Just what Wishy-Washy needed (Beko WM1512S)

Member Name: sandemp

Product:	Beko WM1512S
Date:	11/02/05 (906 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Budget Washing machine, That actually does a good job

Disadvantages: Time a wash takes, Noisy

When our washer/dryer decided that it wasn't going to dry anymore it wasn't that much of a problem, but when it decided not to wash as well, it was time to find a replacement. Now in our house even an expensive washing machine doesn't last very long, so we decided to go for a cheaper make, that was still as high a specification as possible. So after looking on various websites we chose the Beko WM1512, which comes in two colours, white and a very nice silver. As most of our other appliances are silver, and it doesn't seem to get grubby as quickly as white, we went for the silver.

~~~Delivery and Installation~~~

We had to wait a couple of weeks for delivery, not very convenient in a housefull of children with clothes that need to be washed but there you go. As you can imagine we were quite excited when it did arrive, neatly packed in polystyrene and clear plastic. As soon as the delivery men had left, we ripped open the plastic and removed the polystyrene and were ready to release the drum, when we realised the top was loose on the machine, uh oh. So we phoned the suppliers and were told that they'd send a new lid, but that we could still use the machine safely in the meantime.

So we carried on releasing the drum, which involves removing 4 large plastic coated screws and takes quite a bit of effort, positioned the machine then connected the inlet pipes and placed the overflow in the sink. So top marks for being simple to actually install. We then ran a trial wash, without any clothes, and were horrified at the resulting thunder, it turned out that as well as the lid, the drum had been damaged in transit. So we once more contacted the supplier, who then contacted Beko, who arranged for a replacement to be sent. Fortunately, when we installed the replacement there was no horrible thumping noise and it appears to be working perfectly.

~~~The Styling~~~

The machine is a very stylish silver colour and looks very modern. As far I can tell it's a standard size, but you should check if it will fit in whatever space you have ready for it. The actual dimensions are 85cm high, 59.5cm wide and 54cm deep, I found it fits very nicely under a counter in my laundry room.

~~~The specifications (and how they affect the wash)~~~

^^Load^^

The machine has a maximum load of 5.5kg, so you can get quite a lot of washing done at once, but the fuller the machine the less effective the wash (in my experience). So I never actually fill it to capacity, but can still get quite a lot in.

^^Wash Performance^^

Being rated as class 'A', in washing performance means that you should get very clean clothes at the end of a cycle. And that is something I have to say, I'm very impressed with, the clothes do seem to come out far cleaner than with my previous machine, even without using “vanish”.

^^Energy Rating^^

This machine is rated as “A” class for energy efficiency, as this is the best rating, it means that the machine should use less electricity, which considering we use it at least twice a day can only be a good thing.

^^Spin Speed/Performance^^

The machine has a relatively low spin speed of 1200rpm, which is still enough for our purposes, however it's rating for spin performance is also not quite the best at 'B'. Most of the time the clothes are dry enough to hang out, but occasionally they can still feel very wet, and then we just spin them again.

^^15 Programs^^

There are 15 different programs available, ranging from a 90 degree wash for getting your whites nice and bright, down to a 30 degree mini wash for your delicates. There is a handy list of all the programs on the detergent drawer, so if you forget which program does what you don't have far to look for a reference guide.


^^Program Time^^

Officially the maximum cycle time is 130 minutes, and for a white wash this about right. I find all washes take longer than they did for my previous machine, which can be a bit annoying. But you can always use the...

^^Quick wash^^

This gives the clothes a shorter wash, and I find this handy for washing clothes that aren't really dirty, it can cut the time the wash takes down by about a quarter.

^^Extra Rinse^^

For me this is invaluable, one of my children has severe eczema and washing powder can affect his skin. Because of this we always have the extra rinse button pressed in, and an extra rinse is exactly that, it helps to ensure that as much powder as possible is removed from the clothes.

~~~Noise Level~~~

The washing machine can seem very noisy especially when spinning. It's certainly louder than my previous machine, and I do need to shut the laundry room door when it's running otherwise it can get annoying.

~~~Maintenance~~~

Being silver the machine does not seem to get grubby as quickly as my previous white machine did, but still requires a regular wipe down with a soft, damp cloth. We also run an empty boil wash once a week to help remove any residue inside the machine.

Cleaning the detergent drawer, however is a problem, as I've never actually been able to pull it out, so it's now starting to look a bit gunky.

~~~Durability~~~

For the price, this machine is remarkably durable. We run on average 2-3 loads a day, and have now had the machine for 6 months and it's still washing as well as the first load.

As I said before, washing machines do not last long in this house, the most expensive that we bought (which cost twice as much as this one) only lasted a year, so this is doing well.

~~~Price and availability~~~

We purchased our machine from QED-uk.com for approximately £180, and it's still available on the site for £186.51 in silver and £172.30 for the white version.

~~~Final Words~~~

This washing machine was a fantastic buy, it's efficient and cleans the clothes very well. The only real down points, are the time a wash takes and the noise.

I would personally recommend the Beko WM1512 to someone that is on a budget, doesn't mind the fact that it's not a big name brand and can place it in a room with a door that shuts.

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