Washing machine recommendations

[Apparentlychilled]

Hi there
My John Lewis washing machine is about to die, 3.5 years after buying it. I haven't been impressed and have had repair people out maybe 4 -5 times already. So I won't be getting another JL machine.

DH thinks we should bite the bullet and buy a Miele. I'm loathe to pay £800 on a washing machine but am keen not to have to replace it in 3-4 years.

I'm a heavy user (big family). I'd say I use the machine at least twice a day (so, say 15-20 washes per week).

Any recommendations for a machine which:

• has a large drum
  
• can do quick washes if need be
  
• can do delicates/hand wash
  
• doesn't cost £800. Ideally max £400.
  

Cheers

[DuchessDisaster]

I can only agree with your H and say go for a Miele.
They are expensive, but they last up to 20 years - I know someone who had hers 25 years+.
The right model will do all of the things on your list, plus adjust wash times according to how dirty the laundry is (I think they must have little washing machine elves inside the drum).

[PigletJohn]

I have seen Siemens machines with a 5-year guarantee in John Lewis. I don't know if it is standard.

They are built by BSH, a joint venture with Bosch, and are of the same standard but a bit upmarket and Which says they are better.

[PigletJohn]

I looked up some Best Buys on this thread

[BoffinMum]

Don't do Miele, as they are now using cheap parts that break. I am currently in dispute with them as the plastic door on my washing machine has cracked and the dodgy electrical circuit thing on my tumble dryer fused my entire house. The machines were only 2 years 3 months old and well looked after. The engineer was clear that this shouldn't have happened but they are being very difficult about reimbursing me for the £300+ I spent trying to sort out the tumble dryer, and they want me to spent £150 to get another engineer out to double check the washing machine door has cracked, even though an engineer has already seen it. Honestly, the stuff's crap now and I wish I had never bought them.

[rabbit123]

Another vote for Miele! Best washer we've had and my in laws have had theirs for 26 years.

Avoid Candy, Indesit, Hotpoint and Hoover. All are absolute junk! Beko are ok. The cheaper ones aren't very good but we had a 8kg model with a silent motor that we paid only about £250 for and it lasted 9 years. Can't go wrong at that price.

[BoffinMum]

As I said, Miele used to be very robust but they are now building them a lot more cheaply whilst charging the same money. So a machine bought 26 years ago will be a completely different build to one bought now.

[rabbit123]

This is very similar to the Beko we had. It was great, especially for the prive. You hear a lot of people say "so and so had a Beko and it broke" but that's usually because they've gone for the cheaper models.

ao.com/product/ECOWMB81445LW-Beko-Washing-Machine-White-26084.aspx

[PigletJohn]

I find Beko very puzzling. Some of their products seem very good, and are Which best buys, and some of them are very poor. They have a large number of models. I have heard it said that, but don't know, that they buy up the designs and manufacturing tools from other makers, for obsolete models, in the same way as, before the Wall came down, Eastern bloc countries used to manufacture obsolete car designs from Western Europe, under a different name. India still does it.

[rabbit123]

I've found with the Beko, the higher end models are fab (the ones with the digital displays and larger drums) but the low end, bog standard models are a bit cheap and nasty with very basic programming. Our Beko had proper balance and weight sensors so it new how much water to use and how long to wash for, like a Bosch or Miele does, but the cheaper models have timed fills so they don't wash heavy loads very well

[Missingsleepandthecat]

DS 2 and DD 2 have Bekos, top end ones, they're pretty good.
DS 2 was given a 6 year old second hand Beko that was bog standard, it was OK-ish, not too great in comparison to the Beko he has with the display. We have a Beko dishwasher which is absolutely fantastic, myself and DH have a Miele machine which is also very good and DM has a Miele too, MIL has had a basic Servis for a few years

[Sizzlesthedog]

This one bosh WAQ28461GB

Has a good rating in the which best buy, but I can't find it on John Lewis website.

[FitzChivalry]

I had a becko, large drum, digital display, mid range model. Broke after 3 weeks. After much to and froing about parts (as some had to be ordered from Turkey) they sent me another of the same. It broke on the first wash. The guys who came to collect said they had a lot of collections for that particular washer. They said it was as if it was a faulty batch.

Now I wouldn't have one if you paid me.

[Apparentlychilled]

Thank you all!

[martymcfry]

I bought a really expensive samsung Eco bubble (nearly 700 quid) with a large drum. Rated on which. It's fecking shit. I've had to switch to bio washing powder and still have dirty clothes. Do not buy one of those!!!!

[dementedpixie]

I like my Samsung eco bubble and have not had an issue with it. It cleans clothes fine (have the 9kg drum)

[jennylindinha]

I've got the cheaper Samsung Eco Bubble (7kg drum and not a brushless motor) and it is really good! I really like it and it is certainly an improvement on the old Hotpoint one we had previously (it was really on its last legs!)

I think it was £350 from Currys, had no problems so far. In fact, it managed to clean some really stained sheets/clothes with a combination of the soak function and using Vanish oxywhite stuff. And these were old stains! I was really impressed.

Can't believe I'm in on a Sat night, watching Skyfall on TV and enthusing about washing machines at the same time, what he hell has happened to me...!

[dementedpixie]

ao.com/product/WF90F7E6U6W-Samsung-Ecobubble-VRT-Washing-Machine-White-26966-1.aspx?disableredirect=1& - this is the one I got and I like it

[madwomanacrosstheroad]

If your machine broke down after 3.5 years you should have comeback under the "sales of goods act" It is obviously not of satisfactory quality. I think white goods are covered for up to 5 years.

[madwomanacrosstheroad]

Oh and I would definitely go for Miele.

[rabbit123]

DON'T touch the Eco Bubble if you have anyone in your family with sensitive skin or allergies. The machine works by foaming up the detergent, but this makes it VERY difficult to rinse out and leaves a lot of detergent residue in the machine. Washing detergent is supposed to be low suds.

[dementedpixie]

Haven't had a problem with residue in my machine and we don't have allergies. You can adjust the number of rinses it does too.

[rabbit123]

The residue is in your clothes, not in the machine.

After the washer is done, take 1 item and ring it out by hand in a bowl of cold, clear water. The water will get cloudy with all the detergent that's left in the clothes.

[Sizzlesthedog]

I'm really confused!

I'm going for a BOSH, but not sure which one. I need a big drum and fast spin. Quick wash option too.

We've got a very very old whirlpool. Over 15 years old, isn't washing very well and shakes the house when it spins.

[madwomanacrosstheroad]

The higher end Bosch that have "made in Germany" on their label in the back are very good. The cheaper ones are not so good, they sell on the strength of the company's reputation. In terms of Miele, their washing machines, dishwashers and vacuum cleaners are fantastic. Their driers and fridges in my opinion less so.

[rabbit123]

A lot of the Bosch machines don't have quick wash, but they do have "variospeed" which is a similar thing - increases the water level and skips a rinses to bring the wash time down on the main cycles. Probably a good thing anyway as most people don't use quick washes properly anyway - they're only intended for small loads. I know far too many people who cram their washers full and then stick it on quick wash. Not only is the bad for the machine, it doesn't wash anything properly either.