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“Weight on “KG” Label of Washing Machine: Dry or Wet Clothes? Common Misconception Debunked”

There is a prominent sign on the washing machine - KG.

20 April, 2024

We’re all familiar with “KG”, which stands for “kilograms”. While it may seem a bit strange to see “kg” written on your washing machine’s control panel, with a little bit of thought, you can probably figure it out: it refers to the weight of the clothes.

In other words, the “KG” rating of a washing machine represents how many kilograms of clothes it can wash.

So here’s the next question: does this weight refer to the weight of wet clothes or dry clothes? I’ve found that many people misunderstand this.

Dry Clothes Weight vs. Wet Clothes Weight

Apparently, this is common knowledge in the washing machine industry: KG refers to the weight of **dry clothes**.

So what happens if you overload it? Two consequences:

– It may not clean properly: Front-load washing machines need clothes to rub against each other to get clean, and top-load washing machines rely on clothes being lifted up and dropped. If the washing machine is so full that nothing can move, how can there be any rubbing or dropping?

–Overloading can damage the motor: The heavier the clothes a washing machine is designed to wash, the stronger the motor it has. Conversely, if you never wash heavy loads, the motor doesn’t have to be as strong. Unfortunately, motors are stubborn and won’t just stop when they can’t turn. Instead, they’ll keep straining, which over time increases wear and tear on the motor and can even burn it out.

So here’s the first important thing to keep in mind when using a washing machine: Don’t overload it beyond its rated capacity (i.e. its KG rating). But that’s not enough on its own.

Things to Keep in Mind When Using a Washing Machine

– Capacity

Here’s a question that often gets overlooked: When you fill the drum of a washing machine to the top, does it actually reach its rated weight capacity, or are you overloading it? The answer is not necessarily – because different fabrics have different densities.

The “KG” rating of a washing machine is measured using a standard test fabric with a density of 140g/m2~175g/m2. If you fill the drum of the washing machine with exactly that fabric, the weight will be exactly equal to the rated capacity.

Clothes that are denser than the test fabric (such as denim) will exceed the rated capacity when the drum is full. Clothes that are less dense than the test fabric (such as silk) will not reach the rated capacity when the drum is full.

Therefore, relying on capacity alone is not reliable when using a washing machine. To be safe, don’t fill the washing machine more than about 2/3 full (for pulsator) or 1/3 full (for drum), even if this means that it doesn’t end up using its full capacity.

– Wet Clothes

So what if your clothes are already wet (e.g. from rain or presoaking)? Is it okay to just throw them in the washing machine? Many people assume that “as long as the dry weight doesn’t exceed the capacity, it doesn’t matter if they’re wet”. This is not true.

Modern washing machines have an “auto-weigh” function that automatically adjusts the water level based on the weight of the clothes. If you put wet clothes in, the washing machine will think that they weigh more than they do, and it will add too much water.

Adding too much water not only wastes water, but it can also cause the clothes to float on top of the water. If the clothes can’t rub against each other, the washing performance will be greatly reduced.

Therefore, whenever you put wet clothes in a washing machine, make sure to turn off the auto-weigh function first and manually select a lower water level.

– Washer-Dryers

There are also washing machines that have a “dryer” function, meaning that they are essentially a washer and dryer all in one. You should also be careful when using these, because their rated capacity usually refers to the washing capacity – e.g. a 10kg washer-dryer can wash 10kg of clothes.

However, the drying capacity of a washer-dryer is typically only about 2/3 of the washing capacity. A 10kg washer-dryer can typically only dry about 6kg or 7kg of clothes.

Keep this in mind when using a washer-dryer. If you overload it, you may need to remove some of the clothes before starting the drying cycle.

If you put too many clothes in, the drying process will be slow, and the clothes may come out wrinkled or even still damp. Of course, there are also many washer-dryers that have two separate “KG” ratings, one for washing and one for drying, to make it clearer for users.

Frequently asked questions

It refers to the weight of dry clothes. Overloading your machine with wet clothes can lead to improper cleaning and motor damage.

Overloading can result in reduced cleaning performance as clothes need room to rub against each other and be lifted/dropped for effective cleaning. Additionally, it can strain and damage the motor due to the increased weight.

Don’t fill your machine beyond its rated capacity (KG rating). Also, consider that different fabrics have different densities, so the actual weight capacity can vary. For safety, fill your machine to about 2/3 full for pulsators or 1/3 full for drums.

No, wet clothes can trick the auto-weigh function, leading to excess water being added. This wastes water and can reduce washing performance as clothes may float and not rub against each other. Always turn off the auto-weigh function and manually select a lower water level when using wet clothes.

Typically, the KG rating for washer-dryers refers to their washing capacity. The drying capacity is often only about 2/3 of the washing capacity. For example, a 10kg washer-dryer can usually only dry around 6-7kg of clothes. Overloading a washer-dryer may require removing clothes before the drying cycle.