Our tester Izzy says, "The washing machine is very energy-efficient, which delivers good value for money. As there were very limited options for affordable machines this size when we were looking to buy, we felt this represented the best value for money in comparison to the others available." About the author In compliance with the New Energy Label, this B class washing machine not only reduces consumption starting from 43% compared to a G class, saving energy and respecting the environment, but also contributes to helping you save money on your utility bills. Read next: The best laundry detergents for babies Hoover H-Wash 500 9kg Freestanding Washing Machine: how does it look?

The Hoover H-Wash 500 has an Eco-Power Inverter Motor. This is more durable than other motors, so it extends the lifespan of your washing machine, and reduces vibrations and friction to keep noise at a minimum. Hoover says that “it also adapts the washing action to the load ensuring best results and 60% more efficiency.” This is a large-capacity 10kg machine, with a sizeable door that opens up wide to provide easy access for loading. I certainly didn’t encounter any problems filling it with the test washing load.With 14 different cycles to choose from to suit your needs, with run times ranging from 14 minutes to 330 (and a variation in maximum load depending on what cycle you choose), the Hoover H-Wash 500 is a versatile machine well suited to family life. Its Eco setting helps to reduce energy consumption and costs, and it uses less water per cycle than most washing machines on the market. Read next: The best dehumidifiers for your home How easy is the Hoover H-Wash 500 9kg Freestanding Washing Machine to set up?

I have no concerns about the rest of the build, however: the H-Wash 500 feels tough, and the porthole door closes neatly and securely. Hoover washing machines have a one-year guarantee as standard. You must register your appliance with Hoover. To get an accurate picture of how well the Hoover H-Wash 500 performs day to day, Izzy scored the washing machine on a number of different criteria, including ease of use, features and programme length, results (clean, rinse and spin), design, noisiness, energy use, ease of cleaning and value for money.HOOVER H-WASH 300 LITE boasts the most complete set of washing cycles to take care of all your favourite clothes, preserving fabrics and colours for longer, without any effort. It offers the most complete set of washing cycles to preserve the fibres of all your favourite clothes for longer, without giving up on the best washing results. In terms of technical design, it has an LED touchscreen display that’s easy to read and operate alongside a spin dial for selecting the 14 different programmes.

Most programmes can be altered using the options on the secondary control panel, including setting the spin speed, wash temperature and soil-level of garments, while also adding extra options, such as steam to improve hygiene and reduce odours. I definitely needed the manual to hand to figure out what the various icons were referring to.Izzy says, “The machine is generally very easy to use, and you can also set and delay the timer so that the H-Wash starts a wash cycle whenever you want it to.” Izzy says, “It is very energy-efficient and it cleans clothes well. For white items, however, I always pre-spray clothes with stain remover to make sure they come out extra clean and bright.” Is it noisy? Hoover’s app can still be useful. It provides access to a wider range of programmes, including special cycles designed for cleaning specific items: diving suits, face masks and bloodstains are just some that jump out. Plus, each programme is described in detail, which makes it a bit easier to understand. To test the effectiveness of the Hoover H-Wash 500, I ran a few test washes to see how well it copes with stain removal. I started out with the white wash set to 30ºC, which used 0.57kWh of power and 41.7 litres of water – decent, but not the lowest I’ve seen. The Active Steam program will relax the creases in your clothing, allowing you to easily iron dry clothing. The Steam Refresh program will release steam after the cycle to help relax the clothing and leave fewer creases.

This special program removes allergens and bacteria by increasing the washing temperature up to 60° C for a prolonged time and by extending the rinsing phase. It is the ideal program to sanitize baby clothes, ensuring the best hygiene for you and your family. There’s also a dial position to turn on Wi-Fi, letting you connect the washing machine to the Hoover hOn app. It’s important to note that you can only use the app while the machine is set to Wi-Fi mode; if you use a different programme, you’ll lose the remote connection. This means that using the app requires you to programme the machine with the app. This is different to the way the Samsung WW9800T works; it lets you use the app at any point. The best combination of time and performance. Hoover washing machines allow you to choose between no fewer than four cycles that are less than an hour long yet 100% effective.The Hoover H-Wash 500 is a rather standard-looking washing machine, with a traditional control panel layout. There’s a programme selector dial at the centre, with a secondary control panel used to fine-tune programmes. This secondary control panel is brimming with symbols, not all of which are particularly clear. I had to keep the manual to hand at first to work out what everything meant. With an ‘A’ energy rating, the Hoover H-Wash 500 is one of the most energy-efficient washing machines on the market, using 0.49 kWh of energy per cycle. The H-Wash also uses less water than most (46 litres per cycle). In the UK, the average water consumption for a washing machine is 48.8 litres. There are some faster cycles you can run for lesser-soiled items, but the main programmes on this washing machine are quite slow.