Whitegoods Help article

Indesit Moon washing machine

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Quick Answer

The Indesit Moon was marketed with the tagline “Future Friendly” but proved to be neither. Independent testing found it performed poorly on the 40-degree wash most people use. Its novel soap dispenser behind the door prevented seeing inside the drum. And a design flaw preventing a 90-degree wash made it uniquely vulnerable to the black mould and grease build-up that eventually attracted a BBC Watchdog investigation.

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Verdict: The Indesit Moon should be avoided

The Indesit Moon was the subject of a BBC Watchdog investigation following widespread complaints about a severe black mould and grease build-up problem. The machine is uniquely unable to perform a 90-degree maintenance boil wash – the standard remedy manufacturers recommend for this type of build-up. If already owned, the mould problem can be managed but not fully resolved without a 90-degree cycle. The model is now discontinued.

The Marketing vs the Reality

The Indesit Moon was launched with a high-production TV advert using a soundtrack by New Order, futuristic visuals of robots integrated into human society, and the tagline “Future Friendly”. It was a memorable and well-made piece of advertising for one of the most budget-positioned brands in the UK washing machine market.

The “future friendly” tagline could reasonably imply an appliance built to last, or one so technically advanced it would not quickly become obsolete. Neither proved to be the case. For a product to be genuinely future-friendly, it must be reliable enough to justify repair when it fails, with spare parts priced at a level that makes repair economical. The Indesit Moon did not meet either criterion.

What Was Different About the Indesit Moon

✅ What worked

  • Extremely simple controls. A single control with just four wash programmes. For buyers who want simplicity over a confusing array of options, this was genuinely appealing
  • Good rinsing performance. Independent testing found the Moon was notably good at rinsing – an unusual finding for a budget machine in a period when rinsing performance had become a widespread problem across the market

❌ What did not work

  • Poor wash performance at 40 degrees. Independent testing found the Moon performed poorly at the 40-degree wash most people use for the majority of their laundry – only adequate for light stains
  • Soap dispenser behind the door removes the window. The novel dispenser placement replaced the standard door glass, eliminating the ability to see inside the drum during a wash. Visibility inside the drum is occasionally useful – for spotting something that should not be there
  • Cannot do a 90-degree wash. The machine’s maximum wash temperature was below 90 degrees – which meant the standard maintenance boil wash that removes grease and mould could not be performed
  • Severe black mould and grease problem. BBC Watchdog investigated the Moon following a high volume of complaints about grease, slime, and black mould build-up inside the machine. The absence of a 90-degree option made this particularly difficult to manage

The BBC Watchdog Investigation

The Watchdog programme featured the Indesit Moon due to the volume of complaints about grease, sludge, and black mould accumulating inside the machine. Black mould inside washing machines is a known issue across many brands – it is caused by washing predominantly at low temperatures, using liquid detergents, and not running regular maintenance washes. Most manufacturers recommend an occasional 60 or 90-degree cycle to clear the build-up.

The Indesit Moon had a specific design problem: it could not reach 90 degrees. This meant the primary remedy manufacturers recommend – and that Indesit itself recommends for other models – could not be applied to this machine. Owners were left managing the problem at 60 degrees, which is less effective.

For any owner of an Indesit Moon experiencing this problem, the guidance is:

  • ✅
    Use powder detergent containing a bleaching agent rather than liquid detergent – liquid detergents contribute to build-up more than powders
  • ✅
    Run a 60-degree maintenance wash regularly with no laundry, using a machine cleaning product or soda crystals in the drum
  • ✅
    Leave the door ajar after each use to allow the drum to dry out
  • ✅
    Clean the door seal regularly, particularly in the fold, where mould accumulates

See our full guide on washing machine smells, grease, and black mould and our guide on causes of black mould in washing machines.


Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there black mould in my Indesit Moon washing machine?

The Indesit Moon is particularly susceptible to black mould and grease build-up because it cannot perform a 90-degree maintenance wash – the most effective way to clear this type of build-up. The problem was the subject of a BBC Watchdog investigation. Managing it on a Moon requires regular 60-degree maintenance washes using powder detergent with a bleaching agent, leaving the door ajar after use, and cleaning the door seal regularly. See our full guide on washing machine smells and black mould.

Can the Indesit Moon do a 90-degree wash?

No. This is the core design flaw that caused the widespread black mould complaints. The machine’s maximum wash temperature is below 90 degrees, which means the boil wash that manufacturers recommend for clearing internal build-up cannot be performed on this model. This limitation was not prominently disclosed at point of sale.

Is the Indesit Moon still available?

No. The Indesit Moon is a discontinued model. It is no longer in production or available new. Second-hand examples may occasionally appear but given the well-documented mould problem and the inability to perform a 90-degree maintenance wash, purchase of a used Moon is not recommended.

Last reviewed: April 2026. The Indesit Moon is a discontinued model. This article is retained as a reference for existing owners and for historical context.

Discussion

137 Comments

Grouped into 125 comment threads.

EmilyT 1 reply We have an indesit moon or I should did have as it has now exploded. I know that sounds ridiculous but I put it on a 60 degree wash and some time later heard a bang from the garage. The top was in pieces and the concrete block from inside was at the other side of the garage. The contents were mangled around a crumpled drum This machine is 4-5 years old and I'm only glad my husband or children were not about when it blew Any ideas what to do?

We have an indesit moon or I should did have as it has now exploded. I know that sounds ridiculous but I put it on a 60 degree wash and some time later heard a bang from the garage. The top was in pieces and the concrete block from inside was at the other side of the garage. The contents were mangled around a crumpled drum

This machine is 4-5 years old and I’m only glad my husband or children were not about when it blew

Any ideas what to do?

Abs 1 reply I intend to attempt to return my 'moon' as it clearly does not do what it is supposed to do. I've had the washer for 6 months now and in this time my son's eczema has worsened considerably (might not be the machines fault but after watching Watchdog it has made me think) The black mould around the door seal is no longer wiping off after each wash it seems to have set in. The 'self cleaning' unit is absolutely disgusting constantly full of sludge and grime and the clothes don't wash and come out clean. I no longer wash anything white in the washing machine as I can not afford to replace the clothes, for example the childrens school shirts which come out with mould spots or dirty stripes all over them. From reading the comments on here it is clear that I am not alone in being more than unhappy with this purchase. I anticipate requesting a refund will not be an easy task but surely with the proof of the inadequacies that this machine poses and the state my machine is in after 6 months i'm hoping the retailer see's it the same as I do. A machine not fit for purpose and mis-advertisement by Indesit and the retailer as this machine clearly does not self-clean. I'll let you know how I get on.

I intend to attempt to return my ‘moon’ as it clearly does not do what it is supposed to do. I’ve had the washer for 6 months now and in this time my son’s eczema has worsened considerably (might not be the machines fault but after watching Watchdog it has made me think) The black mould around the door seal is no longer wiping off after each wash it seems to have set in. The ‘self cleaning’ unit is absolutely disgusting constantly full of sludge and grime and the clothes don’t wash and come out clean. I no longer wash anything white in the washing machine as I can not afford to replace the clothes, for example the childrens school shirts which come out with mould spots or dirty stripes all over them.
From reading the comments on here it is clear that I am not alone in being more than unhappy with this purchase. I anticipate requesting a refund will not be an easy task but surely with the proof of the inadequacies that this machine poses and the state my machine is in after 6 months i’m hoping the retailer see’s it the same as I do. A machine not fit for purpose and mis-advertisement by Indesit and the retailer as this machine clearly does not self-clean. I’ll let you know how I get on.

Washerhelp

Likely replying to Abs

Hello Abs: I would think you have a very strong case, but as you say don’t be surprised if the retailer is stubborn and intransigent as many don’t want to abide by the sale of goods act in this regard. They don’t mind when a product is immediately faulty but when it happens many months or even years after they don’t see why they should be responsible. Having said that some companies are much better in this area and for example I’ve heard many cases where John Lewis have exchanged products long after selling them when customers have been very dissatisfied so it depends very much were you bought it.

Please keep us all informed. This is a very important issue, which affects everyone who ever buys anything – even the retailers and their staff who refuse to accept their liabilities under the sale of goods act.

julie 1 reply My asthma has become significantly worse (life threatening and missing work for weeks on end) and I am now convinced it is down to this blinking machine. I clean it every couple of days so no visible mould and gunge as on Watchdog but certainly there is the disgusting whiff! I am really upset and worried - how can Indesit obviously know about this design fault and health hazard and do nothing and how on earth is it they can get away without doing anything about recompensing people who have their dangerous machine? Surely there is some way we can get them to replace the Moon with a decent, clean and safe machine even if we have to pay a bit extra? My machine isnt even two years old and I hate it but cannot afford to purchase a new one - surely we as consumers have some come-back given this is now a proven health hazard and design fault?

My asthma has become significantly worse (life threatening and missing work for weeks on end) and I am now convinced it is down to this blinking machine. I clean it every couple of days so no visible mould and gunge as on Watchdog but certainly there is the disgusting whiff! I am really upset and worried – how can Indesit obviously know about this design fault and health hazard and do nothing and how on earth is it they can get away without doing anything about recompensing people who have their dangerous machine? Surely there is some way we can get them to replace the Moon with a decent, clean and safe machine even if we have to pay a bit extra? My machine isnt even two years old and I hate it but cannot afford to purchase a new one – surely we as consumers have some come-back given this is now a proven health hazard and design fault?

Leigh 1 reply Thanks for your comments, we done the press and hold for two seconds and the water drained out when my wife done this, the problem we have is that now we have switched the machine back on, the lights are on but it won't let us select a new programme, when we try and turn it off at the on/off swicth the lights go out the machine beeps and the on/off switch just flashes. We have tried switching it off at the mains but getting the same results. The machine is empty and no water in there. It just won't allow us to select a programme.

Thanks for your comments, we done the press and hold for two seconds and the water drained out when my wife done this, the problem we have is that now we have switched the machine back on, the lights are on but it won’t let us select a new programme, when we try and turn it off at the on/off swicth the lights go out the machine beeps and the on/off switch just flashes. We have tried switching it off at the mains but getting the same results. The machine is empty and no water in there. It just won’t allow us to select a programme.

Washerhelp

Likely replying to Leigh

Hi Leigh: Pressing and holding the on off button for over 2 seconds should reset the machine. It should drain the water and stop. Have a good read of the instruction book to see if there’s something else – if you don’t have it you can download one here – download white goods instruction manuals

jimbo 1 reply Just having a little trouble with my moon. Oh and all the usual mould. Mine fills and stops when the air pressure switch operates. However there is about a 2 min pause and then it just bilges out and at the same time there is a beeping and the power indicator flashes rapidly. lasts about 2 mins then nothing. . belt ok , connections ok as far as i can tell. i am a sparky so understand a fair bit about these things. There is i notice a port low down on the lhs ( looking from the rear ) an oval plastic plug. which when removed reveals five finger terminals. does anyone know if there are any test that can be done from these using test meters , or a good ould fashioned wiring daigram. Thanks jim

Just having a little trouble with my moon. Oh and all the usual mould. Mine fills and stops when the air pressure switch operates. However there is about a 2 min pause and then it just bilges out and at the same time there is a beeping and the power indicator flashes rapidly. lasts about 2 mins then nothing. . belt ok , connections ok as far as i can tell. i am a sparky so understand a fair bit about these things. There is i notice a port low down on the lhs ( looking from the rear ) an oval plastic plug. which when removed reveals five finger terminals. does anyone know if there are any test that can be done from these using test meters , or a good ould fashioned wiring daigram. Thanks jim

Washerhelp

Likely replying to jimbo

Hello Jimbo: Dealing with specific Moon repair issues would broaden out this topic too much and attract too many repair questions. However, this link explains a bit about why this happens Washing machine stops with lights flashing

The port you describe is for engineers to connect a special diagnostic attachment, which most independent engineers don’t even have. Wiring diagrams aren’t easily available either I’m afraid. (Why no wiring diagrams repair manuals and circuit diagrams for appliances?)

david boyes 1 reply i bought a indesit moon 2 yrs ago last week all three of the plastic water jets/ clothes stirers which are fixed inside the drum broke off i bought some more from indesit £57.99 for three bits of plastic ? fitted them to the machine spun drum by hand to makesure nothing catching seemed ok set machine away it lasted three washes and they broke off again, any ideas as to what may cause this?

i bought a indesit moon 2 yrs ago last week all three of the plastic
water jets/ clothes stirers which are fixed inside the drum broke off i bought some more from indesit £57.99 for three bits of plastic ? fitted them to the machine spun drum by hand to makesure nothing catching seemed ok set machine away it lasted three washes and they broke off again, any ideas as to what may cause this?

Washerhelp

Likely replying to david boyes

Hi david: Washing trainers in the washing machine is a big cause of broken drum paddles (or lifters) ( Can you wash trainers in a washing machine? )

If not, and you are only washing normal laundry then the strong implication is that the quality of the drum paddles (lifters) is simply not good enough and you may be able to claim compensation for the cost of repairs from the retailer under the sale of goods act. ( Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives us 6 years to claim for faulty appliances )

However, another possible cause of damage to the drum lifters are obstructions that shouldn’t be there from pockets such as coins, which wouldn’t be covered. If there are small dents or creases in the drum this could be evidence of something in the machine that shouldn’t be there.

Ash 1 reply I too bought one of these 2 years ago. Although it has never broken down on us, it has also never done what it should do. Clean clothes. When stuff comes out its usually still grubbly, whites are certainly not white and doesn't matter what cleaner/softner combo we use the washing just comes out smelling of nothing. Often once its dry it smells worse than before it was cleaned. Just wish I had taken it back right at the start. Do I have any rights to compensation or a replacement?

I too bought one of these 2 years ago. Although it has never broken down on us, it has also never done what it should do. Clean clothes. When stuff comes out its usually still grubbly, whites are certainly not white and doesn’t matter what cleaner/softner combo we use the washing just comes out smelling of nothing. Often once its dry it smells worse than before it was cleaned.
Just wish I had taken it back right at the start. Do I have any rights to compensation or a replacement?

Washerhelp

Likely replying to Ash

Hello Ash: The Indesit Moon doesn’t fair well in Which? washing machine reviews tests and they are highly respected. If they say (and they do) that the 40 degree wash is not very good and “it’s only good for tackling light stains such as sweat or deodorant at 40 degrees” then you might be able to argue it isn’t fit for its purpose. However, after 2 years they might try to argue you’ve accepted the washing machine and you may find it difficult to argue it’s so bad you should get compensation if you’ve used it for the last 2 years. It’s just my opinion, these things are rarely straight forward.

You would have to take it to the small claims court as it’s very unlikely the retailer would accept any complaint about poor wash performance after so long unless by any chance they’ve had so many complaints they’ve had to accept it’s a problem. If you’ve mostly used the 40 degree wash you should read this and do some maintenance washes, which might alleviate some of the issues you are having with smells – Washing machine smells

I’ve given out this link several times before on these comments so there appears to be some anecdotal evidence that the Indesit Moon could particularly suffer from the build up of gunge and grease issue, which is a known issue amongst most washing machines (as described in the link).

You may find some useful information here too –
Whites coming out of washing machine looking grey, coloureds losing their colour | EU 2 year guarantee. Sale of Goods Act gives us 6 years to claim for faulty appliances

llr 1 reply I've had my indesit moon just over 2 years and am really disappointed with it. The sales lady in comet said it would be easy for my husband to use as it only had 4 buttons to press - he had a bad stroke and gets confused easily. She didn't tell us it wouldn't do the big spin on 40 which is what we usually use, or that it wouldn't do a separate spin when your clothes come out dripping. For the last year we have noticed gray/black marks on clothes, which i have found is down to the silt/sludge build up in the rubber seal and the door. I have cleaned the dispenser several times but find the seal almost impossible to clean. I know people with many different brands of machines, including other indesit models, and none have ever experienced this problem. While I would buy indesit again, it wouldn't be a moon i'm afraid.

I’ve had my indesit moon just over 2 years and am really disappointed with it. The sales lady in comet said it would be easy for my husband to use as it only had 4 buttons to press – he had a bad stroke and gets confused easily. She didn’t tell us it wouldn’t do the big spin on 40 which is what we usually use, or that it wouldn’t do a separate spin when your clothes come out dripping.
For the last year we have noticed gray/black marks on clothes, which i have found is down to the silt/sludge build up in the rubber seal and the door. I have cleaned the dispenser several times but find the seal almost impossible to clean. I know people with many different brands of machines, including other indesit models, and none have ever experienced this problem. While I would buy indesit again, it wouldn’t be a moon i’m afraid.

Washerhelp

Likely replying to llr

llr, the omission of a spin only programme is a bad idea, but there should be two 40 degree washes, one with gentle wash action and a short spin and and the other with normal wash action and a full spin.

Kevin 1 reply Thanks for your response. However, I completely disagree. I have owned Indesit washing machines before, Phillips, Whirlpool and Bosch and never have I had the problems I have had with this machine. I think the other people above would agree. I have tried every dishwasher cleaner known to man, recommended by the engineer when he came to look at it. Black mould and the 'soap-scum' is so bad, the machine is in my garage and I bought another machine. The machine didnt clean whites at all. They came out grey or off-white. Certainly dirtier than they went in. I would wash towels and whites twice on a 60 degree wash and that didn't work so I had a relative wash them in their BEKO machine which cost the £170 and came out sparkling white.... Colours, you can't tell but it really is not a good washing machine. They don't sell them anymore I am told by my local Currys. For a machine that is supposed to be state of the art, futuristic and also cost effective, why would they no longer sell them??????

Thanks for your response. However, I completely disagree. I have owned Indesit washing machines before, Phillips, Whirlpool and Bosch and never have I had the problems I have had with this machine. I think the other people above would agree.

I have tried every dishwasher cleaner known to man, recommended by the engineer when he came to look at it. Black mould and the ‘soap-scum’ is so bad, the machine is in my garage and I bought another machine. The machine didnt clean whites at all. They came out grey or off-white. Certainly dirtier than they went in. I would wash towels and whites twice on a 60 degree wash and that didn’t work so I had a relative wash them in their BEKO machine which cost the £170 and came out sparkling white….
Colours, you can’t tell but it really is not a good washing machine. They don’t sell them anymore I am told by my local Currys. For a machine that is supposed to be state of the art, futuristic and also cost effective, why would they no longer sell them??????

Washerhelp

Likely replying to Kevin

Hello Kevin, I’m not sure what you could disagree with – especially completely :-) as I just said I’m not sure if the Indesit Moon is particularly prone to this problem but it’s a common problem with all washing machines. It’s a well known issue caused by modern detergents (especially liquid detergents or colour-friendly detergents which don’t contain any bleaching agents) combined with low temperature washing.

It may be that the Indesit moon is more prone to this problem than other washing machines, I didn’t say it wasn’t, only that I’m not sure.

I’m not trying to be awkward in any way :-) I’m just hoping these links may be of some help – even if only by eliminating them as causes and making it clearer it’s the washing machine at fault.

There’s certainly anecdotal evidence in these comments that it doesn’t wash very well. I’m no fan of the Indesit Moon which as I say in my article was one of the cheapest washing machines around and can only be “future friendly” if it lasts a decent amount of time.

However it’s always worth examining all possible explanations not just the washing machine such as using liquid detergent without any bleaching agent in can cause whites to go grey Whites coming out of washing machine looking grey, coloureds losing their colour

leah 1 reply hi i bought the indesit moon 2 years ago wen i first moved into my house i thought it was great looking at first! then i noticed a small amount of mould witch is now alot of mould. i tried cleaning it but it wont come off. also the 30 wash is crap it leaves detergent marks on clothes. the door despenser is hard to clean ( lots of nooks and crannys)and does not clean itself as advertised. the machine cost me £300 and im so disopointed with it. bottom line dont buy 1 not reccomended....

hi i bought the indesit moon 2 years ago wen i first moved into my house i thought it was great looking at first! then i noticed a small amount of mould witch is now alot of mould. i tried cleaning it but it wont come off. also the 30 wash is crap it leaves detergent marks on clothes. the door despenser is hard to clean ( lots of nooks and crannys)and does not clean itself as advertised. the machine cost me £300 and im so disopointed with it. bottom line dont buy 1 not reccomended….

Washerhelp

Likely replying to leah

Hello Leah: In the interests of fairness I suspect most of your issues are not necessarily related to the specific Indesit Moon model apart from the problem with the door dispenser which is unique to that model.

I don’t know if the Indesit Moon is particularly vulnerable to black mould or not but it is a common problem potentially affecting any washing machine, which is caused by low wash temperatures and using detergents (especially liquid detergents) not containing any bleaching agents. Full details here – Washing machine smells – causes of grease, slime and black mould inside washing machines

Washing at 30 degrees is also likely to give poor results in most washing machines unless the items are very lightly soiled and unless specific low temperature detergent is used. There are many caveats to washing at 30 degrees and the limitations are mentioned in this article Washing at 30 degrees

Finally, many modern washing machines don’t have a 30 degree wash cycle suitable for washing cottons on (the Indesit Moon is probably just one of them). Full details here Washing machines with a 30 degree wash cycle

Hope that helps.