European Washing machine with dials on left hand side

[aeg03]

Hi. I have a 2002 AEG which has the dials on the right hand side and the door hinged on the left hand side of the machine. I remember the time when AEG used to have the dials on the left hand side and the door hinged on the right hand side. This was also on the Indesits.

The UK models such as Hotpoints, Hoovers always had the dials on the right and side and doors hinged on the left. Now these days AEG, Bosch, Siemens Indesit etc etc have the dials on the right and the doors hinged on the left. Does anyone know why this change has happened? I'm guessing the the rest of mainland Europe used to prefer the dials and doors the different way but it seems these have become standardised for the british market. I maybe wrong but just wondering.

 

[paulc]

I thought

it was maybe to do with the motors used....ie if the motor spun the drum clockwise it was better to have the dispenser on the right so the suds didn't come out the draw, especially with machines the had spin-drain.

May be completely wrong on that though.

 

[rolls_rapide]

I think it was just the discretion of the designers.

I had an AEG - dial on left, drawer on right, hinge on right. Then I had a Zanussi IZ - drawer on left, hinge on right. Now I have the Panasonic - dial on right, drawer on left, hinge on left.

My sister had a Candy - dial on right, drawer on left, hinge on right.

Maybe most manufacturers had drawer on left/dial on right, that persuaded most of the others to follow suit?

 

[logixx]

Ease of use

A couple of years ago, I read in a catalog about the new ease of use of the new line of washers they sold (rebadged Electrolux). The drawer was on the left, the cycle dial in the middle followed by the options buttons and the start button to the very right. They said it was so easy to use because it follows our... well, the way we read (from left to right). Add detergent -> select cycle -> add options -> press start.

 

[thomasortega]

The way we read!

That's correct

The other parameters we designers check before creating a machine are the researches about right/left handed in each country.

lately, the manufacturers started to put the dial in the middle and it can be turned both clockwise and counterclockwise, so the machines offer a better ergonomic design for both kinds of consumer.

Now the reversible doors also allow the same. Now the consumer can configure the laundry room layout tailored to his favorite hand. usually right handed consumers put the washer on the left and the dryer on the right (following the reading sequence too) and left handed (coincidently or not) put the washer on the right and the dryer on the left.( I'm not considering any physical limitations that make the consumer choose other layouts)

It has nothing to do with the spin motion because most of the water is extracted before the drum reaches higher speeds. no matter if the dispenser is on the right or on the left, and the machine spins clockwise or counterclockwise. water should never reach it under normal situations.

 

[arrrooohhh]

Here is something interesting, Simpson top loading washing machines in Australia always had the main control knob on the right hand side of the panel, but with the latest body shape, the control knob moved to the left.

To my knowledge, no top loader sold in Australia had a centre mounted control knob until the latest Whirlpool based Maytag Centennial top loaders in the last year or two.