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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

Buying new washing machine - what features are the best.

58 replies

CalicoCathy · 26/02/2012 14:17

We have decided to replace our ancient washing machine with a new, more energy efficient model that will actually get the stains out of clothes

We only have a limited budget, (ideally below 300 euros)

What features does your machine have that you couldn't live without?

Do you reckon having a bigger capacity is something to go for?

Is a faster spin speed a must? (Current one is useless and clothes come out really wet, so I was saying I want the fastest spin speed possible, but it makes it more expensive).

Are there any brands to avoid, or recommend?

Any little features that your machine has that make your life much easier?

We are a family of 4, with 1 baby in washable nappies. I am SOOO excited at the prospect of a new washing machine , so please help me find a good one.

OP posts:

mousymouseafraidofdogs · 28/02/2012 14:59

fast spin (1400 is good) reducing drying time dramatically
wool cycle/handwash cycle
access to the filter (some mashines don't have this)
aqua stop
timer

Original poster

CalicoCathy · 28/02/2012 16:46

The make of the one we are getting is Blomberg (so please nobody come on and say they are rubbish! ).

OP posts:

RatDesPaquerettes · 28/02/2012 21:33

It looks as if they should now be available in the UK - see article here.

You can let us know how you find it once you have used it for a bit.

clippityclop · 29/02/2012 18:43

Ours sounds similar - bought ours after researching on good Housekeeping LG Inverter Direct Drive 8kg, big enough to wash a single 13.5tog down duvet. It has a hand wash cycle, 1400 spin and a quick wash which I use almost all the time, 48 mins.

sashh · 01/03/2012 08:30

Mine's a hotpoint washer dryer - I like the 'time to end' and the 15 min quick wash.

I like the fact the cycles have propper labels like "7 day bedding and bath", and the dry cycles say things like "copboard dry"

takeonboard · 01/03/2012 08:39

Mine is a Siemens, I haven't had one before and would definitely buy Siemens again.

The best features are, lots of spin speeds, a programme for sports shoes, timer, bell/tune which tells you when its finished, when you set the programme the display tells you when it will finish and continues to give the time remaining throughout the programme.

I love my Siemens!

HappyAsEyeAm · 01/03/2012 17:15

We spent a fortune on ours, but it was money well spent.

If you can find a model in your budget with these features, you should consider:

High rev spin - 1400 if possible as it reduces drying time. We were told that the higher the rev spin, the more creased clothes would be coming out, but I haven't found this:
Short wash cycle - I can do a 1400 spin, 40 degree was cycle in 20 minutes which is great for a small load of less soiled things
Ability to open the door within 2 minutes of most cycles - great if you realise you've dropped socks or pants or whatever between the washing basket and the machine!

jazzandh · 01/03/2012 19:00

I would say a child lock too!! DS2 pushes the buttons and a 1.5hr wash is reset!! Aghhhhh....

Gentleness · 01/03/2012 21:20

Oooh - childlock - good point given my 2.5yr-old's fascination with buttons! It does frustrate me that it is quite hard to really tell about all the different programs people are recommending without having a manual - though as I'm typing I'm wondering if the Bosch website will have a downloadable manual for this model I mentioned. I'm so coveting and so stingy and it's hard when the money is there but it just means we have to save a bit longer before justifying new internal doors. Oh my life is so boring these days. It used to be all about saving up for airfares!

Gentleness · 01/03/2012 21:25

Glad you got yours sorted anyway Cathy! Haven't heard of Blomberg over here at all, but it did strike me - why does everything have to start with B anyway?

I'm far from decided... Bosch? Beko? Wait? Bosch? Beko? Wait?

eatyourveg · 02/03/2012 16:13

My washing machine man has just left. Ball bearings gone in the drum. Its 5 weeks out of its 12 month guarantee!! I do 7+ washes pw and need at least 9kg 1200 spin and am definitely not going to get another whirlpool ever ever ever - plus I don't want to spend more than £300. Is it possible?

Gentleness · 03/03/2012 23:42

Well the Beko one that Which rates highly (the WME7247) is 7kg and 1400 spin and listed at £267 - so coming close except for the capacity.

Why does the extra capacity make a big difference for you? I'm upgrading from 4.5kg - so even 6kg seemed great and now I'm looking at 8kg and wondering if I'm just being silly and don't really need it.

Likewise, do I really need 1600 spin?

eatyourveg · 04/03/2012 10:50

need 9kg to get through all the school uniform, PE kits, bedding and towels. Keeping 3 teenagers clean is no mean feat and thats before factoring in dh and me

Don't need a mega high spin as most things go in the dryer

Ponders · 04/03/2012 11:06

Bosch are offering cashback on some of theirs atm, Gentleness

\link{http://www.appliancesonline.co.uk/product/WAQ28460GB-Bosch-Exxcel-Washing-Machine-White-23075.aspx\Exxcel 28460} is £399 at applicancesdirect - £50 cashback brings it down to only £349 & it's one of Which's Best Buys

(currently £425 at Currys & £530 at Comet!)

It's "only" 7kg though, not 8kg, & 1400 spin. Which is the one you're looking at which is 8kg/1600 & £120 more than the Beko? (I'm in the market myself now, as something has gone wrong with mine & if it's going to be expensive to fix I'd rather replace, since it's at least 5 years old)

Gentleness · 04/03/2012 21:46

Hi - I was looking at the WAS 32461 in the Logixx range. That is the one with 1600spin. There is a model with 1400 spin but tbh, it's only £30 less.

I think we're just about decided but daren't jinx it by recording the decision! In other areas of my life I am so decisive. Sigh.

Ponders · 04/03/2012 22:08

I wondered if you meant that one! Best price I've found is £540-550 - less the £100 cashback it's still £440, much more than £120 above the Beko!

Gentleness · 05/03/2012 15:35

Yeah - I was thinking of a different beko when I did that calculation - there is a next size up from that one which is £300 and then an Xpress one for £335 which looked pretty good. All come out well in Which and on the bootsappliances site which I like for reviews. The Mieles hit up to £900 so I suppose at least the Bosch is half that!

Ponders · 05/03/2012 17:49

Ah - that's ok then - I thought I'd overlooked a bargain somewhere

I was going to get the 32461, but appliancesonline are out of stock until the end of March, so I've gone for the 1400 spin, which was in stock, even though it's not much less; but after the cashback, £420 for a top-of-the-range Bosch seems ok to me (& they can deliver on Wednesday, & will lug it up the stairs for me!)

Original poster

CalicoCathy · 08/03/2012 10:40

Mine has come! . It has hit the ground running as DD had a vomiting bug. I love it already - the fast spin speed means everything comes out so much drier. And I was able to shove DD's quilt and bedding in it all together when she was sick over it!

OP posts:

Gentleness · 09/03/2012 14:26

Oooh - glad it is worth all the research Cathy! What load size did you get in the end? Hope your DD has recovered now.

I found a great place to buy (well, I haven't received the machine yet, so I suppose I shouldn't jinx it, but they got great reviews and it is a northern independent company which I like too) - Peter Tyson. Got the Bosch 32461 for £540 but with the £100 cashback it is a bargain I think, even if I spent more than I intended. The 28461 was £60 less but I can wait to replace my living room door if it means I get cleaner, drier, faster washing! I can't wait for it to arrive as you can probably tell from the overuse of !!!!!!

PigletJohn · 09/03/2012 15:38

John Lewis also do a 2-year guarantee (which of course you shouldn't need but might be a comfort)

Gentleness · 09/03/2012 17:01

The salesman was rubbish about that in John Lewis. He said they do a 2 yr guarantee because most manufacturers only do 1 year. When I asked why they bother given Bosch has a 2yr warranty anyway, he just made pointless noises and shrugged. I suggested he give me a 3 year guarantee and he couldn't so I saved £50 by going elsewhere!

alemci · 09/03/2012 17:03

i bought the Siemens one a couple of years' ago from John Lewis. It had a 5 year guarantee and I am very pleased with it.

Original poster

CalicoCathy · 11/03/2012 19:54

Thanks Gentleness, DD has bounced back now :) We got a 7kg size one in the end. I think the old one we had was only 4.5, so it seems massive.
Hoping the big drum will really cut down the number of washes we do each week - although at the moment it is such a novelty, I am actually excited about putting a wash on

OP posts:

Gentleness · 14/03/2012 22:44

Well, the new machine is here and installed and already done the service wash and a 15min dark wash - about 3kg? and on 1200spin. I am EXTREMELY impressed. Fifteeeeen whole minutes. We all stood there and watched it go, the whole time. DS1 was transfixed but dh and I raved about all the features and noted the passing minutes with way too much excitement. The clothes were only lightly soiled but came out perfectly clean and drier than my 1000spin machine, in 1/4 of the time. Such a highlight in my tiny life.

The next wash is in and set to finish at 8am. This is good stuff. I might be in love.

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