Mini washing machines are compact clothes washers. They are built in such a way that customers can easily carry them from a storage place to a bathroom or kitchen sink. Mini washing machines offer various features and advantages, such as portability, low maintenance charges, ease of cleaning and maintenance, a toy washing feature, and others. Due to this, the mini washing machine market is growing. The market is divided by load capacity, end user, and distribution channel. Based on load capacity, the market is subdivided into less than 3 kg and 3 kg to 5 kg. Based on end users, the market is subdivided into residential and commercial. Based on distribution channel, the market is subdivided into online and offline.
Industry Demand and Market Drivers
According to OMR Research, the global mini washing machine market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period (2023–2029). An upsurge in disposable income and rising affordability of washing machines, coupled with improvements in the living standard in emerging economies such as India and China, are anticipated to boost market growth. Additionally, in urban areas where the cost of living is high and the rental homes are smaller or more compact, where keeping all the household items becomes troublesome for individuals, these washing machines come in handy.
These machines are coming with new technologies that offer more efficient operations, which is another driving factor for the market. For instance, in September 2022, Xiaomi released the MIJIA 3 kg Mini Washing and Drying Machine, which features a colorful LED display. This is a top-loading washing machine that costs only 699 yuan ($98). MIJIA weighs 19 kg, has a capacity of 3 kg, has powerful washing power, and can complete a speedy 15-minute wash. There are several program choices available, including preset washing duration, water level control, and a safety child lock design to keep children from playing with the machine. MIJIA also offers three levels of energy efficiency. The power usage per working cycle is 0.043 kWh, and the water consumption is 57 liters per working cycle. It also has a paper dust filter that efficiently filters out laundry lint.
Recent Developments
The major market players include Electrolux AG, General Electric Co. (GE), Guangdong Galanz Enterprises Co., Ltd., Fisher & Paykel Appliances Holdings Ltd., Haier Group Corp., Hisense India Pvt. Ltd., Indesit Co., LG Electronics, Inc., Midea Group, Panasonic Corp., Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH, Royalstar, SIEMENS AG, TCL, Toshiba, Funai Corp., Inc. (Sanyo), Whirlpool Corp., and others. These companies are accompanying the market’s growth through various mergers and acquisitions and new product launch activities. Some recent activities in the market include-
• In April 2022, Xiaomi introduced the Xiaoji A2000 10 kg washing machine and dryer. The gadget includes a touchscreen with two color options, blue and orange, that indicate whether the machine is in washing or drying mode. The machine is powered by a dual-drive inverter motor and a BLDC drainage pump, both of which Xiaomi claims will decrease noise. The washer-dryer has 36 different programs, including ones for wool and silk products.
• In December 2020, Mich announced the release of Water Spirit, a multifunctional, portable, and time-saving washer and dryer. This lightweight and efficient washing and drying combination is the ideal answer for eliminating hand washing and meeting all portable laundry requirements. This little washer-dryer combo is ideal for modest loads of laundry and is useful for specialty clothing cleaning. It does not require any expensive installation and is easy, effective, and user-friendly for everyone.