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?

m.youtube.com/shorts/LoHgI7YVVe4

Right so it’s how much I cover the button! That might explain why my husband has more luck than I do with the button!

Everyone i know sticks to the same 2 or 3 programmes on their washing machine.
Buy a basic but known make and get the washing done - Beko, Hoover

That is interesting, I do have eczema and quite dry skin, I wonder if that’s the reason it’s so intermittent?

Instructions, Google or it's faulty! Can others work it? X

I have a Beko and it's 15 years old. It's simple to operate and I've never had any problems with it. Amongst the programmes listed, I use the 59 min cycle, which is a 60° wash, the 44 min cycle, which is 40° wash and a 29 min cycle which is a 30° wash. There are several others programmes, but these are the three I use. 59° for whites, 40° for coloureds and 30° wash for coloured polyester t- shirts from Temu.

If there's soap in your clothes then It's likely you're overusing detergent - I use persil liquid.

I don't know what's causing your clothes to be ripped, if it's a faulty drum then Bosch should replace your machine, as you first bought up the problem while it was still under warranty. Have a look on Martin money man's website for advice. If you don't want the hassle then I suggest you cut your losses and buy a new machine with basic functions. 🧦🧥👗👚🩳🩲👕👖

As for the rude comments whatever happened 'to be kind' Hope you find a solution 🙂

If it's with BG, you won't get a free replacement, and probably won't get much toward another either.

If you have had your clothes and linen damaged due to the faulty washer Bosch should pay compensation as well as replace or refund you for the machine. They won’t though. Bosch customer service is terrible. Also, when you stand your ground and don’t give up due to inaction they threaten to sue you if you say you are taking it to the media.
This is why they get away with it. They are very bull headed, my experience was a number of years ago so their policy on customer service works for them as they are still doing it. I have heard so many complaints about Bosch it really is surprising how they are still in business. Not just about their washing machines either.
Bottom line? Cut your losses and buy another. Not Bosch, obviously.

No I would definitely not buy a Bosch again. You can tell how high end a manufacturer is by how they deal with things when things go wrong, in both our cases Bosch have shown they are the cheaper end of the scale despite their price point.

Going on trust pilot I can see they have some pretty awful reviews.

I actually have a tumble drier I hate for similar reasons
I'm a competent person. I've done laundry for over 20 years. Yet I cannot get my tumble drier to work properly at all.

So no solution, but sympathy.

Get a new one!

Thank you yes I feel the same, I’ve been doing laundry since I was in secondary school, but now I feel so incompetent not even being able to turn the machine on!

I haven't read the whole thread so i apologise that I may have replicated the answer.

Washing machines are supposed to last for a reasonable amount of time and be fit for purpose, two years and ripping things is neither. This comes under Sale of Goods Act (I think it was 1988 or 89).

Look up Martin Lewis and warranties, I don't think he's that impressed by them nor the effort that companies expend to wriggle out of their responsibilities.

I think it’s all very hit and miss - I far prefer my Bosch to AEG, Whirlpool.

Beko is the absolute worst though IME for malfunctioning or generally ruining things by being really harsh - and would never ever buy that brand again - but some people on here are loving theirs?!

Miele is probably higher end.

Would probably suggest buying somewhere like John Lewis though for better aftercare.

@Laundryhelp45678 my washing machine tore my clothes up and it was caused by the rubber and metal drum separating as it spun. They fixed mine.

Reject the washer. If you bought it through a retailer call them. Tell them you've discussed it with Bosvh, the engineer has failed to find tge fault and you are left with no option but to reflect the washer. Sadly as its past 12m they can charge you for usage beyond 6m, but take your money and buy something else.

Look on freecycle to see if you can get a washer free from some (good luck with that).

In the meantime, several garages near where I live has washing machines and driers on site - check out such facilities and use them if you can or find a service.

Hope it gets resolved x

two years ago I bought a bosch washing machine. When it did work it minced my Tshirts, and bras, even in a net bag. It was crap. Then the motor failed 3 times (within the first year) and it would not spin towels at all and I had to wring them out and use a seperate spin dryer - a £700 machine - Bosch were useless and it was from John Lewis and they didn't help either so I'm never buying any white goods from them or Bosch. I sold it on Ebay for £200 to some Air B&B folk and bought the cheapest LG washing machine I could find. Its a revelation, simple to use, quiet and no hassle.

”You need to adult” is social media-speak and “adult” is not a verb. Maybe you should grow up!

@concreteschoolyardDo you feel better for that pointless post?

Why not just put the information here for all to see? It may help others in a similar position.

Because it contains named email addresses and I'm sure you wouldn't want your work email address being posted here would you! You are very aggressive aren't you!

How on earth am I aggressive?? 😂😂😂

Couldn't possibly comment

That’s because you know you’re wrong 😉

Ok if you like

Hi everyone just for an update, I have taken a bit of advice on this thread (thank you very much for everyone’s help - it’s very much appreciated) and have written to citizens advice, put a bad review of the machine on their website and gone to trust pilot.

Here it is; https://uk.trustpilot.com/users/686f64032f2478d4fa407836

Bosch responded to me directly due to my trust pilot review to say they understand the issue was reported during the warranty period and was not found with the first engineer visit however their offer remains unchanged, free parts but not free installation.

It wouldn’t take much for them to offer the installation of those parts for free as well in my opinion.

I'm interested in how you used a username on Trust Pilot because I thought they always used your email. That's why I never leave reviews.
Maybe I'm wrong.