I live in an apartment building with an on-site laundromat. As anyone who's had to use shared laundry facilities knows, it can be a real hassle having to schlep your laundry to the laundry room only to find that all of the machines are in use and/or half are out of service. Not to mention the added expense of paying $2+ per load, per machine. It adds up.
This little washer has been a godsend. I can conveniently do my laundry in my own home and on my own schedule. No more waiting on people who aren't paying attention to their machine cycles or having to check back in to see if any machines have been freed up. And the added privacy of not having to flash my skivvies in front of people while loading/unloading machines is nice, too.
Anyway, regarding everyday use:
As per my review title, it's great! Works just like a regular full-size washer except with maybe 1/3 the capacity (guesstimate). One full hamper's worth of laundry can be split up into 2 - 3 loads, depending on what/how much you're throwing in there. BTW, I don't recommend trying to stuff as much laundry as you can into the tub. Being a pulsator-type washer, overfilling it won't make for efficient washing. Also, it doesn't really fit bulky bedding items like duvets, comforters, and heavy quilts. Unfortunately, I still rely on my apartment building's laundry facilities for those. However, it can handle lightweight bedding items like fitted sheets, flat sheets, and pillowcases/shams just fine.
Operation is simple; it only has five wash modes to choose from, three load size options, and limited cycle customization options. Nothing fancy, just the basics needed to get your laundry clean. Check out the product photos that show the control panel to give yourself a better idea. Wash cycles can be as short as 19 minutes, to as long as 68 minutes depending on what you select.
The spin cycle does an excellent job of removing excess water. It spins up surprisingly fast for such a compact machine and leaves laundry as damp as any regular full-size washer.
Next to the water inlet is a warning label that states not to connect the hose directly to a hot water tap. I do, however, regularly use WARM water and haven't noticed any adverse effect on the machine.
The lint trap inside the wash drum does a good job of capturing lint, hair, and even shredded paper like forgotten receipts or potentially life-changing lottery tickets. However, if you're concerned that any stray lint might clog up your plumbing, you can always get one of those lint traps that attach to the end of the drain hose.
A few tips:
I recommend getting a small dolly if you need the washer to be mobile for easier storage. Unfortunately, the built-in wheels the machine has don't really make for easy maneuvering. Also, make sure the dolly has locking casters to keep the washer from shimmying away from where you parked it during the spin cycle.
This washer can be pretty noisy during agitate cycles and definitely during the spin cycles. If you're able to set it up in a room with a door (like a bathroom), do so to spare yourself from the noise.
I attached the included snap coupling adapter to the faucet on my bathroom sink. I also stuck a faucet aerator inside the adapter to keep water from coming out in a splashing torrent when I want to wash my hands or brush my teeth. I used a 2.2gpm laminar flow aerator since the usual 1.5 makes the washer take a long time to fill with water.
Lastly, don't go nuts with detergent. As with any washer, frivolously pouring detergent with reckless abandon can gunk up the insides of the machine and cause premature wear on the motor and/or pump AND cause the washer to develop a bad smell. For a machine this size, maybe a tablespoon of detergent - MAX - will do.
| Manufacturer | BLACK+DECKER |
|---|---|
| Part Number | BPWM09W |
| Item Weight | 48.4 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 17.7 x 17.3 x 31.1 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | BPWM09W |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 0.9 Cu. Ft. |
| Color | White |
| Style | 0.9 Cu. Ft. Washer |
| Finish | Stainless Steel |
| Material | Aluminum 2%, Steel 47% Copper 1% Plastic (ABS, PS) 34% Foaming materials 3%, Glass 3%, Other 10%, |
| Pattern | Washer |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Wattage | 300 watts |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Sound Level | 72 dB |
| Display Style | LED |
| Special Features | Child Lock,Delay Start |
| Included Components | Portable Clothes Washer |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 1 year parts + labor |
