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.

“What does a £1000 Miele washing machine do that makes it so good?”

Over at Pistonheads, Wattsie_2004 is urgently looking for a new washer and has short-listed Bosch, Hoover, Hotpoint, Indesit and Zanussi as potential candidates. Even with this selection he’s still not convinced and wants recommendations for others as long as they’re “reliable”.

“Top notch gear” is bomb’s description accompanying his Miele recommendation, while Alfa_75_Steve recommends the entire Miele product range: “Dishwasher: Miele, Washing Machine: Miele, Tumble Dryer: Miele, Vacuum Cleaner: Miele, Oven: Miele, Hob: Miele”. Although Andrew[MG] asks “What does a £1000 Miele washing machine do that makes it so good?”, both Alfa_75_Steve and Neil_H list the benefits of Miele ownership: “Efficient on water use, Very energy efficient, A program to look after any kind of fabric you can imagine, Deathly quiet, Will last you a lifetime.”

All of which leads to the question of the false economy of buying a cheaper brand which will have to be replaced sooner rather than later or spending the extra on a Miele and seeing it last twenty years. As usual this provokes a lively debate so jump across and get involved.

New washing machine advice

Like Fool.co.uk, Overclockers UK is another community full of worldly-wise heads whose recommendations among its members are given with the up-most consideration of the facts.

This has been demonstrated once again by the suggestions given to malc30 in his pursuit of a new washing machine. While the eminently quotable Which? is again touted as a good starting point, the recommendations for particular brands come in thick and fast: Bosch, Gorenje, Hotpoint, Whirlpool and Zanussi all have their advocates, but the debate ultimately revolves around the false economy of buying a cheaper machine.

Jez is the first to sing Miele’s praises citing his girlfriend’s parent’s twenty year-old Miele which according to them “has never had to even be looked at…thats with a family of 7, since new”, while Ninjabib describes Miele as “the Rolls Royce of the white goods industry. If you can stretch to one get one, think they all come with 10 yrs full guarantee as standard if i remember rightly”

This last point turns the conversation to the issue of guarantees and extended warranties, which as always, makes interesting reading. Jump over to the forum and have your say.

Advice on the best washer to buy

Worto03 has got a washing-related problem – and only DIYnot.com can help. His machine has bitten the dust and could do with buying a new one for “around £200 or cheaper”.

Headache5678 suggests that rather than plumping for the cheaper model he should “Pay the extra, Go for a Miele, it will be worth it to save the hassle.” JohnD agrees, stating that the “Best and most reliable are Bosch, or Miele if you can afford it”.

A simple answer from elisa123 who reports that she “would go for Miele any time. Mine is 20 years old and still going strong. I know they are quite pricy but worth it. Some of my friends bought cheap machines at the same time and are now on their third one (so called bargain ones).”

I’ll leave the last word however to bengasman – “If you want half decent, you will have to double your budget. If you want good, you will have to add more than double.”

Drop by the forum to read the rest of the conversation.

Eleven years and time to say goodbye?

According to Cariad from UK Parents Lounge, it’s over. It seems her long-lasting love affair with her Zanussi washing machine is coming to an end as it’s making “a godawful noise on its final spin”. Here’s hoping it rusts in peace.

However, helpful as ever, the good denizens of said forum have already got involved keen to offer suggestions of what she should go for, should the inevitable happen. “At the risk of embarrassingly repeating myself as I always do on any washing machine threads - I would highly recommend a Miele” says Caroline J – while yorkshire lass offers some more Miele related comfort for Cariad. “My Zanussi lasted 9 years for a family of six, we got a Miele and that is just as good with how much use it gets.”

Lozenge does offer a word of warning suggesting that he has “a Miele but I think it is heavy on the clothes” and while plopcar gives Miele the thumbs-up he’s less than complimentary about a certain other brand.

Head on over to the forum and see for yourself.