To be 38 and unable to do my own washing

[Laundryhelp45678]

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?

If this is a model with a touch screen style buttons on the control panel instead of physical buttons then yes they can be very temperamental & frustrating. We had a dryer like this and it was a pain. We replaced it with a cheaper Beko with physical buttons and it’s been great.

To be honest I was really hoping Bosch would sort it and it looked like it was getting close. When the second engineer came and he was here for ages and diagnosed the drum fault I thought finally they’ll replace the machine but no they claim it’s outside the warranty now.

To be honest I don’t want another Bosch anyway so I think il cut my losses now.

Ours has none of that. ✌️

A washing machine is basically a metal shell with a lump of concrete in it to stop it walking across the floor during the spin cycle. Paying more gets you a 'brand' like buying flash trainers from Nike rather than Matalan. Both pairs of shoes are perfectly capable of covering your feet ,you pay more for 'style' and the huge advertising budget behind the branded ones. Paying more for a machine will get you a more styled one and it will have more programmes. The only programmes I use in my bog standard, non fancy machine, are 60° for towels. 40° for pretty much everything else. 45 minute wash for most things. 20 minute wash for things that need a freshen up and the spin cycle for something I've handwashed. I don't need 25 different cycles for lingerie, eco, blah blah. Get an ordinary machine. AO are very good at delivering a new one, taking the packaging abd taking your old machine ( they charge for this obviously).

I recognise some of these issues with my Bosch. I didn't realise at first that you don't have to press the buttons but instead just lay a finger on them - they don't work if you press them. Also, as another poster said, the door sensor is a bit odd, sometimes I have to keep shutting it until eventually it is happy and let's me press start.

No idea about the rips in towels etc though.

Bosch appliances are usually good, so this seems odd. Are you overfilling the drum? This can cause garments to get caught and tear.

If you hate the machine so much, get a new one - washing clothes in the sink is just sheer desperation. Life's too short to keep fighting a washing machine you detest.

If they " offered you a discount to pay for a replacement " then that is your solution. What are you waiting for? Use the discount to buy a new basic Bosch machine. Problem solved.

Yeah I didn’t think about it when I bought it, I’m definitely going for “real” buttons next time.

I don’t understand why technology designers do this. If a feature doesn’t benefit the end user then it’s just waste.

To be honest I was really hoping Bosch would sort it and it looked like it was getting close.

For years, though? And you washed everything in the sink FOR YEARS, rather than spend £200 on a replacement?

My chief reaction to this post is irritation, tbh. What is wrong with you?

If you've successfully used a washing machine in the past then it's not you is it? Just get a new machine. And get a backbone if this one isn't working and deal with it before the warranty expires.

I guess out of principle I wanted them to sort it for me. These manufacturers hope people give up so they don’t have to sort it.

I’ve given up now though!

they have finally sent a second engineer who diagnosed the faulty drum

So there you go. You have been told the drum is FAULTY. Because it's out of warranty you have not replaced it, knowing it's faulty, and miraculously expect it to fix itself and work perfectly?

You said earlier you thought Bosch was mid range, not cheap brand. Wind up post.

Purposely washing your clothes in the sink because you know you have a faulty machine which is out of warranty and feel the company should replace it is the apex of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Then, despite knowing what the problem is, you start an AIBU thread moaning that you are too teeny tiny or delicate to be able to do the washing? As another poster said, what is wrong with you?

Add an extra rinse cycle? Are you always using a low temperature, economy or rapid cycle? Sometimes these are too low temperature or too little rinse. Or are you putting too heavy or too light a load for the machine to work properly. As said above read the manual and select the right cycle.

If you are washing your clothes in the sink, how on earth are you drying them? They must come out sopping wet.

is this the control panel ?

I've been living independently for 30 years and the only issue I've ever had was when an underwire got stuck in the drum and ripped a full load of washing to shreds. I've had washing machines in rentals, ancient ones in new-to-us homes and bought brand new due to vendors taking their machines with them. I've used a mixture of tabs, liquids and powder over the years, occasionally run a boil wash but that's it.

Life's waaay too short to hand wash everything op. Time to draw a line and get a replacement. There's absolutely no point in paying for an expensive Bosch THAT DOESN'T WORK over a cheapo Beko that does, that's ridiculous.

I have a Bosch washer/dryer it took a while to get used to but is very efficient. I don't use laundry tabs with it but liquid laundry wash, as I found the tabs didn't dissolve well enough and left residue on the clothes. Treat the control panel gently!
Mine washes well I put everything in on a mixed load for an hour and it's always fine.
The rips suggest you may have overloaded it or washed something with an open metal zip, if it's not a regular occurrence each wash.

Mildly off point but I’ve just switched from tabs that would often leave a snail trail of slime across clothes to old fashioned powder and it’s been a revelation. Plus better for machine says every single engineer.

So OP when you do treat yourself to the new machine with nice chonky buttons, do also get a nice big carton of powder!

I have a Bosch that’s been excellent but it’s now about 15yrs old and if you put too much in it the soap doesn’t drain properly and it refuses to spin. It only happens on really heavy loads such as towels or too much bedding though. Mine is all push button, no fancy sensors!

I have a Bosch washing machine and a Bosch dryer. I totally agree about the start button, particularly on the dryer. I expect to press the white line to start but it seems to be a bit lower. It's very hit and miss.

On the washer the motion sensor might be a thing as if I lean on it or get too close while it's running (I have a frequently used cupboard above it) it squeaks and pauses.

Can't explain the damage or "quality" of wash though.

I replaced my Bosch machine of 18 years recently, with a new Bosch. It's a basic one - a dial for the different programs, a buttonto turn it on, which works fine. Haven't had a problem using it, and I've done a few loads now. Nothing ripped, nothing left soapy. Two weeks might be too soon to tell, of course, but it's good so far.

In your position, I think I'd just get a replacement. I went into Curry's to look at a few models. I know what programs I use (I detest hand washing, even silk or wool,) it doesn't need anything fancier, so it was a fairly painless process.

Please print and cut out this comment.

This is your permission slip to buy a new washing machine and ditch the old one.

Life is too short.

If the initial complaint was made within warranty and the second engineer has confirmed that this was the problem - push on with them for a replacement or refund. Check your consumer rights - I would seriously push for this.

Failing that join domestic and general, you pay a monthly fee which isn't much and they will come out and repair as many times as needed.