Hoover H-Wash 500 HW412AMBCB Freestanding Washing Machine, Large Capacity, Energy Class A, 12 kg Load, 1400 rpm, Black

Product Information

We introduced a new test for washing machines in September 2022. Because this is a model tested before these changes came into effect, the score won't be directly comparable with the scores achieved by models published after. But what do you do when the symbols have rubbed off/worn off? You could read through the user manual, but if you’ve got no idea where yours has gone, this guide should teach you everything you need to know. Overview –The drain programme is shown by a symbol of a spiral with a downward arrow. This setting removes water from the drum of the washing machine during a wash cycle.

If you own a Hoover washing machine, you’re familiar with the fact that each programme and setting corresponds to a specific symbol on the appliance. You can use these symbols to select the best settings for a particular wash cycle. Overview –The cold wash symbol shows a snowflake. When this cycle is active, the appliance doesn’t heat up the water during a wash. Overview –Auto care is shown. By a symbol of a T-shirt and the words ‘Auto Care’ written next to it. This programme is highly versatile and enables you to wash a variety of load types. Overview – The fabric softener symbol denotes a flower. It may or may not have the word ‘MAX’ written next to it, which indicates the maximum amount of fabric softener that you should use per cycle. It’s a standard feature that you’ll find on pretty much every washing machine that you use. 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.

H-WASH 500 Washing Machine Symbols

Best used for –Removing allergenic particles, like pollen, dust, and pet fur, and bacterial particles from your garments. Overview –The care 14/30/44 lets you choose how long you want to wash a load for, with the option of either 14, 30, or 44 minutes in total. It’s shown by an image of two leaves with the numbers 14, 30, and 44 below them.

Overview –The symbol you’ll need to find when washing silk and delicate garments is the image of a butterfly. This programme is ideal for washing delicate fabrics, such as silk and lace. There are two main washing machine symbols that you need to know about with any shooter washer – detergent and fabric softener, and fabric softener. Detergent and Fabric Softener

Best used for –Washing garments that are made out of a mixture of synthetic materials, such as polyamide and polyester. Overview –The baby 60 wash programme is denoted by an image of a baby’s bottle with a dummy. This programme sets the temperature to a minimum of 60 degrees Celsius to provide an extensive wash that removes bacteria and allergens from your baby’s clothing. Overview – The allergy care symbol shows a plus sign inside a circle with a baby’s bottle and dummy. It washes the load at 60 degrees Celsius for 79 minutes to completely rid your clothing of allergens. Overview –The symbol for mixed and synthetic garments shows a triangular container, and it’s another common setting across most Hoover washing machine models.

Overview –The soft care symbol shows a butterfly with a box in its centre. It’s suitable for washing delicate garments and washes at 20 degrees Celsius for 59 minutes. 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. 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. 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.This model has a traditional pull-out detergent tray, with space for washing detergent, pre-wash detergent and fabric softener. You’ll need to determine the correct amounts by yourself, rather than relying on the machine to do it for you, but this isn’t much of a hardship. 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.

Overview –The fresh care setting washes your clothing for 30 minutes at 30 degrees Celsius and uses steam. It’s shown by a symbol of a T-shirt with a puff of air to the side of it. The test strip included (left to right) red wine, orange juice, ketchup, vegetable oil and gravy stains. On the 30ºC wash, the image below shows that stain removal was pretty good, although you can still see a clear outline of the red wine stain, plus a mark from the ketchup. It’s decent performance, but more expensive machines – such as the LG V9 F4V909BTS – clean better, albeit at a higher cost. The wash took just over two hours to complete.Overview –For mixed and coloured clothing, you’ll need to search for the symbol that shows a triangular container and a t-shirt. If your symbols have worn away, this programme will be one of the few that are on the front of your washer. Best used for –Rinsing heavily soiled clothing and bedding before a full cycle or rinsing your garments. Overview –The jeans wash programme is shown by a symbol of a pair of jeans. This setting is specifically designed for washing denim clothing.