Washing machine recommendation

[Theraininspainfalls]

My washing machine has died! I have an old Zanussi that has been brilliant. I don't want some new fangled monstrosity that I can't understand or work. I'm looking for a drum at least 8 kg, the option to have a shorter cycle (I had a Bosch that ran for 3 hours on every wash), easy to clean and maintain and reliable. Good for washing delicates. Any recommendations?

---

If you’ve landed here looking for washing machine recommendations, we’ve recently updated our best washing machine page with lots of great options, as tried and tested by Mumsnet users. We hope you find it useful.
MNHQ

I think you have the same as me. It's brilliant .

Miele. Mine will take a 9kg load. It has a 20 minute programme for a smaller load. It's quiet and can be programmed to run when electricity is cheap (we have an Economy 7 tariff). Yes, Miele machines are expensive but it is brilliant 8 years on.

My old Miele lasted 23 years and three house moves. I felt a bit sentimental when it finally went.

Reminiscing about all those evenings spent together going through Mixed Cotton cycles or the crazy times on 1200 rpm spins and how can I ever forget the Delicates cycle.

No I've never had to update anything on my Samsung washing machine. I've just had to replace my tumble dryer and bought a Samsung one as I like my washing machine so much.

Hope you like your machine too @Theraininspainfalls

We have hard water (London) not had any issues with clean performance here. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@tobee
We use washable nappies and I find I have to add maximum rinses on and use multiple wash cycles to make them clean. Vs my old machine where they just went through a rinse and a normal wash with no problems.
To be fair nappies are probably the dirtiest thing possible to wash so it probably puts machines to the test as much as possible.

But I also find generally toddler clothes from nursery don't come out clean and need to go through again.

The key is probably adding more rinses to make it less "eco" / water efficient as you sometimes need more water to get things properly clean. I would rather it just worked properly without having to mess around with functions though. All the beeping and tunes are very annoying too.

But apparently everyone else seems to love it so it's just me 😅

Hated Bosch, went through two in five years. Absolutely rubbish.
I splashed out on a Miele and have never looked back. It’s worth the money

Bought aeg, after personal experience of Bosch family wise, no disappointments, ok, I paid just over £500 with steam functions yet to use
Far the best machine I’ve ever bought

Oh god I’ve just bought a Bosch last week. I like it so far though and it has a quick wash option. It also came with a 5 year warranty.

Oh dear. Anyone else find this?

Which model please?

I’ve got a Samsung, it’s 11kg, so great for doing big loads. Everything I’ve put in comes out really clean, but you have the option to increase washes. When I do bedding and towels I increase washes from 2 to 3. You can also up the water temperature, but I wash at 40 and that seems to be fine. I do most washing on a mixed load setting, which takes just over an hour. Wish I had got one sooner, instead of washing every day, I now wash every other day.

I have had Bosch, LG and Samsung and have problems with all of them.

I have had a Haier for the last year and it's been brilliant, 10kg wash load, app to choose from tons of settings, washes really well, quiet, looks good

We have a Miele...I have 4 children, a very hairy retriever, and the machine is on constantly.

Expensive but worth every penny....their planned obsolescence is double that of most manufacturers (according to the engineer who replaced the brushes after 5 years).

Ours is around the same age, maybe older and its on its way out :(

I went in store and was looking, they had two Mieles, the one with the dosing system and a normal and was leaning towards the normal. However the salesman told me that the warranty was no longer 10 years and they were no longer the quality they once were :(

I dont mind paying the money they command if they are as good as the one I have, but if the quality has gone??

He recommended AEG, although Ive not really looked

I think all the manufacturers have decreased their quality, so it's possible Miele have as well.
This is why when people say "I've had my x machine for 20 years & it's great" it's not really relevant.
I've had two great Bosch machines stretching back 25 years + but it sounds as though they aren't any good now. Have you checked Which?
My Miele is about 8 years old & has been trouble free but if they really have decreased the quality I'd think twice about getting another one.

There seem to be multiple models of the ecobubble and I'm totally confused. Some reviews say they tear clothes, and the door seal goes. Arghh! I was set on an AEG and then read that they break down a lot...

Does anyone know what the Which choice was for last year? I am reluctant to pay £9 to find out

The cheapest Best buy with a score of 76% is the Zanussi ZWF942E3PW
Top scoring best buy is Miele WED164 (also best eco buy) 84%
Best for large families is Samsung
WW11BBA046AW/EU 81%
There are lots of others with very similar scores though.

Theraininspainfalls
LFR71844B, 5 year warranty, appliances online £449, currently.
i’m happy, averaging 3 loads a week, if it breaks down in the 5 years, parts and labour included

Thanks so much

I think that’s the link to an AEG

We have a Miele and it's 18 years old and refuses to die.

It's great but by god we need a new one - this is manky! I can't bring myself to buy a new one while this one lives!

I don’t think Miele are the same quality anymore though sadly.

My old Miele lasted over 20 years, and I've got another now - almost two years old. I didn't think I'd use the Twindos because I prefer powder, but I used the free ones that came with it and was converted. I've bought the empty containers (rip off - they should have been included) and fill with bio and non-bio. My most used programmes are the eco programmes for coloured and whites. I use the dispenser tray and some supermarket style Woolite for woolens.

I didn't think I'd use the app either, but I do.