Recommended Washers and Dryers for AATCC Testing

washing machine Standard Laundering Parameters
Several AATCC test methods call for home laundering.

88B Smoothness of Seams in Fabric after Repeated Home Laundering
88C Retention of Creases in Fabrics after Repeated Home Laundering
124 Appearance of Fabrics after Repeated Home Laundering
130 Soil Release: Oily Stain Release Method
135 Dimensional Changes of Fabrics after Home Laundering
142 Appearance of Flocked Fabrics after Repeated Home Laundering and/or Coin-op Drycleaning
143 Appearance of Apparel and Other Textile End Products after Repeated Home Laundering
150 Dimensional Changes of Garments after Home Laundering
172 Colorfastness to Powdered Non-chlorine Bleach in Home Laundering
179 Skewness Change in Fabric and Garment Twist Resulting from Automatic Home Laundering
188 Colorfastness to Sodium Hypochlorite Bleach in Home Laundering

Commercial washing machines and dryers or specialized programmable instruments meeting the parameters outlined in the Monograph M6-Standardization of Home Laundry Test Conditions may be used for the method listed above.

In the past, AATCC could easily track small changes in commercially available washing machines. Due to US Department of Energy rule changes regarding energy and water consumption, the changes have become more frequent and more dramatic.

AATCC Research Committee RA88 Home Laundering Technology has adopted new conditions for top-loading (traditional vertical axis) washing machines for inclusion in the Monograph M6-Standardization of Home Laundry Test Conditions dated May 1, 2011. Please refer to this latest monograph as most washers listed below conform to these new parameters. This latest monograph will be published in the 2012 AATCC Technical Manual as well.

New washers and dryers may produce different test results compared to those from previous years' models. Users should perform their own comparison testing. Models listed below are recommended by the manufacturers as a service to the testing industry.

Washers & Dryers
The following models are reported to be capable of meeting the parameters prescribed in Monograph M6- Standardization of Home Laundry Test Conditions. AATCC does not endorse these commercial brands over others. Specialized instruments that meet these criteria may also be available from suppliers listed in the AATCC Buyer's Guide. See Equipment & Materials Listing Policy for details.

Note that calibration and proper machine settings are necessary to achieve the desired standard conditions.

Washing Machines & Dryers Meeting Standard Laundering Conditions (Updated June 16, 2011)
US Models, 60 Hz
Whirlpool Washers	Whirlpool Dryers
WTW4800X*	WED5500X*
	WED5550X*
	WED5600X*
Kenmore Washer	Kenmore Dryers
26-21202	66002
26-20022	68002
26-21102
Maytag Washer	Maytag Dryers
MVWC200X*	MEDX550X*
	MEDX600X*
	MEDX700X*
International Model, 220V/60Hz
Whirlpool Washer	Whirlpool Dryers
4PWTW5905*	3LWED5500X*
	4GWED5500X*
International Models, 220V/50Hz
Whirlpool Washer	Whirlpool Dryer
3XWTW5705**	3XWED5705**
	3XLER5437**
Designation may be followed by additional letter(s) or number(s) indicating the color and year. *Initial number and letter indicate voltage and country-specific code requirements. These are NOT related to performance or safety. Kenmore models are available from Sears stores and www.sears.com. Whirlpool model are available from any store featuring Whirlpool appliances. 50-Hz international models are available from Piraeus International Inc. and Manhattan Electric Global Trading. Instruments meeting the standard parameters may also be available from suppliers listed in the AATCC Buyer's Guide.