Washing Machine websites - PLEASE

[crystaltips]

My machine has just "boiled" all my clothes - it has served me well though so I can't complain.
I have looked at the recent threads on these wretched appliances - but feel that I should do my homework and find out what the different brands have to offer.
Do any of you know of any good websites that will give me a low-down of what each model does. Then I can start trying to find the best price ...

Thanks

I bet they came out clean lol!!!

Good cheap electrical goods here www.empiredirect.co.uk/

THIS IS THE BEST WEBSITE!
My advice is not to buy an all singing all dancing computer controled model.
Buy something basic with a half load function.
Anyone got a Dyson washer (my friend loves hers) or an American top loader?

This site, Cheap Washing Machines looks like it compares all makes and models for price etc.

I have an American top loader (what a surprise) Whirlpool! I love it. I prefer the way it washes clothes. I thnk it's much kinder to the clothes than the european style washers. Also a wash only takes 1/2 hour as it has a hot water feed and you don't have to wait for it to heat up the water and because the clothes don't sit in the same water for long periods of time, you don't get as much of a problem with colors bleeding onto other clothes as you do with the european washers. It fits twice as much as a normal european washer (20 lbs vs. 10 lbs) so you do half as many washes. Though on mine you can set it to do a small wash too. It's also nice to be able to add something to the wash after it has started (like the sock you dropped on the way to the washer). You have to put it in a utility room though as it doesn't fit under a counter in a kitchen. The dryer is great too and since it is so big (also 20 lbs), it unwrinkles your clothes and very little needs to be ironed afterwards.

Happy New year folks.We're looking at tumble dryers in the sales-want a condenser one.Can you give me your good recommendations before we buy.Which is the best make?It's been a long time since we bought a big thing new.Is Indesit any good?Or is it best to stick with a hoover one?Any thoughts would be great.

Indesit - no, no, NO!!!!!! I have an Indesit washer/dryer which is basically just a small washing machine now! Got sooooooooo fed up calling them out to 'fix' the dryer bit that wouldn't go near, if I had the space, a condenser or an Indesit!

ogormans.co.uk sell US appliances at what seem very reasonable prices. I'd love a big US tumble dryer but have only a large cupboard to put it in and want a condenser I can just plug in - the US ones need hard wiring (???) and venting etc. I think Comet is the cheapest chain though I saw a condenser dryer in Currys today for £189 which I was tempted by also several models featuring crease release programmes for less than £250. It think that's my new Year's resolution to get a big new fridge and a tumble dryer to improve my life.

Both currys and comet have good websites. currys.co.uk and comet.co.uk which outline all the features and let you edit so you see, for example, condenser models only.

Tinker,that was a bit loud there-you've confirmed what I had a suspicion about-there was something niggling me about indesit that's why I mentioned it.It was a good bargin in the sale but for some reason I'm sure I heard something about them but can't remember much-it was ages ago.Perhaps I won't have that one then.My dh said that I should just go this afternoon and get any one and he would trust my judgement.Being a libran I can't just go in and decide just like that-it takes time to way things up so I knew you lot here would know.

Hi Aloha,was posting at same time as you.Washing pile is as high as ceiling after xmas and dh always gets fed up with washing on radiators-how about less ironing too(I'm a bit excited)!Hmm crease release sounds good.Perhaps I should check out there tables on the web first so I know exactly what I want from a machine first.This could take a while.Thanks for suggestions.Any body can give me there favourite makes too please.

I have a Creda Reversair Automatic, which I have had for 3 years (was about £139 I think). It has a sensor that tells you when the clothes are dry enough and goes into cool down mode. I've been very pleased with it until the sensor failed just before christmas and now I have to turn the dial and hope that I have chosen the correct amount of time. I now quite often have under/over dried clothes. It is a vented model though rather than a condenser.

The mini ones are not very energy efficient because you can't put a full load in them but they still take almost the same amount of time to do the work. I'm also told that these condensing boxes that the gadget catalogues sell aren't worth having - they involve freezing ice blocks to condense the steam and are a pain in the neck.

We've got an hotpoint aquarius which is fine (nothing good or bad to say really). We have had it five years and successfully reclaimed our guarentee money from Comet/Currys (??) which I'm quite chuffed about. I am now too worldly wise to bother with these guarentees that they always try to hard sell but the dryer was only our second major electrical purchase after the fridge-freezer.

Hi,

We have a Creda condenser and have had it for over 3 years now and so far so good. We also have a Creda washing machine (7-8 years old). I recently had it serviced and the electrician commented that Creda are one of the best value washing machines (i.e. not overly expensive but very reliable). In terms of internet sites try www.unbeatable.co.uk. They are normally the cheapest website around and come heavily recommended by the Consumer's association. I've used them a couple of times and they've always been extremely helpful and very efficient. Good luck

I have always had a Creda Reversair, or an Electra version of it, for nearly 20 years now - 2 machines - absolutely excellent. (Eek - shouldn't have said that!) Mine hasn't got a sensor or an automatic refresh tumble but even if things are still a bit damp when it's finished and they sit there for hours, another 10-20 minutes does the job. (It's the reversing part that makes the difference.)

If you have access to a window or can vent through an outside wall then you don't need a condensor machine but even if they cost quite a bit more it's probably worth it.

We've got a Hotpoint Aquarius condenser and my only gripe is that it doesn't allow you to delay the start to work on cheap night time electricity. It has no delay and doesn't work with a timer plug.

I still swear by my Admiral (Maytag) American Dryer!!!!
Aloha, hardwiring only means that instead of plugging it in, the wires go into a junction box. Though I'm sure that mine is not hardwired. The venting is just a flexible tube that can run for quite a distance. But you do need a hole to the outside for it eventually.

I have Zanussi condenser dryer, it is my second one, the first lasted 10 years until the motor burnt out, ( I NEVER hang out washing, it would be out for weeks, so the dryer on for about three hours a day!)

I also found that when I learned to put less clothes in the washing machine instead of jamming in as much as possible, the clothes were far less creased.

After tumble drying DS's T shirts all I have to do is fold them and they are fine. If he wants them ironed he'll do them in the press himself, but as they are on his bedroom floor after one wearing there dosen't seem a lot of point! School shirts come straight out the washer onto hangers and on the sheila maid in the laundry room. The boys are not allowed to take their blazers off at school, so a few creases don't show!

I love my Siemens washing machine as you can programme it to do anything!

I have had a Whirlpool American-style top loader for about 6 months due to huge amount of washing generated by 5 sons and DH.Very pleased with it-would recommend to anyone with larger family.Also have matching tumble drier but dh has yet to install it, so cannot comment on efficiency at present!

This is great,so I need reverse action-definately a condenser-it's too small in the kitchen so it's going in the spare room until madam decides she wants to sleep in her own room which she doesn't for a while.Need a fairly large one to get duvets in,think 6kg should do it.The hotpoint aquarius sounds nice.Want something thats reliable really.have had a candy washing machine for 4-5 yrs now without any trouble with it and have been pleased with it apart from it not doing a cold wash and being too small to get a duvet in,well we couldn't really have our pick back then-far too poor we were.Bozza I didn't know you could claim the guarantee money back?Wills I did look at unbeatable.co.uk and their prices are v good but the delivery charge was 29 and for some more expensive ones 49 pounds which puts up the price of it.Thanks for helping me choose.Would go and get one this afternoon but dd is not feeling well,I can't wait to get one now.

Can I say thanks too, because I'm looking for a condenser dryer as well, so it's all been v helpful to me!

I know you're not really interested,but we went for a hotpoint aquarius cream coloured one from currys.We can't have it for a week though.

Sounds lovely, star - I hope you'll all be very happy!

Hee hee

Not a washing machine but just found a fridge freezer £100 cheaper than Currys at www.directelectricals.co.uk