Washing machines with reliable bearings

Over at Digital Spy LION8TIGER has been out of luck when it comes to washing machines, having bought two in the last four years, only to have them both suffer from the same fault – namely that the “bearings in the drum have gone, so the machine wasn’t only spinning round but also a bit up and down”.

And so while a number of users discuss whether the chaps housing situation is to blame, the obvious discussion point soon reached is ‘What washing machine to go for next?’ ajt1971 is keen to point out that “you get what you pay for” and offers up advice that he should “spend an extra £100ish when you buy it and get a Bosch/Siemens/AEG – or if you can afford it a Miele”.

Going on to say note that all the engineers he has spoken to have universally recommended Bosch/Siemens/AEG & Miele, and LCDMAN confirms “All those makers routinely score highly in Which? reports, especially for reliability.”

Any thoughts? Either leave a comment on Forever Better, or pop over to Digital Spy and help out LION8TIGER – he’s not as scary as he sounds.

Which are the best washer dryers?

The process of buying a washer dryer can be full of pitfalls, so it’s important to take as much opinion as one can find when taking the big step into the whitegoods market. That’s exactly what KFA over at Digital Spy has done in their quest for a new machine.

One of the first commentators Galaxy266, was keen to pledge his allegiance: “Best would be Miele, that is, if you want to spend that sort of money” and offers stark words of warning to anyone buying a cheaper machine: “It’s well worth taking out an extended warranty on a washer/dryer; they are known to be troublesome (not necessary on a Miele as it’s guaranteed for 10 years anyway!)”

Meanwhile, Chessie delivered her verdict in a no frills post, simply stating “Miele, Bosch or AEG”, while the interestingly monikered Smutbucket agrees on the whole: “You can only get what you can afford but from experience I would stick to Bosch, Miele or Zanussi”. And what of the negative? Well, jellybabie68 certainly has the knives out for Hotpoint after working her way through three faulty machines in as many months describing them as a “…total waste of £450.”

Do you have a horror story to rival jellybabie68? What would you recommend to KFA? Have your say in the forum.

Suggestions for a new dishwasher

Aside from the tongue-in-cheek suggestions about the ‘other-half’ being the best dishwasher, fancy*footwork over at the eBay UK Forums would like recommendations for a new dishwasher as the repairman has declared her current machine kaput.

She’s looking for something built-in, about 59.6cm wide and “…not a Smeg!”, so has asked the question: “What do you have, does it work well, and would you buy it again? AEG, Bosch and Siemens are all recommended by furryfur, faeriedak and numptygirl1969 respectively, while ivvie loves her Miele describing it bashfully as “…A+ rated and very quiet. Clever cos it has sensors to regulate the temperature and water depending on how dirty the dishes are”. She also loves the peace of mind of the standard five-year warranty and “…not the usual one year thingy.”

Again the recommendations from all concerned is to avoid the lesser brand names, as not only are they noiser and appear to clog more easily, they don’t last as long as a prestige brand.

To read the rest of the conversation or add a comment of your own, drop by the forum.

Washing machine recommendations

Looking back at the subjects we cover most often at Forever Better, washing machines are the second most common household appliance after vacuum cleaners on which people seek recommendations before buying.

While not necessarily the most expensive whitegoods item, the time and cost of removing an old machine and plumbing in a new one, especially if it’s to be fitted under a work surface, means that the wrong decision can lead to a lot of inconvenience not to mention a mountain of unwashed laundry.

Which is why Countrymouse69 has once again turned to fellow members of the Weight Watchers community for their suggestions for the best washing machine and the responses are as varied as the owners themselves. AEG, Bosch, Dyson, Miele and Zanussi all have their advocates, covering such areas as durability, reliability and load capacity, the consensus being though to avoid cheaper brands as these are often a false economy.

If you’re particularly fond of your machine or have had a bad experience with a lesser brand why not drop by the Weight Watchers Forum and share your experiences.

Shake, rattle and roll

Diyiamnot is suffering from the shakes. Not personally mind you, but that of his kitchen floor after the installation of a new washing machine to crown his new kitchen. And it’s not just the vibrations that are driving him crazy, it’s the noise too.

Concerned that all the recent hardwork is going to fall down around his ears, he’s turned to the gurus at the DIYnot Forum for advice. After suggestions of making sure to remove the shipping bolts – which he’s done – attention turns towards the build quality of washing machines. While in diyiamnot’s case he’s happy with his new AEG washer, alanbrown1607 who also bought an AEG found it “…literally shook the house to pieces [which an] engineer tried in vain to cure…”. He ultimately “…paid a little extra for a lower spec Miele, much better machine although still some vibration at full steam”.

If you’ve got a tale to tell about a particularly mobile washing machine or can cure diyimanot’s problem, jump over to the forum and get involved.