Washing machine number 5 ish has just packed up on me and I need your recommendations please for one that can cope with more than one wash a week

[JustFabulous]

It is a Beko. Didn't buy expensive as use 2 programmes maximum. Every now and then it woudn't empty out all the water and sometimes the clothes were left wetter than they should, but on the whole it was okay. I have asked it to spin 3 times now as the clothes were left soaked and it won't. It says End leading me to believe it has done it's job but nada. There is water in the small gap between the instruction panel and the lid which makes me worry that water is leaking into the main drum where I am sure it shouldn't.

I do about 17 wash loads a week but really don't want to spend a fortune on a fancy pants machine. Any recommendations for what is good, or just as important, a brand or machine to avoid?

I have had a LG Steam Direct Drive washer for the last 5 years doing 3-5 wahses a week. The steam is fantastic for getting out stains and for muddy football kid. Mine is 8kg capacity but they've upped this to 9kg. Around £700 but well worth the money.

Oops, that should have been muddy football kit not kid. I don't actually put my DS in there!!!

I wish I could put my 2 footballing DSs in the washing machine Bean.

My washer is a large load drum.

We used to pay £10 a month to cover 3 appliances but just heard from dh he has stopped it as we had a new dishwasher on it.

It is the brushes.

My AEG is about 10 years old
It was the basic model from JL

and more importantly has never needed an engineer

We have a zanussi washer dryer. Have had for about 10 years - before DCs we did about 5 wash loads a week, now it's about 14. Never had any problems with it. We are in a hard water area and always use Calgon or similar, could limescale be the problem?

Miele ones are brilliant, went through at least 4 machines which lasted a year or so, Miele has been going 6 years, has 10 year guarantee, has loads of brilliant features, and would rescue it from a fire, after DC's and DH!

It has stopped working.

Bit pissed off that dh has ordered the spare parts on line which we won't get until Monday without trying local shops to go and get them. He rang one shop but they didn't answer. He did think it was working though and these were to have in reserve until we needed them. I really hate not having a washing machine. 4 days without = a mountain of clothes.

When our brushes along with the bearings it sounded like the drum was full of gravel. It was that and the control panel that was the final straw.

I was without a washing machine for 24 hours and I hated it.

brushes along with the bearings went that should say.

Tell me about maintenance washes???

Btw I have a Bosch too and it is pretty good. A washing machine engineer I vaguely know told me that Miele are overpriced for what they are. just saying.

I always buy from John Lewis because a). they don't sell rubbish and b). they include a free warranty and c). their service is good.

Our best buy was a Zanussi washing machine that lasted 19 years, including nappy washes and all. They don't make them like that any more, though. Built-in obsolescence and all.

Oh yes, I have had ones in the past that sound like they are washing the kids toy cars.

I can't offer any recommendations (although love our 2 month old Hotpoint) but we chose ours through Which?.

If you sign up for their 99p month trial, you can read all their reviews and even compare prices. Our machine was a recommended one, although not a best buy - but then most of the best buys were about twice the price!!

We also chose our tumble dryer through Which? too (which was an Indesit, which is the same company as Hotpoint too, although didn't realise that until we looked at the manuals/dials/delivery van etc!!).

Mine's a Hotpoint, have had it 4 or 5 years and no real problem. I got one with a fancy LED screen and the screen faded so I couldn't read it. But I never switched it off so it had been on constantly for years. Bought a new one which was £100 (just the LED screen).

Washing machine prior to that was also a Hotpoint and that lasted over 10 years before dying.

And I won't touch Zanussi with a bargepole since our dishwasher went up in flames.

It's got to be a Miele if you are doing that much washing. I have a Miele (having had a Bosch for 7 years before it died). I thought the Bosch was good but the Miele is so much better quality- it is a real workhorse of a machine. It cost just under a grand but came with a 10 year free warranty.

I understand a grand is a lot of money, but there are more basic models. I'd go for a bog standard Miele over a fancy pants something else.

I have to say I have been really impressed with my Hotpoint first edition.

Not a pricey one at all but it's really done well over about 6 years including a very sicky baby.

It is on borrowed time now though.Every so often it'll get stuck and refuse to drain.I give it a little rest overnight,and some kind and supportive words,and it starts again.And long may it limp on for

I have a Hoover. Was only about £200 and still works perfectly after 6 years. I currently do 4-6 loads a week but used to do lots more when the dc were in nappies.

I have an AEG and I love it - everything is variable temp, times, spin speed on all the key programmes. Used to have a Bosch which I also rated.

Just had mega problems with Indesit over a fridge freezer so wouldn't touch their stuff with a bargepole.

Another vote for Bosch here.

My John Lewis washing machine has gone kaput today.

I switched it on, it started filling then fused the house!

And of course it's out of warranty....

Not sure whether to try and get it repaired or cut my losses and buy a new one.

Spare parts arrived, dh fitted them, washing machine now spinning .