How well does the Samsung Series 5+ WW90T554DAN/S1 clean, rinse and spin?
The Samsung Series 5+ WW90T554DAN/S1 washing machine boasts 22 different cycles to suit different laundry needs, with varying run times from 15 to over 200 minutes. The cycles are: Quick Wash, Mixed Load, Activewear, Baby Care, Bedding, Cloudy Day (for a more powerful spin), Colours, Cotton, Delicates, Denim, Drain/Spin, Drum Clean, Eco 40-60, Hygiene Steam, Intense Cold, Outdoor, Rinse + Spin, Shirts, Silent Wash, Synthetics, Towels and Wool.
While it’s great that there are so many cycle options to choose from, 22 is a lot so, for me, most of these cycles actually go unused. I mostly use three cycles regularly: Eco, which washes up to 9kg at the optimal temperature to help you save on energy consumption and cost, Mixed Load (at 30 degrees), which washes clothes in around an hour, and Quick Wash, which washes up to 2kg in as little as 15 minutes depending on the spin cycle you choose.
If your family, like mine, is prone to eczema and allergies, the machine also has a Hygiene Steam function which deep cleans your clothes to get rid of bacteria, pollen and dust mites, gaining a Seal of Approval from the British Allergy Foundation.
I like the fact that the Mixed Load cycle washes larger 5kg loads in as little as 59 minutes if I’m running short of time or need an item for the next day, although admittedly it’s not the most energy-efficient of the 22 cycles. It does, however, use ecobubble™ technology to mix air, water and detergent to create bubbles that wash your clothes at cooler temperatures, which helps to reduce energy usage and cost.
Generally, I find the Mixed Load cycle very effective at removing all manner of stains, especially on my toddler’s clothes, but there is a special Baby Care cycle that washes at a much higher temperature if I want to tackle anything particularly stubborn. You can add a 30-minute bubble soak to your wash to loosen stubborn stains too.
The beauty of this washing machine is that it senses the weight of your clothes to work out how much water and time it needs to wash the load effectively. If you like, you can also set the number of times your washing is rinsed - anywhere from no rinse to five rinses (rinsing effectiveness for this machine is marked at 5g per kg) - and there are six spin cycles to choose from.
Because the Samsung WW90T554DAN/S1 isn't a washer dryer, it doesn’t have a drying function, so I tend to use the 1,400rpm spin cycle. This rinses out enough water to ensure that my load will be fully dry the next day when hung on the clothesline - although the machine’s actual spin rating is unfortunately marked only at a B when compared to other washing machines on the market, with 44% of water remaining after a spin cycle.
Read next: The best tumble dryers for families
Is it energy-efficient and how much does it cost to run?
The energy you use will depend on the cycles you choose but, overall, the Samsung Samsung Series 5+ WW90T554DAN/S1 washing machine has been given an 'A' rating for energy efficiency.
With an average energy consumption of 49 kWh for 100 cycles and average water consumption of 50 litres per cycle, it’s one of the most energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly washing machines on the market - great news if, like me, you want to do your bit for the planet as well as keep on top of your energy bills.
The SmartThings app uses AI to conveniently monitor energy consumption and cost so that I can see exactly what I’m spending. As an example, a 26-minute Quick Wash at 30°C with three rinses and a spin speed of 1,200 rpm used 0.20 kWh of energy and cost me 7p to run. It also emitted 54g of carbon emissions, which is at the lower end of the scale compared to most washing machines.