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?

@Laundryhelp45678 I am no engineer but before you said the issue was the drum I even knew that. (So they knew)

Tbh it’s unreal you have lived like this . I also second reading the manual . I’d go down the legal route as you have a trail that you complained about the issue at the start .
Go on Martin moneyman site for advice on how to word it. Start with the ombudsman though.

In the mean time if you can’t with the machine you bed to learn and or replace the machine as yes the drum is goosed .
Not sure rid the other issues are you or not .
Why not get and independent engineer to look .
Dis the last one not show you how the machine worked ?

Your washing machine sounds like a right wimp! 😂

Bosch is a quality brand, but the posts here are so unhelpful.

@Laundryhelp45678 firstly - you are not stupid, and the posters telling you off are being ridiculous.

For the button, it sounds odd but if it’s a touch-sensor perhaps your fingers are too dry. Try licking them lightly and see if it works better.

For the soapy wet laundry, this will presumably come with the spin cycle? Do you get an error code? The most likely explanation is an unbalanced machine, which can be a problem with towels unless it’s a good sized load.

Buy a new washing machine! I have a HiSense and not had any problems with it for years.

Sorry OP, this situation is lunacy. Just write the current machine off and buy a new one.
For what it’s worth, I have a Bosch washing machine and cannot fault its wash performance. The spin, however! Sometimes my clothes come out perfect and at others, sodden. Even when I do an extra spin.
There’s no rhyme or reason (it can be full, half full or even just a few garments) but it is currently behaving itself after not using it for a week as we were on holiday 🤷‍♀️

This is crazy. You know it is broken, you can't work it, but rather than buy a cheap new washing machine, you've been handwashing??

I have a cheap Logik machine. What you would describe as 'entry level'. When you only have entry level requirements (such as not having clothes ripped to shreds) your needs will be met perfectly.

Cheaper machines have less electronics and confusing programmes, but they still wash the clothes.

Yes I keep opening and closing the door which does help. So you just say a finger on there rather than applying any pressure?

Bosch are certainly not an entry level washing machine………I had one for years and it worked perfectly……..probably because I read the operating instructions!

Yes I thought they weren’t earthier wihich is why we bought one but then the customer service has been very poor!

OP, please consider switching to laundry detergent sheets, and ditching the tabs and softener. They are so much better for ensuring towels and clothes aren’t soapy at the end of a wash and so much better for your machine and the environment.

But also, you need a new machine!

I’ve never had a problem with my Bosch, I can’t believe it’s taken you years to sort this out, presuming you’ve looked at lots of YouTube videos et cetera. anyway, get rid of it, move on.

Maybe that’s a good trick, go on holiday and leave it for a week. Sounds like a good idea to me!

Genuinely cannot believe this! You’re 38 fgs, yet acting like a young child!

If the button is a sensor - then as a pp said, you DON’T press it, you literally just place your finger over it, wait a couple of seconds and it works.

How did you pay for the machine? If it was with a credit card, then contact them as they give you protection.

Contact Bosch again, step up, be firm, they diagnosed this problem WITHIN the guarantee period, therefore you’re covered and they have to fix/replace.

You can definitely get clothes clean in the sink, it just take a lot of effort to do it properly. However as far has OP goes, I find YouTube can be a lot clearer than the instructions, wonder if she has tried this? (Haven’t read whole thread).

Why would buy a complicated machine if you don’t know how to use it? We searched ages for one without a sensor because simple dials are sufficient. And I don’t bother with the soap dispenser or fabric conditioner - put it all in the drum - washing, powder and put it on either 40/60 with a high spin. Job’s a good ‘un.

None of this make sense.

If your clothes come out soapy it's probably because you're using too much detergent.

If I've even seen suds still there it's because I've used too much. So I just do another rinse and spin.

Have you never thought of that?

I've not read all your posts but have you not called someone out from Bosch to look at it?

We have Miele and on the rare occasion something went wrong they sent someone to look at it.

Can’t believe you’ve put with this for years… Absolutely crazy! Just replace the damn thing.

Buy a new washing machine! Your post makes no sense. If my kettle breaks it doesn't suddenly mean I don't have the ability to make tea I just don't have the tool.

This doesn't make sense. Either the machine is faulty, in which case Bosch should repair or replace it, or it is indeed user error. If they've said it was user error, did the technician show you how to use it?

There's nothing wrong with a basic washing machine like a Beko or Indesit that just does the job. Maybe try to get one that has simple dials and buttons rather than one with an electrical panel.

It really doesn't matter how cheap a washing machine is. It should still wash clothes easily and not make holes in clothes. Washing clothes is what they are for. Would you accept that a car cannot take you from A to B because is a cheaper brand?

I cannot understand how the towels end up with holes after a wash? As another person has said, are there shards in the drum?

It is painful to think you have been washing clothes in the sink for 2 years! Obviously, I don't know what your financial situation is, but washing machines are not that expensive and something so basic that everyone needs to have. I'd rather eat toast and pasta and do nothing for a month or two than washing clothes in the sink!

Yes, you tap the sensor button - like using your smart phone to send a message.- for about 2 seconds.

Nothing to do with the size of your fingers.

I can't believe your towels have holes unless they are old and knackered in the first place.

In fact I find it hard to understand how 2 adults can't manage to work a washing machine. Is this really true or an exaggeration?

How do you wash sheets and duvet covers? Surely not in the bath?!

This looks very easy to use and has very good reviews:

https://ao.com/product/mtwc81495wuk-indesit-washing-machine-white-101358-1.aspx#reviews-content-current

I had a bosch bad machine; it washed away fabric conditioner in the first few minutes and then didn't rinse at the end; clothes were coming out dirty and smelly. Engineers wouldn't run a full cycle therefore kept declaring they didn't know the cause. Suggested I might be overloading an 11kg drum, they even weighed a bucket of laundry (with bucket!) and just said "oh" when my version of a full load was 4kg.

Manufacturer warranty is 2 years, BUT under Consumer Rights Act, you are covered for 6 years and have a claim against the retailer because you can prove you battled the manufacturer since the start. Go back to whoever you bought the machine from and demand a refund given you've had the run-around from the manufacturer; if they dither then involve your bank under mastercard / visa coverage. John Lewis made Bosch send a 4th or 5th engineer and then confirmed to me they would claim back from Bosch. Bosch got threatening that they were sending it to Germany for more testing and would bill me for engineers if they didn't find faults in my next machine (delightful!, as if I would want more of their shoddy goods).

I bought Samsung Series 5 instead and it works like a dream. Absolute delight to have, love the quick cycle as well as basic cotton / colours selections and a hygiene steam for all the cloths. no idea if their customer service is any good because I don't need them. (You should swap to liquid instead of tablets though, it's cleaner as you can vary amounts and don't get the plastic scum.)

The washing machine is shite. I'd write it off and get a new one.
Get a cheaper one which is easier to use. I've got one with old fashioned knobs to choose the programme and one button to start. I deliberately chose one like this because I don't like all these fancy machines that are complicated to use.

I know it's a pain when you bought the washing machine new and Bosch isn't a cheap brand but the amount of hassle it's causing and time it's wasting must be worth the cost of a new machine.

Really? I can't understand how it's putting holes in towels.

The excess soap is possibly the wrong type or too much each time.
Many machines now need only a tiny amount of laundry liquid.