Tiggy Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 my old washing machine decided to packup on Wed, right in the middle of a wash so I had dirty water all over the floor and soaking dirty bed sheets belonging to DS. I need a new one, does anyone have any experiance of the newer very low temp machines - I remember an ad recently about washing at 15C or was I to busy looking at the young man loading his washing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I might be an odd one out but I do all my washing at 40 and above and won't change. Also, with these low temps your machine will get clogged up with "gunk" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoebe Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 You can get good results with clothes at 30c as long as they are not muddy, etc, but the manufacturers themselves say that you should then do a monthly 60c+ wash to clean the machine. I tend to do woolies at 30, bras and delicates at 15 and everything else at 40, with the occasional 50c wash for sheets and towels if I'm feeling hygeinic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 My new one arrived today after the Zanussi died the week before Christmas. With a guarantee of 10 years we opted for a Miele. It's like flying an aeroplane - lots of buttons and a dial - the ungreen bit - there is a light when the door opens. But on the plus side it calculates the load and adjusts the water and power accordingly. It also uses less washing powder - sometimes for lighter washes I use Eco balls anyway. It won't go below 30, which most of my washes go on, but it is recommended to run it once a month at 95 degrees, so all my yukky towels that are used for other things will go in that one. Also they said that some sort of water softener in hard areas (like here) would be a must for a new machine. If you already have a working machine and then start to use Calgon, then the limescale breaks off in big lumps and damages the works (guilty). So commiseration's to you, I have had to do washing in a relay over to mum's with all my loads and worn her one out. Hers is a Bosch and it is now 11 years old - and still working after the extra wear and tear that I have given it. Hope whatever you choose, it works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I went for the new LG direct drive steam washing machine, only had it since Tuesday and I have to say I think it's fab. It is expensive (£600) but it is rated at A++ for energy consumption. It takes a massive 9kg wash and everything I've washed has come out really well. Less powder, incredibly quiet and it also calculates the load weight to use correct water/energy. The direct drive is what makes it quieter - no belt between motor and drum and it turns itself off when its finished so has no energy consumption. The cycle time can be quite long but it is like putting 2 loads on at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Had longer perusal at the washing instructions and it does do several programmes of cold washes too - never an option on my previous washers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Mum has been running "our" machine (I'm not daft - it's in her kitchen therefore she has to operate it - I have never ONCE seen her mow the lawn on my fancy ride on mower with the key in a high cupboard out of her reach....) on 30 degree washes and has started complaining about black gunk. I told her she has to run it hot at least once a month to get rid of this. It also helps if you use powder rather than liquid etc. These 30 degree washes are the problem, there isn't enough heat to kill bacteria etc. They could be a sort of false economy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 mine packed up last week. It's an Ariston washer/dryer. In the days when I was at work we would have just got a new one but being short on cash, we got a repair man to come and fix it. A new one would have cost £350 minimum, the repair cost £40 and a box of eggs It's running better than it ever has done. The problem was there was a build up of lint on the element. I wash jumpers and delicates at 30, everything else at 40 and sheets and towels on 50 every so often, alterating with 40 degree washes in between. I don't suppose you thought of getting it fixed or was it beyond repair? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 mine packed up last week. It's an Ariston washer/dryer. In the days when I was at work we would have just got a new one but being short on cash, we got a repair man to come and fix it. A new one would have cost £350 minimum, the repair cost £40 and a box of eggs It's running better than it ever has done. The problem was there was a build up of lint on the element. I wash jumpers and delicates at 30, everything else at 40 and sheets and towels on 50 every so often, alterating with 40 degree washes in between. I don't suppose you thought of getting it fixed or was it beyond repair? I did look into getting the pump replaced but it was going to cost over £120 and the new one was only £195. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 You can get good results with clothes at 30c as long as they are not muddy, etc, With my football-mad DS, "not muddy" is a never-to-be-seen situation so I always have to wash at 40 degs or more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I have found that since I had the new washer (which doesn't take long now), the drier is working much more efficiently - shorter time = less electricity. All washing finished in one day instead of 2 days. Of course, when the weather gets better - ooh look, a flying pig! - only the towels will be tumbled and everything else goes on the line and hopefully not blown next door! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Of course, when the weather gets better - ooh look, a flying pig! - only the towels will be tumbled and everything else goes on the line and hopefully not blown next door! I went outside one day to discover my line (a 4 armed wirlygig!) half way across the field behind the house, and several items of washing between it and the hedge the other side of the field I'm not sure we ever got the whole load back The children's little popup tent was "attached" to nextdoor's back window with the vortex in their garden, it had gone over the 6ft plus hedge to get there Normally we are in a good drying area.....and the line has been concreted in ! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Cor! I remember a few years ago on a lovely drying day - 2 pegs and a gap in the middle of the washing line. I have no idea what was on there originally (probably OH's t-shirt), never found it anywhere and it wasn't missed by anybody anyway - just the nagging curiosity of where it ended up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 The new machine is really good, lots of different programes including a 30 deg hand-wash for my work suit and blouses, but I have done one hot wash for some bed linen it was much quicker than the old machine - lucky it broke down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoebe Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 every cloud ...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 I went for the new LG direct drive steam washing machine, I have an LG and swear by them. Its 8 years old and going strong which is good in this world of white good dying seconds after they turn two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 We have a few things made by LG and they certainly seem to last! I love my washing machine - it is so quiet and my king-size quilt fits in! I put it on a steam wash and within 10 hours it was dry! My tumble drier isn't working and to be honest I don't think my quilt would fit in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
