Reliable washers.

[ppppenguin]

My 1994 Bosch is just fine thank you. Just a few minor repairs: motor brushes, descaling the solenoid valves twice and glueing a damaged control knob. Will probably be repalced with another Bosch when the time comes.

According to Which and other reports there are plenty of dismal quality washers on the market but I'd need to look them up.

[Murphyv310]

Our first Bosch Jeffrey had a lot of use. At that time our youngest was still at home till 2008, and the middle daughter often gave us laundry to wash. Girls always have more to wash than men. When I started with the laborious job in 2006 my working clothes and overalls were washed every night so the machine was well used, I cannot complain about Bosch one little bit.

[boater sam]

Don't expect the new models of you favorite washers to be as good or long lasting as the old ones.
With water and powder and electricity usage being reduced, they don't work the same and take longer to wash.

Domestic appliances are now made to a minimum cost no matter which market they are aimed at, many parts are from the same cheap suppliers even in expensive machines.
Most are not economic to repair, the makers try to induce you to replace rather than repair so that they can continue to turn out quite mediocre machines.

Best from my experience, Asko Asea,    Miele,   Fisher and Paykel.

[Murphyv310]

I don't agree Sam.
The Bosch has exactly the same motor as the 2004 model, wash cycles have been revised with now two quick wash cycles of 15 and 30 minutes. The other cycles are virtually the same as before.
In fact the control board is better placed and properly sealed from moisture whereas the older machine didn't protect the electronics as well.

[Mark Hennessy]

It's a tricky one...

My 1999 Bosch washing machine will need replacing sooner or later, and I'm really not sure what I'll pick. Several people I know have bought Bosch machines over the last 15 or so years, and they've much been less reliable than the older ones, with issues occurring really very early on - many of them have been replaced with other brands by now. But I do know others who have bought Bosch in the last 5 years and so far so good - suggesting to me that perhaps quality took a dive but has recovered? But of course, that's nothing like enough data to draw meaningful conclusions from (probably about 10 machines in total).

I will say that my 1999 Bosch was a significant step down in quality compared to the older machines all my friends and colleagues had at the time. Those machines were extremely well built. Mine was still better than the mass-market brands at the time, and perhaps only 20% more expensive, and I've certainly had a good ROI, but I would have loved one of the older ones because they were so much quieter and didn't vibrate and jump as much.

But our experiences are just that - experiences. Statistically insignificant. Unfortunately, data about reliability tends to be behind paywalls - I haven't subscribed to Which for ages, but that did help to steer me towards Bosch in 1999. Most of what you find for free on the web is commercially driven, or - like threads like this - anecdotal.

Part of me is tempted to move up to Miele, but their build quality is nothing like it was 20 years ago. They might still be better than Bosch, etc, but there's no way of really knowing. Against that, parts for Bosch machines are readily available at relatively sane prices. For example, drain pumps - a part I've replaced on mine - cost about 5 times as much for a Miele. Main motors are double. But perhaps you'd gamble on not having to replace them? Let's be honest - whatever you buy is a gamble...

[Murphyv310]

Hi Mark.
Off topic I know but Which magazine to me was distinctly biased.
The reports given about Skoda in its comecon days were exceptionally damming, not only for handling but corrosion and reliability.
It was odd as even the West German governmental tests actually put Skoda in the top five for reliability for many years. Rust was no worse than our own stuff and better than many. The only thing they may have had that could have been accurate was handling on swing axle models, all sorted by 1984 though.
Funny how VW and BMW amongst others that fought to buy the car division of Skoda.
Other consumer electronics tests again did not bear fruit with reality

On topic I find the new Bosch quieter than the 2004 model with the exception of the drum motor which whines, down to its design though.

[ppppenguin]

Trevor, your comments about Which make me wonder too. They often recommend Utility Warehouse for internet and other utilities. UW is a pyramid sales scheme!
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/j...nna-lumley

Anyway, this is way OT so back to washers.

I'm not looking forward to the day my 1994 Bosch does its last wash. So far the minor faults have all been readily fixable but one day something will happen that puts it BER. My machine has a short synthetics/general cycle that does most of our laundry in about 45 minutes. It would be a little longer if it had to work with cold water fill but probably still under an hour. Very few modern washers can do a decent wash that quickly.

[Murphyv310]

That's the thing I don't like about new washers. The lack of a hot water inlet is not so good especially on hot cycles.

[ppppenguin]

Modern washers use so little hot water that it shouldn't take long to heat it. I rarely wash at more than 40 degrees anyway.

[Murphyv310]

Yes we are the same 40c is the highest normally.
If I've been working in the garden or servicing the car I do like to do working clothes at 60c.
Using fabric softener can cause a gooey build up of fats etc, it's advisable to do a 90c water only long cycle once a year to clear out the goo.