What washing machine?

I think, not sure, that the 'Baby and Toddler clothing' cycles on some machines include extra rinses, just to thoroughly remove all traces of detergent that might irritate their delicate skin.
Obviously doesn't matter whether our old skin reacts to detergents and gets all itchy and keeps us awake at night

#oldpeopledon'tmatter

Just had a look at my dial. 'Baby and Toddler Clothing', and 'Dark Care' are two of the programmes which are probably exactly the same as some of the other programmes!

Quite agree, but I think the problem is that most of us use one programme regularly and another thee on occasion but my programmes use is probably different from other people's four. The aim of the multiple programmes is to meet all the wash requirements of a range of users

My repair man advised me always to buy good quality branded appliances because of the availabilty of spare parts. The cheaper appliances, even with a brand name on them are often made down to a price with few if any spare parts. Store own brands are the worst as they just buy job lots from manufacturers in Eastern European and mediterranean countries and consider the appliances non-repairable.

I was told this when I had to ditch a store own-brand dishwasher, less than 2 years old because a small inexpensive part needed replacing. Unfortunately the part was unobtainable making the machine irrepairable.

You choose your repairman and take your choice!

I was so pleased to get a washer A+++, I can tell you it drives me nuts now. Quick wash is 30 mins but needs to be spun again ordinary wash for bedding 2hours 20mins. The plus signs mean that the hottest wash is 60degrees. I agree with the poster who quoted their repair man, buy cheap and simple. Who ever uses all twelve programmes?

I'm really happy with my Bosch washing machine it's into it's 13th year now and still going strong touch wood. It isn't a top range one either. I will definitely opt for Bosch again I find them reliable. I wouldn't buy another Zanussi we had a dishwasher many years ago that caught fire so I have a natural prejudice against that brand and also for the same reason Beko, I have heard some of their appliances have been a fire hazard although I haven't had any personal experience of them. I wouldn't buy an Indesit either, I had one when I couldn't afford anything better and it wasn't very good.

I too have a singing Samsung Ecobubble and I love it - I have never had such clean washing during 45 years of various front loaders, cheap and expensive. It spins incredibly well - so well that I decided not to replace my defunct dryer. I just do one load and put it on an airer overnight - next morning its ready to iron. Saving all round!

No worries indinana , I did wonder if things had changed.

It makes perfect sense to buy anything from whoever has what you want, at the right price.

Sometimes convenience also has to be taken into account, even if it is not necessarily the cheapest.

Enjoy your new 'toy'

x

J52 apologies, I didn't mean my post to come across as if I didn't believe you. Just that maybe the policies in place when you used them have been superseded now. They do do free deliveries, but not within 24 hours. And they no longer take old appliances away free of charge .

I've now ordered a JL washer/dryer - their recycling service is half the price of AO and they're delivering (free) on the 12th, which isn't too bad. Luckily, our DS is away until the 11th, so we can nip round to his place to do our washing (only about 1/2 a mile away).

I meant to say the company was OA on Line.

x

indinana earlier in 2015 we arrived at our second home in rural Scotland to find the fridge freezer broken. It was 1.30 pm on a Sunday. We ordered the new one by 2pm.

It arrived at 7.30am the next day, having been phoned by the delivery men at 6.30 to say they were on their way. They took the old f/f away for free.

We unpacked the f/f ourselves, which was no problem. They also told us that they had already delivered 2 items that morning.

I can only speak as I found, we thought they were. However, there were some items that did not have a 24 hr delivery.

x

I have Bosch washer, and that has a spin only cycle which is very useful,
We have had this 10 years and is cost about £ 280 but we are not too sure, but it is excellent.

We bought a new washing machine last year, and went for the cheapest, an Ocean. Basic washer, no dryer. Made in Italy. It cost about 280€ (approx £200.)
Very pleased with it up to now, remains to be seen how long it lasts.
The only problem is that it's for only 5kg, so we have to be careful not to overload it or it just stops, usually while rinsing.
Only 2 of us, so it's not used often, 3-4 small loads per week.

It's like those sites that headline prices that are exclusive of VAT, and when they add it on the deal is suddenly not quite so good.

Well, now not so sure about AO. Just went there to order and I found, contrary to reports upthread ^^, that they do not deliver free within 24 hours, they do not take your old machine away for free, and they do not unpack your new machine and take away the packaging for free.
These services are charged as follows:
24 hour delivery - £19.99
Recycle old machine - £19.99
Unpack and take away packaging - £2.49.

So that is a whopping additional £42.46 to pay .

Yes, there is a standard delivery option which is free, but the earliest date is Thursday, which is very good, but disappointing when I'd thought it would be 24 hours
JL, on the other hand, offer free delivery - within 7 working days on their own brand - and they take the old machine away for £9.

What is curious, however, is that I have discovered from the reviews that the JL washer/dryer is a re-badged AEG. Now I'm bewildered: the JL is rated by Which as 89% reliable, 2nd in the list, while AEG comes in at 6th with 74% reliability . Given that Which draw their results from user reports, I suspect there could be a bit of brand snobbery creeping in there!

M0nica

hespian thank you for the recommendation. I would love to have the kind of disposable income required to buy Miele goods. I've looked online and their washer/dryer with a wash/dry capacity of 6kg/3kg is retailing at £1299 - for half that price I can get a very good Samsung which has a considerably larger wash/dry capacity (9kg/6kg).

(And besides, at my age, what's the point of a machine that lasts 25+ years )

If you possibly can I would really recommend Miele. My first one lasted 25 years, three children and endless sports kit. I then passed it on to someone who says it is still going and is the best machine they have ever had. I treated myself to a new one as they were on really good offer and a 10 year warranty. Should see me out. My previous one never had a repair!

...and then you can blame us if you get the one dodgy Samsung!

Thanks Nannystar, yes that does help. M0nica thanks for the tip - yes the photos of the controls are quite clear aren't they? Think I'm going to order one of these - I've read only good things about them, and lots of recommendations from Gransnetters. (How on earth did I manage before I found GN? )

Another vote for the Samsung washer dryer here. Does rinse and spin. has useful 15 mins quick wash although you may need to spin after to get full 1400 spin. Then total of 30 mins. Also the "Daily wash" takes just 60 mins with full spin. I use these programs all the time. No need to hand wash. Had a Bosch before which lasted well but the cycles took much longer. Hope this helps.

Indinana Have a look at the dials on the machines in the photographs on th AO site. That was what I did and they all had the same programmes as mine.

Yes I might do that Lona. Thanks.

indinana Why don't you ring AO, I found them very helpful.

"In my Hotpoint the baffles were cut outs from the drum bent upwards, sharp rectangles of metal with v shaped pieces of metal fixed over them to protect the clothes. Unfortunately for me two of the protective pieces came off mid wash so that the clothes were pulled and dropped over the sharp pieces of metal. They managed to destroy a whole drum full of washing. Every item that came out of the machine was pockmarked with little holes and some were ripped."

My two Hotpoints had baffles that were an integral part of the drum, but my new Indesit is as you describe, and I think that's what damages the clothes. I suspect they're getting pinched in the gap between the baffle and the drum. Sometimes it picks a few feet of thread out of a garment, and uses it to tie everything into a knot. I think the dryer's also overheating the clothes as well, because there are little shreds of elasthane coming out of all my socks. It has also worn thin patches on my bed linen.

Last month I ruined a whole machine load of clothes, but that was my own fault. I absent mindedly set it to wash and dry instead of wash only, and the whole lot shrank.

M0nica it was the AO site that I got my information from. I've just checked again and of the three I've been looking at, only the dearest at £749 includes a spin and drain. The other two (£599 and £629) are listed as having the following programmes:

Cotton
Intensive Cycle
15 minute quick wash
Synthetics
Economy wash
Pre-wash
Quick wash (is this different from the 15 minute quick wash? )
Wool programme

The dearer one also has Outdoor Wear.

We went to Currys to have a look at them - the limited info there said that they had a Rinse and Spin programme, but this is not mentioned on the AO site. Very confusing!