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Original poster

Long-life Appliances

33 replies

GinJeanie · 28/12/2019 12:28

This isn't the most exciting thread but hey. I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds the concept of planned obsolescence quite depressing in the face of world-wide environmental issues.
It's a mere fluke but we have a washing machine entering it's 18th year. Apparently that's quite elderly. DH has replaced a few parts but it's going strong... what's your most elderly appliance? Ps washing machine is a basic Bosch with no digital display or fancy extras.

OP posts:
Sofast · 28/12/2019 13:00

I find our appliances arent lasting anywhere near what I'd expect them to but the professionals tell me I'm doing well. My husband and I loved in together 7.5 years ago and everything seems to have had a 7 year itch, since we got to the 7year point the dishwasher has gone (was told not to try and fix it and 7 years was good Confused ), so has the dryer and washing machine (told the same about washing machine as dishwasher) and the microwave and toaster to Confused. Weve spent a fortune the last 3 months. I'd expected these things to last way longer and I do look after them. Well done you for 18 years

Sofast · 28/12/2019 13:00

That should say moved in together

ExpletiveFairylighted · 28/12/2019 13:10

We replaced a 25 year old microwave about a year ago, it still worked but the door catch kept sticking. Our current WM is 10 years old, dryer is about 15 and DW about 3, the previous one lasted about 12 years. Kettles never last long though.

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Home improvement
Feelingfestivenow · 28/12/2019 13:23

Tumble dryer, 19 years old (whirlpool)
Dishwasher, 15 years old (zanussi)
Integrated fridge 15 years old (Zanussi)
Larder fridge freezer 16 years old (Bosch)
Washing machine 12 years old (fancy Bosch)

I must be doing pretty well, oh just thought have a Rangemaster cooker thats 15year old as well

Original poster
GinJeanie · 28/12/2019 13:37

Sofast - I totally agree with you, it's really frustrating. Am shocked you were told not to fix dishwasher - would suggest they're designed to be unfixable...?
Expletive - you're the current winner with your microwave! Very impressed Smile.
Feeling - you have very happy appliances too! That's amazing...
We see keeping our washing machine alive a challenge now! Just had a new kitchen but kept the old bugger as it's still going. Hope I've not jinxed it with this smug stealth boasting! Xmas Hmm

OP posts:
TeaAndStrumpets · 28/12/2019 14:06

GinJeanie we have had very good luck with Bosch washing machines . Our current dishwasher is a Zanussi, still going strong after about 15 years, and our microwave is 18 years old.

My DH is always happy to mend things too, anything rather than buy new!

Our previous dishwasher was also extremely old, and when it eventually stopped working we treated ourselves to a new one. We'd certainly had our money's worth. Imagine DH's annoyance when he dismantled the "broken" dishwasher and found a plastic medicine spoon jammed in the pump Grin

BikeRunSki · 28/12/2019 14:11

DM replaced her 25 year old Miele dishwasher last month. She replaced it with a Hotpoint. At 77 she didn’t see the economy in another Miele.

flouncyfanny · 28/12/2019 14:35

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flouncyfanny · 28/12/2019 14:42

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Hoghgyni · 28/12/2019 14:44

My Mum had her Kenwood Chef as a wedding present. They will have been married for 54 years in March.

FruityWidow · 28/12/2019 14:46

My singer sewing machine made in 1974 so 45 yes old. Everything else is probably less than 10 yes old.

northernknickers · 28/12/2019 14:49

My mum has an ancient microwave with a 'table' rather than a 'turntable' (I don't know what else to call it 😂). It's a huge thing that makes a hell of a noise, but works just fine 🤷‍♀️. She got it second hand off a local hotel when they were selling up over 20 years ago, so no idea how old it is. Still going strong!

Ferfecksackmammy · 28/12/2019 15:20

My mum has a electric beater she got as a wedding present 44 years ago. It stopped working once and my dad fixed it with a rubber band. Still going strong 20+ years later

inwood · 28/12/2019 15:23

We've had all of our appliances since moving 14 years ago. No problems with any of them.

slavetolife · 28/12/2019 15:39

Not an appliance as such but my Pfaff sewing machine was made in 1956. I am confident that it would outlive me with the right care (basically, oil it every now and then!), it is an absolute tank of a machine and they just don't make them like it any more. I wonder if there will be a move towards appliances which aren't disposable - I for one would be delighted, nothing annoys me more than being told that something only a couple of years old isn't worth fixing

Original poster
GinJeanie · 28/12/2019 22:48

Slavetolife, that is exactly the conversation my DH and I had in the car this afternoon... surely there is a market for appliances which are less fancy and can be fixed? I'd jump at the chance to buy things which are built to last. I know there's a phone which is designed to be fixable and you can buy all the parts. Think it's called Fair phone or something? Will hunt out the link...

OP posts:
Original poster
GinJeanie · 28/12/2019 22:49

www.fairphone.com/en/

OP posts:
Ginfordinner · 28/12/2019 22:54

We had our first washing machine - a Zanussi for 20 years, and our current one (Bosch) is at least 16 years old. Our dishwasher is at least 16 years old as well.

I get weekly updates from Which, and in this week's update Bosch is listed as the number one brand for dishwasher longevity.

Oh, and our dehumidifier is about 20 years old.

jellycatspyjamas · 28/12/2019 22:59

Our oven, hob and cooker hood are all about 20 years old, my kitchenaid stand mixer is about 21 years old all still going strong.

AlunWynsKnee · 28/12/2019 23:08

My tumble dryer is 25 years old in 2020.

DramaAlpaca · 28/12/2019 23:09

I always try to repair before replacing. I also buy basic models of decent brands with good reliability ratings; basic means fewer bells'n'whistles to go wrong.
I have my DM's Kenwood Chef Mini, which must be almost 60 years old and still works.

The Zanussi fridge freezer in my utility room is 30 years old. It doesn't defrost itself any more, but works fine as a spare. I was really happy to find a replacement glass shelf for it online a couple of years ago.
I reluctantly had to eventually scrap my 18 year old Bosch dishwasher, and replaced it with another Bosch, which I've had around 7 years.
My Siemens washing machine is 15 years old, we've replaced the brushes twice.
The Neff built-in double oven is 18 years old, we've replaced the element twice.

jellycatspyjamas · 28/12/2019 23:21

Our oven, hob and cooker hood are all about 20 years old,

Meant to say they are all Neff, look as good as new and work perfectly.

Gilead · 29/12/2019 00:45

34 year old ds recently took the tumble dryer we bought to dry his nappies to the recycling centre.

SageRosemary · 29/12/2019 01:10

A hairdryer is 36 years old.

Microwave is almost 20 years old, a wedding present, it's the one appliance I'm dying to replace as it doesn't match the kitchen.

Hob, extractor, fridge freezer and dishwasher all just tuned 15 and in good working order, oven the same age really needs replacing.

Trumpton · 29/12/2019 04:21

Miele washing machine is 25 years old , we bought it on advice from the engineer who did 6 call outs in 6 months . We had had it 6 years with a maintenance contract and had had 36 call outs in total . He rang the insurers and suggested they made me an offer to scrap it . They offered a cost of a new Hotpoint so we doubled it and bought the Meile , never regretted it .
Dishwasher is same make and is 11 years old .
Fridge and freezer went in when kitchen was installed so 26years old .
Hand mixer was MILs so couldn’t hazard a guess !

But the washing machine bearing are starting to go and I feel the pain of a new machine Altho I cleared the sump and drain and it sounds bettertb