Brief encounters - Miele Cat & Dog vacuum cleaner review

As a Cat & Dog owner for four years, Ruth01.02 has had plenty of use from her vacuum and knows her stuff. As with many other happy Miele owners, she’s decided to share her thoughts on ownership with the wider world through a brief review over on Ciao!.

She states from the off that it’s “consistently outperformed all other vacuum cleaners I’ve ever had” - which is no surprise - it’s a relationship however, that very nearly never happened. Told by the sales advisor that the Cat & Dog was “only suitable for pets with short hair”, she was concerned about how the vacuum would cope with longer, finer human hair. She needn’t have worried though as the Cat & Dog has been “wonderful” and better than her friends back-breaking solution of using “sellotape to pick them off the floor”.

She admits the four years have taken their toll though, having had to buy a replacement vacuum head, but she insists that “on balance I’d prefer to get a new vacuum head every 4 years than to waste hours struggling to vacuum up long hair” and awards the Cat & Dog a five-star recommendation.

Hop over to Ciao! and read her review in full.

“Everything built to a price”

I think it’s true to say farmers tend to know a thing or two about reliability and durability. After all in their line of work you need stuff you can depend on and over at the Farming Forum member Don Mackay has turned the discussion to the subject of washing machine reliability.

When reparing an old machine some time ago, he was told by a local whitegoods dealer that apart from Miele, many washers are build down to a price and that is reflected in the cost and frequency of servicing to which Fendtdriver recounts a now familiar tale of reparing and replacing other brands of washing machine.

Andybk points out “Miele are a different class designed for 10 years everyday use (10 year guarantee with many), and will probably last 20 or more, everything is servicable and main drum carrier is cast iron”, a sentiment that is supported by Longwool, whose previous washer “didn’t last long” and was ultimately replaced with Miele washing machine and dishwasher “that has now done over 10 years of service…to buy anything else is false economy in my opinion”.

If you’ve got any thoughts on washing machine reliability and agree with the Snail’s original statement that everything’s built to a price, pop over to the forum and have your say.

The best economic washing machine?

Over on Money Saving Expert, ooobedoo is on the look-out for a new washer. Her current machine has provided nine years service and is sure it’s on its “last legs”, so wants a reliable model for her family of four “that doesn’t cost to much to buy and run”.

Sensibly she’s done her research online and concluded there are “just one or two makers of washing machines now, and they just have different fronts on them apart from Miele of course”. However she’s still not sure which brand to go for and has asked for ideas with Melancholly and Slinky both suggest subscribing to Which?: Slinky in particular has recently decided on buying a Miele tumble dryer after signing up online.

To read the discussion in full pop over to the forum and find out how highly Jasper27 rates Miele ownership.

Time to replace an old Bosch washing machine

Unbefitting their ‘fools’ moniker, members of Fool.co.uk are no mugs when it comes to parting with their hard-earned cash. That’s why when one of their number looks for a product recommendation, the suggestions will be carefully weighted and based on plenty of personal experience.

One such is ArchieTrave whose old Bosch Exccel has just about washed its last load. “Grateful for any thoughts”, he wants a reliable washer that’s “relatively simple to use”, has a “decent spin speed” and a “timer so we can set to wash in the early hours on Economy 7″.

Fool Gwynee recommends visiting all-round whitegoods expert Washerhelp.co.uk for his independent reviews and buying advice on a number of brands including Miele, while jfgw echoes the overall Miele sentiment of “good but expensive.”

Despite initial cost concerns, the subject of Miele’s reputation for reliability coupled with lengthy guarantees is highlighted for extra piece of mind. As RaspberryFool ultimately points out: “Whilst our Bosch has been fairly reliable, it has needed the engineer out 3 times in 6 years. Add the costs of those visits up and it would nearly pay for a new machine! We will certainly consider a Miele next time if it means 10 years of peace of mind.”

Jump across to Fool.co.uk to pick up on the rest of the conversation.

Miele W3922 vs. ISE10 revisited

Back in July we covered a story over on UK Whitegoods about a passionate discussion on which was the best washing machine: the Miele W3922 or the ISE10?

Five months on and broadswordsman was in urgent need of a new machine after his Bosch bit the dust. After reading through the lengthy previous discussion and despite his reservations over “the unsubstantiated spares price arguments without a definitive comparison” on the ISE10 he was “prepared to take that on trust particularly as Miele prices are so high.”

Convinced it was the best choice he set about making his purchase, however this is where his problems began. Unable to find a local agent and inspite his attempts at email contact his questions over stock availability and after-sales service remained unanswered. By his own admission: “my heart said ISE10 but my head said Miele” he gave up on ISE10 dealer network and plumped for the Miele. As he concludes: “I guess when the Miele needs repair, it will cost me (after the 10 year guarantee expires) but at least I have confidence it will have the infrastructure to support me.”

You can read the full story over at UK Whitegoods.