There are a few responses but the stand out reply is from Jan3182001,

“Miele all the way.

20 min short cycle / hygiene wash for nappies plus water plus on most cycles too
quiet motor / 5 year parts and labour warranty included sometimes extended to 10 years for no extra – mine is / 24 hour delay start / tells you how long is left / can open door part way through / child lock / pillow cycle / trainers cycle / stain settings / can change temperature and spin even after programme has started / 1600 rpm and no spin options /
mine is AAA rated.”

Quite a list. Are you ‘Miele all the way’? Have any experience of washing cloth nappies? Then offer Freyarose your advice on the washing machine help thread on Cloth Nappy Tree.

Gaz W provides Miele as the best option for car care, but Mr Scisco, while aware of Miele’s domestic prowess is concerned about the weight of commercial use for detailing. However Gaz W says not to worry,

“Miele copes fine for me, mine is god knows how many years old and still works like new. Only thing it’s ever had are replacement filters and bags when it needs it.”

Have you used a Miele for looking after the interior of your car? Maybe the S4812 Hybrid? If so leave us a comment below.

There is discussion taking in various brands of vacuum cleaner and what the experiences of each have been like on the thread. On Miele though Sillybuttons despite not owning the Cat and Dog model recommends it,

“[I] can totally recommend the Miele, I have one and it is brilliant, and mine isn’t the pet one. Suction is great though!”

Also Dolce answers a question on whether the Cat and Dog has a bag or not and also, as an asthma sufferer, suggests the Miele model,

“[…] we have the Miele Cat & Dog Turbo 500 and it has a bag. I’m also asthmatic (yes, with 2 cats!!) and since getting the Miele I haven’t had any problems; it’s brilliant for cleaning down sofa’s and curtains too (3 hose attachments).”

Have you used the Miele Cat and Dog vacuum cleaner?

“I am not sure if I want another pull along one again or not, they are easier for vacuuming under beds sofas, 10 seater dining tables!!!”

So what is it for you? What do you prefer? The answers on the thread offer plenty of advice on both types but it is Angel D(7) who goes that bit further and places Miele in the mix,

“[…] if money allows and you want a vacuum that will actually pick up dust (how novel!), last for more than 5 years, not burn your house down / take the skin off your legs with heat and take a few knocks, BUY A MIELE!!!!

Upright OR pull-along. You won’t regret it!”

To read the full conversation visit the NetMums thread – Upright or pull-along.

“I just need a recommendation for a bagless cylinder reasonably lightweight vacuum cleaner for mainly wooden floors but with some carpet & rugs.”

Despite the request for bagless a few members have advised not being too hasty dismissing the alternative, especially when it comes to the Miele Cat and Dog. Jazzlet praises its ability to deal with laminate,

“I have to say that I rarely vacuum the laminate as it’s quicker to whip round with a broom, but it does a great job when I do. And it picks up the difficult combination of long human hair and short dog hair from the carpets with no trouble.”

When it comes to the bag issue mcclurgs suggests it isn’t as bigger problem as one may think,

“I am a massive Miele Cat and Dog fan, yep it comes with bags but the job it does is unbelievable. I have 3 dogs and empty the bag maybe once a month.”

And on page two of the thread Janice, who believes her Miele Cat and Dog upright cleaner is the best she’s ever owned, thinks bags are an advantage,

“It’s not bagless, but having the bag is a bonus in my opinion … bagless cleaners are very messy, and spew dust everywhere when you empty them. Everything that goes into the Miele dust bag stays there, 100 per cent.”

Have you got a preference when it comes to bag or bagless? A tip for battling dog hair? Or an opinion on the above? Let us know in the comments…

Pictures courtesy of Park and Cube

This is an exciting chance to win a backstage pass to the Jasper Garvida catwalk show at London Fashion Week in partnership with Miele, manufacturers of the ultimate laundry appliances. You will also have the opportunity to see Jasper in action, spend some time back stage with the fabulous Hannah from Push PR and watch the show from front of house. It will be an opportunity to experience fashion week first hand and get a view of what a catwalk show is all about. Great for your blog too!

To enter simply write an 150 word seasonal rundown about the AW10 Jasper Garvida. You can be as creative as you like. Once finished, please email it to the lovely Roxy@foreverbetter.co.uk.

All entries will be reviewed after the closing date, with the winner being  contacted via email. Deadline for entries is the 13th of September 2010 and the winner will be announced on the 15th of September.

Good Luck!

Among the line-up was the Miele G5720 SC Dishwasher which, when the cycles had run and the last drops of water dried, came out on top scoring four out of five Gadget Show Gs.

To see exactly what was involved in the test watch the video here and if you want to review the G5720 SC you can do so on The Gadget Show website.

“Does anyone own a Miele – if so, what is the general experience with them in terms of reliability?”

Quite a few responses have come in and on the whole have been positive. Goat is unsure of the model number but doesn’t let that discourage him from offering his experiences to the thread,

“Very pleased with my Miele. Not sure on the model number but it was the cheapest that John Lewis sold at the time – about £500 if I recall correctly, really has been faultless.”

And maybe the most striking recommendation comes from Treebirch,

“I have had quite a bit of experience with Miele on super yachts, generally they are industry standard based on the fact they are pretty much the only machine that can run 24/7, use very little water, make minimal noise and clock up epic usage. Last year I heard of one that had done 25,000 hours, getting rolled around on a busy charter sailing boat! Impressive!”

If you want to read the full thread just click on through, or if you have an opinion to share leave a comment below.

Some items of clothing are reasonably rugged and are designed to stand up to repeat washes, but the more delicate and expensive items can be difficult and expensive to replace, frustratingly so when it has been your washing machine that has done most of the damage. As a rule of thumb it is safe to assume that if you opt for a machine that comes from a respected, established brand and pay a little more than you might for a generic, low-cost machine, you should be extending the life of your hard earned and often irreplaceable items. When looking at washing machines, there are also other clothing care considerations.

One aspect of a washing machine that can have an impact on the lifespan of your clothes is its spin speed. You might reasonably assume that machines with high spin speeds will do more damage to your clothes in the long run. However, the opposite is actually true. This is because the centrifugal force created by a higher spin speed will force the clothes up tight against the side of the drum. The lower the speed, the more likely it is that clothes will work loose and rub against each other. This friction associated with lower spin speeds damages the fabric.

Washing machines are available in both front loading and top loading form. If you choose a top loader, you will be likely to suffer shorter clothing lifespan simply because the method of removing dirt is different. Front loading washing machines use internal blades to pick up the clothes and then let the power of gravity drop them gently down once they reach the top, allowing the soap to permeate the material without causing unnecessary stress to the fabric. In top loaders, the blades spin and use mechanical force to literally beat the dirt from the clothes. This increase in force wears the fabric quickly and is consequently harsher on your least resilient garments. As you might expect, a gentler wash results in longer life for your clothes.

If thus far you are convinced that a high quality washing machine with a fast spin cycle and a front loading design is for you, there is one further consideration to take on board if you are worried about damage to your clothes. Many better quality washing machines have a variety of modes and wash cycles which can drastically alter the way in which your clothes are treated. Gentle wash cycles which use low water temperatures are ideal for fragile items and washing your delicates separately from rather more abrasive materials such as denim will further minimise friction inside the drum and keep your clothes looking and feeling brand new.

Here’s what he has to say about it so far:

“Yes it’s pricey but I hope I get just as much longevity as other Miele customers. With this I got 4 bags free and about another 5 at discount.”

He continues to list his favourite things about the new vacuum:

“What I like:

- Turbo Brush
- Parking slot for tube (you know what women are like)
- Adjustable tube (makes hoovering a breeze)
- Included 2 other head for hard floors & wooden
- 3 accessories inside the unit.
- 10 year warranty promotion covering mechanical failure for small fee”

More vacuum advice and the rest of the thread can be found here.