Review: LG Washer and Dryer (10.5kg Wash / 7kg Dry)

This is not a paid review. I bought the washing machine that is mentioned in this post.

I live in a studio unit. And doing the laundry has been one of the hardest things. I used to hand-wash my clothes, wring them, and dry them on a drying rack. Given that air circulation is low in condominiums along with the humidity of the Philippines, clothes don't end up drying properly, and in worse cases, when you don't take time to properly wring them, you end up with laundry that smells worse than before you washed it.

You might be wondering, why don't I use laundry services. I actually did for the longest time. But my experiences weren't that great. The common issues I encountered were missing articles of clothing, mixed clothing (with other customers), discoloring, and having random hair stuck on my clothes. Timing was also an issue where for some reason, they would constantly miss the deadlines. I tried a laundromat around 20 minutes away from home, but when I saw the filth stuck on the rubber lining of the machine, my military past got triggered and wanted to throw a GI party*.

A picture of one of my subordinates participating in a GI party.
*A thorough cleaning of a military barracks by its inhabitants.

And that is when I decided to get a washing machine.

These are the things I wanted in a washing machine.

• Is able to wash and dry.

• Has a small footprint.

• Quiet.

• Consumes less electricity.

And so with further research, this is the washing machine that I got.

LG FC1450H1V Washer and Dryer (10.5kg Wash / 7kg Dry). (I wish names of appliances were easier. )

Form

When I was comparing, It was the smallest sized washer/dryer but had one of the biggest wash/dry capacity among its competitors. I really liked the sleekness of it. For some reason, it reminded me of a cellphone. Come to think of it, I don't know why I thought of it that way.

Function

I will only be mentioning about the notable features of this washing machine.

• Inverter Direct Drive Motor. 

Motors are important since it is the one spinning the drum where you put the laundry in. So there are 2 common motors that are in the market today.  Direct drive and belted. Simply put, the direct drive motor is directly attached to the drum, and the belted spins the drum using a pulley and belt system that is linked to the motor. Here is a simple diagram to understand it better.

Direct drive motors are better because of the simple fact that it has less moving parts. This contributes to less noise, more efficiency, better durability, and more space for the drum (making the washing machine smaller but the capacity bigger). It actually helps that LG makes them in-house, meaning they know their technology, although I can't say the same for their phones.

Because of the inverter technology, it uses significantly less electricity. To give you an idea, I use my washing machine (washing/drying) every other day. I wash and dry heavy load a.k.a. my sheets, comforter cover, and everything bed related every Saturday. I have to use the dry feature every time (except for some things I cannot use the dryer for) since I don't have space and I don't like the sight of laundry hanging and taking up all the space in my home. I have to tell you that my home is highly automated so a lot of devices are plugged and using electricity. I don't use gas in my home so my water heater down to my cooking appliances all use electricity too. I have an inverter air-con, along with an inverter refrigerator. I have a robot vacuum cleaner that cleans twice a day. Even my cat has a fountain that is plugged the whole day. Even my trash can uses electricity. You get the point. I use electricity a lot! But my monthly electricity bill is always lower than *drum rolls* ₱2000 ($50). Last month was only ₱1860 ($47).

• 10.5kg wash / 7kg dry.

If you always want to use the dryer, the only number that matters here is 7kg. The 10.5kg doesn't matter because if you wash around 9kg of laundry, and plan to use the dryer, it won't dry properly. Unless you dry the remaining 2kg some other way. The only issue I have is that the time remaining is never accurate. It shows you that the cycle will take 3:00 hours. Then the whole cycle completes but there is an unknown cool down period of around 2-3 hours. The display doesn't show a number and just shows "CD". During this time, you cannot take out your laundry, unless you force power down the unit. But after the cool down period the clothes come out clean and dry.

• True Steam

  It's just steam. It is useful for people with allergies. What I find useful is that you can use it as an alternative to chemical softeners. Or when you are lazy to iron and want to get wrinkles away, you can use the steam feature, as long as you have 20 minutes to spare.

• Smart Remote Control

  "With Smart ThinQ, You can monitor and operate your laundry from anywhere anytime." I think I remember seeing an ad where a woman loads the laundry, turns on the washing machine puts detergent and goes to the sofa, opens the app and presses start to start the washing machine. I literally cringed and cursed. She just went through more steps when she could've just pressed start on the washing machine after she placed the detergent. Also if you want to use the remote feature, I have found out that you have to keep the washing machine on with the laundry and detergent in it already. The only way that I thought this feature would be useful would be when I time the end of the washing cycle with the time I arrive home. Which still doesn't make sense. Because that means that I have to have my washing machine on for the whole day, and remember to press start on the app maybe an hour before I plan to go home. So much for "Smart ThinQ" when it makes you "ThinQ" and do more stuff. (Seriously Korea, you should stop doing things like this.) What I do is I just put in the laundry in the morning, start the wash/dry cycle, and leave for work. As soon as the cycle is done, the washing machine just turns off. So when I get back from work I just need to take them out and fold them since they are already dry. There is one feature though that is really useful for people like me who put their washing machines on mute. The app sends you a notification when your laundry is done.

Maintenance

The brush steel finish makes it easier to maintain not like most white ones that discolor with age. There is one knob, two buttons and the rest are touch sensitive keys. This makes it easier to clean and makes it less prone to button damage. There is a built-in feature that cleans the drum. And the debris drain is in front, which make it easier to take out the lint and all the foreign materials that have accumulated through washing. To top it off, there is a 10 year warranty for the motor.

I did a stupid thing and did not read the manual first before operating. Please always read manuals. Specially when there is a big sticker that says "Warning: Read Manual Before Operating." I operated it without taking out the transport rods. It made my washing machine vibrate like crazy and it started "running" around. I thought I broke it. Thankfully nothing happened. Be smart. Read manuals. Don't be like Dae.

Summary

Form

Is it nice to look at? Yes.

Function

Does it do what it's supposed to do well without effort? Yes.

Do the features compliment what it does? Yes.

Do the materials used compliment what it does? Yes.

Maintenance

Is it easy to maintain? Yes.

Pros for me:

The inverter direct drive motor is quiet and really uses less electricity. The smaller footprint and big capacity is perfect for studio units like mine. If you have a big laundry room, it is beautiful enough to be a centerpiece. (But then again if you have a big laundry room with the hard earned money to spend, I suggest you go for the LG Signature Series.) Getting to do your laundry at home, knowing that you know exactly what your laundry goes through is worth it. The washing and drying is so seamless that there is minimal effort needed. It saves so much time. I am very happy with it.

Cons for me:

The cool down time is indefinite. Smart ThinQ feature is just a gimmick and is pretty much useless.

Price:

I got this during a promotion for ₱46,896.50 from the original price of ₱66,995.00.
Today I checked the prices and saw that some appliance stores sell it for ₱49,995.

Conclusion:

If you are living alone, with someone, or with a small family, as long as you have the space for it, this washing machine is one of the things that would be an effective and efficient staple in homemaking. I just want to say that I am proud as a Korean that LG has come a long way. From Lucky GoldStar to what we have today - Life's good.

The washing machine has found its home beside my closet.

Always remember, before wanting to get anything, even if my reviews say that it is the shit. Ask yourself these three questions.

1. Is the price fit for you? (You may want to use the Object Usage Worth formula)

2. Does it complement the look of your other items?

3. Do you have space for it?

As always, thanks for reading! Be smart! Do contact me if you need anything.