Thread Number: 53100
Buying a new washing machine (Ireland/Europe) need advice..
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Post# 754537   5/2/2014 at 19:54 (3,617 days old) by iej (.... )        

I'm moving into a new place and I want to buy a new washing machine and dryer.

Any ideas?

I looked at AEG Protex machines but the cycle times are all too long.

I don't really want to buy Samsung as I'd prefer to buy European and also had some poor experience with vibration issues on one that a family member has.

Bosch / Siemens seems ok, but I know their dryers do not reverse, so I'm not buying one.

Miele?
Pricy, but it kind of ticks all the boxes.





Post# 754628 , Reply# 1   5/3/2014 at 04:09 (3,617 days old) by MatthewZA (Cape Town, South Africa)        
LG

How about LG? The new 6 motion machines are really good. The DD motor comes with a 10 year warranty, and there's a time save and intensive option so you can make the cycles longer or shorter. And they come with a wide variety of cycles and are very flexible in terms of cycle time, spin speed, temperature, etc.

I have a pre-6 motion 7kg DD front load which is about 5 years old now and has never given any hassles. Washes and rinses well, and cycle times are quite reasonable with cotton quick 40 taking 56 minutes and a cotton 60 taking 1hr30mins.

It might not be European, but I think LG is definitely worth considering.

Matthew


Post# 754664 , Reply# 2   5/3/2014 at 08:47 (3,617 days old) by AquaCycle (West Yorkshire, UK)        

aquacycle's profile picture
Nothing comes close to Miele quality and their customer service is excellent. They are pricey, but I have a W562 washer and T230C dryer and can't fault either. The washer is 5 this year and never missed a beat.

Post# 754689 , Reply# 3   5/3/2014 at 11:30 (3,617 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
Do they sell Beko in Ireland? Couldn't find a national website for it. Here is the link to the general website:

www.beko.com/...



Post# 754723 , Reply# 4   5/3/2014 at 14:22 (3,617 days old) by robliverpool (england Liverpool)        

robliverpool's profile picture
I've had my Beko two years now without any problems. It's the higher spec one and lots of choice with programmes. You can do a 60degree wash with 1400 spin in 59 minutes. It's quiet and just does load after load with no problems. I've never been a fan of them as they had a bad reputation in the early days but in my opinion they seem well built

Post# 754730 , Reply# 5   5/3/2014 at 15:06 (3,617 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

The hotel in which I stayed in Berlin last year was apartment-style with kitchen and laundry area en suite. The bathroom had a stacked Bosch set, can't remember the model number but the performance was excellent. I bought Persil at the local market and brought the unused remainder home with me. If I lived there, I would have been quite satisfied having those machines for home use.

Post# 754735 , Reply# 6   5/3/2014 at 15:20 (3,617 days old) by liberator1509 (Ireland)        

Hi James

The selection here in Ireland is nominally much the same as the UK, though you'll have to work hard to find some of the more unusual models. We're in a rental house at the moment while we await a purchase, and the rental has a tiny laundry, so our top-load washer is in storage. When we moved in there was a BEKO washer - easy to find here, but I would suggest avoiding these - very slow. The carbon-brushes wore out six months ago, so the agent replaced it with an entry level Whirlpool - a better machine, but only just.

You don't say where you are, but your retail choice is probably DID, Euronics independents, Harvey Norman or Currys. You'll find mostly Miele/Siemens at the top (you'd have to special order Maytag-Akso, if they can still be found), Zanussi, Bosch, Hotpoint and Whirlpool in the middle and at the bottom BEKO, and some other Turkish-originated bargain machines, rebranded as Blomberg (apparently German 'by design' - as opposed to 'by accident' one assumes), Nordemende (which the repairers used to nick-name 'No-Mend-Me') and Finlux. For anyone interested in such things, these are the same as the machines sold as Bush and Russel Hobbs in the UK.

If you want mid-price, I'd suggest a Hotpoint Aqualtis - we have the Aqualtis Dryer (also in store at the moment) and it was quite good...




Post# 754778 , Reply# 7   5/3/2014 at 18:57 (3,616 days old) by dascot (Scotland)        

Blomberg machines, as far as I know, are Beko internally - they're part of the same Arcelik group. The others are Vestel based I think. Some more recent Beko machines haven't had good reviews regarding cleaning or rinsing, but others seem to be ok.

Bear in mind when looking at cycle times that most machines will have a decent quick wash cycle too - my Electrolux-made machine certainly does. I think AEG have two or three levels of quick wash depending on soil level. Hotpoint and Samsung (and LG to slightly lesser extent) all seem to have very long cycle times. Bosch and Siemens have long cycles but again, have decent quick wash options. Miele too.

For dryers - I would avoid Hotpoint condenser dryers - have heard several friends complain about amount of damp air that they let out. One made Curry's take the machine back as it made their laundry room so damp.


Post# 754829 , Reply# 8   5/4/2014 at 04:19 (3,616 days old) by Haxisfan (Europe - UK / Italy)        
Hi iej :-)

haxisfan's profile picture
It's exciting moving into a new place... I've been trying to do that for a while but I haven't found anything suitable yet!

I'd have no issue recommending a Hoover but being careful to get the right model as some of them can be rather basic and restrictive in what you can do with them... yeah... I understand you just wanna wash your clothes!

Had Hoovers for many years and they have been and still are extremely frugal (not meaning nonsense dry-washing and rinsing), intelligent/logical, efficient/effective and most surprisingly, reliable. Especially where wash times are concerned, Hoover often offers a wide variety of cycle lengths, by letting you select a stain level based on 3 program times, so basically, you get 3 different cycles for cottons, 3 for synth's and so forth, and you can customise them further by tweaking other wash parameters, like temperature and spin speed. In addition to all this, they feature pre-set cycles at fixed duration, from 15' (suitable for minute loads), 30' and 45' (suitable for medium loads restricted to a max temp of 40) and 59' (suitable for anything with a max temp of 60 and a long final spin sequence).

Although I love Hoovers to bits, I think most modern machines do offer similar values anyway, just be wary of the extremely cheap models of any brand... but also bear in mind that you don't need to break the bank to get something decent. Maybe the article below is an eye opener ;-)


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Haxisfan's LINK


Post# 754846 , Reply# 9   5/4/2014 at 07:36 (3,616 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
So...

... if you are in the moot to pay for the Miele, just get it! The Edition 111 set is a great deal in terms of performance, functions and price. You should get them for round about 2100€ here, so probably the same over there.
The AEG's: Well, they are good machines! As long as you get one with DirectSpray, the big Protex drum and a big display, I just can recomend them as they are good price for value. We got one without the recirculation and it isn't that good, but it works. What I can definitvley say is that the AEG dryers are the most gentle ones out there by now. They never get hotter than 60°C, which is pretty good. And the cycletimes on both *can* be way to long, but if you use the 1st of 2 timesaver selections on the washer, the 2:40h 60° Cottons cycle turns into a 2:10h cycle with a full load and is still perfectly well performing. But the OptiSense will probably anyway cut the cycletime to the shortest setting in the most cases (when the load is 4kg or less) which equals 1:15h with its only 2 rinses, about 1:30 with 3 rinses, and still offers superb results.
Beko's: I am sceptical about them. Lots of peoples love them, the rest hates them.
And LGs: I guess, they are pretty good by now. And there dryers with combination of the normal heater and the heatpump are quite good after all either!


Post# 754962 , Reply# 10   5/4/2014 at 20:21 (3,615 days old) by glenfieldmathk1 (Glenfield-Leicester-UK)        

I own a Hotpoint, and can say tegh results are fantastic. OK its not an expensive machine, but for the price its built pretty good, and programming seems to be all there, and the machines certainly seem a massive improvement over the older WT, WF ranges - where wash rhythms were significantly reduced compared to these new machines.
OK they may take a while, but with Timesaver the cycles can be as short as 65minutes for a 60C full load, and a boilwash takes only 1hr30 (1hr20 with Time Saver). Meanwhile you can Venture over to the Whites cycle for extra hygiene, and even better results, or select baby when you've very sensitive skin, as the rinses go half way up the door.
There is also a 60 minute, and 30 minute fast wash on mosts, Ok only for around 3KG, but good if you're in a hurry, and a 15min cycle is available on Many machines, Ultimas, Aqualtis, Futura & Extra models.
The rinses are by far teh best, with Ultima's allowing upto 5 deep rinses (of which with a large load water level can go upto half way up the door).
There are many skeptics of Hotpoint, but they don't actually own one. Those who do own them however, generally say they're very good, and many actually agree their better than their predecessors.
Many 7Kg plus models have super silent (magnetic Brushless) motors too.
Dryer's are British, so you cant go wrong with them, all mine have been fantastic.
(Like haxisfan said, he owns a Hoover, and recommends it through his experience. I own a Hotpoint, and I recommend it through my experience!)

Bosch / Siemens are also fantastic machines. Logixx & IQ500, IQ700 are all made in Germany (UK, IE Market's) and built to quite high German standards, easily repairable too, but not as expensive as Miele's yet some go on for just as long.
Some of the low end Bosch's however do now have sealed tubs.
They also feature wash cycle option such as Speedperfect, which can do a 60C wash in about an hour, and a boilwash in around 1hr20.
All their Exxcel line, and Logixx line (as currently) will feature Eco Silence drive (super silent Brushless) motors this year too.
Dryers not so good, as don't reverse.

LG, I wouldn't recommend these as I still see images in my head of the problem in the America's, and how flimsy they actually looked. But petty quiet if you wanted quiet machine, and generally the motor lasts, but other parts can go pretty quickly, only last week did I see a video on Youtube of one with bearings already gone, less than 1year old.

Candy / Hoover - Improving, but some can be quite restrictive programming wise. and some can have a very loud whining motor.

I think its all down to your personal preferences though, Good Luck choosing, do let us know what you choose.


Post# 754993 , Reply# 11   5/5/2014 at 01:53 (3,615 days old) by mieleforever (SOUTH AFRICA)        
Go for the Miele

I would go for the Miele, as that is what you want, and anything else would be a compromise. And if you are like me at the end I will buy the Miele after I have bought the LG / Samsung, because that is what you have always wanted. I have had Samsung washer, but would definately not buy one again, it just can't balance properly. As for LG, I had a LG dw, and they were let's just say rather flimsy and full of error codes.

Hope you make your right choice and bottom line you have to live with the machine for the next few years, and the pain of a cheaper product would be remembered long after the fact of paying a few dollars more for a decent machine.

Cheers


Post# 755022 , Reply# 12   5/5/2014 at 10:56 (3,615 days old) by iej (.... )        
@foraloysius

Yeah, they do sell Beko in Ireland. The brands and models available are basically identical to the UK.
Given we use the same language and same weird plug/socket system, we're generally just treated as part of the same market.

It's a little annoying as it means we don't tend to get the advantages of Euro currency stability as we're actually buying products that are distributed via UK£ zones even if in a lot of cases they're manufactured elsewhere in the Eurozone.


Post# 755023 , Reply# 13   5/5/2014 at 11:03 (3,615 days old) by iej (.... )        

I grew up with a pair of Miele machines in the house so, I'm fairly familiar with their build quality. The washing machine and dryer at 'home' are probably from the late 1990s and still look new, despite being used pretty much daily and getting endless use of the 1600rpm spin.

Those old Miele vented sensor dryers seem to just run for ever too.

I had really big problems with a Samsung 12kg machine in a rental place. It was just very shaky when it was lightly loaded and it had a lot of issues with strangely missing features. For example, the door doesn't open instantly on pause (or sometimes won't open at all when paused). It seems to have one of the old fashioned bimetallic strip locks that times out and if they're any water in the drum (including way below the door level) it remains locked.

The Bosch dryer in that place also had a lot of issues with tangling sheets as they don't seem to reverse. This was a high end Bosch heat pump model! Quite a huge oversight in a very pricy machine.


Post# 755117 , Reply# 14   5/5/2014 at 18:05 (3,614 days old) by dascot (Scotland)        

glenfieldmathk- what sort of dryer is your Hotpoint - vented or condenser? It's the condenser ones that seem to be not so good. I also found, when helping with laundry, that they get very hot unless using low heat settings - even hotter than Bosch/Siemens machines.

iej - are you looking for a matched set, or to get the best of breed for each? Unless they absolutely have to match, I'd say pick and choose individually.


Post# 755247 , Reply# 15   5/6/2014 at 12:48 (3,614 days old) by iej (.... )        

I'm very tempted by this one! But it's a bit pricy :D

CLICK HERE TO GO TO iej's LINK


Post# 755253 , Reply# 16   5/6/2014 at 13:10 (3,614 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
Be cautious!

The new range have and had some problems! They seem to have problems with spinning and rinsing.
But it is a Miele. No review of reliability, but if you like it.


Post# 755256 , Reply# 17   5/6/2014 at 13:35 (3,614 days old) by iej (.... )        

What kind of problems rinsing and spinning?

Post# 755260 , Reply# 18   5/6/2014 at 13:46 (3,614 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

Rinsing does sometimes under certain cases not do a good job at all. And there seem to be some noises (knocking kind noise) during spin and some vibrations.

Post# 755261 , Reply# 19   5/6/2014 at 13:51 (3,614 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        
Question on reversing dryers

revvinkevin's profile picture

 

 

Does a reverse tumble dryer really make that much difference?   The reversing dryers are more prevalent in Europe but rarely seen in the US.   I have a 16 year old Frigidare Gallery FL washer & dryer and one of the "big features" of the dryer is the "reverse tumbling".   Personally I have seen no real benefit as sheets and such still roll up into a ball.

 

Thanks!

Kevin


Post# 755262 , Reply# 20   5/6/2014 at 13:57 (3,614 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
Well, TOTALY!

See, our dryers are round about half that big as yours in terms of drum-volume. So reversing is the only way to keep clothes untangeld. I own a not reversing dryer, and it can be hell. I have to dry at least 4 beadspreads to keep them untangeld, but than they crease. if i dry only 2 or even 1 at a time, they tangle. (And yes, the Siemens is abled to tangle on sheet into a ball. Believe it or not!)

Post# 755282 , Reply# 21   5/6/2014 at 15:14 (3,614 days old) by iej (.... )        

Miele reversing vented dryer - sheets NEVER tangled.
Bosch non reversing dryer - sheets come out like a football.


Post# 755291 , Reply# 22   5/6/2014 at 15:44 (3,614 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

revvinkevin's profile picture

 

 

Well OK!    

 

Thanks to both of you for the info!

 

Kevin


Post# 755321 , Reply# 23   5/6/2014 at 18:10 (3,613 days old) by w5872 ()        
Miele

James, may I call you James? lol

Where are you in Ireland? There are three Miele's in the local PrelovedAppliances Galway for €300...

Bargain!

I've an Edition 111 5872. Can't really fault it. I love it. And plus i can tinker with it max water level is amazing for rinsing (each to their own) but it gurantees that my bf and I don't get itchy flare ups and it has helped greatly with his asthma.

feel free to drop me a line @ rbrt.clancy@gmail.com


Post# 755322 , Reply# 24   5/6/2014 at 18:11 (3,613 days old) by w5872 ()        
oh

One of the miele's is a slightly retro dialled novotronic...

Just in case that tickles your fancy
:)


Post# 755433 , Reply# 25   5/7/2014 at 11:05 (3,613 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

"My" Bosch dryer in the Berlin hotel suite (2012) did not tangle clothes. It may well have been a reversing dryer. But I didn't have time to sit and watch it, I was too busy seeing Berlin. Given that I was a long-time board member here, in retrospect I should have taken photos of it to show fellow members. I assume it was vented, in that there was no water container to remove, nor were any instructions posted about getting rid of condensed water in the sink.

I brought along a few snack-sized ZipLock bags, each with 30 ml of HE powder, from the states, knowing that I would arrive in Berlin in the evening (from Kiev) and stores might be closed at that hour. I had already been away from home for six days, so I used that detergent to wash two loads of clothes, then headed over to the central train station to meet friends arriving by train from Schönefeld Airport, having flown in from Stockholm (they didn't know their way around Berlin, nor do they speak German, so I made sure I was waiting on the platform when their train rolled in).

The next day, I went to a Rewe market to buy 5-6 packets of Persil to bring home. The cashier was incredulous when I explained, "Es gibt kein Persil in Amerika....da wissen wir nicht, was wir haben. Auch gibt's leider kein Ariel oder Klementine".

("There is no Persil in USA. Therefore we don't know what we have/are using. Also unfortunately there is no Ariel or Klementine".

The second sentence was a parody of Persil's long-running slogan "Da weiß man, was man hat..." "that way you know what you have/are using". Third sentence refers to Ariel's long-time German tv ad spokesperson, "Klementine").


Post# 755435 , Reply# 26   5/7/2014 at 11:15 (3,613 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

logixx's profile picture
Bosch dryers stopped reversing years ago. They can be made to reverse adding a little component (as I read on facebook).

Here's mine.





Post# 755444 , Reply# 27   5/7/2014 at 11:38 (3,613 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
Logixx...

... now you made me curious! What component? How big is the work? And ,most of all, how?

Post# 755463 , Reply# 28   5/7/2014 at 13:16 (3,613 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
Jim,

That dryer in Berlin, did it have a square door or a round door?


Post# 755477 , Reply# 29   5/7/2014 at 14:03 (3,613 days old) by logixx (Germany)        
@ henene

logixx's profile picture
Don't know, really. I read the comment on Siemens's facebook page. It's from Josef, who used to post a lot on the German forum and also has an eBay shop and his own store, selling domestic and commercial laundry machines. He said that "there are technicians, who can reintroduce reverse tumbling by adding a small component". I'll link to to his home page: www.elektrocentral.de/...

Post# 755527 , Reply# 30   5/7/2014 at 17:49 (3,612 days old) by iej (.... )        

Miele dryers always did a very nice job of reversing.


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