Washing machines that REALLY clean

[Muststopeating]

My Samsung washing machine has just died after 9 years and 3 international house moves.

Other than Miele (which is out of budget because we are in the middle of an extension and already had a broken macerator, broken toilet, broken microwave and broken car this week)... can anyone recommend a washing machine that is great at getting out stains.

I'd like a couple of fancy features (auto dosing and add wash/pause wash) but none of the reviews or descriptions ever talk about how well the machine actually cleans/gets rid of stains.

About to have DC3 so with all the upcoming weaning mess, plus 2 other active, messy kids... stain removal is critical. Tired of having 'clean' but stained clothes.

Thank you.

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MNHQ

tbh I think they all are very similar. especially in the price segment you are looking for

however - long cotton cycles & bio powder is what you are looking for to get stains out.

none of the reviews or descriptions ever talk about how well the machine actually cleans/gets rid of stains.

Surely that's because all washing machines are pretty similar in getting out stains. If it's a stubborn stain then the washing machine isn't what makes a difference it will be any products you use to help remove it.

I’m not sure the washing machine makes that much difference to how clean the clothes come out. Detergent has a bigger impact. What I find does vary massively is how the clothes wear/last after repeated washing.

In your position I would be most bothered about having a large load capacity.

I’m happy with my Samsung by the way. And it is one of those flaps on the door to add socks you dropped on the way to the washing machine.

I’m afraid I don’t know what auto dosing is so no idea if it has that.

I have a new Samsung and it cleans very well. It has a huge drum which I thinks helps with cleaning as clothes have room to move around more.

I've been very happy with a Bosch.

(Also I had a Miele dishwasher that died recently after near 25years, and am replacing it with a Bosch, as the difference in prices between brands has widened a lot since last time I bought).

I have a new Miele which we've just replaced after 20 years but I'd get a Bosch (and actually wish we had as we paid loads extra for a ridiculous TwinDos system and WiFi option which we never use.

That's interesting, had never really occured to me that most washing machines would be the same in terms of cleaning. To that point, if anyone recommends a great detergent I'd love to hear it. (Currently using Aerial after switching from Persil as I found it was making holes in clothes). I nearly always add Vanish to a lights or whites wash and try to pre treat stains with the spray, though I am not always great for treating a stain immediately or soaking.

I will need to use liquid detergent though for the auto dosing (its where you top up the machine once in a while and it chooses how much to use, rather than measuring it out each time or using the tablet/pods).

I think I'm landing somewhere between a Bosch Series 6 or Samsung Series 8 - round about the £650 mark. I've always sworn by Bosch dishwahers but I've only ever had to buy one washing machine.

@Clymene

I have a new Samsung and it cleans very well. It has a huge drum which I thinks helps with cleaning as clothes have room to move around more.

This is another valid point. You get a much better result if you don’t overload the machine!

@Muststopeating

That's interesting, had never really occured to me that most washing machines would be the same in terms of cleaning. To that point, if anyone recommends a great detergent I'd love to hear it. (Currently using Aerial after switching from Persil as I found it was making holes in clothes). I nearly always add Vanish to a lights or whites wash and try to pre treat stains with the spray, though I am not always great for treating a stain immediately or soaking.

I will need to use liquid detergent though for the auto dosing (its where you top up the machine once in a while and it chooses how much to use, rather than measuring it out each time or using the tablet/pods).

I think I'm landing somewhere between a Bosch Series 6 or Samsung Series 8 - round about the £650 mark. I've always sworn by Bosch dishwahers but I've only ever had to buy one washing machine.

Powders are better at cleaning both clothes and the drum itself. I wouldnt use a machine that only used liquid detergent.

I've always been very dubious about claims that any machine washes better than any other, and I've never noticed any difference. You might pay more for reliability, longevity, quietness, looks, snob value etc. But whether it's a £2,000 Miele or a £150 Noname machine when it comes to washing it just sloshes your clothes around in warm soapy water.

I have seimens washing machines and they are v good.

One of the best thing you can do to help remove stains from clothes washed in a front loader is to ensure the machine is 2/3 to 3/4 full when wet. Front loader machines are water efficient and rely on good agitation to do the job.

I think it’s using a bio powder that gets stains out best. Also using proper cotton settings that take 2-3 hrs, not 20min quick washes

Thank you. Yes always try to make sure the machine is full enough but not too full! It does tend to be less full with the lights and whites.

I never ever use quick washes as I am suspicious of them (if they were effective then why do we have the 2 hours + cycles).

@dementedpixie I think I can still use powder I'd just have to dose it myself. Funnily enough I switched to liquid and then tabs as I thought they would be more effective (I suppose lured by the more expensive must be better nonsense).

I had no idea I still had so much to learn about washing .

This thread is very interesting: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/AMA/3308661-I-developed-laundry-detergents-AMA

@belimoo I have just read that entire thread! It was amazing! So am now off to check if there is any possibility that autodose works with powders.

My dream of never again spilling the damn stuff everywhere may be ruined!

Also, washing at 60C. I've never done it, I feel like it would damage things. How far can I take it?

My sheets are coloured (think Cath Kidston style patterns) as are my towels. Would they survive?

Does anyone do a white wash at 60C (I'm thinking kids nursery polo shirts which have taken some serious abuse lately).

I can't help as I just got a new machine which is a Miele, I have wanted one for years. Best thing ever.

Agree that powder is infinitely better than liquid for actually getting clothes clean. I have a Samsung which has been going for a couple of years now and still pleased with it. It wasn't cheap but the cheap ones never last in my experience

Quick 30 degree washes are absolutely totally fine for most washing OP! Save yourself some time and money and try one out :) They get mud out, and sweat and general grime etc. For whites and stuff with oil or real stains, you need the hotter, longer washes. That's why there are options - because both washes are good for different things!

I just use the supermarket brand detergent and have always found it fine. I pre-treat stains with Vanish and leave on for five minutes before starting the wash. We are a mucky family - there's frequently blood, mud, red wine and oil - but all clothes come out of the washing machine clean, so it must work just fine.

Does anyone do a white wash at 60C (I'm thinking kids nursery polo shirts which have taken some serious abuse lately).

All the time! We have white bed linen, towels, underwear. With cotton it's fine (I've occasionally washed white cotton at 95°). I'm not so sure it's a good idea for synthetics.

I also read that thread - interesting. I would like to know the truth behind the efficacy of colour catchers though! I use them a lot but never know if it's snake oil or not.

I know... the colour catchers were the biggest mystery left hanging.

I stopped using them, I didn't try the original ones but the Tesco version but I felt like they faded everything quite considerably after 1 wash.

Anmoying, because they seemed a good solution for strong coloured but white striped items (they stress me out).

@MurielSpriggs

Does anyone do a white wash at 60C (I'm thinking kids nursery polo shirts which have taken some serious abuse lately).

All the time! We have white bed linen, towels, underwear. With cotton it's fine (I've occasionally washed white cotton at 95°). I'm not so sure it's a good idea for synthetics.

Towels, fine, no issue. But don’t you find a lot of clothes shrink on a hot wash? I though cotton was notorious for shrinkage?

I use 60⁰C washes for towels and bedding. Everything else goes on a 40⁰C wash