Washing Machines

[Jesterarts]

Dear all,

Just had the fiancee call me that our washing machine pooped itself.

So, knowing ABSOLUTELY nothing about whitegoods, what are some good brands/models.

The fiancee wants a toploader even though it uses more energy and water.

Who's had experiences (good or bad) with what.

Cheers,

[gossie]

MIELE. I'll say it one more time. MIELE.

The brand is good for 20 years, and there is nothing better in washing machines, and I don't sell them but know plenty about them.

[304runner]

Yeah im running an 8kg LG Top Loader, and although it uses allot of power compared to other models its only about $1 a week more so its a small price to pay for a good wash.
And with me being cement renderer and always working on greasy cars in my spare time, a good washing machine is priceless IMO.

But one word of advice, don't bother getting a front loader washer/dryer as they are a frik'n joke!

I had one and ended up having go out and buy a separate dryer but eventually it shat itself anyway and now I use it as a fire drum out back

But save you money and spend up, you use these things all the time and cutting corners isnt worth it. I have many mates who are always buying 2nd hand units out of the paper and online only to see them blow up within 12 months...

[doms1]

we use BOSCH,try Home Appliances, Fridges, Washing Machines | Appliances Online for a good price & most places will price match them

[Rufys]

Top loaders actually clean clothes. Front loaders just swoosh them around against each other as they don't have an agitator.

Just buy one with an auto-sensor option for best water efficiency, and stainless tub (not plastic). Also auto lint filtering is a must. My preference for value for money and features is Simpson. I don't believe buying something from Europe has any huge advantage but usually comes with a hefty price. Ultimately, if your clothes come out clean, job done.

[VKCOMMO]

I've got a fisher & paikel (or however its spelt) and it goes great.. Its a top loader, but its one of those high efficiency ones, so it uses around the same water as a front loader..

As 304runner said, its something that you want to keep, and if you get a decent one itll last for ages (My parents bought the last one when I was born in 1994, and it only went pop mid this year)..

If you can Jester, I would suggest getting a factory second (damaged carton, small ding etc..) as they are a lot cheaper, and do the same job.. I know there is a place called 2nd world up my way, not sure about down your way though..

[Jecs]

elextrolux (chef,w/house,kelvanator,AEG,simpson,hoover,dishlex) owns alotof the market. the parts are easy to get and cheap. common to break tho.

bosch used to be good. now made in thailand (or there abouts)

technika. stay the fk away from.

miele, ilve, asko, smeg. all good brand. but ull question them wen no service agent knows how to work on em. parts are very expensive

LG parts ar cheap as fk. good customer serv

fisher paykel. were a good brand, now rebadged haier machines. cheap nasty.

whirlpool. were a very good american unit. cust serv hopeless. hardly any spares. bs prices. cheap slant eye built

samsung. good cust serv. parts ar ok priced. alot of parts no longer avail

[Fekason]

We had an Australian-made Hoover for about twenty years. Just kept going and going. Got talked into updating - bad decision. Unfortunately, such long lasting appliances are rare now.

Moved to a new and "improved" Hoover. Lasted a couple of years before the electronics became challenging, but not as challenging as the quotes to fix.

Then bought a Maytag, expecting the best. Did not get it. Thankfully it came with a five year parts warranty. Had a number of things fixed under warranty, then at four and a half years, the gearbox went. Quote to fix: Parts free, labour $340. The old Hoovers were $250 for parts and labour for the same job. The Maytag washed very well, having a very aggressive agitator. However, clothes had a reduced life.

Threw the Maytag away (literally), and have bought an LG 10 Kg Direct Drive. We are very happy with it so far (about 1 year). It is amazingly quiet in comparison to previous washing machines that we have had. The fuzzy logic is my wife's favourite gimmick.

Was so happy with it that we have also gone to an LG direct drive dishwasher as well - fuzzy logic again.

From my aviation experience, I was a little unsure of the durability of a direct drive motor, but a 10 year warranty for the motor has calmed my nerves so far.

I believe that Miele are good, but have no personal experience. I could not come at the extra cost.

[Jecs]

maytag is now owned by w/pool = useless

old aus hoovers, the best. wont find a machine as good.

as they say. they arnt built to last anymore. they are built to break

[Darren_L]

all I can say is don't buy NEC.
I have a NEC washing machine and NEC fridge. Both are buckets of shit and NEC customer service is even more shit.

[Lumps of cheese]

Aeg front loader. Had it for 6 years and washing muliple loads everyday and it's excellent, never missed a beat. Does the heavy stuff like my greasy work clothes no problems.

[VKCOMMO]

maytag is now owned by w/pool = useless

old aus hoovers, the best. wont find a machine as good.

as they say. they arnt built to last anymore. they are built to break

+1 to that.. As said before, our old hoover lasted 17 years of constant use

[gossie]

elextrolux (chef,w/house,kelvanator,AEG,simpson,hoover,dishlex) owns alotof the market. the parts are easy to get and cheap. common to break tho.

bosch used to be good. now made in thailand (or there abouts)

technika. stay the fk away from.

miele, ilve, asko, smeg. all good brand. but ull question them wen no service agent knows how to work on em. parts are very expensive

LG parts ar cheap as fk. good customer serv

fisher paykel. were a good brand, now rebadged haier machines. cheap nasty.

whirlpool. were a very good american unit. cust serv hopeless. hardly any spares. bs prices. cheap slant eye built

samsung. good cust serv. parts ar ok priced. alot of parts no longer avail

Now here's man who knows his white goods. Miele and Asko are by far the best brands on the market, and you call the maker direct if you need to....but you won't need to. They even come in and personally deliver and install for you.......it's all part of the 100% service given by professional and good honest nice knowing people.
I don't wish to denigrate other brands, but again your pretty close on the money.

[gopher]

lg front loader had it for 4 or 5 years with no problems at all
best thing i think about the front loader is it we have hidden it under a bench

[edals]

I Have a whirlpool 6th Sense 7KG front loader, Washes everything Fine, Also has a 30 Min Quick wash that flogs the crap out of your cloths like a top loader. 1000RPM so everything is almost dry once finished lol

[Jesterarts]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I'm currently testing my repair effort on the current machine, I suspect the dial was jamming and causing the issue.

Otherwise, going washing machine shopping this Saturday.

[greenacc]

Fisher and pykel user. ... goes great but appears to have a mysterious leak in one corner, just too scared to lift it up and suss it out !!

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

We have a Samsung front loader, missus hates it, I love it. Front loaders use less water, less power and clean better when not overloaded. The downside is you can't add to the load once it starts, they do take longer than top loaders, and they don't get as many clothes in as top loaders. Don't get the washer dryer combo though, they are shit.

[Jesterarts]

Yeah, I want a front loader too. But the boss hates front loaders so since she uses it more we'll probably go a toploader.

Just need to get one that has the sensors and stuff to detect how much water is needed, etc.

[Bravotwozero]

The downside is you can't add to the load once it starts.

This alone is why I'd never get one. But having said that, I got married so I could get someone else to do my washing.

*Don't tell my wife I said that....

[showbags]

Just buy her a Hoover twin tub. She will hate it that much after a week she'll be begging you to buy her a front loader. Stay away from Miele though, the service agent charge use a $250 call out fee.

[Jecs]

most serv agents charge $70-$120. differnce is the genuine serv agent uses the genuine parts, not cheap chinese shit. also a high chance they will have the part with them which mean less downtown, sense of knowledge behind the unit so its fixd quicker = less money in the long run

[Shedvl]

I prefer top loader...Im always finding stuff to throw in just after the load has started. The last machine I bought was a Maytag. I bought that because because its a brand used in Laundromats. You generally cant go wrong with L.G, Simpson, Westinghouse. It comes down to personal preference and energy ratings.
Also I always pay and get the extra warranty....nothing lasts like it used to years ago.


I saw someone mention something about using the drum for fires ?? Im about to throw out an old dryer and my brother said the same thing..make sure that I keep the drum. Id never heard of that before. So Im guessing I take off the front or back, I havent got the thing off the wall yet. This weekend.

[W84N01]

We have a Samsung front loader, missus hates it, I love it. Front loaders use less water, less power and clean better when not overloaded. The downside is you can't add to the load once it starts, they do take longer than top loaders, and they don't get as many clothes in as top loaders. Don't get the washer dryer combo though, they are shit.

Only reason you like it is because you don't use the stupid piece of shit.

i hate it with a passion and it's about to go flying thru the laundry door. Hate it with a passion!!!

i used to have a Hitachi top loader, one without the swirly thing sticking up the middle, washed like a front loader, but took half the time, washed the clothes better AND i could put my king doona in it to wash it, with this useless piece of hateful crap we have in the laundry now, i can't even stick the doona in there to wash it.

Go i hate this thing with a passion, AND it doesn't even beep at you when it's finished, just sounds like a plane taking off, and is so annoying that the tv has to be turned up....

Will sell it to you cheap if you want it

[Darcon666]

We just bought a Samsung 8.5KG front loader... The last 20yrs used a top loader so I guess we will see if it's better.

Haven't hooked it up as I threw my back out a few days ago.