Does a £229 washing machine wash as good as a £599 one?

GreyQueen

I'm "driving" a Bosch Classixx WF02467 which cost £287 in Oct 2005. At the time, I was using the Which? magazine from the library (you'll find a folder of them in the reference section) and this was the Best Buy among the cheaper machines. They rated it very good for cleaning ability, energy efficiency and water use (I'm on a meter) and I've found it so. Their only criticism was that it's noisy on the spin cycle, which is certainly true, but I'm able to run it at sociable hours. No problems so far.

I've used a variety of powders and the only one which was worthless and which I won't ever buy again was "Daisy" from Sainsbury's which was useless even on lightly-soiled stuff. Am currently using "Formil" (a Lidl brand which the Which? magazine rates as second only to Ariel/ Persil). It's fine and I wash at 30 degrees.

Secret intelligence from the independant repair company who look after Mum's washers (20+ years of working realtionship) is;

1. Miele make the best washers.
2. Liquid detergents trash your machine.
3. Anti-limescale products are worthless (we're in v. hard water area btw).
4. Overloading machine biggest cause of premature death.
5. Underwires from bras often disable washers (they go thru the holes in the drum and get into the works.
6. New washers of most brands are being made with inferior intenal components (what was stainless steel is now plastic). *
7. Washers DO EAT SOCKS. They can get around the back of the drum.

* This company have a standing request that if Mum replaces her 10 year old + Bosch, can they have it, dead or alive. Which tell me that it is considerably better than a new Bosch.......

Pitlanepiglet

Our Zanussi is at least 18 years old, probably a bit more. I thought it was on its last legs as it wasn't getting things cleaned but after a bit of investigation it was clear that on some programmes it isn't taking in enough water, so we now tip a bucket of water in through the powder drawer at the start of each wash. (we're on metered water but not charged at meter rates as they can't actually fit one so water isn't a huge issue for us).

It now seems to be working fine, I've also started putting it on for a second spin cycle as it's not a very fast spin, double spinning seems to be helping with drying times.

MrsBartolozzi

I noticed that I'd posted in this thread back in 2008 and just wanted to add that my Zanussi machine is still going strong after 18 years and 3 months!!
Like Pitlane piglet I do a double spin for heavy items and towels as mine is only 1200rpm.

CrazyNerd

I love my Miele, had a Hotpoint Aquarius, but it only lasted 2 years.
I really hate the inconvenience of a broken washer, so bought the best one I could afford.

tigerfeet2006

I only seem to get an average of 3 years out of any WM's that we get. The most I have ever got is 6 years. Though with a family of 5 and having 'proper' boys I do a lot of washing.

happy35

i am on my 4th washing machine in 16 years, I have bought a Siemens machine this time and think it is excellent and definitely washes better than my last one.

I bought this one for £500 in the sale and it comes with a 5 year parts and labout guarantee so am really happy with it.

I cant stand being without a machine even though I can use my mams machine at any time it means that I cant get on with other things when the clothes are washing

BUXTONRABBIT

I bought a Bosch washer dryer 9 years ago. No problems so far touch wood. The dryer is useless however. I think it cost nearly £600 which was a lot at the time. Think I will try for a Miele next time as you all recommend it. As to washing powder I always used Sainsburys basic bio and thought the washing was clean but started buying Persil when on offer and there is no doubt washing is a lot cleaner.

Turtle

We bought the cheapest washer in the shop 9.5 years ago, it's a Hotpoint. Never had a minutes problem with it (famous last words). It does 6-7 loads a week including some very dirty rugby kit for 8 months of the year. I didn't know that liquid stuff is not good for the machine though - I swapped to it because it was a lot 'cleaner' to use than getting bits of powder everywhere, and it takes up a lot less room in the cupboard, but not sure whether to go back to powder now...

seraphina

We bought the cheapest we could find when we moved in together in 2003 - about £200 for a Hotpoint Aquarius Extra. We even borrowed the shop's sack trolley to bring it home to save on delivery...it has never missed a beat. It's routinely overloaded with towels, it copes with the mucky clothes H uses for working in the garage as well as my best linen napkins. Only thing I'd like is a timer as we're now on Economy 7 - it won't work of a timer on the socket either.
On the back of this, I'd buy another cheapy Hotpoint rather than splash out on a Miele.
We briefly used a Bosch Excel which was in one of our rented properties -after two washes we swopped our Hotpoint back in. The Excel's drum was tiny!

shegar

I always use to have hotpoint models, but after so many bearings wearing out one thing another I went for LG, best washer ive ever owned, had nothing go wrong with that in the 9 yrs ive had it, its a good machine, I have got a water softner installed and I do believe they give you a lot extra years on a machine, plus I use a lot less washing powder .......... are water is so hard here, everything turns white when the water touch it ,, its that hard.............but I do think my next machine will be a Miele or I may stay with LG..........................