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DIY repairs
Best laundry detergents
Which brands are best?
Machine broken? Go to www.which.co.uk/
washerrepairs to see whether you need to
call an engineer – you could save up to £80
on labour by doing a simple job yourself.
A good detergent will help you get the
best results from your washing machine.
We reveal the latest test results and name
Best Buy powders and tablets on p34.
Our tests have built up a picture of different
washing machine brands. To get an idea of
their strengths and weaknesses, take a look at
www.which.co.uk/washingmachinebrands
freestanding
freestanding
Bosch WAS24460GB £465
Miele W1613 £679
Zanussi ZWI2125 £567
Which? test score 74%
Which? reliability rating ★★★★
Pros Extra rinsing and reduced ironing are
two of the options on this feature-packed
machine. For each wash, you can pick whether
energy or speed is most important. Cleaning
results are excellent for easy-care clothes and
very good for cottons. The 8kg-capacity drum
is great for large family loads.
CONS Water use and energy efficiency are
only average on the easy-care program.
Which.co.uk target price £434
Cheapest high street store The Co-operative
Also available Comet, Currys, Dixons
Which? test score 74%
Which? reliability rating ★★★★★
Pros Miele is the only washing machine
brand to score five stars for reliability, and this
is the only freestanding Best Buy to get five
stars for rinsing. It gives superb cleaning
results on the cotton wash, and the easy-care
wash is very good. Both programs are fast.
Energy use is low with a full load of cottons.
CONS The easy-care wash gets only average
results for energy efficiency and water use.
Which.co.uk target price £648
Cheapest high street store The Co-operative
Also available Comet, John Lewis, M&S
Which? test score 74%
Which? reliability rating ★★★★
Pros One of the cheapest and fastest
built-in Best Buys, this 6kg-capacity Zanussi
gets five stars in our tests for its easy-care and
cotton programs. The rinse is also good and
there are lots of program options, including
pre-wash and extra rinse.
CONS Energy use with smaller loads is only
average, and it’s not very quiet. Laundry isn’t
very dry after the spin, either.
Which.co.uk target price £517
Cheapest high street store Boots
Also available Comet, M&S, Next
freestanding
freestanding
built in
test
lab
longer
lasting
washing machines
Washing machines from the most reliable brands and tips on extending the life of your machine
It’s pointless spending hundreds of
pounds on a washing machine from
a brand with only a mediocre record for
reliability, such as Hoover. If your machine
does break down, calling in an engineer can
cost as much as £100 – even before they’ve
taken a look at the problem. We’ve found
that a long-lasting washing machine needn’t
cost a fortune. Here, we pick the cheapest
Best Buys from the six most reliable brands
and offer tips on how to keep your washing
machine running smoothly.
Is Calgon worth it?
more
for
you
We have full test results for more than 200 washing machines online, along with their cheapest
online prices. Find the reviews and information on brand reliability at www.which.co.uk/
washingmachines. Or if you’d prefer to speak to someone, call our helpline on 01992 822800.
36 | June 2011
detergent does the same job
Washing detergents also contain water
softeners, so using the recommended dose
should reduce limescale build-up unless your
water’s very hard. In that case, fitting a softener
to the mains to treat the whole water supply
might be worthwhile, as other appliances will
also be affected.
Washing your laundry at lower temperatures
will also reduce limescale deposits in your
machine. Calgon ads show the effects of
washing at 60°C, but the most commonly used
temperature, and the one used in all our
washing machine tests, is 40°C.
As well as using the right amount of detergent
to reduce limescale, running a 90°C wash once a
month with biological powder will help prevent
the door seals on your washing machine from
going black. Wiping round the drum and
regularly checking the filter (if your machine
has one) will also improve its performance.
Of the six most reliable washing
MONEY machine brands on Which.co.uk,
SAVER
Zanussi washing machines are the
cheapest, with online target prices between
£250 and £517.
www.which.co.uk
built in
photographY by: getty images
Calgon claims that, on
average, one machine
stops working in the UK
every three minutes
because of limescale. It
promises to extend your machine’s life for less
than 30p a wash, claiming ‘you should use
Calgon in every wash and at all temperatures’.
But do washing machines really ‘live longer’
with Calgon? We wanted to put its claim to
the test, so we simulated three years of
washing in hard water – with and without
Calgon – and asked an expert with 17 years
of repairs experience to inspect the machines
for damage.
While the element in the machine without
Calgon had a thicker coating of limescale, it
wasn’t enough to affect the machine’s
performance or suggest future failure.
Our expert said: ‘I’ve never met any
circumstances where Calgon would’ve been
a good investment. It takes six to eight years
in hard water for a machine to require
attention due to calcium build-up. In this time
the consumer could have spent £295 on
Calgon [washing three times a week]. For me
to unblock and service a machine of this age,
it would be £49.20 plus any parts required.’
Bosch WIS24140GB £592
John Lewis JLWM1604 £499
LG F1480FD £500
Which? test score 73%
Which? reliability rating ★★★★
Pros Cottons and delicates get a superb
rinse in this Bosch – and it has the fastest easycare wash of all the built-in Best Buys (95
minutes). It’s quiet and has an effective spin.
CONS The time remaining isn’t displayed. The
easy-care program didn’t leave clothes as
clean as the cottons wash. You may need to
buy a separate plinth if you need to boost the
machine’s height.
Which.co.uk target price £553
Cheapest high street store Dixons
Also available Boots, Comet, M&S, Next
Which? test score 71%
Which? reliability rating ★★★★
Pros This machine could save you money if
you’re on a water meter – we found it to be
extremely water efficient with full and smaller
loads of cottons. It has 21 programs, including
stain and intensive options, and the 1,600 rpm
spin gets most of the water out of laundry.
CONS It has a noisy spin. Rinsing is average,
so you may find that not all the detergent is
removed from your clothes.
Which.co.uk target price £499
Cheapest high street store John Lewis
Also available www.johnlewis.com
Which? test score 71%
Which? reliability rating ★★★★
Pros This LG has a large 9kg drum. Cleaning
results are great – especially on the easy-care
program. Laundry gets a good rinse, and the
1,400rpm spin removes plenty of water. There
are lots of settings, including a duvet option
and a ‘medic’ rinse to remove any detergent
left at the end of the wash.
CONS Program times are long – a full cotton
load takes nearly four hours.
Which.co.uk target price £462
Cheapest high street store Sainsbury’s
Also available Currys, John Lewis, Next
www.which.co.uk
June 2011 | 37
washing Machines
test
lab
the most reliable best buys – plus the most energy-efficient machines on the market
built in
built in
freestanding
Which? Test Performance
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www.which.co.uk
Specification
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38 | June 2011
Why is my machine
Q so noisy?
A loose coin or bra wire can cause
rattling in the drum, but if your
machine has removable paddles
you should be able to find it. If your
washing machine vibrates loudly on
the spin cycle, its feet might not be
level. The machine’s manual should
contain advice about setting the
feet to improve stability.
Why doesn’t the water drain
Q from my machine?
The pump filter may be blocked, so
check this first. If it’s clear, have a
look at the pump as a small item,
such as a coin, might be stuck.
How can I fix a leak?
Q If water leaks out of the
washing machine when it’s turned
on, the waste hose at the back of
the machine could be damaged or
loose. Tightening the connections
or replacing the hose could solve
the problem.
h Bosch WIS28440GB Logixx (£662) 76%
This built-in Bosch scores five stars for energy with a
full load and four stars with smaller loads of cottons or
synthetics. It could also save you money if you’re on a
water meter. It has a 1,400rpm top spin and a 7kg drum.
Available at Boots, Comet, Dixons, John Lewis, M&S, Next
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FAQs and problems you can fix yourself
The Which? Energy Saver logo identifies Best Buy
appliances that are extremely energy efficient. Most
washing machines today are A-rated for energy, so
EU energy labels are changing from A to G to A+++ to D, to
help shoppers identify the most efficient.
Our tests differ from those used for EU labels. We wash at
40°C and record the energy used in each cycle, with synthetics
and full and smaller loads of cottons, to reflect real everyday use.
Washers rarely get top marks for energy efficiency with both full
and smaller loads, but the Whirlpool and Bosch (right) and the
Siemens WI12S140GB (left) are three of the best we’ve tested.
h Whirlpool AWOE8558 (£389) 71%
This freestanding 8kg-capacity Whirlpool scores five stars
for energy with a full cotton load and four stars with the
recommended 3.5kg load of synthetics. Different fabrics
are cleaned consistently well, and it has a 1,200rpm spin.
Available at Next, online
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Which? test score 70%
Which? reliability rating ★★★★
Pros This machine has a 30-minute quick
wash that’s useful if you’ve worn clothes only
once. The easy-care program gets clothes
spotless, and cottons are washed well. Water
use is very low with full and smaller loads.
CONS This is the noisiest Best Buy and is
particularly loud on the wash cycle. However,
spinning isn’t as noisy, which is unusual as the
spin tends to be the loudest part of a program.
Which.co.uk target price £379
Cheapest high street store John Lewis
Also available www.johnlewis.com
Why isn’t it spinning?
Q All modern machines have
sensors to check the load is
balanced. If you’re washing a single
item or a particularly large or small
load, the sensors might stop the
spin because they sense that the
machine will be out of balance,
which could cause damage.
The door’s locked – how
Q do I get my clothes out?
If you can’t open the door and
there’s no water inside, check the
Our picture gallery at www.which.co.uk/
explodingwashers shows the effects of a rare
fault on Candy machines. Email homeeditor@
which.co.uk if you’ve had a similar experience.
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John Lewis JLWM1407 £379
Which? test score 71%
Which? reliability rating ★★★★
Pros This is the cheapest built-in Best Buy. It
has a 6kg capacity and an easy-care program
that gets clothes spotless. Cottons are left very
clean and well rinsed, and energy use is low
with a full load. It has 21 programs, including a
pre-wash option for very dirty clothes.
CONS The spin is only average, so you may
find your laundry’s still quite wet when the
wash finishes.
Which.co.uk target price £466
Cheapest high street store Comet
Also available Boots, John Lewis, M&S, Next
Go to which.co.uk/washerrepairs
for more help with minor faults
Candy fault investigated
Tumble dryers guzzle energy, but you can
save money by using them more efficiently.
Have a look at our video guide at www.
which.co.uk/energysavingtumbledry
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Zanussi ZWI1125 £466
Which? test score 71%
Which? reliability rating ★★★★
Pros One of the larger built-in Best Buys,
this 7kg-capacity Siemens is quick, particularly
on the easy-care program. It’s one of the
quietest Best Buys and its rinse cycles are
excellent, so it would suit anyone concerned
about detergent being left in laundry.
CONS The time remaining isn’t displayed, and
water consumption on the easy-care program
is only average.
Which.co.uk target price £589
Cheapest high street store John Lewis
Also available Comet, Currys, Dixons, M&S, Next
manual to see whether there’s an
emergency door release. If not, try
disconnecting the plug from the
mains and waiting a few minutes.
Why aren’t my clothes
Q being rinsed properly?
There could be a blockage. Check
the pump filter first – it’s usually
on the front of the machine but
consult the manual if you’re not
sure. If the filter’s OK, the waste
pipe connecting the machine to
your plumbing might be blocked.
The conditioner stays in
Q the drawer – what can I do?
If a build-up of slime in the drawer
isn’t causing the blockage and the
powder is being drawn into the
machine, the conditioner itself may
be the problem. Storing conditioner
in the wrong environment can
change its consistency, so buying
a new bottle and following the
storage instructions may fix
the problem.
Save energy
A good tumble dryer dries quickly and
evenly, but we recommend you avoid the
Indesit IS70C and Creda TCR2. Find out why
at www.which.co.uk/tumbledryers
more energy-saving washing machines
Siemens WI12S140GB iQ300 £618
Should I use powder
Q or liquid detergent?
Liquids don’t contain bleach, which
can mean colours stay bright but
whites aren’t cleaned as effectively.
Bleaching agents in powder help to
stop the build-up of bacteria and
mould that can cause bad odours.
See our full article on laundry
liquids and powders, on page 34.
Should I always wash
Q at low temperatures?
If you wash at 40°C or lower,
it’s important to do a regular
maintenance wash to get rid of
any bacteria that isn’t removed by
hotter water. Every month, empty
the drum and set your machine off
at its highest temperature, using a
biological detergent with bleaching
agents. You can also get rid of
odours by doing a laundry-free hot
wash with soda crystals in the drum
or white distilled vinegar in the
detergent drawer.
Don’t Buy dryers
FREESTANDING
1 LG F1w443KDS
792
11
1,400
HHHHH
2 miele W5740
999
7
1,400
HHHHH HHHHH
3 Bosch WAS24460GB Logixx
465
8
1,200
HHHH
4 LG F1443KD
765
11
1,400
HHHH
HHHH
2:22
5 Miele W1613
679
6
1,300
HHHHH
HHHH
2:06
6 Hotpoint WMF760 P Aquarius+
300
7
1,600
HHHHH
HHHH
7 Indesit PWE8148W Prime
380
8
1,400
HHHHH
HHH
8 Beko WME7247 Excellence
300
7
1,400
HHHH
HHHHH
9 Indesit PWC8128W Prime
319
8
1,200 HHHHH
HHH
10 John Lewis JLWM1604
499
7
1,600
HHHH
HHHH
11 LG F1480FD
500
9
1,400
HHHH
12 Whirlpool AWOE8558
389
8
1,200
HHHH
HHHH
13 Hotpoint WML560 P Aquarius
290
6
1,600
HHHHH
HHHH
14 John Lewis JLWM1407
379
7
1,400
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
2:46
1:48
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHHH
HHHH
2:10
1:30
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHH
HHHH
HHHHH 2:28
1:40
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHH
HHHH
74
1:57
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHHH
HHH
HHHH
74
1:17
HHHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHH
2:21
1:14
HHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHHH
HHHH
HHH
73
3:02
1:07
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH
72
2:13
1:32
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH
71
2:55
1:05
HHH
HHH
HHH
HHHHH
HHH
HHH
71
2:12
1:23
HHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHHH
HHH
HHHH
71
HHHHH 3:56
2:02
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHH
HHHH
71
2:15
1:22
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HH
HHH
71
1:51
1:16
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHH
HHH
70
HHHHH 2:08
1:22
HHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHHH
HH
HHHH
70
2:22
1:23
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHHH
HHHH
HHHH
76
1:59
1:20
HHHH
HHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHHH
74
HHH
2:13
1:15
HHHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
73
HHHH
1:59
1:28
HHHHH
HHHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHHH
72
2:15
1:26
HHHH
HHHH
HHH
HHHH
HHH
HHHH
72
2:13
1:16
HHHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
71
HHHHH 2:08
1:29
HHHH
HHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHH
HHHH
71
79
HHHHH 79
HHHHH 74
BUILT IN
15 Bosch WIS28440GB Logixx
662
7
1,400
16 Zanussi ZWI2125
567
6
1,200 HHHHH HHHHH
17 Bosch WIS24140GB Exxcel
592
7
1,200
18 AEG L62642VI
572
6
1,200 HHHHH
19 AEG L63742VI
729
6
1,400
20 Siemens WI12S140GB iQ300
618
7
1,200
HHHH
21 Zanussi ZWI1125
466
6
1,200
HHHH
HHHH
HHHH
HHHHH HHHHH
HHHH
ratings for more than 230 previously tested washing machines can be found on our members’ website at www.which.co.uk/washingmachines
Using the table
performance
The more stars the better.
Specification
Price For Best Buys we give the lowest
widely available high street or online price.
Capacity Full cotton load capacity.
Max spin Maximum spin speed in rpm.
www.which.co.uk
Cotton/synthetics wash Cleaning rating
for 40°C cotton and synthetic washes.
Cotton/synthetics time According to our lab
test, not the manufacturer’s manual.
Rinsing How well cotton and synthetic loads
are rinsed. Spinning How dry the load is after
the final spin. Energy and water Use per kg
of washing at 40°C. Noise Subjective expert
judgement during wash and spin. Reliability
Best Buys have at least average reliability in
our survey.
Score
Ignores price and is based on:
Washing������������������������������������������������������������� 55%
Water/energy use�������������������������������������������20%
Convenience�����������������������������������������������������10%
Spin dry���������������������������������������������������������������10%
Noise���������������������������������������������������������������������5%
June 2011 | 39