No more washday blues! (Hotpoint Ultima WMA61)

Member Name: b-rokscarrie

Product:	Hotpoint Ultima WMA61
Date:	06/07/01 (408 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Many handy programmes, Modern

Disadvantages: none

My Creda washing machine was 15 years old and although still working - after a fashion - decided not to rinse the clothes properly and would also snag the occasional item. Time for a new model methinks.

I looked in my mail order catalogues for its replacement as I wanted to 'buy now pay later.' Then, after checking out what I did and didn't want on Dooyoo, and reading several opinions, I decided to go for one I hadn't actually been able to find an opinion on! - the Hotpoint Ultima WMA61.

It was delivered and installed by Hotpoint last week, and what a fantastic machine. It has lots of programmes and although I know a lot of people would say that you only need the basics, and what's the point of paying more for programmes you probably won't use, I disagree. Yes, there are lots of different ways of programming it, but I know that I will use nearly all of them at some time.

The one thing that swayed me to buy this particular model is the fact that it will do a hand wash. I have a quite a few bits and bobs that must be hand washed and I admit to leaving them sometimes in the bottom of the laundry basket, because the one thing I hate about hand washing is the fact that it takes ages to get rid of all the suds, so that you can rinse it out. This will be great for me and I'm sure many other busy Mums. I've yet to use it, but I can't wait to try this programme out. (I need to get out more!)

There is variable rinse, so, for instance, if you have a skin problem such as eczema which means you must be 150% positive there are no soap deposits left behind on your clothes at all, you can add another rinse. There is also variable spin speed; once you have chosen your programme, you have a choice of spin speeds, which is quite handy.

Although I have an 18 year old daughter, who I don't think is going to start tampering with the machine's buttons when it's on, it does actually have a
child lock for those Mum's with toddlers who love pressing buttons. With the child lock on, the buttons won't respond.

Another useful programme is the 'One' choice. This is for when you don't have a full load, but perhaps just want to wash a pair of jeans, for instance. The machine will fill with just the right amount of water for a single item. I have forgotten how many times in the past I have wanted to wash something and realised that was all that needed washing, so I have wasted water -I am on a water meter - and electricty with the machine filling up to the top, just washing this one item.

The spin speed I have is 1400 but for a few pounds more you can have the 1600 speed.

As far as looks go - and we women like a nice looking machine, don't we? - this is very smart and modern. It has an electronic display and controls which are easy to understand. It comes in three colours, Polar white, Linen and Silver. We have it in the White as it fits in with the rest of the appliances, but the silver is very snazzy.

I now have 3 Hotpoint appliances. I trust the name and hope it will serve me for many years - just like my previous washing machine.

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