To expect washing machines to last longer?

[damekindness]

I seem to go through washing machines every three years or so - granted it's used at least once a day every day. I've tried mid price and pricier options but they die at roughly the same rate. How long is a reasonable life to expect from my washing machine ?

Can you afford to spend a bit more? I’d avoid the really cheap ones, of course they aren’t going to last

We bought a cheap Beko 9 years ago, live in a hard water area, use it probably on average once a day. I think we had to get it looked at a few years ago but (touch wood) it still goes fine.

We've had our current one for over 8 years. Up into earlier this year it was daily washes. Now it's usually every other day.

What are you doing wrong if your machines only last 3 years ? My last machine was moved between 7 different houses here and in Europe over a period of 12 , it was used at least twice a day.
Best advice i ever had from a washing machine repair man was never to use liquids in the machine as its to gloopy and clogs up the pipes and only use half the amount of powder the manufacturer tells you too. I always use a dose of Napisan in every load too

Our Miele is older than my eldest and still goi strong (10 years plus). We’ve only had a call out for it once and that’s because I didn’t know what I was doing 😂😂 it wasn’t broken.

I’ll definitely get another one.

i thought powder was frowned upon

We're on year 6 with this machine. It is on most days, but was on more when DD2 was still at home. The machine prior to that was still okay, but as we were getting a new kitchen fitted, we got a new machine and that machine must have been 6 years old at least. The one prior to that was over 20 years old. It was missing a button, but still worked away. I would be complaining long and loudly if a washing machine only last 3 years!

Our AEG has lasted 10 years so far with average use definitely more than once a day. And it's moved three times! Also got an AEG dryer that has lasted about 13 years so far and been repaired once - the moisture sensor broke but that was it. What are AEG now, are they Bosch? They discontinued the AEG brand didn't they?

I have Miele now, best thing I've ever brought. So quiet
Wouldn't buy anything else now.
Best investment.
The dryer drys so quickly too.

I’ve had 3 in 35 years, the hotpoint and Siemens lasted about 14 years each, and the current Siemens is about 6 years old. No sign of wearing out, nothing has ever gone wrong with it. I’d say they’ve all had normal family usage, and I even wash duvets in the current one.
But I don’t overload, always use powder, do that maintenance wash thing I read about on here, and we live in a soft water area.
I don’t expect to be buying another anytime soon.

13 year old Miele here. Had its first repair ever this year
(Which cost £150 parts & labour). Miele repair engineer reckons it should easily last another 7 years.

he showed me the limescale that had built up in there so I shall be using the soda crystal tip mentioned on here, thanks!

I thought powder was frowned upon

No. It is better than liquid.

i always buy the cheapest, be it hoover, hotpoint or indesit, and i think 3 years is the length they last

EleanorReally why not buy a better machine and it will last longer? If you can't afford the outlay you could probably get interest free credit. Are you familiar with the expression "buy cheap, buy twice"?

It can't be very environmentally friendly to keep buying a new washing machine every three years.

When I moved into this house I had a Zanussi that was third hand and going strong.

When that packed up I got a Hotpoint. We went through one every eighteen months/two years and, because I had five children and the thing was on every day, I was told that was 'fair use'.

Nowadays they make them so complicated, touchscreens and timers and electronic displays, that there is so much more to break, even if the machine is fixable you still have to pay a man to come out and fiddle with light up bits.

Does anywhere still make the old kind, with the basically clockwork timer that you filled from the hot tank?

My Bosch washer is still in good working order at 9 years old, I'm looking at getting a new one in the near future because mine is only a 5kg load & 1200rpm spin speed. I'm looking at 8kg minimum load & 1600rpm spin speed, looking at Bosch, Samsung, AEG or LG, I know that technology has moved on in 9 years & want something more up to date.

My ex husband is still using the Tricity Bendix washer I bought 15 years ago, it has had new bearings but that is all. Whatever you get, look at what warranty is offered by the manufacturer, many now have a 5 year warranty.

Im about to get my third Bosch in 2 1/2 years. Have had to argue with their customer service that this one should be free too. First one, bearings went in 10 months, second one same thing in just over 18 months.

I look after the machine, don't overload it, and use it around 5 times a week. Will never actually pay for a Bosch washing machine again.

I’ve also got a Miele. Came with 10 year guarantee. Now 13 years old and, touch wood, never had anything wrong with it and I do a load a day!

My Hotpoint died recently - with the code it kept flashing and a google search I realised it was the heating element that had died.

For £17 I bought a new part off Ebay and googled how to fix it. I'm a complete novice who just about knows one end of a screwdriver from the other but 3 hours (alright so it took a while) later it was up and running again.

Used to have a B&B (plus 6 permanent aka family members) = several washes daily.

Bosch machine lasted over 10 years. Three years is very poor.

I’ve got a Miele.
That’s all I’m saying.

notanurse2017 I have a feeling that the newer Bosch machines aren't as good as the older ones.

@Ginfordinner you are right, Bosch is nothing like it used to be.

We had one for a good while, took it with us when we moved but didn't need it as there was already a Bosch there which was pretty old and developed a leak.

Moved again and the Indesit died, about 3/4 years old so installed the old Bosch which then died too after about 6 months and apparently wasn't viable to repair (engineer didn't want to bother) so with what had been paid out already to service it and the time wasted by the engineer (don't use Pimlico for domestic repairs, they spend hours going out for parts and charge a lot) we had already spent enough for a new machine.

Bought another Bosch, 3 years on it started banging and rattling so replaced it with a Samsung which was really bad, wouldn't stay in the room, bounced up and down, shook the house, had it re-checked and it just shot out of the space into the middle of the room, so back it went and the only one available with a large drum was another Bosch which has been squeaking ominously since it arrived, it does stay in place though.

I had checked Which and found that the reviews were all for older machines, except ones I didn't want, but this one apparently used more water for rinsing which I wanted as not one machine seems to rinse detergent out. I also wanted the allergy setting which reduces choice a lot.

My Current one was purchased when my 11yo was a baby - it's a middle range Bosch one, and is used heavily, tumble dryer is 14yrs old and is just about on its last legs so I've got my eye out for a good new one when it does.
If you are in a hardwater area then that's what's killing your machines, if you don't descale regularly they will just get gunked up,
It's much cheaper to get into the habit of doing it regularly than replacing the machine.
I know it's hard to remember these kind of intermittent chores so I put them on my phone calendar with a reminder so they bing at me through the year otherwise I'd never remember

Hello! Well so many different brands lull you into a sense of choice but under the hood so to speak are all practically identical, indesit Hotpoint whirlpool, hoover candy etc. zanussi used to be completely independent but they are now co-owned too and the newer ones aren't supposed to be very good compared. I have a 7-year old zanussi which I think is the last of the better ones. The small independent store I buy my white goods from now say that they wouldn't themselves buy Miele anymore as there has been a definite decline, and they don't recommend, older ones will certainly be absolutely fantastic my sister's is going on 18 years!!! They do however recommend the Siemens machines, and the owner of the store has one, and he knows his white goods, the store is forth generation! Let us know how you get on and good luck and sorry for rambling! :)

Oh ps, an empty wash at 90 degrees has been recommended to clean your machine and it seems to work amazingly!