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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I imagine, having never been directly involved in childbirth, that it’s important to make sure that with a new baby comes relative serenity in the rest of the house. Therefore, it’s no surprise that expectant mother ‘baby-sunshine’ is “looking for a new washer, as her old Bosch has broken. She states that the new machine “needs to be completely reliable and could do with a larger drum” and so has asked the denizens of UK Parents Lounge should she go for a Hotpoint?

Not according to sazuburns, who says: “Nooooooo! Step away from the Hotpoint, their modern machines are the very opposite of reliable”, who incidentally passes on the Which? rating of their washing machines as ‘above average’. Duncan is pretty convinced too, suggesting he agrees with “keeping away for Hotpoint. I stick with Bosch or if you can afford on a Miele they are supposed to be the Rolls Royce of washing machines“.

Pootle has read that “Miele cannot be faulted” and CarolineJ was keen to point out the following: “I’d recommend a Miele. If looked after they are expected to last around 20 years for the average household. Some models are expensive but tbh they tend to have lots of extra programmes you may never use - I know I only use a few programmes on my machine. I got a fairly basic Miele for around £500 4 years ago and am very pleased with it.”

Sazuburns leaves us with what he considers to be sage advice however: “I believe it’s always worth getter a lower spec from a better brand, not the other way round if you have a budget to stick to.”

What do you think? Have your say over at the forum.

A quick update on the old ‘with or without bags’ conundrum, and today it’s the members of the eBay forums taking on the debate. *****sparkle***iow*****’s (there are a lot of stars in that one) vacuum has “just blown up (with bag & donkeys years old) so need a quick, not too expensive replacement” and asks for any recommendations.

Cue a number of responses, and once again a truly mixed bag of ideas. Of course, a number of people prefer not having to buy extras for their vacuum, but as mushed up points out “Bags, its so much easier to empty”, although conceding that “bagless is better if you forget to buy bags”. Spirited*and*free meanwhile has a conundrum “I love my Dyson - I’d marry it if I could ((((Dyson)))) but then I’m too tight to buy a Miele which are superior in everyway”, while patty*poppins agrees (with her latter sentiment anyway), stating “ALL Miele appliances are superior in every way *hearts Miele*”.

Get over there, and let everyone know your point of view.

AVForums.com is the UK’s biggest home consumer electronics discussion resource, so it’ll come as no surprise to anyone that community member doodles deemed it the best place to lay down a number of slightly garbled questions about washing machines.

“Looking for a washing machine, what would be better choice in reliability/quality etc, washer or washer dryer, pro’ cons, apart from it also dry’s??” he says… And as well as getting a number of strong recommendations on which companies to strongly avoid, doodles does get this piece of sage advice from Anwarsadat, who suggests “It all depends on your budget to be honest.”

“I swear by Miele products” he says, but concurs that “they’re not cheap.” Would it be worth getting the cheaper machine though? Not in Anwarsadat’s opinion, who states “cheaper brands are false economy though, if you do a lot of washing drums/bearings tend to wear out very quickly on the likes of Hotpoint/Whirlpool etc.”

Oh, and as for washer-dryers, Anwarsadat again with a fairly unequivocal statement of his thoughts on those. “Don’t get a washer dryer if you have the space for separates…”.

To read the rest of the conversation in full, hop over to AV Forums.

Eyes down, thumbs up – and a big ol’ hurrah for Miele once again – and this time it’s frankie57 who’s enjoyed using her Miele Cat and Dog so much over the last few years that she’s left her thoughts over at the Review Centre. Although she purports to be “no domestic goddess”, she’s wielded her vacuum with great effect to “pick up black cat hair from beige carpets, along with cat litter, dried muddy paw prints and general household grot from carpets and hard floors” for over a year, with no problems at all.

Indeed, her “reliable workhorse” also “picked up Persian cat hair from her mum’s carpet better than her Dyson”. While she comments that she’s noticed a drop in suction “as the bag fills”, she also points out “it is no worse than any other bagged cleaner I’ve used”.

To check out the other Cat & Dog 700 reviews we’ve covered previously on Forever Better or read the rest of her write up, jump over to the Review Centre.

Mum Sharonbaker75 over at the Babyworld Forum has been tempted by a recent offer on a Hotpoint washing machine and unsure of their pedigree has asked her fellow community members for their experiences of the brand or failing that “a good machine under £300″.

While the response to the Hotpoint question is mixed with as many happy owners as disappointed ones, Hotpoint owner sazuburns suggested that if reliability is the major concern then “…the only way to get that sort of lifespan from washing machines and dishwashers is to buy a German make again. Bosch, Miele, Siemens, they all have good product reliability.”

Clarea1 whole-heartedly recommends Miele describing her machine as “fab!!!…It came with 10yr parts & labour guarantee, the reason they are pricey is that they make a quality product then price accordingly - not the other way round as most high street brands do”. Her Mum too is a “convert” and also owns a Miele tumble dryer, chest freezer and dishwasher and concludes that “I’d never buy anything less now.”

If you’ve got a story to tell or want to read the conversation in full, jump over to the forum.