What is an activator washing machine?

Modern housewives can afford an impressive arsenal of various household devices that make housekeeping easier.

The frantic pace of life dictates its own conditions and the fair sex does not always have enough time to clean the house, cook food and wash clothes.

Washing clothes is considered one of the most labor-intensive activities for housewives. It is quite difficult to keep clothes, bed linen, and towels clean without resorting to the help of special household appliances. Therefore, a washing machine is an integral part of a modern home.

There are two types of equipment: drum and activator washing machines. The latter will be discussed in the article, its pros and cons, varieties and basic tips for choosing such devices.

What is an activator washing machine?

The vast majority of people prefer to use more advanced and modern drum washing machines. But no one has canceled the anachronism, so some are quite happy with the activator machine.

Activator machine is a device for washing textiles using a rotating shaft equipped with special blades. It is thanks to the shaft that the laundry moves evenly in the washing machine.

When you mention this type of equipment, associations immediately appear with massive rollers for wrung- ing clothes, an angular body and inconvenient hoses.

But progress does not stand still, and noisy and unattractive activator machines have been replaced by their more improved and modernized counterparts. The design of the device for washing clothes is quite simple and includes:

• a tank made of metal or plastic;
• electric motor;
• activator, presented in the form of a plastic circle with three-dimensional protrusions;
• mechanical timer.

Important! Due to the simplicity of their design, activator machines break down much less often than drum machines. The breakdown is often related to the timer or electric motor. Due to the low cost of parts, repairs will be relatively inexpensive.

It is sometimes quite difficult to buy household appliances that meet all the requirements and wishes. Alas, one consultation in a store is not enough to make the right choice in favor of one or another device. It is necessary to carefully weigh all the pros and cons of the equipment you are interested in, and then make a decision to purchase the product. Therefore, below we will talk about the main pros and cons of activator machines.

Positive sides

• The device is quite mobile. The washing machine can be installed in any convenient place in the apartment, due to the lack of connection to communications. An indispensable option for a summer house or country house.
• The activator machine is economical. After a white T-shirt, you can wash a blue T-shirt and then black pants in the same water.
• The quality of the washing powder does not matter. You can even wash clothes in an activator machine using soap.
• It makes no difference what quality of water is used. The device is not at risk of scale formation from hard water, because There is no heating element in the design.
• It works quite quietly and does not vibrate.
• Things in the tank can be taken out at any time.
• Consumes quite little electricity compared to drum washing machines.
• There are no electronics in the device. This means that such a machine is less susceptible to various types of breakdowns.
• An activator washing machine costs several times less than a regular one.

Negative sides

• The main disadvantage is the quality of washing. It is not recommended to wash delicate items, otherwise they will quickly become unusable.
• Filling the device with water and rinsing washed items must be done manually.
• There is no function for spinning and drying clothes.
• To drain the water you need a special container.

Reference! Some modern models of activator machines now have delicate wash functions and modes for washing wool and cashmere.

The main differences between an activator machine and an automatic machine

The main difference between an activator machine and an automatic machine is low functionality. This type of equipment is intended exclusively for washing clothes (some models provide the ability to spin and heat water).

From which we can conclude that the machines operate on an all-inclusive basis, washing, rinsing and spinning laundry. Of course, such a system is much more convenient than washing with an activator.But you need to take into account that the cost of a drum-type washing machine will be several times higher. Whether or not to overpay for comfort is up to the consumer.

Operating principles of the activator machine

The device works by creating water vortexes with a motor. The activator is one of the most important parts of the device and serves to uniformly mix water, detergent and laundry inside the machine. The device is located at the bottom of the washing machine.

Depending on the model of the selected machine, the activator may be located on the bottom or lower part of the wall. Nowadays there is a wide range of washing machines of this type on the market and they are divided into devices:

• with side activator;
• with lower activator.

Attention! The activator is divided into blade and impeller. The first type washes clothes quickly but aggressively. The second type can be used for washing delicate fabrics. The presence of an impeller guarantees high-quality washing, does not wrap the laundry in strands and does not tear it.

The activator machine is quite simple to use. It is enough to fill the container with water, add the required amount of detergent and use a mechanical timer to start the device. After 10 minutes, the laundry must be taken out and rinsed thoroughly, and then left to dry.

Types of activator-type washing machines

If earlier the activator machine was a rather primitive device, today manufacturers offer a wide range of devices of this type.

They differ from each other by the presence of additional options that were not initially provided for in the first Soviet activator machines. Devices are divided into three categories.

• The simplest designs include a tank, a shaft, and a manual spin. Spinning is carried out using two rollers connected to each other. To do this, you need to evenly place the wet laundry between the rollers and turn the lever. It is possible to adjust the rollers. Thus, the housewife can not only squeeze out a thin blouse, but also pass a blanket, jacket and other bulky items through the press.

The most popular models are: Oka, Malyutka, Fairy.

• Semi-automatic cars differ from the previous type by the presence of two tanks. The first tank is for washing clothes, the second is for spinning. The only disadvantage of this design is that after completing the washing process, the clothes must be moved into the centrifuge manually, and then spun. Modern machines of this type have several additional options: the ability to wash things in a delicate mode and reverse.

The most popular models are: Snow White 55, Siberia, Renovo WS 40.

• Slot machines At first glance, they are practically no different from drum washing machines. They are just as advanced and include the following options: water heating, automatic draining, rinsing, boiling, etc. But many people have a question: what is the difference between a drum and an activator automatic machine? Everything is very simple. There is an activator-impeller in the tank of the activator machine. As mentioned earlier, the impeller provides a more thorough and high-quality wash and does not spoil things.

The most popular models are: Whirpool Vantage, Redber WMA 5521, Evgo EWP 4026 N.

Who is the activator washing machine suitable for?

Deviceideal for owners of dachas and country houses. Agree, it is convenient to place a small, compact washing machine somewhere on the mezzanine or in a closet and take it out only when necessary.

This technology will be an excellent solution for students living far from home or for young people renting an apartment.

Due to the problems with old wiring, which does not always withstand powerful voltage surges, an activator machine is one of the best solutions. In addition, it is not always possible to cut into old pipes.

Tips for choosing a washing machine

The first piece of advice that applies to all types of equipment is as follows: you should not buy electrical appliances by hand. It is better to give preference to new models from a household appliance store that are under warranty.

In the event of a breakdown, the activator washing machine can be repaired free of charge at a service center completely free of charge or exchanged for a similar model in good condition. It is better to pay attention to models that have proven themselves in operation and have a large number of positive reviews from consumers. In all other respects, the choice depends on the preferences and requirements for the activator machine.

In custody

This article discussed the main pros and cons of activator washing machines, their types and principles of operation were given. This type of technology comes in various types: from the simplest varieties to high-tech models. Which washing machine to choose is the choice of the end consumer, based on personal preferences.