Washing machines for lots of laundry

[struwellpeter]

Woe is me, the engineer has decreed that my 8 year old Bosch Maxx will not be recovering from its senior moments and I shall have to do the whole sorry business of new machine...

Can you give me any words of wisdom on which machines have worked long and hard for you? I reckon I do at least 12 loads a week (maybe more) and I am prepared to splash out for a quality bit of kit if I think it will do the job for many years.( But want VFM!)

I don't want a top loader as I had unsatisfactory laundry experiences for a whole year with one (might as well have stirred the washing with a wooden spoon).

While we're about it any comments on capacity or spin speeds? Is bigger really better?!

[NorktasticNinja]

Miele washing machines are super quality and last forever, I 'know' several teenage ones that are still going strong!

Mine has got a 1600 spin which means the washing dries a lot quicker. They are all A+ rated for energy efficiency which would save you a fortune in electricity compared with a less efficient machine, considering how much washing you have.

[NorktasticNinja]

Oh, and the 'honeycomb drum' is fab, the fabrics seem to get worn less quickly than they did with my old machine which had a traditional drum.

[TheMadHouse]

We have a direct drive LG 8kg one and it is fantastic. I had my old bocsh for over 11 years and was in total mourning.

[kittywise]

We have the biggest Bosch on the market, it does 3 loads a day, everyday!
It's a 9kg drum, my smaller kids could happily sleep in it!
it's a great machine.

[struwellpeter]

Hello, everyone, thanks for the replies. Have now discovered this website www.washerhelp.co.uk. So there is someone else who takes washing machines as seriously as I do!

Am tempted by the Mieles, have to admit it. Will have to persuade dh that it really would be worth it.

[Madmentalbint]

My mum and dad had a Miele. They bought it when my sister was born and it lasted until she was 21.

I would love one of those massive top loaders like they have in the USA. When we were in Florida there was one in our villa, which completed a standard cycle in 13 minutes!

[sorkycakey]

How long does a Bosch last I wonder?
Mine is still going strong at 10 years old, but when it does go I'll need something a bit bigger I think.
I do at least 2 washloads a day too.
It's been a very good servant so far

[GaribaldiGirl]

just got new bosch 9kg drum thing and it's a wonder. it replaced a bosch which had lasted 7 years, used about 8 times a week (and managed seriously filthy, muddy loads of husbands mountain biking gear). am massive fan.

[frogs]

My Miele is 12 years old and has never gone wrong. My mum's Miele is 30 years old and only went wrong once (when we bunged it up with beach sand by putting a load of sandy towels and costumes in). My grandma had one which my cousin has now inherited, which I think is about the same age.

You can go for the bottom of the range one, you don't need it to light up like a christmas tree and make you cups of tea. You won't regret it.

[frogs]

Most washing machines have a life expectancy of 7 years. Miele ones are expected to last 25.

[scienceteacher]

We have a Hoover 7kg/1600rpm. We are a family of 7. It does the business, despite DCs not checking pockets and putting in loads of coins.

[sunshineday]

after going through 3 w/m in three years we bought a Miele washing machine and I think they are well worth the extra money had it 5 years now and not had a single problem with it. Have also got a Miele
dryer which is good.

[bronze]

Another with an LG. My first washing machine 8 years old and still going strong.

[sorkycakey]

25 years!?! Really that long frogs?

slight hijack but have a smeg d/washer which will likely need replacing sooner than the washer. Is a Miele worth the extra money there too?

[curlywurlycremeegg]

I have a Dyson, works well, we do about 3 loads a day, large capacity drum. However I don't think they make them anymore and the coin trap is a bugger to open.

[sunshineday]

sorkycakey we have the Miele d/washer and we find it is good. I like the top tray for the cutlery it washers them better then putting them in the baskets on the bottom tray, and that leaves more room on the bottom for pans /more dishes ect

[duchesse]

curlywurly- they've changed the design of the coin trap door now- it now comes with little wings for easier turning. Having said that, I love my Dyson, and with as many as 2 or 3 adults and anything up to 6 children in the house at any one time we hardly ever have to run it more than once a day.

Big American washers are rather fab though tbh, even if they do use a fair amount of water. They run for a fraction of the time of European washers and wash way better than most. Also the driers are fab. But it's a question of balancing the cost of your time loading and unloading a smaller machine against the increased running costs.

[duchesse]

oh and I bought our Dyson in 2000 and it's still going strong. Have had to call the engineer a couple of times when rubber bands went through it - it's almost the only pocket item that requires the services of the engineer. The brilliant and not very well known thing about dyson engineers is that their work is guaranteed for a year, and they come out free of charge (including most parts) for the rest of the year if anything else goes wrong. My washer has had its software updated several times that has made it a few minutes faster since we bought it.

[mulranno]

Most important thing is drum capacity...I assumed big drum meant bigger machine...but i doesnt...we had a standard 6kg drum...new machine is 10kg...do half as many loads...always on top of washing now...sometimes even waiting for a full load!!