Archives: October 2013

There have been many articles written on the increased demand for cheaper products by consumers. There have also been other articles written urging people to keep away from the lower end of the washing machine market due to the almost built-in obsolescence to the product. The result of this is that many people have to write-off a cheaper machine within the first two years. One impact of this is that they have to go out and spend more money to replace the machine, plus the major impact on landfill sites in the UK. Most of us would like to avoid both of these consequences.

To help you understand the cost breakdown of a cheap washing machine, the hidden costs are shown below, in an approximate manner, but enough to show how much money you are actually spending on the washing machine itself. It is fair to say that the examples shown below can be applied to all large electrical appliances.

For the purpose of this exercise, we will use a £200 washing machine as the cost example.

Number 1 – Tax

As in the UK the Value Added Tax is included in the product cost, we tend to overlook the fact that 20% of the purchase price of your goods goes directly to the Government. You are now, for all intents and purposes, paying £160 for your £200 washing machine, as the Government has taken £40.

Number 2 – Logistics and Delivery

Logistics covers both storage and distribution. Once your machine has been manufactured, whether in the UK, Europe or further afield, costs are incurred to ship the goods from the factory to a storage warehouse, and from there delivery to the retailer.

In most cases, washing machines are shipped in large containers. To break the costs down you need to work on up to 150 washing machines to each container. The container will cost up to £2000 for shipping – this can be broken down to about £10-15 shipment costs per machine. You are now paying between £140-145 for your £200 machine.

Number 3 – Retailer Margin

This does vary between each retailer, but in order to exist they have to earn from each appliance they sell. This margin can also be levied on the size of the retailer and how many £200 washing machines they expect to sell in a twelve month period. Some retailers put a higher mark up on their goods, but for the purpose of this exercise we will use an average cost of £25 per machine sold. This now means you are paying £115-120 for your £200 machine

Number 4 – Servicing and Warranty Costs

When you purchase a washing machine you always have at least one year’s manufacturer’s warranty for parts and labour. The cost to the manufacturer for providing this service can be enormous. As we are looking at a £200 machine, there is a strong likelihood that you will have problems during the first year, needing to call on the Warranty.

In order to honour this Warranty, the manufacturers must have a Call Centre to deal with all the calls, plus an engineering force in order to honour the Call Outs. Many manufacturers outsource this service but the costs are still very high.

Again, for the purpose of this exercise, we will call it a cost of £12.50 per machine sold. This now means that you are paying between £102.50-108.50 for your £200 machine.

Number 5 – Factory Costs

Most factories levy a margin cost and, in this instance, we will call it an average of £12.50 per machine, whatever the brand. This now means that you are paying between £90-96 for your washing machine.

Number 6 – Actual Production Costs

This greatly depends on where the machine is being manufactured, what type of components are used and, to some extent, the manufacturer. This, however, comes out at an average breakdown of between £60 and £80. Quite sobering when you think of your original £200 how much is actually spent on building the machine itself.

We are all generally aware that there are hidden costs in the sales price of any item, but it is very sobering to see in black and white how very little of your total outlay of £200 is actually spent on the machine itself.

Obviously this example is only based on the cheapest end of the market, but these costs are also included in the mid to high range products as well. However, what you need to remember is that the actual costs of manufacturing the washing machine will be much higher, as the components will be of a much higher quality. Also, most of these mid to high range machines are generally manufactured within Europe, which will reduce the shipment costs.

If you want to have a washing machine that will give you good service, minimal mechanical failures and last for many years then you must pay much more than the £200 washing machines at the lowest end of the market. From an economical point of view, this will work out much cheaper over the life of the machine. For instance, a good machine will last between 8-10 years, whereas a cheap machine will last for only about 2 years and will cause your problems with repairs. The finances speak for themselves.

The very first thing to bear in mind when in the market for a new washing machine is to work out exactly what you want. You should carry out a lot of research into makes, models, what fancy doodahs you are looking for, before you even start to put your toe into the murky waters of buying a new machine.

There is a huge difference in the prices of washing machines but, in the end, the price may not be the biggest thing to consider. The first things to think about are:

How often will you use the machine – this will identify the quality of the machine that you need. If you have a very light washing use, you may find a cheaper machine may actually fit your needs

Number of people whose clothes will be washed – this is quite a critical question, as it will help you to determine the load size you need. It means you can discount machines that only have up to 5 kg load capacity.

Skin complaints or allergies – this is also an important consideration, as you should be looking for a machine that offers an extra rinse option. The rinsing is very important for allergies or other skin complaints, as the more detergent that can be rinsed out of your laundry the better the results will be.

Type of flooring – although this may sound an odd point to consider, but with a floating wooden floor, a machine with higher spin speeds will not only be noisy but can have the tendency to jump around. This is quite disruptive, especially if the machine is in your kitchen, but could have an impact on your neighbours if you live in a flat.

Line Drying – if you are used to drying your washing outside as much as possible, this would make the need for higher spin speeds redundant. Not only will a higher spin speed not really disperse that much extra water from your wash load, but it will certainly crease your clothes considerably more than a lower speed.

There are obviously other questions relevant to your situation, but these should be able to reduce the options a little.
Tumble dryer usage has decreased over the last few years, not only for economic reasons, but also out of consideration for the environment. None the less, it is interesting to note that spinning clothes at a higher speed will not reduce the amount of time your wash will take to dry in a tumble dryer.

Higher spin speeds have become over rated, but people feel that this is something you should be looking for when purchasing a new machine. Without going into too much detail, the additional amount of water dispersed between an 800 rpm or 1000 rpm spin speed is not much more than a capful. Is this something you really need on your new machine and, if you had it, would you use it.

One other factor you should consider is that it is very important that your new machine is installed correctly, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.  At one time, it was a fairly simple job to install a machine, with very little differences between makes.  This is not the case now, and please be aware that if the machine has not been fitted correctly, not only could it damage the machine itself, but also your Warranty may not be valid and any repair costs would need to be settled by you.

Where to buy?
The next step is to decide where to buy your machine. Even if you have carried out all your research and gone through all the specifications, it is not the same as speaking to a real person, and actually inspecting the machine yourself.

Having said that, it is not always easy to find someone who is unbiased, and who is not just interested in your money. With a national retailer, you are not always able to find the good advice you need. A lot of these retailers are really only interested in making a profit and, in order to do that, they need to keep selling washing machines, so are not always interested in pointing out the better machines which will not need replacing so often.

These retailers are also very keen on selling you an expensive Extended Warranty for your new machine. Did you know that in many cases, the retailer will make more money form selling a Warranty rather than selling the machines. The mark-up on the cost price of larger white goods has been cut so much that the profit levels have almost disappeared.

If possible, you should look for an independent retailer as they are more likely to be interested in satisfying your needs, and providing you with the type of customer service we all want.

You should also be aware that buying a low price machine can be uneconomical in that it will wear out much quicker than a better quality machine, plus any repairs are expensive due to the high price of spare parts. The cost of manufacturing these cheaper machines has been cut as low as possible, resulting in cheaper components being used. They have fast become part of our throwaway society, as can be seen from any landfill site in this country.

If you want a machine to last for up to 10 years, you will need to buy a better quality machine, but you do not have to have all the extra programming and fast spin cycles that you really don’t need. You may end up spending more than you originally wanted to pay, but this will end up cheaper in the long run, as your new machine will outlast possibly up to two cheaper machines.

Take your time, know exactly what you need from a machine, and shop around, not only for price and quality, but also for good advice and excellent customer service.

That question is just like asking how long is a piece of string, almost impossible to answer.
You should first of all:

• Set your budget – and try to stick to it.
• Do some research to try to limit the amount of washing machines that you go to look at. If you look at too many you will find it much harder to make a good decision
• Know the size of machine you need, although to be honest, they are all fairly standard
• Select your colour choice – this is getting more important as most people still have their washing machine in the kitchen, and all your appliances should at least blend in, if not matching completely.  This may limit your choice of manufacturers, as not all manufacturers offer a good range of colours.
• Even if you have decided to purchase on line, it is time well spent to actually go to a retailer to have a good look at the machines first before your make your decision. It may surprise you to know you may get as good a deal on the High Street as you will get on line. It just depends.

The average range for washing machines is from about £300 up to £1000 plus – quite a choice.

If your budget is towards the lower end of this range, you will still find quite a difference in quality and reliability, which is why it is so important to do your homework first, so you know which ones to avoid. The same point goes for those machines at the top of the range, some of which are too complicated for their own good and can cause as many issues as the poorer quality machines at the lower end of the market.

You should take into account the number of people in your household, therefore, the number and variety of programmes that you will need and the number of washes a week. It stands to reason that if there are more people to use the machine, there is probably a greater mix of materials etc. which will require more programme options. If this is the case, you will need to select a more robust machine – this does not necessarily mean a much more expensive machine, but it will probably rule out the lowest price models.

Budgets are still extremely tight, but if you do not buy a machine that is able to stand up to the needs of the household, you may find that it will be liable to break down and you may even have to replace it within a year or two. It is definitely worth a second thought.

If you have a small household it may be you are looking for a more simple machine with just a few programmes. Again this type of machine is available across the range and you should select the most appropriate machine for your use, regardless of price, within limits.

Another good tip is to look for a manufacturer who is happy to give you a two year Warranty with their machines, as this shows confidence in their product.

To ensure your new machine gives you a good service and lasts for a long time, it is essential you follow the manufacturer’s advice on how to use the machine, including both operation and installation.. If you have a problem with your machine during the Warranty period, please bear in mind that if you have damaged the machine by ill-use, such as overloading or poor installation, you may become liable both for the call out and repair costs.

That is a very big question as it depends on so many different things, as you will see later in this article.
Before going through the list, it is fair to say that the manufacturing processes for washing machines is much better than it used to be, and modern washing machines are of a higher quality on the whole. However, there are many types of machines, and prices can vary drastically.

One of the problems with the range of products available on line, there is gererally no-one to look to for advice on the sales sites. Unless you have carried out a certain amount of research first, you may find you are attracted to the best price, or the colour way that goes best in your kitchen, not always the best way to buy.

What type of machine suits your needs:

• Always purchase a machine towards the top end of your budget, never buy the cheapest available. Inevitably the machine is very cheap for a good reason – it is made from cheap parts, and, chances are, it will not last very long and will not give the results you are looking for.

• You should think about the usage of the machine and ask yourself the following questions. How many are there in the household? How many times a week will the machine be used?  The industry average is one wash load per day or, say, 365 wash loads per year.  Obviously if you have one or two people in your household, this is probably about right for you, but if there are four or five people in your household you can quickly see how this average will increase
• If you are in a larger household with children, you will probably not only have your normal wash but perhaps other items such as sports kits, you may even have to take a turn in washing the sports kit for a whole team! All these wash loads add up to the wear and tear of your machine.
  This would indicate that you would need to buy a more robust washing machine, than your single neighbour next door.

  Do your homework first, check for the most reliable machine in your price range and ensure it is a robust machine and capable of taking on more loads. It is also a good idea to look for a manufacturer who is prepared to offer a two year guaranty rather than the standard one year, as this shows confidence in their product.

• Do you run a business perhaps and need to do extra washing of tablecloths, overalls, uniforms etc. on a daily basis. Combined with a larger household, this may suggest that you might need to be looking for an industrial washing machine. This may be more money that you wanted to spend, plus it would take more room, but it would probably work out much cheaper in the long run, as it would stand up to the increased usage far better than even the best domestic washing machine.

Regardless of the amount of usage your washing machine will have to carry out, you must remember these are only machines and even the best of them are liable to have faults at one time or another, as with any other electrical domestic appliance. With the best will in the world, nothing is perfect.

You can, however, help to extend the life of your machine, by following the manufacturer’s instructions on load sizes, selecting the best programme for the job in hand, and carry our your normal maintenance tasks, such as emptying the filter regularly to avoid blockages, and to keep it clean.

The most important action to avoid is overloading the machine. This is definitely the highest cause of damage to washing machines. If you have to stuff the last few items into the drum when loading the machine, it is too much. Not only do you put the machine under strain when you do this, you will also not wash any of the items properly, and it is a waste of time.

If you have to call out an engineer whilst the machine is still under Warranty, and you have caused the damage by overloading the machine, there is a very good chance that you will have to pay for the call out and repair, as it is considered to be a ‘self-inflicted’ problem, not covered by the Warranty.

Look after your machine and, in most cases, it will last a long time. However, bear in mind, that faults can happen to the best of us.

Very few manufacturers have produced direct drive washing machines, as opposed to the normal conventional system used in the vast majority of machines available on the market.
There is always a lot of hype around a launch of something new in the washing machine world. It may well be worth taking you through the differences between the systems, and the pros and cons for both system. You may find this useful when selecting your new washing machine.

One point to make up front is that the direct drive system has been around for quite a long time, and most manufacturers have not taken it up.
The main difference is that the direct drive system does not work on the normal drive belt and pulley system, used in most washing machines on the market today.

On a direct drive machine, the system itself is bigger than the normal belt and pulley system. This means that the weight is carried at the back of the machine, and will restrict the size of the drum.
Pros and Cons of the Direct Drive System are set out below, but please be aware that most of the Pros are from the advertising claims for this system.

It is claimed this system uses less parts, which they suggest will mean less problems. Due to the additional sensors required, the difference is not necessarily less parts, but more like different parts.

The lack of the belt and pulley in the direct drive system means there is less wear and tear, and the machine will last longer – so it is claimed. However, over the last 20 – 30 years, the design and manufacture of domestic washing machines has improved considerably and it is now very unusual to come across problems with belts stretching. It is fair to say this was a common problem in the past but rare these days. In most cases when the belt does fail, it is generally down to the way the machine has been misused by its owner over a period of time, specifically by constant overloading. Not only does this cause problems with the actual washing of the clothes themselves, it can cause the drum to be off-balanced, putting strain on the belt and pulley system.

The motor itself is attached directly to the centre of the drum, making it more stable and thus reducing vibration. This is not necessarily the case. With most washing machines, excessive vibration is caused by poor installation, meaning that the machine is not level, causing it to rock from side to side during the washing cycles. Also, overloading can cause a machine to vibrate as it tries to move the drum fast enough to spin clothes, putting unnecessary strain on the belt.

There is no brush in the direct drive system, which reduces the amount of friction and the washing machine is, therefore, extremely quiet. This is true, but can also be said of induction washing machines that are available on the market. One thing to bear in mind if you are looking for a very quiet machine, an induction machine will be more expensive.

The claims are that a direct drive washing machine is more stable. Unless you are comparing the direct drive with a very cheap machine, the fact that vibration is caused with the high spin speed, you will probably not notice any improvement at all.

You can obviously choose to buy any kind of washing system for any appliance that you want, but there seems very little point in the direct drive system, especially if the cost is higher than the normal belt and pulley system.

Space, or lack of it, seems to be the only reason why anyone would want to purchase a washer drier. They are really more trouble that they’re worth:

• They don’t do what they say on the tin in most cases
• The driers are generally terrible and take forever to dry your washing load
• They break down far more frequently
• Parts are expensive
• They cost a lot to run
• They cost a lot to purchase

At one time, these machines were quite popular but they have fallen out of favour for very good reasons. People thought that it would be great to put on a washing load when you go out to work in the morning, and come home to clean and dry clothes. Great idea in principle, but after 8 hours at work you may well find that your clothes are still being dried when you get home. One pair of jeans can take up to 2 hours to dry!

The use of dryers has fallen quite a lot over the last few years, not only from an environmental perspective, but also due to the cost of using dryers in the first place. If you are lucky enough to have outside space, it is much better to dry your washing in the open air. I know it is a drag when it rains when you are out, but that’s part of the fun of living in the UK!

There are also plenty of items that you would not dry in a tumble dryer anyway, as it could damage them and there’s always a chance that your clothes will shrink. A lot of people generally tend to use their driers in the winter if it is not possible to dry washing outside, and then just use them for jeans, towels and bedding, as the rest of the washing can be hung on airers around the house. Bit of a pain, but cheap.

Back to the choice of washer dryers.  It is very hard to make any kind of recommendations, and the consumer magazine, Which, has only been able to identify 3 models they could recommend as Best Buys.  There are so many manufacturers producing these appliances out there, that it shows how problematic they can be.

Unlike other appliances, the price of the machine does not necessarily give you the best option. There are only three manufacturers that spring to mind, which will cover the three main price bands:

• From the cheaper end of the market – £400-450 range – only one stands out and that is the Zanuzzi washer dryer. It is not saying that it’s great, but is better than the rest in this price range
• From the medium range – £500-750 price– the best of the rest would be the Bosch washer dryer.
• Top of the range, there is even less choice, and only one manufacturer is worth the purchase, Miele. This is for machines costing up to and over £1000.

The best alternative would be to buy a reasonably priced washing machine, and a small tumble dryer, if you are pushed for space. It may be a bit of a nuisance but think you would be much happier with the result.

Is it ever worth buying a second hand washing machine, and how do you know where it has been, who has used it or how long will it last?

These are very good questions, and you should really think very hard about it. I know there are times when your old machine has broken down, and it may seem like a good idea at the time, but you may well be buying yourself a whole lot of trouble.

If you know the person selling the machine, and you know how it has been used and you also know the genuine reason for selling the machine, then you would be able to feel far more confident in this kind of purchase.

Most people will only be changing their washing machine for one of the following reasons:

• Moving home
• Updating their kitchen or utility room
• Not happy with the machine they have
• Like to have the latest gadgets going
• It is broken, needs new parts or plain just doesn’t work – which is what they don’t tell you

It is a huge gamble to buy a second-hand machine on line, as you have no idea where this machine has come from, and also how it has been used. For all you know it has been in a short let premises, which means it has probably had a very hard life, and as they don’t own it, some tenants in this type of property would not necessarily treat the appliances with respect and you have no idea what has been washed in the machine.

It could also be from a private seller who knows the bearings are going – very noisy machine – or something else is going wrong that will cost a lot of money to rectify.

In other words, you will have absolutely no idea where this machine has come from. Also the quality of the machine cannot be verified, the seller could claim it is a bona fide manufactured machine, when in fact, it is a cheap far eastern copy. There is no way you can tell from a picture.

You may also be interested, or amazed, to learn that there is likely to be a considerable amount of slime contained in the machine, that you will never be able to see, from countless washing cycles and has built up over years. This slime may not only come with a noxious smell, but will also contain bacteria.

Apart from purchasing a second hand machine from someone you know, as detailed above, the only other safe purchase would be from a local shop that deals in second hand domestic appliances. They will have stripped down the machine, cleaned and sanitised it thoroughly, plus replaced any broken parts. In fact, in most cases, they will have carried out a full refurbishment. These machines will come with a higher price tag than the cheaper ones available on line, but will also come with a warranty of some kind. If they are not offering a guarantee, then it is probably a good idea to find another shop!

On the matter of cost, we are all aware of some very cheap washing machines available – these are generally again from a non-European Union country. You should also give these a wide berth as not only are they made from very cheap materials, they will only give you a poor performance, and, as will more than likely happen, when the machine breaks down, it is almost impossible to get spare parts. You may also find that you will struggle to get satisfaction from the warranty provided by the supplier.

On the whole it is fair to say that, purchasing second hand machines or very cheap machines, you need to proceed very carefully and can only repeat the only recommended purchases would be:

• From someone you know well, and you are happy with the reason they are selling the machine.  This is even better if it is a family member.
• Buy from a well-know local company who specialise in refurbishing old machines, and provide a genuine guarantee.

Caution is definitely the watch word.

There seems to be some confusion around the whole question of detergent dosing which relates to the amount of water being used in modern washing machines.  There is some suggestion that over-dosing of detergent can cause skin irritation.

As we all know, modern washing machines are designed to be both more efficient and to be kinder to the environment.  However, by using less than the recommended dosage of detergent can mean that your laundry is not cleaned thoroughly and, conversely, using too much detergent can mean the washing machine is unable to rinse all product out of your clothes, leaving detergent residue.  Read more about this here