Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

How old is you washing machine

76 replies

overgrowntoddler · 03/09/2024 19:09

My is 17 years old and I am utterly sick of it. It just won't die!

I've never bough a new one just because it is old. we a re in a super hard water area I'm astounded it's still standing

It's a Miele.

What do you do with a 17 year old machine that still works?

OP posts:
YeahComeOnThen · 03/09/2024 23:42

overgrowntoddler · 03/09/2024 19:09

My is 17 years old and I am utterly sick of it. It just won't die!

I've never bough a new one just because it is old. we a re in a super hard water area I'm astounded it's still standing

It's a Miele.

What do you do with a 17 year old machine that still works?

Keep it, look after it!

they don't make them like this anymore. Once you replace that one you'll need to keep replacing them & wish you had this one back.

Onemorefortheroad · 03/09/2024 23:44

Almost 6 years and I hate it 🙈

Copperoliverbear · 03/09/2024 23:46

Mine is three years old and AEG but if I had it for 17 years and wanted to buy a new one even though it was still working I would, you've had your moneys worth just buy a new one

OIlive · 03/09/2024 23:53

overgrowntoddler · 03/09/2024 19:57

I'm sick of it because it is really manky!

But can't justify getting rid of something that functions and that is the "problem".

Suppose it a bit of "my diamond shoes are to tight" post - sorry about that. No stealth boast intended.

It's a Miele from an auction - no idea how DH found it.

I understand where you are coming from OP. I like Miele stuff and could buy when I need electrical stuff but washing machines do get manky. I have a 10 year old Bosch and regularly deep clean it but when I look in the tray (which I take out when not in use) I see lots of discolouration and yuckiness and it must be like that all through the pipes/machine. A Miele twice that age is going to be twice as yucky.
So, I'd rather buy one that will last less than a Miele :)

I think washing machines are the worst. Dishwashers not so bad.

mondaytosunday · 03/09/2024 23:56

No dea. I bought this house three years ago and it had been rented out for about four years before that. So it's at least three but most likely six or more. Works fine (washer/dryer, no idea of the brand).

Bjorkdidit · 04/09/2024 04:29

WeAllHaveWings · 03/09/2024 22:52

I keep most things until they break. Including the absolutely shit Shark vacuum. Now that I wish would die,

You have my commiserations. We're about 7 years in with an utterly shit Indesit tumble dryer which, because we hardly use it, will probably outlast us.

Before that we had a basic White Knight one (made in Halifax!) that was much better and still worked after nearly 20 years but the hose had rotted and you had to advance it past a dead spot on the timer.

But due to a house reconfiguration that made the vented type impractical and all the publicity about fires we decided to replace it and here we are.

ForGreyKoala · 04/09/2024 05:15

PamperGoals2024 · 03/09/2024 19:26

Why is it a problem? If it still works.

Exactly! Mine is probably 18 years old, maybe more, and I hope it keeps going for as long as possible. Fisher & Paykel top loader (NZ).

isthismylifenow · 04/09/2024 05:40

My friend has a Speed Queen top loader that belonged to her mother, in her childhood home!

It's got to be close to 40 years old now. These are workhorses of note.

There is nothing complex about it. It only washes with cold water and so if you want hot, you add in hot water with a bucket 😊

Solonga · 04/09/2024 07:37

The more basic they are the easier to keep going, our cheap vented tumble drier will probably last years because they are easy to mend yourself, DH has already replaced the door catch and belt quite cheaply, and gives it's innards a thorough cleaning regularly.

Washing machines are more complicated now so parts are more expensive to mend it so because of this a new one will more likely be bought. Our one we have now is 5 years old, I would probably expect 10 years out of it.

Our fridge has broken now but because it is quite basic hopefully the £20 thermostat I ordered will fix it.

ViciousCurrentBun · 04/09/2024 08:02

Mine is a Bosch and about 10 years old. Before that we had DH washing machine that he bought in about 1993. It moved house twice, it was also a Bosch and he kept it going by repairing its internal mechanism with string to make contacts within the control panel. Can't do that sort of stuff now as all electronics. That machine lasted another year with that internal repair.

CanYouHearThatNoise · 04/09/2024 08:06

Mine is a Candy Smart washer, about 18 months old

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 04/09/2024 08:14

3 days!

We had an almost immortal Bosch for 14 years. Two more Bosches that lasted a less than 5 years. We've gone for LG this time. We looked at Miele but just couldn't justify the upfront cost.

If your old Miele is still going strong, that's amazing. I'm not sure that washing machines are made like they used to be anymore.

Fizbosshoes · 04/09/2024 08:18

We had a miele one and it lasted a similar amount of time, (about 16 years)we replaced it but all the cycles on the new one are longer which I don't like!

I tried the eco cycle a few times and the clothes smelled awful, so sticking with the same 2 or 3 settings

I had soft-water envy when I went on holiday recently! 🤣

1dayatatime · 04/09/2024 08:18

@overgrowntoddler

I got 22 years out of my Miele washing machine which sadly packed up early this year.

So on that basis you might have another 5 years left in yours!!

MigGril · 04/09/2024 08:23

Mine is over 17 years old, it's great. Still works well. Cleans everything, doesn't shrink anything and the only problem I've ever had with it is when I've blocked the drain 🙈. It's a John Lewis own brand.

Op give yours a good clean they do get a bit manky from time to time. I'll run mine on a 90C wash with white vinger in it to give it a good clean out inside. Clean out the seal and the dispenser draw as well.

MigGril · 04/09/2024 08:26

Oh and it maynot be very eco but I still wash everything on 40c, as 30c doesn't remove the smell from teen DS clothes. Even with these modern washing detergents.

YeahComeOnThen · 04/09/2024 08:30

OddityOddityOdd · 03/09/2024 21:52

I've never had one that's last more than 5-6 yrs, maybe I should buy a Miele next time. My last tumble dryer was about 25 yrs old when I replaced it because I needed a condenser version.

@OddityOddityOdd

even Miele aren't made the way they used to be, no brands are now

YeahComeOnThen · 04/09/2024 08:32

@overgrowntoddler

Have you considered giving it a good clean if it's manky?

you could pay someone to do it if you don't want to do it yourself & replace the door seals.

Fizbosshoes · 04/09/2024 10:02

MigGril · 04/09/2024 08:26

Oh and it maynot be very eco but I still wash everything on 40c, as 30c doesn't remove the smell from teen DS clothes. Even with these modern washing detergents.

I've never even tried washing things at 30°! Blush
And the eco programme on my washing machine usually makes clothes smell worse than they went in!
But I wear jeans, joggers, skirts, hoodies, jumpers etc multiple times before washing (unless obviously dirty)

ShamedBySiri · 04/09/2024 10:27

We have a Miele. It's about 20 years old and has given faithful service all this time without a problem. I love it. But there are signs it needs replacing. Also I'm thinking of getting one with a bigger capacity (just when we have no children at home 🙄) as I'd like to be able to wash my duvet at home rather than take a trip to the laundromat which I hate. But I don't understand the bigger weight capacity (ours is 5kg and I'm looking at 9 or 10 kg) as the drum isn't obviously bigger, maybe a bit, but I'd still have to cram the duvet in. 🤔🤷‍♀️

Also a bit shocked at the price of Mieles now, thinking about Siemens or AEG ? They are well respected brands aren't they? And that bit cheaper than Miele.

ShamedBySiri · 04/09/2024 10:38

The more basic they are the easier to keep going, our cheap vented tumble drier will probably last years because they are easy to mend yourself, DH has already replaced the door catch and belt quite cheaply, and gives it's innards a thorough cleaning regularly.

Our cheap vented dryer is a similar age to the Miele and going strong. But if I get a new washing machine with a bigger capacity then I'm thinking I will need a new dryer with a bigger capacity too. Also I've been looking around and it seems a lot of dryers are now heat pump (green) and vented dryers are in their way out so I'm quite keen to get a new one while they are still available. I'm sure they will be phased out. The assistant explained that for heat pumps to work they need to be in a warmest room, anyway above 5°c so not in a garage or cold utility room like ours is. I also read that if you open the door mid cycle it sets it back another 30 minutes or more to get back to whatever temperature it was or something. And it seems to be very slow. I definitely won't have one, I'd just use my cold out heated rack if I had to.

PollywithaP · 04/09/2024 11:11

I had a hotpoint that lasted 14 years left it in my upstairs flat for new owner when we moved as it was too heavy to bring downstairs. Then went through 3x newer hotpoints in 4 years so saved up and got a Miele from the outlet in Abingdon. Had it 5 years so far, but OP you have me worried that i’m going to have the same issue as you as we are also in a hard water area 🤣

Solonga · 04/09/2024 11:40

ShamedBySiri · 04/09/2024 10:38

The more basic they are the easier to keep going, our cheap vented tumble drier will probably last years because they are easy to mend yourself, DH has already replaced the door catch and belt quite cheaply, and gives it's innards a thorough cleaning regularly.

Our cheap vented dryer is a similar age to the Miele and going strong. But if I get a new washing machine with a bigger capacity then I'm thinking I will need a new dryer with a bigger capacity too. Also I've been looking around and it seems a lot of dryers are now heat pump (green) and vented dryers are in their way out so I'm quite keen to get a new one while they are still available. I'm sure they will be phased out. The assistant explained that for heat pumps to work they need to be in a warmest room, anyway above 5°c so not in a garage or cold utility room like ours is. I also read that if you open the door mid cycle it sets it back another 30 minutes or more to get back to whatever temperature it was or something. And it seems to be very slow. I definitely won't have one, I'd just use my cold out heated rack if I had to.

Good point about them being phased out so probably is worth looking at a new one, I don't want a heat pump one either because ours is in a cold utility room with no radiator, just an oil filled one I use when its really cold and I had seen they don't work well in cold areas and use more energy.

theteddybear · 04/09/2024 12:13

About 18 months old. The previous one broke and we had that only 6 years. I've had some engineers out for that and dishwasher over the years and last time they told me the average machine only has about 5years life expectancy!

Our tumble dryer was 14 yrs old when it finally gave up. New one is digital and more fancy but the old one dried quicker! Don't make them like that any more 😟

thankyouforthedayz · 04/09/2024 20:19

My Siemens washer has just had its 10th Birthday. Siemens dishwasher now 12. I bet I've jinxed them now!