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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Or should a washing machine last more than 4 years?

47 replies

QueenRefusenik · 05/09/2018 09:33

Don't know if I'm just old-fashioned or what, but shouldn't a decent washing machine - not top of the range but not bottom either, LG - last more than four years? DP reckons we bought it in 2014 and now apparently the bearings are gone and it's not worth repairing. Out of warranty, obviously. Admittedly we've used it pretty much every day and sometimes 2x a day since DS came along nearly 3 yrs ago but still...!

Also, any recommendations for something that might last a bit longer next time?!

OP posts:

bert3400 · 05/09/2018 10:54

We got a bog standard Hotpoint 9 years ago when we moved into our new home , I've 4 kids and used it constantly twice a day in a hard water area, never had an issue with it ...4 years does seem a very short life

MsHopey · 05/09/2018 10:58

My washing machine is still going at 5 years old.
We've had 4 tumble dryers in that time though

wink1970 · 05/09/2018 10:59

Reading this with interest, as we seem to go through them every 2 or 3 years, from Bosch to Hotpoint and others. There's only 2 of us, too!

Miele look to be about £800-1200, are they really worth it? I know their vacs are good.

llangennith · 05/09/2018 11:01

My LG is used at least once a day and has given 12 years good service. I'd buy similar again.

OneAndDoneForNow · 05/09/2018 11:03

We have an indesit washing machine which is 14 years old and used several times a day with cloth nappies and builders work clothes plus normal laundry. Working fine.

loubluee · 05/09/2018 11:08

Like others have said it boils down to how often they are used. Mine can be used up to 4 times a day. Say average two washes per day, that’s 728 washes per year. Compare that to someone who used its twice a week, that’s 104 washes per year. Huge difference!!

Cindersdonegood · 05/09/2018 11:16

Can I just add to this thread that if your machine goes kaput and can't justify the extortionate cost to repair rather than sodding it and buying new, don't use the company's own engineers (Beko/Hotpoint/Hoover repair and service engineers for example).
Pop into a small independent washing machine repair shop. There's always one tucked away in a little side street in town somewhere. They are so, so much cheaper. Have a google! They all have to order the specific official brand parts from the manufacturers but aren't charging £75 an hour too!
I do try to repair rather than bin and buy new. I have bought new washers but only after they are fully dead. Many can last years longer with a cheap repair.

bluetongue · 05/09/2018 11:28

Mine is over 16 years old! No kids though so it’s had a fairly easy life. Apart from the horse rugs it had to deal with for a few years.

Katiepoes · 05/09/2018 11:36

I have a Whirlpool bought in 2002, used daily for the past ten years and 2-3 times a week before that and still going well. It has been serviced twice and the pump replaced once, we are planning to replace it finally in January. Four years is absurd.

MaisyMary77 · 05/09/2018 11:39

Wink1970 - Miele are definitely worth it. Ours is going on ten years old-we’ve had an engineer out once when it was clogged with lime scale. Apparently washing machines don’t live longer with Calgon! He advised us to use soda crystals instead...
Previously we had a Dyson washing machine which lasted 8 years but was always malfunctioning. Then a beko which didn’t quite get to 2 years.
The Miele one is super quiet, has a fab quick wash and can take heavy use no probs-I run it about twice a day on average.

ToadOfSadness · 05/09/2018 11:48

Our Bosch lasted less than 4 years, it wasn't a cheap one.

Previous one was an Indesit which was a cheap one, bought when we rented the house out prior to moving in, that lasted about the same time. Wasn't surprised about that one, but was annoyed about the Bosch.

It also seems impossible to buy a basic machine any more, they all weight the laundry, measure the detergent, refuse to let you use enough water to rinse properly, and want to play stupid music at you. Try to find one that just washes and rinses properly and you may as well give up.

wink1970 · 05/09/2018 12:27

@MaisyMary77 thanks, I shall drag DH out to look at some....

MrsSnootyPants2018 · 05/09/2018 12:30

It depends on a few things. If you live in a hard water area then that will reduce life but also how much you use it.

Someone with the same machine as you in a soft water area and fewer people in the house will find theirs lasts a lot longer.

wonkylegs · 05/09/2018 12:35

My Bosch is over 10yo - bought it before DS1 was born
We live in a soft water area and it's not too fancy a machine which helps but it gets fairly heavy use with 2 kids & DHs work scrubs

I have a Miele dishwasher which is still going strong after 11 years

I would happily recommend either make.

fussychica · 05/09/2018 12:39

Keeping fingers crossed here. My AEG is 11 years old and came home from living in Spain with me, it's a fab machine, dreading it going.
Just had one major electrical appliance, an integrated microwave and two small electrical appliances break down after 4 years light use. All were reasonable brands and still obviously rubbish! July was an expensive month.

Spanglybangles · 05/09/2018 13:06

Ours is a Panasonic and we’ve had it about 4 years so far and still going strong. Our previous machine was a cheap indesit and it lasted 10 years before it gave up which I thought was impressive as was used a lot with having kids in the house. Would love to invest in Miele appliances though.....maybe one day.

Original poster

QueenRefusenik · 05/09/2018 13:12

It was our local repair guy who suggested replacing - since he didn't even charge for the advice and hasn't been at all pushy about getting a replacement sorted I'm inclined to believe him, sadly! Shame as I actually really liked that machine and LG generally get a good press. Perhaps we were just unlucky. Bosch and Miele coming out as good picks for a replacement, I'll do some Googling and see if my credit card can take the strain!

OP posts:

BubblesBubblesBubbles · 05/09/2018 13:22

I HATE my Samsung ecobubble!!!

£800 of worthless shit!

It’s been fixed 6 times in 2 years! Honestly it’s crap!

Best washing machine I’ve had was one from the John Lewis outlet (John Lewis own brand) was £250 and lasted me 8 years! Being used 4/5 time a day!

My mum has. Miele and it’s great it’s at least 12 years old and still going strong that will be my next one.

bigbluebus · 05/09/2018 13:22

I had a Bosch as my last machine. It had a 5 year warranty - during that time the bearings were replaced twice and on one of those occasions they replaces the drum as well! The engineer said that next time it breaks the warranty would be up and the cost of the repairs would be uneconomic - it went to the tip when the bearings went for a 3rd time at the age of just over 5 years.

I am currently using a Siemens machine also purchased with a 5 year warranty. We also live in a hard water area - although I don't think the fault on the Bosch was caused by that (unlike my previous Hotpoint machine - which also went to the tip as soon as it broke after the 5 year warranty ended - having been virtually rebuilt during those 5 years}

My advice to you OP is buy what you like but make sure it has at least a 5 year warranty - I think only expensive Miele ones come with a 10 year warranty. And yes replacing bearings is expensive - the last engineer told me the price of the parts even though I wasn't paying the bill.

bigbluebus · 05/09/2018 13:24

bubbles I enquired about the Samsung when looking for my last machine. The chap at my local independent Euronics dealership told me to avoid, avoid, avoid.

Tomatoesrock · 05/09/2018 14:05

I had one along time ago and a local guy repaired the bearings, can you get a 2nd opinion.

Tomatoesrock · 05/09/2018 14:07

Oh do avoid the Samsung. My DP worked in electrical retail. I have a Zanussi XXL. You can pause it the door will open if you miss a sock or something as long as it is not a boil. It has a 9kg drum too, so you can fit lots in. I highly recommend it.

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