Urgh. Washing / drying drama. Premature death of Miele washer and heatpump dryer now on the way out too. Help?!

[MrsLettuce]

So, before DC1 was born I "invested" in a Miele washer and before DC2 I "invested" in a damned good (blomberg) heatpump condenser dryer. "They'll see us through", I thought

The Miele karked it in October (around it's 7th birthday, FFS) and the dryer is now having mechanical problems (it's almost 6) - I could get an engineer out to it but it will need parts and I'm not convinced that it's not just going to be a money pit from now on - call out is 70 euros then 1 euro a minute for work. Then there's parts.

ATM I'm using an old AEG washer that is very clearly on it's knees.

So, apart from being truly fucked off with Miele, my fininacial situation is not what is was and I couldn't afford one even if I dared wanted to buy another. Another heatpump dryer is also well out of my reach, financially and a vented dryer isn't an option for us, space wise.

What to doooo?

Are washer / dryer combos as bad as I imagine them to be? It'd maybe be cheaper to buy one machine than two but, yeah, maybe expensive to run?

Which brands are best at the cheaper ends of things?

Am also very worried about the running costs of a non-heatpump dryer and cheap washer - mine were so energy efficient that it wasn't a problem to use them as much as I needed.

I'm surprised a Miele has gone so quickly. That really sucks!

Can you contact a repairman in your local area, rather than someone from Miele (who is bound to be more expensive), and have a chat with them on the phone about the problem? Quite often they will be able to tell what is wrong just by a description, and will be able to give you an idea of the cost of a repair. It could be something tiny that will be a few quid and you'll be up and running. And call out will be a LOT cheaper than the numbers you quote, which, to be honest, sound like a complete ripoff! One euro a minute indeed.... harumph!! Ditto for the dryer.

If you do have to replace, Bosch are a cheap but robust make. I love mine. I had a knackered old machine before, and it was absolutely shockign how much better the Bosch washed my clothes. As far as drying is concerned, how essential is a dryer to you? I recently bought a heated airer from Lakeland and it is brilliant. It really gets things dry in next to no time, at a fraction of the cost of running a dryer. I do about 1-2 loads a day, and have no problems getting them dry in well under 24 hours.

Are washer / dryer combos as bad as I imagine them to be? Yes my hotpoint one is rubbish it's 6yrs old and has been rebuilt twice the only but that it original is the case.

I only use the dryer bit to finish off once washing has been on the airer for 24/36hrs.

Thanks both! I'm really rather put out by the whole situation.

The Miele is long gone - sold the fucker for parts. Was it's 'computer' that broke, they could have mended it but the part was six hundred euros. Cost me almost 100 euros to find that out Bloke who took it said it's really not that uncommon for newer model Mieles to kark it quick-ish, OTOH mils is still going strong in it's mid-teens, as are several others that I know of. I am very cross with Miele indeed TBH.

I'll try local repair people for the dryer though, who knows it might be worth it! Thanks for the tip.
They'll not have the parts in stock though, for sure. Blomberg isn't a common brand (over here) so I'll have to see how it stacks up with call out and hourly rate. The Miele experience has put me off even having it looked at TBH, but it'd probably be daft to give it up without. Hmm.

Heated airer is an interesting idea although I can't think where I could put one, am on 1 or 2 loads a day too and the house is teeny. Have a garden though so summer drying is probably less of an issue. Shall mull. It'd be madness to use one in an unheated, brick built shed, right?

A combo machine does sound like A Bad Idea. Humph. Had hoped things had moved on but it's logical that they're shite really, I suppose.

Bosch I shall put on the list. Have heard good things about AEG too. Do Beko and Indesit exist in the UK? Any ideas on those? Am also 'better quality' considering second hand but, uuurgh.

Beko exist in the UK, I think they are the cheapest brand available. My Miele combi-drier is good at washing but bad at drying compared to a vented drier. Siemens washer is v gd (but 12 so I don't know what they are like now, as is my AEG vented drier.

Oh that's interesting! Beko are lower mid-range over here. Strange indeed. Miele engineer said when I sobbed that her sis/sil or somesuch had a Beko washer that was just fine.

Indesit seem to be the cheapest make here.

I probably should have mentioned that it's a condenser dryer I need - there's no window (or outside wall) in my 'washing cupboard'. JUst to be extra awkward.

Shall add Siemens to the list and keep AEG on.

We had a Beko washer for about 9 years before we got our Miele. It was fab! It was one of the higher end models with the digital display but only cost us about £250 new and lasted nearly a decade. Can't grumble at that price. It was a louder than the Miele and the wash times were longer but it washed, rinsed and spun very well. The bearings went on it in the end but to say it was only cheap and lasted that length of time, it was great.

Do not bother with Indesit, Candy, Hotpoint or Hoover. They're now owned by the same company - Indesit/Hotpoint and Candy/Hoove. My folks had a Candy made Hoover that died after 18 months and the Indesit made Hotpoint I had in my rented flat was awful.

I'd no idea about that rabbit! Thank you. I'd have thought Hotpoint and Hoover were worth consideration, so that's great ot know.

Also available here in my price range for washers are:
Proline
Whirlpool
Thompson
Zanussi
Haier
Etna
OK

There doesn't seem to be a single A / A+ dryer I can even consider.

Will look into Beko some more. The miele was a quiet as a summer breeze while it lasted the 8 year old AEG with noisy bearings that replaced it is damned loud - anything will be an improvement on that. Washing facilities are upstairs so noise isn't really much of an issue anyway, thank goodness.

Hotpoint & Hoover used to be brilliant until they got bought out.

Proline & Haier are the same company also. Both made in China. I've never used them but they don't have a good reputation.

Zanussi are the same as AEG, both owned by Electrolux. I've always known Zanussi to be good, but a friend bought one and really didn't like it. It was very loud and took hours to wash.

I can't comment on Thompson, OK or Etna. We don't have those here so I've never used one.

Regarding dryers, when I was looking into it, you'd have to own/run a heat pump dryer daily for 8 years before you made up any difference in cost between a B and A rated dryer. Might be worth looking at B Rated dryers.

Excellent info again, cheers Now have Zanussi is on list which is fab as AEG is probably going to be too pricey.

Will certainly avoid Proline & Haier. OK sounds like crap.

Durability (ha!) and energy efficiency are probably top of my list, certainly above speed and noise levels but I did love the fantastically effective 1/2 hour cycle with the Miele.

Errrr, not to seem like a busy body, but those quick wash cycles use more water to compensate for the shorter wash times and use more electric heating more water in less time. They also cause excessive wear on your machine as they're only meant to wash 1/2 loads.

Energy ratings are awarded based on cottons cycles. I believe 60 degree cottons is the test cycle. So you're best off sticking with full cottons cycles to save energy

Oh, missed your dryer post - I'd known that but forgotten again. Had expected to run it for more than 8 years and it has covered 2 in cloth nappies and all the wash of baby/toddler/family life. 3 loads a day at times but, yeah.

Shall look at B's then. I think it is/was A+ or ++. I forget. Blomberg tkf 1530.

Am torn as to weather I should get it looked at or let it dye a natural death.

x post again!
You certainly know you stuff

I try. I used to work for unilever so o had to :)

Siemens do make some very fine washers and driers, but you need to read independent reviews to choose the model. We have "Which" which is published by a national consumers association.

Even more so with Beko, which, for an economical brand, have a surprising number of best buys, but other models are real duds.

Miele are notorious for high-cost parts and repairs, and do not co-operate with independent repairers.

MrsLettuce, I have had Mieles for years but my recent ones are just over two years and literally falling apart. The electrics went on the dryer and fused the whole house, costing me £350 to get it repaired - the insulation on the electrical cables had perished inside the sealed unit. The plastic washing machine door is cracked to high heaven after two years of normal use. I presume they are now using cheap Chinese parts. I am disgusted and in dispute with them.