Which washing machine is best to buy now? What features are really good?

[mieleorbosch]

I don't iron, so non-creasing is pretty essential!

What else should I look for? Do you love yours?

Recent legacies mean we don't have to limit the budget too much. (Thanks, Dad.) We do a lot of washing, thanks to teens and dear dog.

I hate my miele, bought for reliability reasons, the 6kg cottons bog standard 40C wash takes 2 hours! Also the door seal has developed mildew and I want to get rid of the whole machine but can't justify the cost.. Also the hyper efficient spin creases everything. I'd ask for the product manual before buying another one, I know that sounds mad but little things like two hours washes and no half loads can really bug you. One of my friends has a delay timer on hers which sounds like a good idea.

Mine has a 'reduced creases' button... I tend not to use it though because I iron everything. It's a good machine and has been going well for the past 3 years. It's the Hotpoint Aquarius 6kg. It has a 'super wash' button too (never used that either) but it may come in handy for dog stuff?

Oh, no, samonly, that sounds awful. Never thought I'd hear the words "I hate my Miele"

Arthur, "I iron everything" - we are the opposite ends of the spectrum!

Anyone else love or hate their Miele?

Or their Bosch? Or....

That sounds right up my street, buttons, will have to look at Samsung.

I did go to the library and photocopy Which? reports so shall be better informed later this evening.

Any other opinions greatly valued.

I love Bosch, the 15 min cycle is really handy!!!!

Am wondering about Indesit, from the Which? reports???

I have an indicit moon. Looks fab but is utterly crap. Highest temp is a 60 degree wash so powder dispenser which is located on the back of the door becomes mouldy which transfers on to clothes. Complete pain cleaning it all the time. Was told by someone that the engineers who come to fix them call them in da shit!!!!!

I got a Bosch recently, it appears to wash clothes beyond that...

I really wanted an lg with a direct drive, (for no good reason apart from it sounded snazzy) but it would have taken weeks to one.

Aren't indesits shit?

I like the time delay button on mine so i can put it on at bedtime without upsetting the dog then it comes on 6am ish eith clothes ready to put out before i go to work

I have an LG direct drive

Bosch, or Miele if you can afford it. You can read the "Which" reports online if you subscribe, or free at your local library. BSH is the company that makes Bosch machines, it is jointly owned by Bosch and Siemens and their machines are of comparable strandard and reliability, though Siemens seems to aim upmarket.

I don't understand the "overspinning" thing as on mine you can set spin speed and short spin if you feel like it.

Mildew and smells are usually due to lots of low temperature washes leading to a build-up of soaply sludge in the machine, if you "advance search" on "maintenance wash" in Housekeeping, you will find about seven million threads explaining it.

Yes, the Indesit Moon has a reputation for mould.

when mine breaks, I'm going to get an ISE. Apparently they have them in prisons...

here

I like my Bosch...not a top of the line ine however.
It has a really handy 30 min quick cycle.
Also has reduced ironing feature.
I joy use the big standard functions but it washes dry clean only garments very well on the silk,cycle.

Ha, I was looking for you, PigletJohn.

I think the Which? reports I'm looking at must be for energy saving not overall performance. They rate an Indesit.

Bosch with 15 min wash on it!

Hi, I have a john Lewis own brand-so bought because when my last one (indesit) blew up I asked the washing machine repair man in despair what did he have, he said a Miele, I said ouch, he said try Bosch, I said ouch, he said he had never been called to repair a john Lewis machine, and the internals were all German made. That and the (at the time) 3 year free warranty sold me. Can't remember model (not at home) but has time delay, helpful settings, nice door catch, the best setting is 30 or 40 cottons or man mades (determines your spin speed for creasing) then "quick", does it in 55 mins. Think it does a quicker freshen up type wash also, and heaps in between. Had it 5 years so far, us the same as the day I got it. Went for a JL fridge freezer after that!!!

I am on my second near the bottom of the range Bosch. Use only two or three programmes: 60 cottons, 40 synthetics. Don't need lots of programmes, it's a waste. Occasionally do a boil wash becuase this second machine gets more stinky than the last and I don't know why.

My view is don't pay more than is essential for a reliable machine; both my machines bought in emergency circumstances and were in stock and deliverable and plumb inable within days.

I do about 8-10 washes a week and after a dire Hotpoint many years ago now, take the view that a heavily used family machine does not have an infinite life span. I reckon anything more than 5 years is a bonus - Bosh no. one lasted for 7 years. Bosh no. 2 has been going for 3.5 and I don't think will last as long as Mark 1. It is the same model; slightly updated.

Gosh that post illustrated my life on the wild side

Recently got a Bosch Exxcel 8. Very pleased with it. Short cycle options, 8kg capacity - quite a good mid range price. Has a reduced ironing button. Always use the speed perfect button which takes main washes down to an hour, and delicates washes down to 30 mins. Also has a superquick 15 mins wash. It's really quiet too which works well as I have a combined office / utility room. Shame I'm not so pleased with Bosch dryer which we have had to call out engineer twice in a year.

I have a hot point one and the annoying thing about it is the silly paddles in the machine, I've had to have 3 replaced as things have caught on them and ripped them off, other than that it has been fine.

The Samsung one mentioned sounds fab!

Replaced by lovely old Bosch with an even lovelier new LG a few months ago. Brilliant machine, the 10 year warranty on the motor helped persuade me away from another Bosch.

I love my Bosch. Has digital display so you can see how long is left, can pause the cycle to put in the things I forget and remember 5 mins later, has short wash, quiet, has child lock.

I have a Miele and love it. Washes clothes better than my previous Bosch did. Was an eye watering £999 but has a 7kg drum and came with a 10 year guarantee. The build quality is obviously better than my Bosch tumble drier which sits next to it and seems flimsy in comparison. If budget is an issue (and I don't mean that in a snarky way- it gave me pause for thought spending nearly a grand on a WM, but I do about 10 loads a week) then I'd go for the cheapest Miele I could afford.