Inverter motor: The inverter drive varies motor speed to suit each load and each stage of the wash rather than running flat out, so the machine draws only the power it actually needs. In practice that means quieter running, less vibration through the floor and a drive system with fewer wearing parts than a belt-driven brushed motor.

StainMaster+ hot wash: Raising the water to 60 °C or 90 °C on the Hygiene programme goes after what a cold cycle leaves behind. Panasonic had the 90 °C Hygiene setting independently tested by CVC Testing Technology and it removed 99.99% of house dust mites and eliminated 99.99% of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria — worth having for bedding, towels and baby clothes in a humid climate.

Rapid 15 quick wash: A 15-minute cycle for lightly soiled loads of up to 2 kg. It is the setting for a couple of shirts, a swimsuit or a gym kit that you need back the same afternoon rather than a full basket.

Tub Hygiene course: A dedicated maintenance cycle flushes the drum and outer tub with 90 °C water to shift detergent residue, mould and the stale smell that builds up inside any front loader kept in a warm, closed room. Running it every few weeks keeps the machine itself clean, not just the laundry.

Twelve programmes: Cotton, Synthetics, Delicates, Wool, Shirts, Towels, Bedding, Baby Care, Hygiene, Rapid 15, Spin Only and Tub Hygiene are all selectable from the touch panel, with wash temperature adjustable from cold up to 90 °C and spin speed from no spin up to 1000 RPM.

Child lock and drain pump: The control panel locks so a running cycle cannot be changed by small hands, and the built-in drain pump pushes waste water out to a standpipe or raised outlet, so the machine does not need a gravity fall to empty.