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Hoover WMH168D
by chrisc92
Sue and I had been living in rented accommodation for 4 years until May of this year (2012) when we managed to secure a mortgage for the house we're in now. Our first rental was a small 2 bed flat and therefore as we had limited space bought a washer/dryer (Hotpoint) from Comet which was certainly poor value with our pennies and was ... with us until late December 2011 when it finally went to the great tip in the sky. Luckily however our second landlord had provided a washing machine which we had moved in to a cupboard so we could use our own so until we moved were reasonably happy with washing our clothes and we had a tumble dryer that was used instead of the full services offered by our tumble dryer.
By December Sue and I were swaying between continued rental or seeing if we could find a way of getting on the property ladder which would a huge drop in our monthly payments, and with this in mind we began looking at washing machines online. By February, we realised that we would be moving imminently so we visited our local Comet and Currys stores which luckily for us on next door to each other. We must have walked in and out of the 2 stores at least 5 times before we eventually decided on the Hoover Optima Washer System (WMH 168 D) with its AAA rating, 1600 spin speed, narrow profile and 8kg wash load. It was not our first or even second choice. In fact it wasn't even in our top 10 but we just couldn't justify the lovely black LG or Samsung models that were on sale for around £750. Instead we opted for the much cheaper Hoover which Currys were selling on promotion for about £250. We were quite chuffed at the time because it was suggested that this particular model had won awards and they more than happy for us to pay for the machine and extend delivery beyond the normal 4 week period so that we could have it delivered to our new home.
So, 6 weeks later it was delivered and we hurriedly cut open the plastic packaging, tightened the hose on to the water tap, fitted the waste and plug it in to the electric socket. We didn't put the cardboard cover on the base which is supposed to stop the heat under the machine.
Well, that was the exciting part, as soon as the machine was switched on we realised how unstable the machine was. Granted the floor where it sits has a little bounce, but when you leave it to spin and find it over a foot away from where you left it doesn't fill you with much confidence. So, with spirit level in hand we tried rebalancing it without any success. Despite all our attempts, not once has the machine remained in place.
Our next problem was that while sitting in our lounge watching the tv we heard an almighty bang only a few weeks after we started using it. Sue went online and booked an engineer callout under the warranty as she thought one of the bolts had broken off that held the drum - certainly there was quite a bit of wobble, but no the engineer had to replace the drive wheel at the back of the machine because it hadn't been fitted properly at the factory. This was all becoming a real problem especially as its constant movement meant that it kept knocking in to our dishwasher!
Our next issue with this machine is that we bought it because it has AAA efficiency rating. Apart from the 29 minute economy wash which is as useless as a chocolate teapot because it doesn't actually wash your clothes we haven't been able to get programmes down below 2 hours! The one good feature on the machine the ability to cut programme times but to date this has been far from acceptable when we are lucky if we can cut 20 minutes off a programme lasting nearly 3 hours. This machine does come with its own load weighing system but all this does is increase the time taken and we haven't noticed any real difference in the amount of water it uses.
The machine comes with instruction manual and water connection hose although it would be handy if manufacturers included longer hoses as standard as very rarely does the length provided leave enough freedom to manoeuvre. Our other issues with the machine are the fact that the fabric conditioner drawer is in the middle rather than on the side making it difficult to pour liquid in to when using full bottles of washing liquid or conditioner. Additionally, we have yet to be able to use its 1600 spin speed when using just the spin cycle. There are also issues with some programmes where it is possible to lower but not raise the temperature.
It is nice to see the time remaining, temperature and spin speed but when the basics aren't great it sort of puts you off any positives. Certainly it comes with plenty of programmes - including sports, rapid, wool, silk, rinse and drain only. They just aren't what we wanted and are in most cases nearly double the timings of our previously washer dryer.
I would not recommend this machine to anyone and would advise you to save a few more pennies and buy a better one.
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Indesit Washer Dryer WD12 X
by rosie_arnold
Bought this washer dryer when I moved into my small flat about a year ago and it's been tempremental to say the least! It's reasonably compact so fits under my worktop no problem.
The design is pretty standard, with a small LCD screen and the usual buttons. It has a small load capacity (only 5kg for washing, 2.5kg for drying) ... in comparison to more expensive ones on the market, but as it's just me and my partner using it, i thought this would be ok. I was wrong, however- as even just doing the bedding (duvet cover, sheet and 2 pillowcases) seems a bit much for this thing (only washing)!
Each cycle varies in length each time i use it- the 30 mins on 40 degrees C cycle takes anywhere between 30 mins and 2 hours- so not reliable if you just want to pop something in before you head out!
it also refuses to start alot without a little encouragement (hitting it seems to help lol!)
The dryer is ok but the capacity is too small to make much use of the wash into automatic dry function as you can only dry 3 or so items at a time.
For the price this washer dryer will do the job, but as they say. you get what you pay for , so if you ca afford a better one then get a better one!
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Zanussi ZWG5148P
by Puggers
I don't feel especially qualified to review a washing machine - through renting, I've never really been in a position to have a preference about the piece of equipment that washes my clothes. As long as it doesn't tear them into raggedy strips, lock itself up and hold my trousers hostage or explode and flood the house, I tend to count ... myself perfectly happy.
Having bought our first flat this year, though, suddenly I'm having to make informed decisions about such things. At £300, this is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive model on the market (although it's substantially closer to the former). I didn't know that there were really many differences between types of machine, but they do vary in terms of volume, energy efficiency and extra features. Most models seem much of a muchness when it comes to the load they can take - this holds what I'd consider a fairly large wash, and should cater comfortably enough for a small-to-medium sized family.
What's more, with a quick spin setting that lasts 30 minutes, it's not a hassle to work through several loads in an afternoon. The machine has an A+ energy rating, which I'm told is pretty good, and should help keep costs down. It also has to wonderfully-named fuzzy logic, which apparently means that it can make its own mind up about things like how much water to use for the load in question. It's kind of like the sentient machines in Terminator, only with less time-travelling and widespread destruction. So far.
It's a fairly quiet beast, too. I can barely hear it two rooms away in the living room, and it doesn't do the whole thunderous-room-shaking thing that makes it sound like it's trying to take off that other models seem to favour. I don't tend to use settings other than the quick wash one, but when I do, the process is pretty simple and self-explanatory. I like the stripped-down simplicity of this machine; dials select the setting and temperature and turn off the device, another button starts and pauses it - there's not a lot to have trouble with here. It can also be set to come on in the indecent hours of the morning, which is a useful money-saver; and the low volume comes in handy here, not interrupting your precious sleep.
All in all, I seem to have come through my first washing machine purchase unscathed - and hopefully I'll be as positive about the machine several years down the line. £300 seems a quite reasonable price for a basic model that covers all my washing-related needs, as well as throwing in a couple of neat extra options. Aesthetically, there doesn't seem to be too much room for flair where washing machines are concerned, so this one fits in perfectly neatly with the vast majority of others on the market - it's designed in a white finish, is easy to clean, and feels pretty solid to use. There's nothing that feels like it's about to snap off or wear down, and everything fits and functions as it's supposed to.
From an absolute layman's perspective at least, I can heartily endorse it and all its machinations. Go wash.
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