Hoover H-Wash 300 H3D4852DE Freestanding Washer Dryer, Sensor Dry, 8 kg/5 kg Load, 1400 rpm, White

Product Information

The H-Wash 500 isn’t a washer dryer so won’t suit you if you’re after a drying function, but the 1600rpm spin speed successfully reduces drying time, particularly in the colder months, despite the machine’s overall spin rating sitting only at a ‘B’. I have no concerns about the rest of the build, however: the H-Wash 500 feels tough, and the porthole door closes neatly and securely. Our tester, Izzy, and her husband have been using the Hoover H-Wash 500 twice per week on average for the past three years. The best combination of time and performance. Hoover washing machines allow you to choose between no fewer than four cycles that are less than an hour long yet 100% effective.

Admittedly, this job will need to be done only once – and likely by the person who delivers the appliance – but less fiddly bolts would have been appreciated. There are some faster cycles you can run for lesser-soiled items, but the main programmes on this washing machine are quite slow. The Hoover H-Wash 500 is more budget-friendly than many large-capacity washing machines but just as energy-efficient, which is why we think it deserves a spot on our round-up of the best washing machines to buy right now. This model has a traditional pull-out detergent tray, with space for washing detergent, pre-wash detergent and fabric softener. You’ll need to determine the correct amounts by yourself, rather than relying on the machine to do it for you, but this isn’t much of a hardship.In compliance with the New Energy Label, this B class washing machine not only reduces consumption starting from 43% compared to a G class, saving energy and respecting the environment, but also contributes to helping you save money on your utility bills.

Izzy says, “There are two people in our household and the 9 kg-capacity washing machine works well for us as we don’t have a huge amount of washing each week. If the utility space for the washing machine was larger, we would have opted for a bigger machine so that we could use it even less.” With a ‘C’ rating for noise emissions and noise level of 80db, it’s not the quietest washing machine on the market, but this is only really noticeable if the spin speed is at its max. Izzy says, “The machine is generally very easy to use, and you can also set and delay the timer so that the H-Wash starts a wash cycle whenever you want it to.”

Izzy says, “The Hoover H-Wash 500 was very easy to set up. We connected the pipe ourselves and have not had any issues with the connectivity.” While there are certainly more budget-friendly washing machines out there, for the number of programmes and features it offers, as well as its low energy and water consumption, this is a washing machine that's both versatile and affordable to run.

The Active Steam program will relax the creases in your clothing, allowing you to easily iron dry clothing. The Steam Refresh program will release steam after the cycle to help relax the clothing and leave fewer creases. For the most part, you’ll operate the Hoover H-Wash 500 HWB via the controls on the front of the machine. First, there’s the control dial that lets you select the wash programme; you’ll need to refer to the manual to find the right wash for each load. There are plenty of options to choose from, however, including modes for whites, wool, fitness gear and allergy care. The All in one 59 wash cycle allows for a mix of different fabrics to be washed together in just 59 minutes, and there are an additional three rapid wash cycles of 14, 30 and 44 minutes if you want your washing done in even less time. To get an accurate picture of how well the Hoover H-Wash 500 performs day to day, Izzy scored the washing machine on a number of different criteria, including ease of use, features and programme length, results (clean, rinse and spin), design, noisiness, energy use, ease of cleaning and value for money.Most programmes can be altered using the options on the secondary control panel, including setting the spin speed, wash temperature and soil-level of garments, while also adding extra options, such as steam to improve hygiene and reduce odours. I definitely needed the manual to hand to figure out what the various icons were referring to.