Mum to be looking for washine machine and tumble drier recommendations

[cazbee]

Hello ED mums and dads

I'm expecting my first baby in December and moving to a new house in November. With the expectation that I'll be doing a LOT more washing on maternity leave and beyond (including reusable nappies!) I figure having a really good washing machine and drier could make life a little bit easier.

So, could anyone recommend a great large capacity washing machine and tumble drier? Is there one you've been eyeing up that you would go for if you had to buy a new one? Performance and green credentials more important than looks as they'll be hidden away in a teeny utility room in the new place (yay!).

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Carolyn

[emily88]

ive just got a LG washer dryer its a 9kg wash 6kg dry, very good found it the cheapest at comet. if you r doing a full load it does seem to take a long time but it cleans really well and is so quiet and it also has a baby mode.

hope this helps

[candj]

We have the Miele washer/dryer combo and have never looked back. I love it especially because it is truly quiet and I can't hear it when it's on.

I think if you do a search by users look up 'The Nappy Lady' as Molly started a few threads about just this with a lot of contributions, pro/cons, price comparisons.

Good luck!

[cazbee]

Thanks very much! I'll do a search for the older threads too.

[The Nappy Lady]

LOL yep had huge washing machine thread going in here when my ten year old whirlpool broke last year (or early this year can't remember now).

After A LOT of deliberation I've ended up with the Meile washer dryer. It isn't huge capacity, but washes brilliantly, is guaranteed parts & labour for 5 years and is the most highly Environmentally rated machine I could find.

I don't often tumble dry, but it is good to have the option & it is the only washer/dryer I'd invest in as I know they generally have a bad reputation for going wrong.

We are a family of 4 with 1 in cloth nappies still (do shout if you need help on that front), and I find the 5kg capacity fine.

Hope this helps, do ask if more questions.

Oh, just to add - it is a lot of money I know, but I reckon it will pay off in the long term as these machines seem to pretty much last for ever. Not sure if buying washer & dryer as separate items would be any less expensive, if space in posh new utitity is not a huge issue!!

Molly

[ljs]

We have also just updated our washing machine with an LG.. It's FAB !!! I have really noticed a difference with the kids clothes coming out a lot cleaner, and my husband uses the steam mode quite a lot...

My husband found ours on www.appliancedeals.co.uk

[The Nappy Lady]

Yes, I have a friend (family of 6) who has the LG with the steam cycle and she loves it. I very nearly bought it, but some of the reviews I found on line worried me a bit in terms of the machine having some mechanics that were not very robust. But of course you can almost always find bad reviews about anything if you look hard enough (though couldn't find any about the Meiles anywhere...that almost swayed me, and what finally made my mind up were two reviews I found by actual washing machine engineers - both of whom said every machine except the Meile is pretty much built to be scrapped after 2-3 years use, and that Meile are the only ones you can repair without fail.

The LG was definitly a close runner up for me though.

[alieh]

I have the LG steam washer too and LOVE it. It spins at an incredibly high speed which means much less drying time (though this means you do have to ensure you're installing on a solid and level surface or it wobbles like crazy...suspect this is true of most high speed washers).

It's been going strong since 2007 with no problems....watch, it's going to break down now isn't it??

[The Nappy Lady]

Hope not Alieh! I do think when you go looking on the internet you'll often find negative stuff - and more people will be bothered to go back to put a negative post up than a positive one.

Fast spin speed is a definite bonus, I agree, wouldn't be without that option now.

[nymom]

I have a Miele washer and tumble dryer - two separate machines. I wanted a large capacity LG but ours were going into a standard space which the LG didnt fit into. I have never looked back. The tumble dryer works so well and the washing machine is great. Have had hotpoint/indesit in the past at previous properties and although cheaper they were rubbish compared to the Miele.

[cazbee]

Wow, two very strong contenders there in terms of brands. Thanks again all. I really appreciate the advice.

Molly, thanks for the offer of advice on cloth nappies. I have your sessions in the diary to come along to when I am finally on maternity leave (can't come soon enough, I tell you!!)

[sparkle]

just to add a little on the 'green credentials front'. Please don't be persuaded into buying a big machine and or a tumble dryer. Sure, you'll be washing more, but not so much you'll need anything extra big. We are a family of 5, and at one point I had two in washable nappies, and we were fine with just the regular washing machine (just needed a little bit of organisation!) Another thing to add about the nappies- if you want to keep it as green as you can, then washing and hanging out to dry rather than tumble drying will probably be the best reduction in energy you can do. Also tumble drying will wear the nappies out a lot faster (we live in a flat with no outside space, and hanging them up to dry in the house really was fine, and kept the nappies in lovely condition).

[The Nappy Lady]

Well said Sparkle - my nappies almost always dry out on the line, or on a radiator rack (lovely fast drying in the winter with guaranteed heat source via the rads!).

The TD option is really for stuff like jeans etc. that take AGES in the winter on an airer in the middle of the kitchen, good to have the option if I get really fed up of waiting for stuff to dry.

Also, if you have a suitable place for one a Sheila's Maid is brilliant - one of those wooden racks that hangs off the ceiling and you can raise and lower it as needed. Oh to have a utility with one of those in - my idea of heaven (sad or what).