| Product: |
Candy GrandÓ GO1682 |
| Date: |
17.04.08 (266 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Cheap, Energy Efficient, Variety of Wash Cycles, Activa Wash Cycle, Quiet
Disadvantages: Some Programmes Seem to take forever
~~~~~ INTRODUCTION ~~~~~~
It's fair to say that me and washing machines do not generally get on well together. We purchased our previous machine five years ago, and to say that I saw more of the Ariston Engineer than I did my own family is no joke. Some months ago, although we had an extended warranty on our then washing machine, I made the decision that as soon as the machine packed in after the warranty had expired, I would lay it to rest for a well earned rest. I did have the option of further extending the warranty which would certainly have been a cheaper option, but as I say I was seeing more of the Engineer than I was my own wife and so just over a month ago the time came to send our unreliable Ariston machine to its maker in the sky.
Before rushing into buying a machine I did a little bit of research on the internet just to see what was out there and the likely cost. I wasn't looking for much to be honest with you, but in short it had to meet the following criteria:
* It could be any make with the exception of Ariston or Hotpoint (these two companies are both owned and serviced by the same personnel and given my previous poor experience I wanted to steer well clear of these organisations);
* It needed to have a reasonable sized drum. Our previous machine had a 6kg drum and, with having two small children you can appreciate that our machine was pretty much used every day. Consequently there was a tendency sometimes to overfill the machine which may have impacted on some of the issues which we had with our previous machine;
* I didn't want to spend any more than £400 on a machine.
The only model I saw on the internet which met all three of these criteria was a Hoover machine which was available in store at Comet for £349.99 or on the internet for £299.99. However, the earliest delivery date for this particular machine via the internet was a further 10 days and given that we were now without a working machine and with two small children as well, that clearly was not an option. So I decided that I would go in store the next day and try and blag the internet deal if they had the particular machine in stock.
So into Comet I went and low and behold they had the machine which I wanted which was available for £349.99. I tried to get the assistant to honour the internet price but to no avail, so on principal I opted to purchase another comparable machine if one was available. It was at this point that I was first introduced to the Candy Go 1682, which met all of my criteria detailed above but which was available for £299.99.
Now because this is a review of the specific machine rather than the store where I purchased it from I will not go into detail regarding delivery charges, fees for installation or disposal of old machines, suffice to say that these factors need to be taken into consideration when deciding whether to purchase this particular machine.
~~~~~~~ So what do you actually get for your money ~~~~~~~
In a nutshell you are getting a free standing Candy washing machine which is capable of washing up to 8kg of clothes at a time, has a maximum spin speed of 1600rpm which is variable, uses the Activa Wash system which essentially means that the machine constantly monitors and adjusts the critical elements of the wash cycle including temperature and drum action so that efficiency is maximised, and is triple A rated in terms of energy efficiency which is the best you can get. For those of you where size does matter (yes I am still talking about the machine !!) its dimensions are 85cm (Height), 60cm (Width) and 54cm (Depth) which are pretty much standard measurements.
~~~~ If you decided to install the machine yourself, how easy was this to do? ~~~~
Now I've always been a bit of a tight wad but also not the greatest at DIY, but surely even I can disconnect the old machine and connect a new one. Amazingly Comet wanted to charge £17.50 for the privilege of doing this which must be the easiest 10 minutes work they have to do? Who else do you know who can earn over £100 for an hours work just by cutting a plastic tag, unscrewing four nuts and bolts, placing the outlet house in its housing and turning on the cold water supply?
~~~~~ So now you've connected the machine, are there any special features with the machine ~~~~
Put simply, yes ! As well as the normal wash programmes which I will describe in detail later on in this review, there are five additional options which enhance the quality of your wash programme. These are as follows:
1. Fast Wash
As you've probably already guessed from its title, pressing this button reduces the time of the wash programme by a maximum of 50 minutes depending on the programme and the temperature selected which is a bit of a god send considering some of the programmes take in excess of three hours to complete !!. The button can be used for washing loads of 1 to 8 kg but unfortunately can only be utilised on synthetic and cotton programmes.
2. Allergy Care
By pressing this button you can activate a special new wash cycle in the Cotton and Mixed Fabrics programs, thanks to the new Sensor Activa System. This option treats with care the fibres of garments and the delicate skin of those who wear them. Basically, the load is washed in a much larger quantity of water and this, together with the new combined action of the drum rotation cycles, where water is filled and emptied, gives you garments which have been cleaned and rinsed to perfection. The amount of water in the wash is increased so that the detergent dissolves perfectly, ensuring an efficient cleaning action. The amount of water is also increased during the rinse procedure so as to remove all traces of detergent from the fibres. It is advised that this function is used for children's clothing and for delicate fabrics in general, or when washing garments made of towelling such as dressing gowns , where the fibres tend to absorb a greater quantity of detergent. The allergy care is automatically activated on the Delicates and Woollens programs.
3. Stain Vanish
By pressing this button, which can only be activated in the Cotton cycles, the sensors in the new Activa system come into operation. They affect both the selected temperature, keeping it at a constant level throughout the wash cycle, and the mechanical function of the drum. The drum is made to turn at two different speeds at key moments during the wash cycle. When the detergent enters the garments, the drum rotates in such a way that the detergent is distributed in a uniform manner; during the wash and rinse procedures, however, the speed increases in order to maximise the cleaning action. Because of this unique system, the efficiency of the wash procedure is improved without any increase in the length of the program.
4. Delay Start
This facility allows you to delay the start of your wash cycle by either 3, 6 or 9 hours. Personally, I have had no need to use this function but I suppose it could be used if you wanted to have your wash finishing at a particular time if you are out all day and don't want your wet clothes staying in the machine for a long period of time. Incidentally, if there is any break in the power supply whilst the machine is operating, a special memory stores the selected programme and, when the power is restored, it continues where it left off.
5. Spin Speed
The spin cycle is very important to remove as much water as possible from the washing without damaging the fabrics. With this in mind you can adjust the spin speed of the machine to suit your needs. By utilising this button you are able to reduce the maximum speed, and if you so desire you can cancel the spin cycle altogether. However, it should be noted that to prevent damage to the fabrics, it is not possible to increase the speed over that which is automatically suitable during the selection of the program.
In addition, the machine is fitted with a special electronic device which restricts the spin cycle should the load be unbalanced. This helps to reduce the noise and vibration in the machine and thus prolongs the life of the machine.
~~~~~ And what wash programs are available ? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All in all there are 21 different wash programs available with the Candy GO1682 which should be more than enough for most people. These programs are as follows:
RESISTANT FABRICS
1. Cotton, Linen Whites 90 White
2. Cotton, mixed resistant Whites with prewash 60 + prewash
3. Cotton, mixed Fast coloureds 60 Soiled
4. Cotton, mixed Fast coloureds 40 Colourfast
5. Cotton, mixed Non fast coloureds 30 Delicates
6. Cotton Non fast coloureds cold wash *
MIXED FABRICS & SYNTHETICS
7. Mixed, resistant Fast coloureds with prewash 60 + prewash
8. Cotton, mixed fabrics, synthetics Fast Coloureds 60 Soiled
9. Synthetics (nylon, perlon), mixed cotton Fast coloureds 50 Synth's
10. Synthetics (nylon, perlon), mixed cotton Non fast coloureds 40 Colourfast
11. Mixed, delicate synthetics Non fast coloureds 30 Shirts
12. Mixed, delicate synthetics Non fast coloureds cold wash *
DELICATES
13. Very delicate fabrics Delicates 40 Delicates
14. Very delicate fabrics Machine Washable woollens Wool 30
15. Very delicate fabrics Machine Woollable woollens Wool *
16. Very delicate fabrics Hand wash Hand 30
SPECIALS
17. Rinse
18. Fast Spin
19. Drain Only
20. Mix and Wash
21. Rapid 32 minute
~~~~~ What do you mean by a mix and wash cycle ~~~~
This program enables you to wash together different types of fabrics, for example cotton and synthetic garments. The program has a was temperature of 40 degrees C and alternates dynamic phases (the drum rotating) and static phases (fabrics in soak) for the three hour duration of the program. The energy consumption fopr the complete cycle is only 850 W/h.
The first washing of new coloureds fabrics must be done separately. Under no circumstances should you mix non fast coloured fabrics.
~~~~~ So how easy is it to operate ? ~~~~~
Amazingly simple. Open the machine, insert your appropriately sorted washing, and close the door. Insert your detergent as detailed in the instruction booklet, select the appropriate programme by turning the dial either clockwise or anti-clockwise, and then wait for the stop indicator light to flash. Now is the time for you to press the buttons if you require any of the additional functions required above and then press the start/pause button. Hey presto your cycle has just begun.
During the cycle, the time left to the end of the cycle is displayed for 15, 30, 60 and 90 minute periods. This is only really useful in those instances when the cycle has less than 60 minutes to run as in all other instances the 90 minute indicator light will be lit.
Unlike other machines, once a program is selected, the program selector remains stationary on the selected program until such time as the cycle ends.
At the end of the cycle, the indicator light "STOP" will go on. However, you will not be able to open the machine at this stage because the door is automatically locked for a further two minutes at the end of the wash cycle. When this two minute period has expired, the door lock indicator will go out, and at this stage you need to manually switch the machine dial to the off position, otherwise this will affect your next wash cycle.
~~~~~ What if I make a mistake when selecting the wash program ~~~~~
This doesn't cause a problem. The program may be paused at any time during the wash cycle by simply holding down the Start/Pause button for approximately two seconds. When the machine is in the paused mode, various buttons flash to indicate that the program has been paused. Make any changes that you require and then simply repress the Start/Pause button.
~~~~ How easy is it to keep the appliance clean ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Extremely easy. It goes without saying (but I will do anyway) that you shouldn't use alcohol based scourers or thinners on the casing of the washing machine. Simply wipe the machine with a damp cloth. Even if it is not strictly necessary, it is useful to keep the detergent drawer free from residue, and with this in mind it is easily detachable from the machine. Simply place the drawer under running water and then replace in the machine when you have finished.
The machine is also fitted with a filter for handlinmg large deposits which could block the discharge hose (coins, buttons, hairgrips etc) and which can, therefore be easily retrieved. It is recommended that the filter is cleaned at least once a month and more than this if you use the machine regularly. Simply open the flap at the bottom of the machine, pull out the hose and drain the water out, remove the filter and any deposits which have accumulated, clean the filter and then replace.
The glass of the machine can simply be cleaned with a damp cloth.
~~~ Is there anything else we need to know ~~~~~~~~~~
In common with most newer types of machine, the Candy GO1682 only uses cold water and therefore only one hose is needed to connect to the cold water supply. Do not connect the machine to the hot water supply by mistake. A cold water fill machine such as this one is an energy efficient system because only the water required for the washing is actually heated. There is no loss of heat in the pipeline from a hot water tank or boiler to the machine.
~~~~ Any other comments ~~~~~~
My only slight gripe with this machine is the time taken for some of the cycles to complete with a normal 40 degree wash taking just under three hours to complete, compared to the 2 hours or so which I am used to. However, this is somewhat compensated by the Quickwash facility which is useful for non soiled items of clothing. Unfortunately with two small children it is very rare for this to be the case.
One other thing I can't get over is how quiet this machine is. It is no lie but I swear you can be in the same room as the machine and not even realise it is on until it comes to the spin part of the program.
~~~~~~~~~ OVERALL CONCLUSION ~~~~~~~~~~~
For the money which we paid (£300), I believe we have got an unbelievable machine which is extremely energy efficient. It is extremely quiet and does exactly what it says on the tin. It is difficult to compare results with my previous machine, because ultimately both are designed to wash clothes as clean as each other. However, I don't know if it's psychological but after washing clothes in the Candy GO1682 they seem so much cleaner than before.
Incidentally, Comet are currently selling the less advanced version of this machine, which has a spin speed of 1400 rpm (Candy Go1482) for £249.99
Would I recommend the Candy GO1682 to others? Without a doubt.
I don't know how many of you remember the song from the early 1980's called I want Candy by BowWowWow? Well I definitely want Candy, and this machine is not BowWowWow but WowWowWow !!!
Thank you very much for reading.
ALSO POSTED ON CIAO UNDER SUPERCITYFAN
Summary: Brilliant Value for Money and I would highly recommend.
| Reliability: |
|
 |
| Ease of use: |
|
|
| Design: |
|
|
| Cleaning/Maintenance: |
|
 |
| Quality: |
|
|
|
|
