Washing machine update!

[The Nappy Lady]

So, British Gas were actually fairly efficient, within about 2 days they arranged for Whirlpool to see the machine, and he confirmed what the BG engineer had said, that the machine was beyond repair as parts no longer available (bearings on drum have gone and it is 11 or 12 years old now). Only thing was he said he could have told them all this on the 'phone, so no idea why he had to take up his, or my time coming out to see it!

Later the same day British Gas called and I was offered either a refund of the ?45 I had paid in the past 12 months for the service contract on the machine OR a ?70 voucher towards my new machine.

I took the voucher, the only annoying thing is that it can only be used in Comet, and so I am a little limited (though choice is very good), and also can't shop for 'best price'.

I now have a dilemma....have sold my buggy stash(!), so have the money to get the new machine...but, do I go for the cheapest of the Miele's which by all accounts will go on, and on, and on....but will only be a washing machine OR do I get a washer dryer, which would have to be Indesit or LG probably.

I have always been anti tumble dryers, but now we are 4 I do get very depressed by having the clothes airer up constantly through the winter months (and no it isn't the nappies, they go on a radiator and dry fine), it is jeans and similar that just take so long.

I don't see myself using the dryer often (terrified of the electricity bill apart from anything else), but would be great to have the option when required. The Indesit seems to have a very fast wash and dry cycle which seems good, but I have no idea how good a brand it is. The reviews are good, but all from people who have only had the machine a short while.

Hmmm, wish there was a 'washing machine lady' equivalent to The Nappy Lady!

Molly

[cate]

Miele does a washer dryer. A friend of mine got one from John Lewis. She loves it. She had a really crappy washer dryer before which was incredibly noisy and slow. I house-sat for her and can vouch for that. Can't remember what brand though. Think the drums are smaller though. I have heard that if one thing breaks, like the dryer part, then the washer is also broken. Do you not have room for a separate tumble dryer. If there is room then that is preferable. Usually washer dryers are only installed when there are space constraints. You could get a cheap dryer and if it is a condenser then it can go anywhere as it doesn't need to be vented.

[Pickle]

I remember when we bought our washing machine from John Lewis the very helpful sales guy telling us that washer/dryers generally meant compromising a bit of the standard of the actual washing machine, and that he recommended buying separate whenever possible. Whether this is right or not I don't know, but I guess it makes sense.

We don't have a tumble dryer, but do have the benefit of a large bathroom which is only used for the kids in the evening which has a "hot water cupboard" (the cupboard with the cylinder, really warm) as well as heated towel rails which make the room warm, so washing gets dry very quickly in winter.

P x

p.s... I've been in NZ less than 24 hours and here I am, already checking the EDF :-$

[The Nappy Lady]

Cate, a Miele washer/dryer is way out of my budget, I did look but they are about ?1,400 or more.

I could only fit a separate dryer in by completely redesigning my kitchen which is also not an option. I too have heard the stuff about washer dryers which is my concern.

It is so hard as I want to get it right.

Decisions, decisions!

[ryedalema]

Admittedly I've not used a washer/dryer for many years, so they may have improved - but I always found that washer/dryers didn't really dry that well, so I always ended up with clothes draped over every surfAce anyway (much as our house is now!).

I'm probably not being very helpful here - perhaps another forumite has a washer/dryer you could try out? You could exchange with a nappy demonstration while you are waiting for the load to finish - just a thought ;-)

[The Nappy Lady]

Thanks, I think they have improved, the one I am looking at does 7kg wash 5kg dry and has a 45 min quick wash and dry option which consumer feedback suggests really does work.

This is my dilemma, I suspect a lot of the problems associated with washer/dryers no longer apply as machines have improved.

We shall see!!

[candj]

Hi Molly,

I can recommend the Miele washer/dryer combo (also from Peter Jones/John Lewis). As we discussed before ;-), we bought it last August to replace our dying Indesit washer/dryer (5-6 years old and no more warranty and on its last legs). The Miele was about 3 times the price, but have to say the bigger load capacity (9K) combined with the fact that I can hardly hear the machine when it's on is fab. Also the dryer actually dries in a shorter amount of time and the towels are fluffy as opposed to the Indesit which sort of steamed the clothes to death before it dried anything (also couldn't put too much in the dryer).

Hope this helps - I'd say splurge!

Good luck. C x

[Belle]

Molly - if you do go for just a miele washer, one drying option (what we do) is a heated airer, one of the electric ones. it's the sort of thing you see advertised in the innovations catalogue and think what a geeky idea but my inlaws got us one and we use it for all our drying, in the spare room - it's brilliant, very quick.

[The Nappy Lady]

Thanks guys, all very helpful.

Molly

[cate]

I looked on the John Lewis website and they have an own brand washer/dryer which for a limited time has a 5 year guarantee. It says it is German made. Think it is ?599. Might be worth looking at. I have no idea how they compare to Miele ones though. Maybe the Which report or Good Housekeeping has tested it.

[buggie]

When we did our kitchen last year, I umm'd and ahh'd about the washing machine/washer drier (although there's only me and the Mr).

What I did was get a washing machine that has 1400 rev spin, have found that stuff (even jeans) comes out much drier and nothing seems to take much more than overnight to dry.

Cool thing is that most of the 1400 machines are also AA rated so feel like you're doing a bit towards saving energy.

[cate]

Think 1600 machines are common now, so even drier clothes!

[The Nappy Lady]

I am told the John Lewis own brand machines are effectively Miele so a good buy.

But I have the ?70 voucher for Comet so can't do JL.

Faster spins help a lot but can damage some more delicate stuff. But you can usually reduce the speed of course.

M

[Ko]

i couldn't decide which washer dryer earlier this year so went to john lewis and within 5 minutes i had made up my mind as their advice was so good. told them my requirements and budget and they told me the best 3.

they were good at pointing out which dry better (i think you have to look at power plus size of drum, as a bigger drum needs more power (or something like that). with washer dryers, the dryer is never as good as if you have just a dryer. but space constraints meant we got a combined washer dryer.

we got an AEG which is a very good brand. miele was too expensive for us. try to get a german brand. bosch is also good. make sure the machine fits into your existing space, including height. you need a small gap left under your counter so that th machine has room to spin, otherwise i was told the counter will slowly get pushed upwards. a couple of brands have odd measurements so just double check befire you buy.

if you can't decide, you can just go to john lewis to get their expert advice and then buy from comet. the no 12 bus goes straight there. good luck!

at john lewis oxford st, they didn;t once mention their own brand machines. when i asked abut them, they said they had german parts (can't remember excactly but think that it was one of the branded companies manufacturing the parts). in the end though, the AEG suited my requirements better (big drum 7KG, good drying power). it has a 45 min quick cycle, and a 30 min cycle for half loads i think.

[melbourne groover]

Try this site - the reviewer was a washing machine repairman I think ;-)

http://www.washerhelp.co.uk/reviews/washing-machine-reviews.html

[candj]

This thread is hilarious as we are all such experts with washing machines! Makes me want to start a thread about dishwashers...

[Belle]

i know - i am laughing at myself by how avidly i'm reading it given we have no need of a washing machine at the moment anyway!

[cate]

Couldn't you give the voucher back, get the cashback they offered you and then go to John Lewis? I have heard horrible stories about Comet and Curry aftersales. And does Comet charge for delivery? JL is free. Southwark will take away the old machine for free as well.

[cate]

melbourne groover Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Try this site - the reviewer was a washing machine

> repairman I think ;-)

>

> http://www.washerhelp.co.uk/reviews/washing-machin

> e-reviews.html

I had a look at this and it was very interesting. He rates the Miele and John Lewis machines the highest. Also rates a Swedish one called ISE.

[The Nappy Lady]

Oh don't, it is ridiculous really.

I AM going to buy one tonight or tomorrow, I HAVE to make a decision!

Can't give the voucher back now, nearly went for the refund instead so I could shop around but what's done is done. Anyway, delivery is free so that's good.

Am going for either a Bosch or Miele if can persuade hubby we should both raid savings to afford it. Both German makes and by all accounts that is the safest bet. I think if going to do the washer/dryer combo it may in the end be best to go Miele simply because you know you are going to get reliability then (and 5 year cover direct through Miele themselves, so no dealing with Comet later if we do have problems).

But it is twice our budget, so......may have to do a lot of persuading tonight! LOL.

Molly :-S

[candj]

Molly, tell hubby he can do some washing then drying in ours if he needs a demo or is not convinced. Anyhoo, as he's been away tell him YOU deserve it! ;)

Saw the Miele on John Lewis website for ?1299 so a little less than ?1400.

Good luck with the persuading. -C x

[Mellors]

I now have new-washer envy, despite mine (a boring old Hotpoint) being only 4 years old.

I did manage to get a nappy liner stuck down the sump pipe the other day which nearly broke it. Maybe I shold try harder so I can have a new Miele ;)

[orlakeilyhandbag]

Miele every time, my mums one has lasted 20 years and is still going strong! I now have one too after getting through 3 Zanussi, indes*it, etc machines in 9 years. Definately worth spending the extra money...

[The Nappy Lady]

The man from Del Monte - he said yes! :)-D

Thanks to all those who helped me raise funds by buying buggys and things, and my lovely hubby for stumping up some money from his savings, on Friday I will be taking delivery of the Miele Washer/Dryer.

Mellors - the funny thing is that they are by all accounts great machines, but I don't think they look great - really quite old fashioned, and boring old white, no flashy Stainless Steel or anything. But I think at the end of the day performance and reliability matter more here (gosh I must be getting old!!).

candj - it was same price at Comet as JL, I just got mixed up with one of their washing machines, one of which was ?1,400.

Managed to find a discount code on line to get ?60 off, plus the British Gas ?70 voucher which all helped. Plus it has a 5 year warranty on parts and service, so that will save us another ?250 or so we would have spent on British Gas Service cover over 5 years.

I do think that in general the British Gas kitchen appliance cover is pretty good, given that you'd probably pay ?50 just to get an engineer out to look at a broken down machine, let alone fix it, so worth investigating if you have appliances that are out of warranty. They do some kind of deal for 3 appliances of your choice.

So relieved to have finally got this sorted, can't believe how hard it has been.

Phew.

Molly

[Ko]

hurrah!!!! glad you have got it sorted.