washing machines packed up - recommendations?

[Wendym]

What have you got, how long have you had it, any problems? I've read the American toploader one but it won't fit, need a standard British size. I've had a Hoover Logic wash/dry ( must be about 10 years old poor thing - RIP) but no longer need the drying facilty.

Faith, I think the age of your Zanussi is probably the explanation. They were better then!

And Caroline, your story bears out the "buy a simple one" theory...(COOP is wrong though. It is up to them.)

janh, I'm sure youre right. After our experience with the WM we bought a zanussi Aquasave dishwasher 2 years ago....it is useless! Several major repairs, and things often come out with a disgusting smear of pulverised gunk!

I second everyone's advice about buying a simple one. The less flashing lights and digital displays the better. I have a friend who has a Hotpoint machine with a digital display (bought about the same time as we bought the Miele) and she gets it repaired regularly, the last time the engineer discovered that the socket it was plugged into had a loose wire that was interferring with the machine and making it display odd messages!

Blimey, you've worried me now, all my electrical bits are Zanussi and apart from a failed door lock on the washing machine (Dd 6 months old at the time and all her stuff locked in machine) I've had no problems at all, 7 years on for w/m, d/w,& fridge - in fact the fridge freezer will be 12 this year amd the tumble dryer 10 !

Another Bosch fan here. Our old machine that we inherited with the house died, and I sent dh to buy another one (I was working then) - he bought a Bosch Maxx (was talked into it by the salesman) and I am SOO glad, it is brilliant! It is on between 7 - 15 times a week, including washing nappies, and is fantastic. I'm intrigued by the Lakeland ball too, and now I've heard good things about it I might give it a go!
So ... advice? My dishwasher is on its last legs! What should we go for??

I am in love with my Ariston washer dryer. It's called Marherita and is new, silver, cheap and in working order. My washing pile has halved. What more could one ask?

Scummymummy, you give your appliances NAMES???

susanmt, Bosch dishwashers are v good too and again quite cheap if you get a simple one.

Have you tried a local auction house? I bought my Bosch logicxx autosensor dishwasher (retail £450) for £150, brand new!

They often have things like Smeg fridges, Zanussi, Bosch, AEG appliance, all brand new but no packaging. They also guarantee them for a year, Sometimes they may have a slight scratch or dent on the side, we bought a Bosch fridge for one of our flats aand paid less than half the price of John Lewis.

There is one in St Albans, and one near Cambridge. The stock varies but they will often tell you when stuff is likely to come in It's also great fun bidding and getting a bargain!

Just thinking about this again (sad, I know). Have you tried the ads at the back of Good Housekeeping. We have purchased smeg appliances, dishwasher, oven, gas hob and extractor fan from two companies who advertise scratch and dent/end of line stuff. We have been delighted with them, the service provided by the companies has been great and the appliances cost about the same as cheap names from the likes of Currys.

Would love a smeg fridge, maybe next time!