Whirlpool washer is between 1.5 to 3.4 cubic feet (42 to 96 liters), ideal for light use or saving space around the home. Medium machines fall between 3.5 and 4.4 cubic feet (99 and 125 liters), and large appliances can be anywhere from 4.5 to 6 cubic feet (127 to 170 liters).
How To Find Your Washing Machine’s Capacity
Suppose the manual to your washer gets misplaced (or thrown out, I won’t judge). In that case, washing machines usually have descriptive stickers or energy labels that provide information about how much energy, water, and electricity the device is using and how many kilograms of laundry it can hold per cycle.
If all else fails, below is a mathematical formula that you can follow to determine the volume of the machine. It involves multiplying pi (3.14) by the squared radius and depth of the washing machine to find the capacity.
- Measure the radius and depth of the inside of your washing machine. (As a refresher, the radius equals the distance between the cylinder and the wall; depth is simply the height of the cylinder).
- Square the radius by multiplying it by itself (i.e., 10 x 10).
- Convert your measurements into feet.
- Multiply π (3.14) by the squared radius.
- Multiply the product of that by the depth of the machine.
The final number is the volume and capacity of your laundry appliance!
What Happens If I Over- Or Under-Fill My Washing Machine?
Over or under-filling your washing machine can result in excessive energy and water use. Not only that, but over/under-filling your appliance can also fail to clean your dirty laundry properly or cause damage to the appliance.
If the machine is overfilled, water may not effectively reach clothes that are tightly packed into the tub; if it’s underfilled, the tub may be unbalanced, creating excessive wear and tear on the machine over time. Therefore, it’s important to determine your machine’s capacity before use to ensure you’re loading your laundry properly.
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Choosing What Size Machine To Buy
Buying a washing machine can feel like an incredibly overwhelming task. You have to budget for a potentially pricey investment, and you also have to examine the appliance’s specs, what features you’re interested in, and what brand is ideal.
Choosing a machine that is too big or too small for your household can result in unnecessarily high utility costs, so it’s important to choose the right machine for your needs. Below are examples of different-sized Whirlpool washers and where they work best.
- Small washing machines: Compact Washer with Detergent. This machine is perfect for apartments and small families.
- Medium washing machines: Top Load Washer with Water Selection, 9 Cycles. Medium machines are the standard size of a washer, often seen in families of three to four people.
- Large washing machines: Smart Top Load Washer. Large washing machines are excellent for large, busy families and businesses that wash bulky pieces of laundry.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Whirlpool washers come in roughly three different sizes: small (up to 3.4 cubic feet), medium (up to 4.4 cubic feet), and large/ extra-large (up to 6.2 cubic feet). Naturally, each size can only hold a certain amount of laundry, with the smaller machines washing loads up to three kilograms and the larger machines washing up to eleven kilograms.
User manuals, energy labels, and capacity formulas are available to determine your washing machine’s capacity. And, if needed, Whirlpool customer service can be found by clicking here if you need help with any other inquiries you might have!
