Is it worth buying an expensive washing machine?

[ifonly4]

Just wondering if it's really worth buying an expensive washing machine, and how long everyone has had various brands.

Our first Indesit (budget price brand) lasted for 18 years with no repairs which I think is impressive, so we replaced it with another Indesit at the end of it's lifespan. However, after 5/6 washes a week for 7.5 years the present one is making odd sounds which are getting worse. Ethically we should get it repaired but for what we paid it doesn't feel worth it. As this one has lasted a shorter length of time just wondering whether to pay more in the hope a different brand lasts longer.

[carbuckety]

According to our repair man they are now built to die quite fast. We also had one that lasted for ever and then was replaced and new ones only lasting about 5 years. I would get the cheapest one you can without anything fancy.

[e1y1]

In my experience, no.

Had a Samsung that was RRP £1000 (I paid about £600 due to really good deal), that went from brand new to totally and utterly dead in 7 months.

6 engineer visits and it couldn’t be fixed.

Then had an LG, which again was same RRP, paid £800, that does seem ok, I no longer have it as I gifted it to a family member, afaik it is still working I think it’d be about 4-5 year old now.

Current Samsung, was £500, and has just had a major repair 2 years in.

From what I read up, when you buy and “expensive” washer, you’re not buying longevity, but rather paying for “bells and whistles” (large drums, fast spins, touch screens etc) these don’t mean the machine is built any better than a lower priced one, but because they come with a perceived benefit, more can be charged.

The general consensus is that unless it’s a Miele (although I hated my Miele vacuum) cost is no indicator of quality and as mentioned above, they do seem to have planned obsolescence in them nowadays.

[Oblomov18]

No. I think they were better made years ago and made to last. And they did, for 10-15 years. Now lucky to get a few years out of them, regardless of being cheap or expensive.

[inamechangedforthispost]

I've just bought a Miele. Considering the price I hope it lasts! I bought it because family members have ones that are currently 14 & 22 years old and still going strong.

[everythingstaken123]

We paid a fortune for a Samsung heat pump dryer and we had to have it replaced within 6 months. Would have been one month but they insisted on sending engineers out for 5 months who wrecked our brand new utility room pulling the machine about and smashing it into the new cupboards (it's a small room). Our new one is no better but we can't be bothered to go through the stress a second time. Judging by the posts above regarding Samsung I'd say don't buy one of theirs! They're good at TVs but really our dryer has been our worst purchase and we have a lot of kit. On the other hand we have a miele Washing machine we inherited and it just won't die! I'd love a bigger one with different programmes on it but no such luck!

[BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou]

I really hoping this won’t jinx it but..... my Miele washer dryer is 12 years old and going strong!

BUT it was pricey. The equivalent model now is £1999 in a John Lewis.....

[SnooSigh]

Yes, if you buy a Miele. We bought one to last as they are meant to be repairable, my mum's one is 20 odd years old, MiLs a similar age and ours is 4 years old, so plenty of life left in it!

[KalaLaka]

My plumber told me to get a Miele. I can't, yet, but will when funds allow!

[Whitewhine89]

I rate my Siemens washing machine and would buy another. Last one did 15 years (& 2 newborns) with no problems and I only replaced it because I wanted a newer model.

[greenlanes]

I hate my Miele washing machine. I had a Zanussi washer dryer lasted 17 years so was looking for equivalent.

The door barely shuts properly. Apparently I need to use the extra water feature on a supposedly low water usage machine to avoid holes in my clothes. I need to run a full wash monthly to clean it out.

Just not keen.

[Youradviceneeded]

After years of cheap washing machines (Aeg, hotpoint, indesit - the cheapest that these brands make), I have had a Miele for 8 years. It has been fantastic. Used pretty much daily, no issues. It was in the region of £800 and has a ten year guarantee. I know someone else who loves theirs too, and it is nearly 20 years old, never had a problem with it (they have two DC and a dog so theirs is used a lot too).

[LoveManyTrustfew]

Miele WM and TD both 18 years old, not one single problem from them in 18 years.

[EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard]

Miele washer-dryer, 20 years this year, no repairs. Also handed down a Bosch, which is 21 years old and not had any attention. Been really lucky. Both were pricey at the time but have been fuss free and so good value.

[MoleskinMittens]

I bought my Miele for £90 second hand in 2009. Survived three more house moves and still going strong. Will definitely fork out for a new (basic) one when this one dies.

[greenlanes]

I have been told with awe in their voice by the repairers that my Miele is unusual. But actually i was so unimpressed by miele's own servicing - I dont like being threatened in my own home. They simply dump any problem machines back to germany so can claim there are no issues in the UK.

[Checkedwoolblanket]

I buy a fairly basic Bosch machine £400 ish, they seem to last ten years or so, current machine is five years old. I have never called anyone out to them.

[AnguaResurgam]

I had a Bosch which lasted nearly 20 years, so it was a no brainer to me to replace with another Bosch.

[Laucu]

When I moved into this house 5 years ago I bought a budget zanussi, I think I paid around £200 for it. It died just before Christmas.

It was heavily used, there are 5 of us so it did at least 6 loads a week. We're also in a hard water area, although I always use soda crystals to soften the water.

I've replaced it with a similarly priced Candy that I got in the Black Friday deals.

[Roussette]

I've got a Bosch that just keeps going and going, I know it's over 20 years now, but not sure how much over 20 years.
I'm sure the technology is much better now but there is one thing I love that it has ... and I think no washing machines do now... it hot fills.

So that means when you have hot water in your tank (as you do) it fills from hot so takes no time at all to get up to 30, 40, 50 or whatever temp you use. Why don't machines have that any more? For that reason, I'm not swapping it any time soon!

[NoSquirrels]

No idea! MIL bought us our first washing machine (Hotpoint) which she chose herself. It lasted about 10 years, including a spell being used by tenants of our flat.

We bought a Miele when we moved here with a small inheritance from my grandmother who loved laundry - it seemed fitting. It was about £900 3 years ago. It’s been trouble-free.

But if it doesn’t last twice as long as the Hotpoint it won’t come out on top on value.

I guess we did less laundry with the Hotpoint though as were childfree, and now there’s loads of us and animals and whatever.

Anyway seems the choice should be cheap no frills or expensive Miele but not the middle ground!

[NoodlesLivesHere]

DH used to be a domestic appliance engineer and he refuses to buy expensive white goods (anything over £300). The way they are built now makes repairing them either impossible or uneconomical because of moulded/sealed parts so you're better off getting the cheaper models.

Environmentally it's shit but until the manufacturers go back to excellent engineering that lasts, economically it makes the most sense.

[NoodlesLivesHere]

So that means when you have hot water in your tank (as you do) it fills from hot so takes no time at all to get up to 30, 40, 50 or whatever temp you use. Why don't machines have that any more? For that reason, I'm not swapping it any time soon!

These machines were made unpopular by the removal of hot water tanks in most homes and the introduction of combination boilers. My mother still has a hot water tank and getting repairs is increasingly difficult because they just aren't that common anymore...given the mess when her original copper one split I think that's a fairly sensible direction.

Our home isn't even plumbed for a hot water intake washing machine.

(watch all of MN descend on the thread to say they all have hot water tanks and know no one with a combination boiler)

[AlbertaSimmons]

We had a cheap and nasty Beko machine in our previous house. I hated it so much I refused point blank to bring it with us when we moved. Went shopping for a new one and was advised by the salesman that the Bosch machine I fancied isn't the same quality as they used to be because they're not made in Germany now but Spain. He recommended Samsung or LG as high mid-range and Miele as the best but priciest. He said that he personally would always choose Miele. I took the LG and like it very much, (Miele was too pricey) mainly because it's very very quiet.

[wildduckhunt]

As a PP said, expensive machines are often expensive for the frills - e.g. a drum you can fit your king size duvet in, “allergy” wash cycles, looking a bit fancier etc. Bosch and Miele are two of the makes that are built a bit “better”, but even they aren’t what they used to be.

[Roussette]

Interesting on the hot water tank thing. We've got a hot water storage tank not a combi boiler, does everyone have a combi now? It just seems so wasteful of electricity to be heating water from freezing cold in a washing machine when you have hot water on tap anyway.

So my ancient washing machine keeps on keeping on!