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

[Liveinthepresent]

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?

We have just bought the Bosch from Pigletjohns list after our useless beyond belief Hoover machine died.
I have only had it a month but love it already, it has all the features I needed and got it for under £400 from Coop Electrical with free delivery.

I've never once used the quick wash cycle on my washer. Never had any need to. Quick washes are only designed for small loads, so I don't bother - I just use the full cycles. And I only ever use Cottons 40 & 60 and minimum iron 40.

The only additional features I really wouldn't be without are extra rinse (invaluable if you have anyone in your household with sensitive skin) and the separate spin cycle for if I've hand washed anything

and you have to consider that the quick washes often use one (or more) less rinse cycles. bad news for people with sensitive skin.

Excellent point mausmaus. Also, quick washes use more water to compensate for the shorter time, so they're far more wasteful than using a full cycle

thanks for the extra posts - think tonight might be the night i actually order something!
Good to hear that RainbowBrite we are almost definitely going Bosch (though I won't hear end of it from DM who is a Zanussi fan!)

Very interesting about sensitive skin - DH has terrible Eczema which has been bad since around the time our machine started playing up and we have been using the short cycle only since then! May be coincidence but will keep in mind.

Zanussi used to be brilliant, but the new ones are pretty awful to be honest. Quality has dropped completely and they use really cheap, whiney motors. A friend bought one that screamed when it was spinning and it only had one (yes, ONE) drum paddle!

Just a quick note that you can turn off the beeping from a Bosch (I agree, it is SO annoying, like being harangued by a washing machine). I managed it following instructions that I googled and now mine finishes silently.

For the OP:

• Eco wash (EcoPerfect on Bosch) - saves water and electricity and thus money without losing performance. I pretty much always wash on this.
• Agree with others about the usefulness of 'time til end of wash' feature
• BIG drum! I used to have a washer with a tiny one and it surprised me how many fewer loads I needed to do with a larger drum
• 1400 rpm cycle
• Decent delicate/wool cycle that actually cleans without wrecking the clothes

9kg drum. Everything else is a bonus but the bigger drum is amazing.