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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

Come and tell me about your white good

32 replies

Itchywoolyjumper · 17/02/2013 08:24

We're moving house and for the first time ever we need our own white goods. Any recommendations? Due to limited space in the kitchen we need a fridge/freezer and a washer/dryer.
Ideally I'd like a fridge/freezer with enough space for a primary school age family of 4 (cos that's I'd like to have in my new life :) and a washer I can fit duvets into.

OP posts:

Trazzletoes · 17/02/2013 08:25

Bosch are very reliable.

MadameCastafiore · 17/02/2013 08:27

I'd put a dryer in the shed or garage anything not to have a washer dryer. For the first time in my life have washer and dryer seperately and think they are brilliant. Cannot believe how quickly washing dries in a seperately one as opposed to a combi.

Trazzletoes · 17/02/2013 09:13

I'd second the separate washer/dryer. I've had combis for years and really found they neither washed nor dried well. On the advice of Mumsnet I now have a washer. Hoping one day to get a dryer for the garage, but in the meantime I have a kick-ass dehumidifier.

PigletJohn · 17/02/2013 12:58

Bosch, or Miele if you can afford it.

If you like studying, read Which for nothing at your local library. Best Buys show you the products that score highest, which is often not the ones that cost most.

A simple machine from a good maker will be more dependable than the top of the range from a poor maker.

seb1 · 17/02/2013 13:09

For me check the length of most used cycle, they can vary a lot, get a reasonable spin speed. Also John Lewis do 2 year guarantee even on their cheaper washing machines.

Original poster

Itchywoolyjumper · 17/02/2013 13:54

Brilliant, thanks people :)

I really have to stick with a washer/dryer as there is no where but the space in the kitchen to put it and it rains a lot where we're going but I know they're more prone to breaking down etc so knowing about Which and John Lewis is really handy.

OP posts:

Trazzletoes · 17/02/2013 14:25

I don't know whether they are still running the offer but last year you could join Which for £1 for the first month and then cancel it so you don't have to continue to pay £9 per month or whatever it is. I found it really helpful when I got my washing machine.

MinimalistMommi · 17/02/2013 16:07

We are looking for a washer/dryer combi OP because we have just moved into a little house we have no choice. From reading here, it's worth getting a Miele washer/dryer which we are saving up for... I think they're about £1,300 :-o they're apparently very good. Which ever one you buy, get the insurance!

We are also saving up for a Dyson City because of being space limited, I know they're not a white good but thought I would mention it anyway. They're tiny! We have a regular Dyson now and I keep tripping over it in our front room....we have no built in cupboard to hide it away

Original poster

Itchywoolyjumper · 17/02/2013 18:12

Minimalist£1300! I think I might be going down to the river to bash my washing on some stones at that rate :)
That's a good tip with the Which subscription Trazzletoes
Any ideas on fridge freezers?

OP posts:

seb1 · 17/02/2013 18:16

Don't get one with a drinks dispenser thingy that you fill up. For me I went for as big a freezer bit as possible helps reduce waste freeze instead of throwing out and making double portions and freezing.

MinimalistMommi · 17/02/2013 18:22

Itchy shocking I know?! I just really want a machine that is going to work well

I am really sad to be getting rid of separate washing and drying machine but the washer/dryers are meant to be so rubbish that I'm prepared to save (and save again) to get a really decent machine. I have a Bosch timber dryer at the moment and I might weep when we part ways. We have just moved to a house that is half the square footage of what I was in so we have no choice.

MinimalistMommi · 17/02/2013 18:23

Tumble of course, not a timber dryer

njaw · 17/02/2013 18:57

Is that the Miele integrated washer dryer you are looking at at £1300? The freestanding ones definitely come in cheaper than that.

John Lewis machines are AEG which also have 2 year and in some cases, 5 year warranties.

The reason most people are disappointed with washer dryers is they expect them to wash and then dry the same load. Which means they are overloaded, you will find most are say 7kg wash, 5kg dry. So you either have to take some out after the wash or wash 5kg in the first place.

With your vacuum cleaner, look at the DC38, newer version of the City - not much difference in size once the hose is on it but better built and better tech.

MinimalistMommi · 17/02/2013 19:43

njaw I saw someone mention that price on mumsnet, didn't realise they meant integrated (is that built in?) I just want a Miele freestanding washer dryer! I will be very pleased if its cheaper!

Thank you for the tip about the city, no nothing about them so that is very useful to know, thank you!

MinimalistMommi · 17/02/2013 19:45

njaw I've heard washer/dryers take longer to dry the clothes then separate appliances? Is this true?

SE13Mummy · 17/02/2013 19:52

A few years ago we decided to rent a washer dryer instead of buying - the repair service is same day (if we ring before 10am) and it means we have a top-of-the-range Bosch appliance that we can upgrade whenever we feel like it/our needs change. The peace of mind rental provides is amazing....we'd had too many weeks awaiting repairs under extended warranties prior to that .

MinimalistMommi · 17/02/2013 19:53

How much is the rent SE13?

njaw · 17/02/2013 19:56

Go on Miele.co.uk - I'm very much in the industry hence the knowledge but I don't want to be seen to be touting for business. Miele sell direct though you may be able to get cheaper
Integrated is built in, yes.

I can't see why they would take longer to dry unless its down to the capacity differential. Make sure you are clearing the lint filter really regularly, ditto condensor unit, if you can seperate your loads a little more when using a washer dryer etc. Should be fine.

babypowder · 17/02/2013 19:57

I didn't have room for a separate dryer in either my utility room or my kitchen. So I've put a condensing dryer in our bedroom. It's great - it means I can pull the clothes out of the dryer, fold them, and put them away without having to run up and down the stairs!

timidviper · 17/02/2013 20:05

I had a combined washer/dryer until we moved to this house and always found it perfectly adequate, although I don't expect to tumble dry everything I wash. I think the issue is that, when seperate, a tumble dryer has a larger drum than a washer, so when combined, the dryer can only cope with a smaller load than the washer.

njaw · 17/02/2013 20:09

If you put a condensor in your bedroom or anywhere else for that matter.. make sure you are REALLY ventilating. It's not just heat they create, they do push a higher level of humidity into the air and whilst your bathroom/kitchen probably has the paint to cope with that, you could find yourself damaging ceilings/walls etc without sufficient ventilation.

Original poster

Itchywoolyjumper · 17/02/2013 20:35

Thanks for all your help. I've been doing a bit of research and the one we've got in this flat came up as being one of the best on a few websites and as I like it and know how to use it I've bought it. Hooray, job done!
Timidviper that's a very good point, a lot of the reviews I read were marking the dryer down because it was taking ages but I'd never found that. I never dry a full load as I'm a bit anal about sticking to the washing instructions and I've never been able to find enough clothes to make up a full wash/dry load.
Minimal the timber dryer sounds like just the thing I'd need when I'm down at the riverside :)

OP posts:

Icelollycraving · 17/02/2013 21:41

I had seperate washer & dryer before but we recently got all new white goods. Miele washer dryer is great (freestanding). Miele fridge freezer,we got the biggest one. It's great,lots of room & really made us notice how crap our last one was! Bosch dishwasher,miele seperate under counter freezer too & a john Lewis wine chiller. Would recommend them all :)

openerofjars · 17/02/2013 21:49

I've got a lovely shiny black John Lewis fridge freezer and it is gorgeous to look at. It even keeps things cold, but if it was crap I would still enjoy looking at it. It looks like the black monolith from the film 2001: a space oddysey and is easily one of my favourite household things ever.

[shallow]

MinimalistMommi · 18/02/2013 07:52

Ice which model number is your Miele washer dryer?

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