Do We Need a Washing Machine?

[MitziK]

I've had a truly shit week.

Anyhow, to add to it, following a very careful exploration underneath my elderly Bosch washing machine, I've found that, rather than needing a cheap replacement hose, the bastarding thing what seals the drum/holds it up has cracked with age and water is pissing out over the fucking electrical parts. Which possibly explains why the mains has tripped a couple of times for no apparent reason in the last month.

I don't fancy getting fried/turned into a pile of ash and DP is in absolute agreement, so it's going, no question about that.

Unfortunately, there isn't the slightest chance of being able to afford the Miele that I covet. Already got two Miele appliances that I love and I would buy another in a heartbeat - but we have precisely fuck all in the way of income and I'm about to be made redundant at the end of May (the payment needs to go on little essentials like food and keeping a roof over our heads until another job is found), so I don't want to take out additional credit in case I can't get another job in time to make the repayments.

My thoughts are this;

Do I buy a £200 - £250 machine and hope for the best? We could just about scrape that together without selling a kidney.

If so, what one? I'd vaguely like something that takes a reasonable load, there is just the two of us, but it has to fit in neatly alongside a standard 60cm worktop and a fancy Miele freezer. I've never had a 'cheap' anything by choice - from the moment I got a job, as I needed to replace the second hand appliances, I tried to go for more durable items - Bosch, largely. I don't think I need to be able to have a chat with it on my phone or notify a company for them to sell on a database of how often my knickers need washing. It would be nice if a wash could take less than three hours.

The alternative is, as DP suggests, using the launderette around the corner until either there is more money coming in or we he gets bored with washing clothes in the bath or going round the corner with IKEA bags of holey socks and tatty towels for people to pretend they aren't judging. This gives me visions of being inundated with dirty washing until I'm turning pants inside out to get another wear out of them because he hasn't got round to taking them. (yes, I do have control issues around housework).

We were aiming to replace the knackered oven and microwave, along with our mattress this summer, but I think that might have to be put on hold until they go pouff/boiiiinnnngg now. Unless we don't actually need a washing machine?

My executive functioning isn't at its highest efficiency at the moment, thanks to bereavement, so I could do with the advice.

Thanks. This is just what I don't need right now, so the MN common sense will really help.

You have to add the cost of every laundrette trip to the eventual price of the replacement machine IYSWIM, to work out the cost.

What does it cost per load where you are? How much will you resent the intrusion (being there to load/unload) or will you be paying a higher price for a service wash (which you can drop off and pick up rather more conveniently)?

We did this when I had a rather longer than anticipated gap between machine (20 yr old Bosch) going behind repair and getting a new one. It wasn't too bad!

But I think you'll get sick of it, and it's an unnecessary expense on top of replacement costs. Do your sums - what wouid be the cost of a loan to buy the machine you want? How does the interest/admin cost compare to cost of laundrette for what couid be several weeks (montage even)

I would buy one interest free and pay monthly from ao. We’ve done that with all our appliances and it works really well, just make sure the warranty covers the period of repayment and you’ll never end up paying for something you don’t have. (Many machines now have 5 year warranties).

Laundrettes are pissing expensive

We’ve had two indesits from ao.com (had to leave one in a house, it didn’t break), they were very cheap and absolutely fine.

I'm going to go against the flow and say get the Meille washing machine on your credit card. It clearly matters to you. I believe in buying things you love that will last. Work out how long you will need to pay it off. Obviously make sure you you pay off more than just the interest each month.

OP where are you? I have a washing machine in our outhouse that we use for pet bedding etc that you can have. It’s a couple of years old, only a Indesit but if you are desperate you are welcome to it if you are local.

I was in the same position as you a few weeks ago, and bought a Zanussi that had 2 yr warranty for £300

Our launderette charges £5.60 for a wash, so even for 1 wash a week it'd be over £250, for 2 loads a week it would be over £500 a year

As I do a load a day, machine works out much cheaper.

Get one with a 2 or 3yr guarantee

My dad was a wise man. His said his secret to a happy marriage was to always make sure that Mum had a working washing machine. She had to use a launderette for a short time one winter and he always said it was the only dark period on their marriage.
No advice on which machine to buy but do buy a machine 😀

We replaced our Bosch one which had only lasted a couple of years with a pro action one that was recommended by a washing machine repair man. It only cost £100 and is 6 years old now! Several of our friends have them now too.

Get a cheaper one but like pp said with a decent length guarantee - our Samsung one has 5 years parts and labour, all we had to do was register it online within 30 days of purchase. Well worth it as it had to be repaired about 2 years in.

Have a look at Euronics, they sometimes have a clearance and last year they had a whole lot of Miele machines reduced.

They also have a selection of makes and the service is much better than AO. If you use AO be prepared for the extra charges for delivery, fitting and removal on top of the cost of the machine. Then be prepared for it to leak and spray water all over the place because it hasn't been fitted properly. Or to find that you have 'the wrong fittings on the taps' and they can't fit it but can leave it stuck in the middle of the kitchen so you can get someone else to do it. If you get a Beko this may happen with AO.

Just Google the ones that are most likely to catch fire and maybe buy a cheap one.

Some of our neighbours have Miele and I often see the repair vans outside, more often than any others....

Ooops, I don't mean buy one that will catch fire, sorry , I mean avoid those.

We recently bought a Hotpoint washing machine from Carters. We have a local branch, so I went instore, but they have a website as well.cartersdirect.co.uk/ They are very good.

Just get a cheap one from Argos online or one of the other online retailers mentioned. It won't last forever but you'll not have to keep lugging washing around and it will be cheaper long term than the launderette. A few clicks and it'll be with you before the weekend.

laundrette is expensive. 7£ for a large load here + extra for drying.

look at second hand appliances stores, the one near us has a refurbished miele for 200.
or go cheap and cheerful until you can afford a better brand.

I'm sorry for your loss
You sound like you are going through a dreadful time
I would replace the washing machine with a beko , they are great as far as cheaper machines go ( 28 min daily wash ) only 2 of us and the laundrette is a 2 min walk but at £4 a load plus drying it would steadily cost a small fortune plus the time involved of waiting about , just replace it with a beko - don't go and look in curry's just look at details on line either curry's or ao I've found them both very good
your partner can't keep washing in the bath it's going to be hard work and not very efficient plus you will probably use more water in the long run
When you replace your mattress look locally for someone selling catalog returns and ends of line they are a fraction of shop price and still wrapped
I hope you soon find your having a better time

My last machine, a Beko 8kg, was about £150 & lasted 6 years. I wash daily & have gone from 3 to 5 children in that time. The only reason I’ve replaced it is because the handle broke last summer then it started getting progressively more noisy in December time & as we did have funds to replace I thought it was best to before it broke with a full load in it. So to answer you question a cheap one will still last you well.

AO.com do a Beko 8kg machine for £190.

I'm so sorry about your brother lass. Hugs and a handhold

As for the washing machine, a PP (sorry, didn't note user name) has a spare one. Dependent on location I'm happy to help move it. Failing that, it seems there are a number going cheap and they work just fine.

Sorry for your loss OP.

We have a laundrette about 150 metres away. We use it occasionally in winter for drying as it is so quick, and washing and drying duvets, but far too expensive and inconvenient for regular use.

On my current experience with Bosch I would avoid them at all costs. An expensive dishwasher failed just after the warranty expired. An expensive and hard to repair fault (£99 callout fee plus parts!) that commonly occurs just after the warranty expires

My engineer friend (designer, but not household appliances) opinion is that that they use cheap generic parts and hope for the best. You are probably better off buying a cheap machine with less to go wrong.

Incidentally, Bosch customer services is awful. Their response was to tell me that it wasn't a known failure and all Bosch appliances are wonderful. Which doesn't explain why they are selling extended warranties for £100.

We have a Mielie washer drier, bought from a John Lewis outlet for about £800 that is over 10 years old and still going strong. The drier has never been that great, but the washing is fine. No idea what they are like now.

Bosch ha! I’ve had a brand new dishwasher a week and it is yet to work, the engineer thought he had fixed it. Broke down again started making strange noises and flashing lights, I’ve not used it yet.

No surely you are mistaken. Bosch appliances are wonderful and amazing and reliable. I know this, because they told me.

I got a £300 Candy from Argos, it's got every wash you can think of including a 59 minute.

Clothes come out clean every time and I'm very pleased with it.

When our dishwasher packed up I got a new one from a warehouse dealing in factory seconds, returns, and bankrupt stock. I got a fancy pants one for a fraction of the cost as it had a dent in the casing at the back. It's only cosmetic, well away from all the important working bits, and you can't see it because it's under the work top.
Anything like that local to you?

I'm so sorry about your brother.