Washing machines only lasting 4 years

[DK123]

As part of my job, I often have to replace washing machines in people's houses. Looking back through everything, none of them seem to last more than 4 years. That's with different makes and models, different homes, different people using them. I am sure white goods used to last much longer than this. I don't remember my parents ever having to replace any of the white goods when I was growing up!

Now my own washing machine needs replacing and I'm quite annoyed and worried about the long term cost of having to keep replacing them.

Has anyone else noticed the same? Does anyone have any recommendations for brands which do seem to last? I'd be very grateful!

Miele for us...8 years...4 moves and mainly in London (a year in France), 2 young kids and not any problems at all...hope this doesn't change that

Washing machines are cheaper than they used to be. I never spend more than 300 quid. This one is going strong at 5 years.previous one we got 6 years out of, with 3 kids.
Both are Beko.

Ours is 28 years old. Used 3x a day for our large family. Never once broken or had a problem. It was our first washing machine, as newly weds in our first house and was the cheapest one on the market. An 'electra' washing machine basic model. Looks pretty knackered compared to the fancy ones in the shops now but I wouldn't swap it for anything. It only takes one hour to do a 30 or 40 degree wash.

We swapped last year to a new one when the old one gave up after 24 years.

Must depend on how frequently you use it?
I am gobsmacked when I see threads on here with people writing about doing a washing machine load every day .
I live in an apartment block with a communal laundry - the washing machines are quite basic, but they've only been replaced once in the 26 years I've lived here.

@aiskabash

I have a Bosch washing machine bought when my daughter was born in 2001! I am willing it to stop working as I quite fancy one with a countdown timer.

I replaced my 13 years old Bush (almost like Bosch haha) with Samsung Eco Bubble. Gosh, I hope my won't break after 4 years. Manufacturer gives 5 years warranty on parts and 10 years on motor, so I think this is how long they expect it to last :|

Anyone else feel bad about all these washing machines ending up in landfill? Mine included.

My last WM - Bosch - lasted 14 years (family use). Current one zanussi is 5 years old and (fingers crossed) running strong.

I definitely think there is something in what you're saying though OP though I really wish there wasn't.

Funny I came across this because my washer broke today. I've spent the evening googling models and came on mn for a break.

We bought the appliances with our flat. The owner had lived here 15 years.

When the dishwasher broke two years ago, the person who came to remove it told us it was 25 years old. I'm looking forward to finding out how old the current washer is. I overloaded the shit out of it towards the end because I knew it was reaching its final days and wanted it to go out with glory.

We have never had a tumble dryer so I'm thinking of getting a washer/dryer. I can't afford a Miele though, so it might have to be a Samsung. Someone upthread wrote they are a bit crap?

@Cassilis

Anyone else feel bad about all these washing machines ending up in landfill? Mine included.

No, because they don't go to landfill, most of them go to metals recycling.

When our dishwasher broke, we put it outside to make space for the new one. The scrap fairies took it in under 3 hours.

Mines a candy. I have no idea how old it actually is because I rent my flat. I've been here 9 years. So its been going for a while.

I bought Bosh when I moved to my new house believing it is a good brand and will last for a while.
After 4 years it stopped spinning,not a big problem as it needed new brushes but I was a bit dissapointed.

I had a Zanussi washer dryer. The first time it went wrong was at 16 years old. It was borderline whether it was worth repairing because of its age and the cost, so I let it go. It owed me nothing and I almost wept as it was lugged up the drive

@tigertubbie - Electrolux, (AEG/ Zanussi and whoever they make for e.g. John Lewis) had a few name checks of old machines on the thread too. They should be cheaper.

My Bosch is over 25yo.

15, not 25. Can't type.

Bosch - took it when my father died in 2008 so it must be 15 years old so far!

They just don't make appliances like they used to anymore. Look at Dyson for example, a new model every year tempts people who have a two yr old model to buy a new one because it has one or two extra features or the motor is a bit more powerful.
What you could do is buy from Currys and buy their added guarantee for 5 years, they promise to repair or replace if appliances stop working within that timeframe.
We did this with our latest hoover, it came with a two year guarantee, we bought the 5 year Currys guarantee for £45 and as my last hoover broke down just after the manufacturers guarentee ran out I'm sure the added one will come in use.

I had a Miele with a 5 year guarantee. It broke beyond reasonable repair at the 5 year 2 month mark. I would never buy one again.

BOSCH washing machine is almost 11 years old and going strong. Miele dryer 5 yrs old and going strong

I had lamona products in the kitchen and fridge/freezer hob and oven all died before they were 6 years old. The dw is also lamona and is still working but has had to be fixed a few times. That's 7/8 years old now

I havea 9kg Beko, used twice daily, more on weekends, It's twelve years old and never given a minutes trouble.

As some others have said. They are not built to last now. Built to make parts hard to replace, if at all. I had a hotpoint machine previously and when it went wrong I took out the contract to get them to fix it. It was a joke. It needed a new drum as the bearings had gone and something else too. They basically rebuilt the whole thing within the same casing. Even the engineer that came with the bits said I don't know why they allowed last engineer to put this through and not just order a new machine, as the drum is so expensive and time to fit. Which lasted the whole of about 5 washes and promptly broke again. The whole original process was so long waiting on parts so this time I had a fit at them and got a new machine. But that also didn't last long. Now have different brand. And the companies have been told about making them so they are not easily repairable as it it an environmental impact of so many getting tipped.

My last Miele lasted for fourteen years, including all the washing for two babies / toddlers in cloth nappies. Replaced it a year or two ago with another Miele. Happy so far. Cheapest model they do both times.

@ItsDinah: isn’t 15 loads a month pretty low, especially for a family?

I live alone and do minimum 4 loads a week (sheets, towels, lights, darks)

But to get to the point: I think it’s both machine quality and care: I have the most basic hotpoint washer dryer, bought June 2011, going strong as doesn’t get overloaded, gets a rinse wash now and again, and r
I am careful to empty pockets/ zip the zips and avoid under wired bras loose in wash... in fact, this is about the 3rd thread I’ve declared my love for this WM on but wear and tear has got to be a factor: big family growing up and we did around 10 loads a week, WM lasted a decade at least

My Samsung eco bubble only lasted 4 years and it broke