to be terrorized by my new washing machine?

[cozietoesie]

The old and much loved machine was pretty simple. I would put it on 30 or 40 degrees on the left hand side of the dial (for synthetics) or 30, 40 or 60 on the right hand side for cottons and bedclothes. Job done.

Then it died and I had to get a new one (not easy to afford) which arrived today.

It seems to have 146 and a half programs complete with flashing lights and computer controls. I've read the instructions twice and they still are gobbledegook. All I want to do is make a start on the washing backlog and have some clean clothes and bedding for us - but I can't work out how! I've retreated upstairs with the instructions to read them for a third time.

Have you all got your washing machines under control easily or am I being a total wimp?



PS - I can (just about) understand the elf and safety guidelines on 'explosions' but I note that mine also say 'Do not climb onto the washing machine'. Am I missing some vital experience here?

[cozietoesie]

Beeps are an issue I believe. It arises, I understand, from Bosch being dead bossy and reckoning that machines should not be left live when finished (elf and safety.) Mine is in the basement and I'm on the top floor. It can beep its little heart out and I won't care.

[Murtette]

We have a new washing machine which beeps. We also have a new baby. I keep waking up thinking I've heard the baby but actually its the beeps which have woken me. So, I lie there, trying to ignore them & go off to sleep but always concede defeat and stumble through the house in the dark to turn the washing machine off, go back to bed &, just as I fall asleep, the baby wakes for a feed. I do think there is a way for me to turn the beeps off, I just haven't learned how.

However, I have found it (a Bosch) quite instinctive to use & have used at least 6 programmes (normal 30, normal 40, fast 30, fast 40, boil (exploding nappies & vomit), wool (for the cashmere babygros we were given - why?!!!!) and need to find out how I machine wash cashmere babygros covered in sick).

The beeps are summoning me....

[MousyMouse]

cashmere babygros?
soak them in shampoo before washing?

[MousyMouse]

then cold woolcycle with delicate detergent or shampoo.
no spin.
roll washed garments into a towel and ly flat to dry.

[cozietoesie]

Oh my. Cashmere babygros.

[blackeyedsusan]

bosch are brilliant...

I only use 2 programs regularly and 2 rarely, plus rrinse and spin on occasions.

the beeps drive me insane though. seems they are supposed to though. they must have done some research. I can hear those but can't hear my mobile phone ring..

[FlouncingMintyy]

I will never, ever, ever, so help me God, buy an appliance that beeps at me when it is finished. I know I would just end up screaming at it.

[FlouncingMintyy]

I use 3 washes regularly (60, 50 and 40) and one occasionally (woollens).

Seriously ... what else do you (does one) need?

[NotSoNervous]

I've had my one 2 years and still haven't worked out how to put it on a short wash! stupid DP threw the instructions out

[Hassled]

Mine plays a merry little "I'm finished now" tune and then turns itself off - I'd go insane if it started beeping at me.

I have approximately 764 cycle options and use 3 of them - 40C cotton, 60C cotton (yes, I have things other than cotton but my thinking is that the machine has no way of knowing what's inside) and the Quick Wash.

[cozietoesie]

Well I went down to the basement and it wasn't beeping. Either I've got a model that's learned a tad or it just gave up.

[lashingsofbingeinghere]

I've inherited a Hotpoint washer/dryer and it is absolutely inscrutable. Luckily I have a very nice house trained and obedient Miele which I can drive with ease.

The Hotpoint has some kind of "daily" programme menu which is the only one I ever managed to make work for me. Anything else - nope. You can hear it cranking up and water going in on the 40C 60' cycle but then it stops. I only discovered this after thinking I'd put on a wash, going away for an hour, coming back and finding my dirty washing still sitting there. No idea why or what I was doing wrong. Yes I know I should download the manual but it shouldn't be that difficult.

Genuine question - who invents all these "cycles"and programmes? Do they ever actually wash anything themselves in a normal domestic situation? Do they ever have a full load of synthetic delicates that they want to wash the day after tomorrow on the water saving cycle when there's an R in the month? Thought not.

[haggisaggis]

My Bosch beeps when it's finished too...louds, really annoying "BEEEEP" then waits a bit and tries again. Repeats a few times but does stop eventually if I can manage to ignore it. It does have this really annoying feature though of refusing to spin quickly if you don't have the contents evenly balances - so can't put a bath mat in with shirts..oh no, not good enough for Mr Bosch. Can only put a bath mat in with heavy towles or other bath mats - and even then if they're not evenly balanced it refuses to spin. (thought it was a fault until I complained to Bosch but no, it's meant to do that to save the bearings...!)

[Theicingontop]

Ooh Hassled is yours a Samsung too? I figured out how to turn the music off this morning :D

[TheCountessOlenska]

Ha ha - yes the Bosch bleeping does give up eventually!

Oooh that is very interesting haggis - I have noticed the spin thing before, sometimes my washing come out wet. Unevenly balanced washing then!

[jojane]

We just got a new washing machine and I use on setting - mixed fAbrics, it had loads of different settings, speeds, temps etc including a baby clothes setting. I don't bother seperating clothes apart from whites so its all mixed!!
My friend has a microwave that talks to you, tells you exactly what's happening eg door open, door closed etc!! I swear at it "yes I bloody know door is closed I just bloody closed it!!" When I use it, it makes me irrationally anoyed!

[greenhill]

I've got a Bosch Classixx it is very bossy.
The beeps can go on for more than 30 minutes if left

Does anyone know how to remove the detergent drawer from it? it is a little grubby

[EspressoMonkey]

It says do not climb on your new washing machine? I would take it back to the shop then, no point in having a new washing machine if it doesn't do two jobs at the same time.

And FWIW i have a new tumble drier with instructions in German, Danish, Czech and Slovakian. I don't speak any of those languages and it is far too complex to work out without the instruction book so it has been sat unused in my basement for 11 days and counting...

[napkin]

New washing machines seem to be awful compared to the older models. I seem to find they wear clothes out with the low water level they now use and cycles seem to last forever!

[ZebraOwl]

We got a new washing machine a year or two ago. I made sure I could make sense of it (& would be able to use it without breaking myself) when choosing it. Also made sure I could explain it to My Big Bother easily

Our tumble dryer is older than I am. I think it is older than my Bother as I assume it was bought when my parents got married. In August 1979. I fear one of the heating elements in the dryer has now gone though, so I might have to bid it a genuinely sad farewell.

Bon Courage with bending the technology to your will.