Integrated washing machine - can they be freestanding?

[Madblondedog]

At the moment we have a free standing washing machine which we inherited with the house. It needs replacing really, its old and smells (I have cleaned it with one of those pouches, although might do it again) although the clothes come out clean.

Anyway, in about 6-8 months we want to redo the kitchen and will put the washing machine in the cupboards. So is there any reason I can't buy an integrated washing machine but have it freestanding for the time being and then when we redo the kitchen have it put in a cupboard?

I clicked on the thread as I have an integrated washing machine and wish I didn't. If I were redoing my kitchen even if I wanted to hide my washing machine behind a counter top and cupboard door I would choose free standing. They are much cheaper and there is a far bigger range. Also if you have to replace later you will be limited to what you originally choose as not all fittings are compatible. Getting my integrated out of its fitted cubby hole if it needs repairs is a pain. The filter is behind the kitchen cupboard kickboard, so cleaning that is also a pain.

In answer to your question, my fitted one sits on a board and has fittings to attach it to the cupboard. Should be no problem to have it in a non-fitted kitchen but it may look a bit "unfinished".

As my floor is not tiled behind the fitted cupboards I think / hope I actually do have room for a non-fitted one next time so is it ok if I ask this Q too?

Oh really? My old house was a Bovis one which came with the built in washing machine.

I've only ever had what I've inherited so I've never bought a shiny new one myself (and am struggling with all the choice at the moment too!) As you said, there is nothing to say a cupboard could not be built around the freestanding machine.

Thank you for the advice. Now to decide which machine to get (how are there so many to chose from?!)

In the meantime do a maintenance wash and that should clean it out. There is a whole thread about it on here somewhere. I put mine on the hottest wash possible and either put vinegar or washing soda crystals in. Make sure you clean the seal and the drawer( take it out ) as there is quite often a build up of gunk there.

As the others have said you will be limiting yourself if you get an integrated machine but it would be ok without a door on it for now , just not very pretty.

I've run a cleaning solution through it (one of those packets you buy). Water seems to be pooling by the door and therefore making it smell.

I've tried to clean it but I feel like I'm not getting anywhere which is frustrating. Given the awful state of the house when we moved in I doubt its ever been cleaned before.

"Water seems to be pooling by the door "

do you mean in the grooves of the rubber seal, or do you mean that the water level rises when it is not in use? If the waste hose is attached to the kitchen sink trap, and is not looped up so that the top of the loop is higher than the water level in the sink, dirty sink water and tealeaves, bacon fat, cod's heads and sour milk will run down the pipe into the washer.

When did you last clean the filter?

We only moved in last Tuesday, so I've never cleaned it - its on my VERY long list but the house was awful so its all taking time.

Its in the grooves by the rubber seal but more so than in my old washing machine.

Not sure if nots not just old?

the rubber grooves have a drain hole that might be clogged. Clean using a nylon washing-up brush or a sponge. There may be hairs.

Usually washing machines have a sludge of old soap, grease and fabsoft. Put in a cup of washing soda crystals, no soap or anything else, and give it the hottest wash cycle. You can put in white cotton towels if you have them. If the water foams up and goes grey, that's the old soap sludge dissolving. Do it again until it stays clean.

Bacteria and mould live on the sludge, hence the smell. It may smell worse when you start to disturb it, until all washed away.

Awesome thank you, will try that.

Ideally I'd like it to live another 6 months or so