to ask about automatic washing machines

[VeganFromSveden]

As title really… my faithful Hoover auto, purchased well over twenty years ago, has finally died… funeral pending 😪

So I’m not up to date at all on which machine I should buy next.

I expect all the new ones are digital, and technical and scary.

I’m in my very late sixties, but hopefully with an open mind.

Theres only me and my man at home, so no huge demands on the weekly wash.

If anyone could give me advice on what to look for, that’d be so helpful.

I’ve also no idea of what a reasonable cost would be, and which machine is easiest to obtain parts.

I’ve heard good things about Miele, but the cost seems outrageous?
I wouldn’t mind a high cost, it it buys me reliability and longevity.

I like the idea of Bosch, Samsung too.

Look forward to seeing responses, and ask me anything if I’ve not included enough info.
Tia….

Bosch and Siemens are good. I’ve heard good things about LG, too, but they have big doors and wouldn’t have fitted in the space we have.

avoid aeg electrolux zanussi because if anything goes wrong, you have to wait weeks for it to be fixed.

My friend who's a washing machine engineer always says go for a mid range one. He recommends Bosch the most. Most people only use 3 or 4 programmes on the washer so you don't need one with 20 different settings.

Another vote for Samsung - I have the 'add wash' with the little door in the front for that annoying dropped sock 😄. It's coming up to 5 years old and it's worked hard for a family of 4 (it's on every day!) but has never broken down. (Also have the heat pump Samsung tumble dryer - you can plumb the condenser pipe into the mains drain, so don't even have to e pty the reservoir!).

It's Schubert's 'The Trout' (for the pp who mentioned the cheery tune it plays - but it's less fun when both machines stop within a couple of seconds of each other... It's mangled echo Schubert then 😁)

Have a look at Haier machines on Youtube . I love mine!

I had a very basic indesit that is 15 years old that I left behind when we moved recently and the new indesit is very similar so not digital at all. The only difference is that the new eco programmes have to be longer because they have soaking phases to reduce how much electricity they use

My Miele is 20 years old and has been used on average at least once a day. It's withstood two nappy wearing babies, a rugby playing son and 8 years of washing whites at 90C oncea week when we had our own business. It stopped spinning about three, years, ago and we dithered over what to do but in the end we paid for a fixed price repair at about £140 I think and it's still going strong. Don't like the idea of a washing machine being considered a consumable - it's more the hassle of choosing and arranging the fitting and disposal than the cost.

We have a Bosch and no complaints at all. It's brushless so a bit quieter and supposedly more energy efficient.

I have a Hoover which is 5 years old. Just recently had the brushes repaired (£83) which is my fault as I haven't registered the 10 year guarantee on it for parts! I really need to do that. It has rapid washes but if you do a rapid wash and your washing machine is 9kg for example you usually half the total KG for rapid washing (on most washing machines anyway). I like it. Bit noisy on the spin side though but washes well. Can set it up to your phone but I've never done that.

I would definitely stay away from the high tech ones it's just more to go wrong with them .

Siemens sold its household appliances section to Bosch so they are pretty much the same nowadays.

Zanussi simple and brilliant

be warned the newer machines use less water powder and energy do some of there programs can be very long

lots of the fast programs are good for freshing up a small load ( I’m sure someone will be along soon to say all they use is fast wash and it’s fine ) but don’t give a good wash find after a few fast washes towels and gym kits start to smell

The quality of the new machines isn’t as good as your hoover you probably paid more for that 20 years ago than you will for its replacement

my mum bangs on about they don’t last years ago you paid the equivalent of at least a months wages if not two for a washer now there not even a weeks wages the quality is relevant to this

If you had the same machine for a number for years, I expect you had a decent quick wash on yours.

This would be the first thing I would look for now, even over the brand. I just cannot see the point of a 3 hour wash (which is what some machines average 40 wash are).

I had a Samsung ecobubble for about a month. It was a replacement of my Miele which died after 25 years. I could not bear the Samsung, it took too long, the quick wash didn't wash well, and it was just so not what I was used to. I do my washing on certain mornings, just a quick wash so everything is done in a couple of loads in an hour. This was messing so badly with my system as it was taking most of the day to just wash.

I ended up selling it as I found a reduced bottom of the range Miele.

Once again I was happy with my 30 min wash and normal business resumed.

Our LG is 14.this yr still goes well but when it goes it’s a Miele next. Samsu have not got very good reviews, Bosch as long as it’s the German made one is top notch

I've just bought this one www.currys.co.uk/products/bosch-series-4-wan28281gb-8-kg-1400-spin-washing-machine-white-10211612.html after my Indesit died after 13 years. Touch screen but easy to use and is much quieter than my old machine. Early days but I think this is a good one for the price.

This sounds like the same model have just seen off, 2 years after I bought it. Never been as glad to see the back of anything in my life

I'm on my second samsung.

Family of 9 so it gets battered - probably 3 to 5 loads per day. They seem seem to last around 3-5 years, but have a 5 year warranty and fairly prompt service when you need an engineer.

My previous hotpoints / hoovers barely lasted a year with the (ab)use we subjected them to.

My Miele is 10 years old, does holiday cottage bedding & towels as well as our stuff, is simple to use and does a great quiet job.

Get a beko, none last so buy cheap

We have a Bosch and it's crap. It replaced a Hoover and that was crap too. Prior to that we had Zanussi and Candy and they were both great.

My friend has had a zanussi for 35 years. Mind you he is a single man and seems to wear the same jeans and jumper daily, so he's probably only doing one load a fortnight of socks and underwear and a few t shirts.

I don't think any of them (including Miele)!are built to last anymore.

I love my LG Direct Drive, she's 13 this year & (touch wood) not a moments trouble.

I wouldn't touch beko or zanussi.

I haven't look recently but last I looked LG didn't do a Direct Drive that was inbuilt, which the next one will need to be.

@VeganFromSveden the biggest change I've noticed are how long the washing cycles are. The 3+ hour washes are the most economical/environmentally friendly the very quick washes aren't environmentally friendly & cost more. My currently must used cycle is 40° & takes about 1.5hours.

I'll be looking at one where everything is adjustable, not just fixed washes.

Three hundred quid Hoover will do.

All you need to do is pick the temperature, spin and duration (the 59 minute wash is plenty for almost everything) and press start.

i really really really dislike my daughter's two meile's one in london and one in france. her whites never come out white, and not particularly well spun out either.
i'm not in the uk but honestly i'm an LG fan.

I have a Zanussi W/M now , it must be 6 yrs old , never had a problem with it ( not high tech) .

I always used to buy Bosch & had many Bosch washing machines over the years - none lasted more than 5 years (family of four so washing most days). My current machine is LG - bought as it had a free 5 year extended warranty - & I’m really pleased with it (although you need a degree in washing machines to work out some of the programmes). I think most machines except Miele (which are twice as expensive) last 5 years - so buy one with a free extended warranty