HELP ! Which washing machine ?

Silvertabby

Again, biased, but I really rate my Miele.  It isn't one of the most expensive options, but it still has the cast iron counterweight instead of the usual concrete blocks (which can break up and damage the drum over time).  It's really quiet, even on top spin, and doesn't shudder or try to tap dance across the utility room floor.

Mine is 8kg, which is ample for us.  It also has a weight sensor, so a light load will take less time than the programme selected.

Bigphil1474

We've had a few over the years, and tbh they've been pretty much of a muchness. My favourite was an LG but it was totally unsuitable for our suspended wooden floor in the old house. Our newer house has a concrete floor and it would have been great here. That was all singing and dancing. We currently have a Smeg integrated machine which was left by the previous owners. It's okay. We've had Hoover before that, and I can't white remember the one before that.

The last machine we had at the old house was a Bosch Series 4 - if I was gonna get a new free standing machine, I would probably start looking at Bosch first.

ic

My 11kg LG can take a 10.5tog Superking duvet - the 9kg model it replaced couldn't.  Its standard wash time at 30 or 40 degrees is 60 mins, and at 60 degrees is 90 mins.  I've never run it at 90 degrees to know how long that takes.  Its turbowash cycle is 14 mins.  Its much quieter than the model it replaced.  It came with a 5 year manufacturer warranty.  I also like the auto-dose feature - throw in the clothes and hit go, it then automatically adds the amount of detergent and softener as required to suit the size of the load.

Something to note, fast washes are meant for small loads.  If you're using it for full basket loads, you're unlikely getting anything really clean.  New machines use so little water as its cheaper to heat a small amount then be very through with it - a quick wash just tosses the clothes around in a puddle, rinse and spin.  They'll also come out wetter as the spin cycle is shorter - meaning if you use a dryer, they'll take longer to dry (and the dryer costs more to run).

Cisco001

LG or Samsung usually has 5 years warranty.
Midrange usual pick would be Bosch or AEG

P.S. I saw someone post a LG 9kg for £260 on hukd

And just to remind you quick programme may only suitable for half load.
For example, my 8kg Bosch could do full load 8kg in cotton or Eco which takes 3hr +.
Shorter programme like mixed fabric or dark wash only do 4kg, which takes 1 hr - 1.25 hr.

Albermarle

Cisco001 said:

LG or Samsung usually has 5 years warranty.
Midrange usual pick would be Bosch or AEG

P.S. I saw someone post a LG 9kg for £260 on hukd

And just to remind you quick programme may only suitable for half load.
For example, my 8kg Bosch could do full load 8kg in cotton or Eco which takes 3hr +.
Shorter programme like mixed fabric or dark wash only do 4kg, which takes 1 hr - 1.25 hr.

I have to say that we regularly put more than 4KG in the Mixed fabrics one hour wash on our Siemens machine ( not rammed full but definitely more than 4Kg) 
I notice though that it senses this and actually runs the programme a bit longer.

jennifernil

We have been a “Bosch family” for many years now.   

When DS got married in 1998 we treated them to a Bosch machine, they only replaced it about 3 years back, no idea what they have now, must check next time we visit.
When DD needed a new washing machine in her first flat, back in 2004, she bought a Bosch, it only failed in July this year.  She bought another Bosch from John Lewis, came with a 5 year warranty.

Both families have 2 kids, so lots of washing.

We have had a few different machines over the last 50 plus years…..Philips, Electrolux, Blomberg, and now Bosch, got it about 8 years back I think.
We also have a Bosch hob, dishwasher, and fridges and freezers.  Oven is AEG, as is tumble dryer.

It has been said that “they do not make them like they used to”, we shall see.

Our WM takes about 75 minutes to do a 60 degree “speed perfect” wash, over 2 hours on normal.  It does also have a 15 minute quick wash, but I never use that as I do not believe that the clothes would be properly clean.   I wash most things at 60 degrees, use the machine when our panels are generating.  We got this particular model as it has a 1600 spin speed, and is very quiet in use.  1600 spin speed seems rare these days.

Albermarle

When DS got married in 1998 we treated them to a Bosch machine, they only replaced it about 3 years back, no idea what they have now, must check next time we visit.
When DD needed a new washing machine in her first flat, back in 2004, she bought a Bosch, it only failed in July this year.  
Both families have 2 kids, so lots of washing.

Difficult to believe that a heavily used washing machine could last 25 years, unless it had some repairs along the way. Normally, the bushes on the electric motor would need replacing a couple of times at least.

Our last machine was a Siemens ( in theory very similar to a Bosch but a bit more expensive). It did get a lot of use ( 15/20 washes a week ), and the bushes needed replacing after 6 years, and the bearings went after about 9 years, which effectively meant the end of its life. From research at the time, this longevity was approx what was expected.

MyRealNameToo

Silvertabby said:

Again, biased, but I really rate my Miele.  It isn't one of the most expensive options, but it still has the cast iron counterweight instead of the usual concrete blocks (which can break up and damage the drum over time).  It's really quiet, even on top spin, and doesn't shudder or try to tap dance across the utility room floor.

Mine is 8kg, which is ample for us.  It also has a weight sensor, so a light load will take less time than the programme selected.

Plus the paddles are part of the drum not something riveted on afterwards. The different programs actually make a difference both in the machines function and the outcome etc. I wouldnt however call them middle market as dont know anyone that goes above their £2,300 for their top of the line model. On other kitchen appliances you have Wolf/SubZero etc which make Miele look cheap but they dont play in the laundry space.

Albermarle said:

Our last machine was a Siemens ( in theory very similar to a Bosch but a bit more expensive). 

In most products it goes way beyond similar to Bosch, they are the same product with some minor differences in the looks to match the design language of Bosch, Siemens and Neff, for some products that simply the brand they stamp on the outside but most are a touch more different in looks. 

Not all retailers stock all models but if you look at AO you can see they have the identical machine and you are literally paying an extra £20 to have Siemens rather than Bosch on the outside, every feature, the look, even the odd silver colour version is identical. 

We bought a Bosch washer dryer as I used to get a decent corporate discount on them. I would never recommend a washer dryer if there is anyway you can have separate machines as there are significant compromises in doing so. It lasted 5.5 years before the water pump died and 6 months after that it started smoking so was consigned to the dump. We spent much more on separate washer/dryer from Miele but just having the seperate machines has saved so much time. A load from dry/dirty to dry/clean with the old machine was easily 5 hours, now its under 2 hours plus the second load can be washing whilst the first is drying plus it uses so much less power. 

The one thing the OP hasn't commented on but I'd add... spin speed is really important. Clothes come out so much dryer on a 1,600 RPM machine than the old 1,300 RPM

Jumblebumble

Silvertabby said:

Again, biased, but I really rate my Miele.  It isn't one of the most expensive options, but it still has the cast iron counterweight instead of the usual concrete blocks (which can break up and damage the drum over time).  It's really quiet, even on top spin, and doesn't shudder or try to tap dance across the utility room floor.

Mine is 8kg, which is ample for us.  It also has a weight sensor, so a light load will take less time than the programme selected.

+1 for Miele
Ours was purchaced early 2014
It has been used a lot by between 4 and 6 adults
Only problem drive belt snapped 2021 which I changed myself
Otherwise as quiet and good as new

casper_gutman

I've seen plenty of people elsewhere saying the long cycles on modern washing machines can't be energy efficient. They couldn't be more wrong! The 40 degree Eco wash on mine takes forever, but somehow uses (according to the manufacture and to independent reviews) half as much energy as the standard 20 degree wash. Unless you look up the figures you can really have no idea.