Mumsnet Talk

After years of being a bit rough and then magically repairing itself I think mine is giving up.
On a 60 degree wash it now leaves brown streaks on everything, and things just dont seem to come out clean.

So am gonna buy a new one, this one was a Hotpoint Aquarius 1100 spin, nothing fancy, just does the job (or did).

Have £250 to spend, would be glad of some pointers thanks

Bought mine about 5 years ago now but it's a Bosch Exxcel 1600 Express. I chose it because it had a top rating for being environmentally friendly and part of that was having quick wash options - can do a mixed load in 35 mins, or there is a 'rinse/refresh' option that takes 18 mins - good for the garment you really want to wear again quickly or when you have left a load in there for a few hours as I sometimes do As you can see it's lasted a while and is still going strong. No idea of prices now unfortunately.

Do you think 5 years is a long time then?
Ive had mine 10 years and feel a bit hard done by that its broke - seeing as my mums is still going strong 25 years on

I think 1600 may be too much for me, and Im not too bothered about the environmental thing either

How many times are you planning to use a week? I was shocked just how often I used mine (10-12 times per week!).

I am a great fan of John Lewis who if you tell them your budget will recommend the best machine for you. I brought a Miele 5 years ago mainly because of the 10 year parts and labour guarantee (it was £750 5 yrs ago.) Miele build their machines for 20 years use. I think you are luckly to get 6 years out of a machine that is used constantly. My mother quotes her 15 year old machine to anyone who will listen but she uses 1-2 times a week!

Mine's also a bosch but watch out because mine doesn't do a half load option or a 50 degree wash.

I love mine, put it on a quick wash for everything! It takes 48 minutes with reduced ironing button pressed.

Have had mine 7 years. No problems. The makes that are meant to be top according to Which magazine for reliability are Bosch, Miele (look like they stuck in the 70's design wise) and AEG!

Asda on line have good value indesit washing machines - had one a few houses ago and it was great.

are Indesit any good?

I cant afford £750 atm, budget £250 and no more.

I need a hand-wash setting, and a quick wash setting other than that only use 40 and 60

I had one a few years back and yes it had handwash option and quick wash, lots of different models so guess you will need to check the features on different ones, looking for new one myself and comet and ASDA are coming out way cheaper than any one else.

also getting an indesit dishwasher, very cheap. had one three years ago then 'traded up' to a bosch which was rubbish, kept on having to redo pans and so on, never had to with my cheapy indesit!!

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Mine is also on its last legs. It's a hotpoint and on the economy wash you can fill from the hot water pipe which is great if you have surplus hot water. It's making a horrendous noise and its 6 years old. I wash about 12 - 14 loads a week.

Fizzylemonade - my Bosch is five years old and has "fuzzy logic" which, amongst other things, means it works out how much water the machine needs for each load so you don't need the half-load option any more. I was very disappointed to be losing my half-load button until the very patient man in the shop explained why I didn't need it any more.

I'm thinking yours probably has the same (unless it's very old). Just wanted to make you feel better about it!

Oh, I've just realised you said how old it was. I think probably it would still have the fuzzy thing anyway, not that I'm an expert on the history of washing machines or anything.

My old hotpoint was great, never went wrong in 10 years and when it finally died I got another Hotpoint, but it's been rubbish. The 'reduce temperature' button broke, the half load light borke, all within weeks of having it, it leaks from time to time and generally doesn't seem to get the clothes very clean at lower temps. Wouldn't recommend it at all.

I had an indesit which went wrong 3 times in 18 months, it would have been cheaper to replace it the first time apparently but luckily it was still in warranty!

My indesit dishwasher is also crap so I really wouldn't go for one again.

I got john lewis own brand for £300 I know it's a bit more than you wanted to spend but they have a 3 year warranty and it's lovely. Apparently they are zannussis inside and always get really good reliability ratingsd from which.

You could have a look at this site where you can buy good name items with small dents/scratches at really good prices, on an auction basis (like ebay). I have had several items from there and the dents have only been small, hardly noticeable.

We have a Miele washing machine, which is 10 years old and still going strong.

My husband works in the field of patents for household devices, and says that Miele stands out from all the rest in terms of quality of build and technical development. When I think about it, all the washing machines I ever used in rented accommodation were prehistoric, and were all Miele.

They are hugely expensive, but I think they are worth it; probably cheaper than the others if you keep it for 25 years!

I've got the same as herbietea and it's great. I think it's a good idea to buy one that can do a bigger load. I bought ours from a small independent shop who did free delivery and fitted it and took the old one away. They were (because of free delivery) cheaper than anyone else.

We have Miele everything and have put Miele dishwasher and washing machine in the house we rent out also, hoping that it means we'll never have to replace/repair. Touch wood, in 3 years we've never had a single problem with them reported by the tenant.
Miele machines wash better IME as well as being immenseley long-lasting and hard wearing. My mum has one now (only the second machine she's ever had and she's now 70 - the previous one was a Hotpoint top loader) and she's had it 10 years. It still looks brand new and has never once needed a repair. I know you only have £250 to spend, but you can shop around for an ex-display, or otherwise beg, borrow or steal the extra to get one - you shouldn't need to buy a new one again for 20 years at least.

Love love love my Miele.

I've had my Siemens for 10yrs, it's only had one small repair (last year), very pleased with it.

I would check out the length of the wash cycles, my mum has a Bosch and the washes take an age (no quick wash button either).

I have a Ariston washer/dryer amd it breaks down every 6 months or so (now about 5 years old) we bought the extra cover which has been well worth it. My advice, don't by a Ariston and always buy the extra cover for washing machines (we were told by the sales girl when buying the washer plus oven, fridge etc.. that the only one really worth having was the washing machine cover as they break down so often, boy was she right!)

Good luck!

I have a Miele, brilliant and reliable with a good guarantee. Bosch get the best reviews on Which.

My Indesit washer dryer is really good - washes and dries fine, has a nice selection of programmes and was quite cheap. But I have only had its six months...

One washing machine repairer told me that people don't need Miele in their homes, because they're built to commercial washing machine standards. That clinched it for me. Our next washing machine was a Miele, and TBH, by the time you include their long warranties they're really not more expensive than many other brands. Indeed, I have told DH that if I have to choose between him and my Miele washing machine there is absolutely no contest.

Miele Miele Miele... ten year one still going strong for our tenants in old house. Survived a flood and everything. Fabulous machines. It has a silks wash which is so delicate you can wash anything on it and it is fine. Brilliant. Sorry they may be well over budget, not sure, but they are just so brilliant I would never buy anything else.