Sorry... dullsville... Any washing machine recommendations? Tips? Any to avoid?

[BettySpaghetti]

Following my thread last night about my washing machine sounding as though it was full of snooker balls, the drum being all over the place and deposits of black stuff on the contents I think I need a new machine.

All I know is that I want an A+ energy efficiency grade but I can't stretch to a Miele budget.

This is Comets A+, upto £300 selection for example

Any recommendations? Makes to avoid?


PS - also, why is it that when you have no washing machine you end up making more dirty washing than usual? In the last 30 mins DS wet himself (hasn't done that for weeks) and I've spilt coffee all down my top and trousers.

[mumblechum]

I have a Bosch (think it's called excel or something - at work so can't check). 1600 spin speed so stuff's only just damp.

Had it 3 years, absolutely no probs (touch wood).

[BettySpaghetti]

lol at marrying it- it must be good !

Is it the way it vibrates that you particularly like

[BettySpaghetti]

Any more advice? Anyone?

[3andnomore]

I recently searched for a good washing machine for my Inlaws and in the end got a Bosch one for them. I myself have a Zanussi, and we had Zanussi before, so, obviously are happy with it.
I think wihtin the pricerange Zanussi, Bosch and AEG are the ones to go for.
Indesit, I would avoid at all costs...!
There are a few threads on here about Washing machine recommendations...might be worth doing a search on recent ones....

[nomdeplume]

Bosch.

Had an LG which I loved and raved about until it started leaking. Useless thing.

[nomdeplume]

Our Bosch was over £300 though

[3andnomore]

For what it's worth here is the link to the machine and the shop I got it from (the one for my Inlaws, that is
"Thiswww.electricaldiscountuk.co.uk/itfx_product_details.php?pid=5615&PHPSESSID=0330596b89e7d42b23 ebe6dd01fee3d4one"

Hope the link works...why was that all changed anyway, was so proud I had it all worked out, sigh....

[BettySpaghetti]

Never heard of LG?

Current knackered one is a Zanussi -is it true they are made by Electrolux?

I've seen a cople of Bosch ones that are normally over £300 but on special offer -most likely go with one of those I think.

[3andnomore]

well, it opens the page, but that was not how I meant it to appear, sigh....
this one

[3andnomore]

I think AEG and Zanussi are now made by Electrolux....

[3andnomore]

Just out of nosy interest...how long did your Zanussi last before breaking down?
Our old one was 10 years old and had a few moves behind it and our "new" one we have now just over 4 years....

[BettySpaghetti]

It was 7/8 years old -we remember buying it around the time we had DD . Not sure how that fares in the average life expectancy of a washing machine??

[Anna8888]

Siemens, Siemens, Siemens....... just as good as Miele, much cheaper

[BettySpaghetti]

Wow there are 14 pages of washing machines on that site 3andnomore! Should keep me occupied for a while.

I think the fact that each model (within each make) is identified by letters and numbers makes it even more confusing as you forget whether it was a Bosch ABC1234 or XYZ6789 that you liked and end up ploughing through all the specifications again.

[BettySpaghetti]

Anna , the Siemens one on that site is nearly £600 so a bit over budget but would certainly consider them (got a friend who works for them and reckons they are a great company)

[Anna8888]

Betty - I have always had Siemens machines - washers and dryers. They are more expensive than some but they wash the clothes so brilliantly (thoroughly and gently) that you save lots of money - clothes last for ages.

I always think that an extra £150 on the machine is nothing over the lifespan of the machine versus the cost of clothes in that lifespan... and if the clothes get to last longer, I definitely cover the £150 over and over again

[MintyDixCharrington]

bosch neff and siemens are all made in the same factory I thought.
slightly different price points though - neff slightly cheaper than bosch, which is a bit cheaper than siemens. all the same thing though.

I had a bosch which was v good for about 6/7 years. I now have a miele, also excellent but more expensive. it does have a 5 year guarantee though

[MintyDixCharrington]

my washing machine/fridge/general all round appliance man says about washing machines "they don't make them like they used to - only miele make them really properly" and

"never ever buy anything made by electrolux or indesit, and never buy anything except a chest freezer from zanussi, everything else is crap"

he thinks bosch and neff are OK "but they are all built to last for 5 years then you have to have a new one"

I pass on that wisdom for your benefit (man of firm views)

[Anna8888]

I've never heard of Neff (maybe not marketed in France?) but, yes, Bosch and Siemens are the same company.

Miele last forever. Depends whether you want a 30 year old washing machine polluting your your décor scheme in 2037...

[MintyDixCharrington]

betty I'd look at john lewis instead of comet

they only choose the good uns IMO, so you don't have to sift through loads of crap.

right I'll shut up now

[nomdeplume]

Our built in dishwasher is an indesit and is the biggest heap of shite I have ever known. To think that we left our fab brand new Smeg for the buyers of our old house makes me &

[MintyDixCharrington]

anna I don't have a decor scheme in my utility room
quite like the idea of a vintage retro miele plugging away in there in 30 years time though...

[MintyDixCharrington]

oooh now you see I think smeg is just as crap as indesit

worse, actually, because it is EXPENSIVE crap that breaks down constantly, whereas atleast indesit is dirt cheap

couldn't pay me to own anything smeg I'm afraid