Refrigerators and washers as well have motors. Friges are usually less than a 1/4 while washers can be 3/4 HP. However, they don’t run continuously. They have internal switching and circuitry that mitigates the adverse effects of the motor.
That is if the motor is switched internally, these appliances do not expect to be connected to a switch. Cutting the power through a switch, while the motor is running can result in a voltage spike to the switch.
In general motors that are part of an appliance that come with a wall plug has mitigating circuitry. If it’s a power whip, like a pool pump or burner motor, It expects to be connected to a motor rated switch.
