The user-upgradable washing…

25/02/2023 21:50

This is a smart, efficient washing machine capable of handling the heavy load of a family of four's washing with ease. We already own an LG tumble dryer so I had some idea of what to expect with this machine, but it has already surpassed our expectations.

I wanted to single out a number of features I've been particularly impressed with:

1) The wi-fi connectivity. I know - wifi on a washing machine - who needs that??! Well, it turns out to be pretty useful. Not only to be able to check the status of the wash from wherever you are, but chiefly because within LG's ThinQ app, there's a bank of extra programmes that you can download to your machine, over and above what comes pre-installed. These include specialist programmes for minimising noise, a special jeans wash, swimming wear, juice and food stains and much more.

2) Noise. Our outgoing machine had become a hammering, noisy, mess, frequently edging out of its space in our utility room. The LG F4V710STSH is whisper quiet for most of the time - certainly quiet enough to have a conversation in the same room without needing to raise your voice. And even at the maximum 1400RPM spin cycle, it doesn't make much noise at all.

3) Steam feature. I suffer from dust/hay fever allergies and around this time of year (February) I usually find myself washing clothes that have been in storage for a while and have become quite dusty. In our previous washer it would usually take at least a couple of washes to get them to a state that didn't leave me sneezing/runny-eyed, but the V7's 'steam allergy care' setting uses water and heat to create a super-disinfecting steam that removes up to 99.9% of allergens. I've found this to be extremely effective.

One minor niggle - on the 'standard' wash, the one that most people would naturally put on (the cotton/40 degree/1400 RPM programme) it doesn't provide a time estimate until the cycle has started. Presumably as this is because the machine starts by 'weighing' the wash and deciding how dirty it all is prior to starting before giving the end time estimate. This does however make it tricky if you like to pre-set when your washing is going to be done and ready for hanging out. Although you do have the ability to delay the end time, if you don't know how long the wash is likely to take, then you're into guesswork. Not a massive issue but still, a niggle we noticed.