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Housekeeping

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Original poster

What features on your washing machine would you not be without?

58 replies

Liveinthepresent · 09/01/2015 19:40

We are finally about to replace our under performing AEG washer dryer with a separate washer and dryer - am over excited!
Riveting topic I know!

Not looking to spend too much as frankly the amount I spent on the AEG hasn't lived up to expectations and if we move house we would leave them behind.

I have prioritised only really on a large capacity - 8kg - is there anything else you wouldn't want your next washing machine to be without?

OP posts:
Hillingdon · 09/01/2015 19:42

The time that is left on a wash, thought it was just a gimmick but it's really useful.

Also the cold wool wash, most useful.

BellaVida · 09/01/2015 19:43

A 14 minute fast cycle!!

HeyMacWey · 09/01/2015 19:48

Yes to time left.
Also delayed start - I set mine to finish first thing in the morning.
Def a 1400 spin - clothes are half dry already.
15 min cycle.

Oh and a pause button so you can add items that didn't quite make it into the machine.

My bosch has all these and they're the most used - that and the wool wash which had been used over the winter and no ruined jumpers - hurrah.

ouryve · 09/01/2015 19:48

AEG are shite. We've had to stick with a washer dryer since having endless problems with a couple of AEG machines (one was a warranty replacement for the other), but I now have a Siemens (same as Bosch) and a 5 year warranty, which I've made good use of, but at least their engineers come out within a couple of days, rather than a couple of weeks, unlike serviceforce.

Things outside of the main cycles that I use a lot:
Really fast cycle - for clothes that have been covered in something unspeakable so need washing rather than rinsing before being washed properly.
Delicates cycle for bras etc.
A proper, low agitation wool cycle with the option of low temperatures so I can machine wash my handwash only knits.

mausmaus · 09/01/2015 19:49

'extra rinse' button

chipsandpeas · 09/01/2015 19:50

a quick fast cycle, on my machine the fast cycle is an hour so if i were to buy a new one then that would be top of my list
pause button
extra spin/rinse button and cycle

would like but not got a digital timer

ouryve · 09/01/2015 19:51

And yes to the fast spin. Was disappointed to have to come down to 1400 from 1600, but it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference.

I like being able to adjust the spin to exactly what I want, though - and have complete control over temperature and cycle type, rather than just have a limited range of preset options. I think most manufacturers have cottoned onto that, mind.

jellyandsoup · 09/01/2015 19:52

Child lock button, invaluable

FishWithABicycle · 09/01/2015 19:53

Quick wash function.
Mine has an anti-tamper setting that means that once a programme has started you can't muck it up by fiddling with the dials and buttons. Vital if there are small people in the house (as I kept finding while we had the previous machine that didn't.

Thing to avoid. The one I've got beeps three times every 30 seconds or so once the cycle has finished. And it doesn't stop. So if you aren't in a position to drop everything - e.g. You're trying to sooth an upset child to sleep, or are up a ladder wrestling with wallpaper, it is REALLY ANNOYING. For ever. What is worse: The online reviews warned me that there's an annoying beep at the end, and I just thought "sure and it's only a beep, how bad can it be?"

FunkyBoldRibena · 09/01/2015 19:55

Hot and slow.
Cooler and fast.

These are the only two I use. If there was a machine that just did these two, I'd buy it next time.

Possibly with a separate spin function. Just choose the time, temp and speed of spin and leave out all the programmes and nonsense.

Purplecircle · 09/01/2015 19:56

The pause button to add missed things. I also like the time remaining display
I'm less keen on its habit of leaking sometimes bloody Hotpoint

homeaway · 09/01/2015 19:56

Time left
Extra big machine
Lets me put the open the door st the beginning of the cycle to put the socks i dropped on the stairs in.
Adjust spin, time and temp for the same cycle
wool wash

creamhearts · 09/01/2015 20:02

Time remaining display and timer, love them both.

unclerory · 09/01/2015 20:12

Our machine (a Hoover) can hold 10kg, that's everyone's sheets (or more usefully a duvet).

Agree with all the above, I also really like the option to delay the start so when I get up in the and there is still someone in the shower when I put the washing in the machine I can delay the start until I know they'll be out. Also useful on working days, I can fill the machine in the morning then delay the start so it's just finishing when I come home.

My last machine was a Zanussi and I have to say I liked the beep, DH hated it though. I'm a scientist so used to timers going off all day in the lab so maybe it just depends onthe individual. It was a washer dryer and I liked that it could go straight from one cycle to the other.

TwigletLola · 09/01/2015 20:15

Definitely a timer so I can set it up at night to come on in the early hours (we've got economy 7).

FoxyMcFox · 09/01/2015 20:15

15 min wash
Extra rinse - available on all cycles
1400+ spin - available on all cycles
Time remaining on display
Hand wash cycle

Greywackejones · 09/01/2015 20:16

Time left on cycle
Time delay
Cycle lock button so (bloody) kids can't alter it

ggirl · 09/01/2015 20:17

beko has been fab
quick wash
digital timer
big drum but not quite 8kg

areyoubeingserviced · 09/01/2015 20:18

Quick wash
Hand wash

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 09/01/2015 20:18

I'm a scientist too and hated the beeps on our Bosch, but you can disable it so not a problem any more. Yes to 15 min cycle, fast spin, silk and wool cycles, also the normal cycle only being about an hour. I don't use the delay timer as I never want it on when we're sleeping or out because of the fire risk.

rockybalboa · 09/01/2015 20:21

Delayed start function. We set it so it's finished first thing rather than sitting damp all night or eating into valuable "more laundry" time during the day.

Oh a big win with our current one is that it is integrated so we don't have to stare at the bloody ugly thing. No fancy utility rooms here...

LLJ4 · 09/01/2015 20:23

Yes, capacity.

Mine is very flexible - on nearly every cycle you can adjust the spin speed and temperature, and half of them have a Quick Wash mode. I couldn't go back to a basic 30/40/60/90 800/1200/1600 now.

Oh yes, a fast spin. The difference in drying time between a 1200 spin and a 1600 spin is noticeable.

tethersend · 09/01/2015 20:26

A nine minute long refresh cycle so I can rescue the washing I left in the machine. Again. Every day.

Pico2 · 09/01/2015 20:27

Door that opens the right way round for the space it's in.
High spin speed
Extra rinse
Hand wash cycle/delicates

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 09/01/2015 20:35

Yes to door that opens the right way round, we bought ours online and didn't check that, it would have been a total PITA the other way round as it's in a corner.