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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be 38 and unable to do my own washing

373 replies

Laundryhelp45678 · 09/07/2025 06:52

I don’t know if I’m being stupid but I’ve had a Bosch washing machine for a few years now and I literally can’t turn my washing machine on and I certainly can’t wash things well in it, so I’m washing clothes (really badly) in the sink! Laundry is a basic life skill and at my age this is really embarrassing!

I mean it turns on for me eventually but I’m literally there pressing the weird button thing for ages until eventually it works (I average about 7 attempts). I could be stood by the machine feeling like an idiot for ages!

Once I can get the machine to turn on, all my stuff comes out soapy and my towels come out hard as a rock. I mean I don’t need to buy sandpaper because the towels will do that job perfectly well!

My towels come out with holes and rips as well and this happened from the very moment we bought this new machine!

I’ve tried changing detergent and softener and using less but it hasn’t helped.

I can’t do laundry like a normal person, I dread using the machine and not being able to turn it on and worry about it ruining my clothes so I’ve literally been washing my clothes in the sink for the last couple of years (I still wash towels in it thought because I just can’t be bothered to wash them in the sink).

It never used to be like this, I had a Zanussi washing machine and it worked fine, you could load clothes in, press start and they would come out without holes, clean and not full of soap, which was great because we all have far bigger things to worry about than washing right?

I reported these problems to Bosch including showing pictures of the rips in towels in the first year of having the machine, an engineer came out to look, they couldn’t find anything wrong with it. For the last 2 years Bosch have just fobbed us off saying it’s user error (which may very well be the case LOL) and delayed doing anything about the issue despite numerous chases from ourselves. They eventually sent another engineer who said the drum was faulty and causing the holes in towels (didn’t explain why I was having the other issues with it though). But they had fobbed us off and delayed things for so long that the diagnosis from this second engineer was made after the machine went out of warranty (clever tactic from them I guess) so they are no longer obliged to do anything to help us. But even if I get the drum fixed, it’s not going to help if I can’t get the soap out of my clothes and turn the machine on first time.

Is the Bosch brand just more entry level and cheaper quality or something? Is that why the customer service is so bad? Or am I just useless at laundry? Do I just cut my losses and buy a more upmarket brand like AEG or Zanussi?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Wolfpa · 09/07/2025 06:54

Maybe it’s time for a new washing machine.

does anyone else have issues using it?

Jennyathemall · 09/07/2025 06:56

Have you actually tried reading the instructions?

MsJemimaPuddleDuck · 09/07/2025 06:57

Buy a new one?

fridaynightbeers · 09/07/2025 06:58

Presumably your machine came with instructions? If not you should be able to find them online if you search the model number.

Re the soap on your clothes, could you be putting the washing liquid in the wrong part of the drawer where the softener should go? That could explain why it’s not getting rinsed out.

Elisheva · 09/07/2025 06:58

If you can prove the drum was faulty from before the warrantee expired then they should still repair it.
However, this is a ridiculous situation and life is too short to wash clothes in the sink. Go to the launderette or buy a new machine.

Olika · 09/07/2025 06:59

Surely with Zanussi as well you would have chosen different programmes instead of just closing the door and pressing start. Have you actually read the manual or watched YouTube video of how to use your current machine? The way you describe everything makes me think it is user error.

TouchOfSilverShampoo · 09/07/2025 06:59

I can’t believe for years you’ve been washing clothes in the sink (which won’t be getting them clean) instead of sorting out a washing machine.

You need to adult effectively - this is basic stuff. Grow up.

AtomicBlondeRose · 09/07/2025 07:00

There’s no setting on a modern washing machine that could ruin towels so it clearly can’t be user error unless you were putting rocks in it. So at this point I’d just buy a new machine.

AtomicBlondeRose · 09/07/2025 07:01

There’s also no setting that would leave clothes soapy!

REDB99 · 09/07/2025 07:01

Buy a new machine!

Mikart · 09/07/2025 07:02

You're washing things in the sink? Either read the instructions, get a local plumber in to give a diagnosis or just buy a new one.

WhatNoRaisins · 09/07/2025 07:03

Have you tried seeing if you can successfully use someone else's machine as an experiment?

Zanatdy · 09/07/2025 07:04

Clearly something wrong with it. I throw in everything on 40, darks and lights (anything new and dark will wash separately first wash before putting in with lights) and nothing has ever been ruined. Just get a new machine, washing stuff in the sink instead is crazy. Or watch a video on how to operate it properly and stick to one setting.

PinkyFlamingo · 09/07/2025 07:04

Does anyone else have these issues?

Maray1967 · 09/07/2025 07:04

I’m on my third Bosch - I love them. Something is very wrong here. Buy a new machine.

BudgieHammockBananaSmuggler · 09/07/2025 07:04

You are being ridiculous. If you are capable of typing that long post, you are capable of sorting out the washing. You sound a bit like my mother who at times seems to revel in her affected incompetence.

LaudCodec · 09/07/2025 07:05

You either need to get the instruction book and read it (most are available on online) or if it’s a problem with the machine, get a new one.

If you can’t afford a new one, lots of places do interest free credit. If it’s ruining clothes, you could use a local laundrette - we did for a
short period and it was surprisingly cheap.

Jellybean23 · 09/07/2025 07:08

Yes, cut your losses and get a new one. Life’s too short to be dealing with this for so long. BTW, if clothes are soapy, are you putting the detergent in the middle compartment instead of the left hand side?

Laundryhelp45678 · 09/07/2025 07:08

Jennyathemall · 09/07/2025 06:56

Have you actually tried reading the instructions?

Yes lol I’ve also asked the engineer that came and the shop for advice. I’m told the button is a temperature sensor perhaps your hands are cold, the button is a motion sensor hold it for longer, the button needs more surface area on it to work so use two fingers. No one can tell me how the button is actually meant to function. I feel so stupid!

OP posts:
HistoricalOrchard · 09/07/2025 07:10

This is a very bizarre problem. Unless the drum has jagged shards, why would clothes get ripped up? And only towels?
Put this into Google “How to use a Bosch ‘model number’ washing machine”

Laundryhelp45678 · 09/07/2025 07:12

Jellybean23 · 09/07/2025 07:08

Yes, cut your losses and get a new one. Life’s too short to be dealing with this for so long. BTW, if clothes are soapy, are you putting the detergent in the middle compartment instead of the left hand side?

Well I like to use tabs which the Bosch engineer claims are the reason for the soupiness but they worked fine in the Zanussi and I’ve tried different ones and liquid in the drawer as well. I think the soap gets caught in the badly designed door seal and is left there until the end of the wash. I literally see the soap when I open the door up to reclaim my poor abused towels at the end of the wash.

OP posts:
springintoaction321 · 09/07/2025 07:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Lilaclinacre · 09/07/2025 07:12

The time to argue successfully for a new machine/refund has probably now passed. You need to buy a new machine- just a basic simple one would do.

Laundryhelp45678 · 09/07/2025 07:14

Wolfpa · 09/07/2025 06:54

Maybe it’s time for a new washing machine.

does anyone else have issues using it?

Yes husband has the same issues but less so with the button I reckon because he has massive fingers

OP posts:
springintoaction321 · 09/07/2025 07:14

Soz OP - just seen you are real 😬

We have a Bosch washing machine that has worked fine for many years and does not leave soap. Try the Easy Care program which lasts for around 2 hours 29 mins