Read what MNers have to say about AEG’s new range. Non-tester? Chance to win £300 NOW CLOSED

[PoppyMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the 15 Mumsnetters who tried two of AEG’s new washing machines and one of their tumble dryers!

There is also a question for non-testers - see bottom of the post!

Here’s what AEG has to say about each of the products:

PRO STEAM WASHING MACHINE
"Introducing the sharp shirt protector: Maintaining your professional look day to day should be effortless. Our ProSteam® Technology means that your shirts look sharp for longer by enabling you to reduce creases by up to one third. Cutting down on dry-cleaning and ironing means less wear on fibres. Keeping your clothes looking and feeling impeccable, every day.

SOFT WATER WASHING MACHINE
It’s the little black dress guardian: Imagine a washing machine that you can trust to keep your colours as vibrant and blacks as bold as the day you bought them. At last, there is no need to compromise performance for care. Because for the first time ever, you’ll achieve the thorough clean of a 60-degree wash at just 30 degrees. Maintaining the colour, shape and feel of every garment. Wash after wash. It’s more than a washing machine. It’s the guardian of your clothes.

ABSOLUTECARE TUMBLE DRYER
It’s the wool sweater guardian: Now you can tumble dry everything you wash. From the softest wool sweater to an everyday business shirt or ski jacket. Dryers with the AbsoluteCare® System have tailored programming to precisely control the movement and temperature of the drying cycle. Preventing shrinkage. Maintaining shape. Restoring waterproofing. Redefining tumble drying for every fabric in your wardrobe. Comparable with flat drying of wool.”

Testers, please post your answers to the questions below on the feedback thread. Please specify which product you tested when you give your feedback

All testers please answer:

• What were your first impressions of the AEG product you tested?

Testers, please answer specific questions below for the product you tested.

AbsoluteCare dryer: T8DEC946R

• What are your thoughts on the texture and softness of your clothes from using an AEG machine?
• Have you noticed a difference in the drying results, did you experience even drying across the load?
• While using the Absolute Care Tumble Dryer, did you dry your woolen or outdoor clothes with the specific programmes? Were you satisfied with the result?
• How would you compare your experience with the previous tumble dryer you had?
• On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being “very likely”, how likely are you to recommend your AEG appliance to a friend?
• Do you find the machine user-friendly? Is it quiet and easy to use?
• How would you compare the energy-efficiency of this machine to your previous machine?

ProSteam washer: L7FEE945R

• Did you use the “steam refresh” programme in your Pro-Steam washing machine? Did you notice a difference in level of creasing?
• What benefits do you find in the ProSteam programme?
• What did you think about the steamwash programme?
• What are your thoughts on the texture and softness of your clothes from using an AEG machine?
• Have you noticed a difference in the softness and freshness of your clothes with the SoftPlus option?

Softwater washer: L9FEC946R

• Did you notice a marked difference in the look and feel of your clothing, after washing with softwater?
• Have you noticed a difference in the distribution of softener/ conditioner?
• What other options did you use when washing with the SoftWater machine?
• Do you feel more confident about washing your wardrobe in an AEG Softwater washer as compared to a washer from another brand?

This is a question for non-testers

Non-testers: what one feature on your washing machine couldn't you deal without?

All non testers who post below will be entered into a prize where one person will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Tester-ProSteam washer: L7FEE945R

• What were your first impressions of the AEG product you tested?

First thing I noticed was the large drum window size, much larger than my old one. The 9kg drum size was one of the things I was most excited about with this machine.

The white casing and silver and black control panel look sleek and modern. The control panel has a large turning dial to select the main programmes and press buttons and touch screen buttons to add options (e.g eco, time save) or to amend standard programmes (e.g spin, temperature). The machine is deeper than my old one, which is presumably because of the larger drum.

Before I first started to use the machine I had a quick look at the user manual. The manual specifies maximum loads. I was disappointed to read that the recommended maximum load for synthetics was 4kg. This is usually the programme I do most of the family wash on and if I am only able to do 4kg at a time, despite the 9kg drum, it will certainly increase the amount of washes I have to do. Read on and you can fill it more but not recommended for the optimum wash. Before starting I also looked at the approximate programme durations and was surprised at how long they were-200 minutes for cottons and 130 minutes for synthetics. These can be reduced using the "Time save" option. There is a 20 minute quick wash programme which has a 3kg max load which will be useful for last minute school uniform washes.

• Did you use the “steam refresh” programme in your Pro-Steam washing machine? Did you notice a difference in level of creasing?

Yes used it for one of my husband's jackets that we would normally have sent for dry cleaning. Yes there was a difference in creasing once the article had been taken out and hung. This programme is useful too for the kids' school blazers. Noted that this "steam refresh" programme does not perform any hygienic cycle but is useful for as it says a "refresh" .

• What benefits do you find in the ProSteam programme?

The "Steam" programme (commented on above) notes in the manual that it can be used for dried, washed or worn once laundry. It reduces creases and odours and relaxes the fibres. We will use as an alternative to dry cleaning for some things, although it says it shouldn't be used for any items that are not suitable for tumble drying which restricts its use (if you follow the guidance!)

There is also the option to add "plus steam" to any cotton or synthetic wash which adds a steam phase followed by a short anti crease phase at the end of the washing programme. Can see the benefits in this if it cuts down the ironing, see comments below on use.

• What did you think about the steamwash programme?

Used the "Plus steam" programme option with a synthetic wash. Clothes were wetter than they are coming out of a non steam wash, as would be expected. Shirts were hung up straight away and were easier to iron when dry. Need to weigh up the benefits of a longer dry for everything else versus less creasing for the few items that needed ironing that were in there. Guess would work best with just the things you wanted to decrease creases/ironing time.

• What are your thoughts on the texture and softness of your clothes from using an AEG machine?

Texture and softness is marginally better but will need to use in longer term to see real benefits.

• Have you noticed a difference in the softness and freshness of your clothes with the SoftPlus option?

Manual says that the SoftPlus option should be set to optimise the fabric softener distribution and improve the fabric softness. It is suggested to use with fabric softener. I don't use fabric softener but did add "SoftPlus" as an option without using any. I didn't really notice any difference but given didn't use softener none was expected. This option increases programme duration again, which is not always practical on top of the standard cottons 200 minutes.

I have to use my short cycle when am washing my babies clothes or school uniform its quick easy and super sufficient when am juggling loads of jobs x

non tester - the time delay! I always put it on so just finished before i wake up or finish work

Non tester here! I couldn’t live without the quick 30• cycle on my machine, it’s a life saver for when you realise just how quick the washing pile has built up!

non tester-

it would have to be the daily wash setting on my machine. a life saver

I have the Samsung, eco bubble soak option it's great for outdoor sportswear and boys that play football for a club. It's great for getting out tough stains, and my boys are very particular about the appearance of their clothes. Eco Bubble Wash feature adds an extra half hour to the wash, but you can also choose how many wash cycles you want to control the length of the wash, and you can add rinse cycles or reduce them. It's great.

*Tester feedback

ProSteam washer: L7FEE945R

What were your initial impressions?
*
I thought the machine looked nice. The silver around the door of the drum looks smart and attractive (although it is situated in my garage so I don’t get to admire it every day).
The drum looks large.

There are more compartments in the liquid drawer than I am used to so I did have to read the manual to work out what went where...!

I like the maximum load indicator as I am definitely guilty of just shoving in as many clothes as I can and don’t really have any gauge of how full my machine normally is.

I was pleased the machine has a delay start function as we use it often to load the machine in the evening and have it washed and ready to hang up/out as soon as we get up in the morning.

The fact that the synthetic load is recommended only up to 4kg is a bit disappointing on a machine with a maximum 9kg load but I imagine we will mainly be ignoring that and accepting a slightly substandard wash if necessary.

I was also pleased there was a quick (20 minute) wash. Handy for those times you realise school uniform is still unwashed the night before it’s needed.

Did you use the “steam refresh programme in your Pro-Steam washing machine? Did you notice a difference in the level of creasing?

My DH very excitedly ran upstairs and took all of his dry, unironed t-shirts out of his wardrobe to put them in on the steam wash. His feedback is that they came out far less creased than they were beforehand. Good enough to hang up and wear without ironing (and he is quite fussy).

I haven’t used the function otherwise and don’t think I will as a matter of course on a normal wash (especially because it extends the length of what is already a fairly long wash cycle) but I do think it’ll be handy for when the ironing pile builds up (we aren’t fans of ironing!) if it’s going to then make everything good enough to wear...

*What are your thoughts on the texture and softness of your clothes from using an AEG machine?
*
I did think clothes felt slightly softer. The spin didn’t seem as ferocious as my old machine although the clothes did seem to come out equally dry. I’m hoping this might support the longevity of the fabrics of our clothes.

*Have you noticed a difference in the softness and freshness of your clothes with the SoftPlus option?
*
I used this setting on towels and bedding and did think there was a slight improvement in the softness of the washed items. However, the improvement wasn’t huge and I’m not sure I would swallow the lengthened washtime in order to have slightly softer materials on a regular basis.
*
*

Non tester. I love the delayed start on mine, so I can get it to start before we wake and it finishes just as I'm free to hang it up, so it doesn't sit about in the washer for ages going musty.

Thank you @ColdCottage :-) Further update coming tomorrow!

Non tester - I couldn't love without the refresh and decrease programmes on my machine. They are just brilliant for DHs suits, things that got creased in the ironing pile (really reduces the effort), coats and much more

Non-tester.
I too, love the delayed start on my machine as it's great to have clean washing to hang out first thing (rather than having to do the wash the night before or having to wait until morning.)
Also as my machine is an eco model you don't need to use as much washing powder, which saves me money.

Non tester - quickwash cycle to wash school uniform in time for the next day when kids have got dirty. Absolute lifesaver.

Non tester:

I never knew what bliss was until I recently got my new machine which had a delayed timer

It is a thing of the gods

Non tester.
I couldn't do without the quick wash function, I don't want to wait 2 hours for one load of clothes to wash haha

Non tester
After reading some of these reviews I wish my washing machine had a quick 30min cycle....
The feature I love on my current washing machine is the delayed start so I can either wake up to a freshly washed load or come home from work to one, ready to hand on the line.

Non-tester - I have a button on my machine to speed up any wash cycle. Marvellous!

Non tester

The quick wash us a very useful button in this house! If I quickly need to wash / rinse something through or freshen something up, this does the job in suoer fast time!

Non Tester- the quick wash setting!

Non tester:
A quick hot wash mainly so I can get dps work clothes clean from tyre dough.

Non tester, the silent spin of the direct drive.

Non tester: the one feature I wouldn't do without is the option to do a gentle wash. I hate wearing synthetics. I hate handwashing. So having gentle cycles and being able to adjust standard cycles to make them more gentle enables me to wear wool and silk.

Obviously this assumes that the machine has all the standard features!

I’m intrigued by the idea of a steam refresh!

Non tester...
Ours is a washer dryer, the dryer part is so helpful. We don't have room ATM for a separate dryer and being able to dry bits rather than have them hanging up around the house is great

Non Tester- Quick wash and Crease Guard!

Non-tester - I don't use many fancy features on my washing machine, but one I do like is the extra spin function. Especially in the winter when drying clothes is more difficult, it is useful to be able to spin away extra excess water.