The Indesit Moon washing machine advert had a catchy tag line, “Future Friendly”, and a catchy music track by New Order. I’m sceptical about the use of the phrase future friendly though.
The phrase implies it will either last a very long time, or that a product is so technically advanced it is unlikely to be superseded by anything better in the near future.
If they have genuinely pulled this off it would be an amazing achievement for one of the cheapest brands in the UK.
The TV advert was very slick showing lots of robots mingling with people in everyday life apparently integrated into society. The accompanying overlaid text says, One day – Man and machine – Will live together – In perfect harmony. Then as a woman loads her new Indesit washing machine with laundry it continues, That day – Has dawned. As she closes the door the voice over says, Indesit Moon: Future friendly.
The advert is brilliant (I’m not being sarcastic). It has great music, great visuals, and a great overall concept. I was just disappointed to see it was only advertising a washing machine – and one of the cheapest washing machines in the business.
£299 for a 6 kg washing machine with a 1400 rpm spin is cheap, and these days many cheap washing machines are notoriously not worth repairing (and get scrapped way too soon) if they break down out of guarantee unless it is a minor fault.
It would be great if the spare parts for this washing machine are going to be priced lower than previous Indesit spare parts, and at levels that make it economic to repair in the future.
So far this is not the case with many cheap washing machines and to me, something can’t be truly future friendly if it isn’t worth repairing after 3 or 4 years just because the PCB has failed. I do like the look of this washing machine. I also like the simple solitary control button offering just 4 wash programmes.
Many customers have often told me they want simple controls and fewer programmes – not more. It will appeal to customers buying at the budget end who see extremely simple controls as a priority but they won’t have to mind if this involves compromises elsewhere.
The Moon’s looks
The innovative soap dispenser behind the door looks interesting too although it’s too early to judge if this is a genuinely good idea or not yet (it wasn’t – see update below). The advantage is that, “because water is constantly splashing inside this dispenser as the drum rotates it should be kept very clean”.
However, one disadvantage is that it replaces the customary door glass – so you can no longer see the laundry laundry inside.
Although the novelty of watching laundry go round and round in a washing machine has long since worn off – it is still useful to be able to see the laundry as the drum revolves.
You can occasionally notice something that shouldn’t be there (such as a coin or credit card) and stop the wash to attempt to retrieve it before any damage occurs.
At the end of the day this is a great advert bigging up a normally quite basic brand who’s priority is to make washing machines as cheaply as possible and hopefully give some value for money.
It represents Indesit trying to become more sophisticated and more innovative, but it could only be truly “future friendly” if it proves to be much more reliable than other previous models, and if spares are much more reasonably priced to encourage future repairs. Otherwise the future friendly tag is disingenuous.
Update:
Which? have since reviewed the Indesit Moon and their opening paragraph says, “we weren’t overly impressed by the Moon”. They say it’s not very good on the 40 degree wash, the one most people use, and say it’s only good for light stains. However, surprisingly they say it is good at rinsing, which is remarkably rare these days and even most of their “best buys” aren’t highly rated for rinsing (Why can’t modern washing machines rinse properly?).
So if you require a cheap washing machine and rinsing is especially important to you because of irritation or allergies you might be interested in one but at the compromise of not being very good on 40 degree washes. It has to be said too that Indesit don’t have a good reliability record either according to my experience and Which? reports.
(1 month trial offer plus a copy of the Which? magazine) to get the full benefit of the latest washing machine reviews)
Update: April 2011
The Indesit Moon has now been the subject of a BBC Watchdog item due to them receiving so many complaints about it. The focus of the programme’s criticism is that the Indesit Moon is particularly vulnerable to the nasty build up of grease, grime, sludge, bacteria and black mould as described in my Washerhelp article Washing machine smells – causes of grease, slime and black mould inside washing machines.
Which although affecting any washing machine if the conditions I describe are present, the Indesit Moon appears to be uniquely incapable of doing the 90 degree maintenance boil wash manufacturers (including Indesit themselves) recommend.
If you have a Moon model which is covered in mould and grease you should read the article above for tips on how to discourage the problem.
Although the moon cannot do a 90 degree wash you can still try to limit the problem by not using liquid detergents, doing a 60 degree maintenance wash regularly with normal detergent containing bleaching agent etc.
On balance I think it’s fair to say this model should be avoided.
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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.
I Angi Shaffi was on Watchdog thursday after lots of phone calls and blogs 2 here, and Watchdog in me house filming from morning till nite………Finally Indesit called me 2 hrs b 4 watchdog was aired 2 wait 4 it offer me a brand new machine from their entire range……Cannot belive it after all me ruined clothes and all lillie s clothes 2 bein ruined by the mould.
Im just awaitin their delivery men rite now 2 bring me new 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cannot thank Watchdog enough 4 all their help.. Angi Shaffi
Hello
I have posted before. I have just had phone call from Currys 2 hours ago – this was after the email to Chief Executive of Indesit and Currys yesterday- and they offered credit note for Currys for the £293 I paid 2 years ago. Have just been to Currys and paid extra to have a Zanussi. Delivery Saturday.
Well done Watchdog.
See post above for web page for email addresses of Chief executives.
I have had the Moon for 11 months, although the door seal in not mouldy there is a big build up of gunge, and the smell is horrible! I have been in the electrical goods industry for over 20 years and I have never seen this type of thing before. I have done the maintenance wash once a week with a bio product but the gungle still builds up, I even tried soda crystals to try and disolve the gunge – no use, Yesterday I washed the sames clothes 4 times as they were covered with grey slime / gunge (been doing this for a few months) so I have had enough of the machine and purchased another one – ensuring it has a 90 degree wash, so please if you have a family and use a washing machine every day then the Moon is not the machine for you – it is best suited for a couple with no kids or someone living alone that only wash 3 or 4 times a week not 2 or 3 times a day. (my previous washing machine lasted 10 years and this gunge never happened – I only got rid of that one because it was going to cost too much for repair ! I wish i had spent the money on getting it repaired now!)
Hi Simt2k: One of the problems with the Moon is that you can’t do a 90 degree maintenance wash as it’s highest temperature is 60. Indesit say 60 is hot enough, but some say you need 90 degrees. I would think 60 is hot enough for some, but it sounds like the Moon could really do with a 90 degree maintenance wash.
You should use normal detergent with bleaching agents in it for the maintenance wash. Biological detergent is designed to only wash at low temperatures, and the enzymes get killed of at high temperatures. The bleaching agents also help control bacteria. (related – What causes grease, slime and black mould inside washing machines?)
Thanks for the reply, I totally agree, the Moon should have a 90 degree wash – even if indesit made it only for maintenance use, I have used Bio washing powder and liquid but as my 4 kids suffer from sensitive skin they very quickly come out in a rash! I also discovered that the sensors in the moon fail quite early on so therefore all the washes are done in stone cold water, the problem is there is no way to tell if the water is not getting hot in the Moon ! I will get my Moon repaired and then sell it on to someone that does not use it much which in my opinion will give them good service, but as stated before the moon is no good for large families.
PS – if anyone would like to purchased an 11 month old moon (have cleaned it out throughly) no mould on the door rubbers as me and the wife always left the door open a bit, will get it repaired so it will be in full working order – all offers considered, message me via this site.
After watchdog we contacted Indesit, our machine is rusty on top of all the other problems. We do not use the drawer, we use a ball, but it has not stopped the problems. The engineer did not know how to take the front bit off so you can clean it and said you have to get your hand in. Our hands do not fit. Their brochure recommends not running the machine empty, in fact it tells you to run it with a full load, to save the environment.
The engineer left before checking to see if it had cleaned with his magic sachet and it had not! So we have had to pay for our washing machine to run on a 60 wash, empty for nothing.
The problem is the sachet is a detergent and limescale remover. we do not live in a heavy limescale area, so no use and again we do not put detergent in the drawer, but we still get all the slime and bacteria.
Since the engineer has come the washer smells worse than ever.
The engineer recommends using his magic sachets but guess what, they are only available to buy from indesit, so you do not have a consumer choice here.
So , engineer been, new seal, left some sachets, ran up my electric bill, but still a dirty smelly washer and certainly still full of rust…
Just another thing, I have already commented on the mould, sludge, grey stuff that can end up over clothes and said that I use white vinegar in the liquid detergent part to try keep the smell down, which works to some extent. I have just remembered that I have had to have the element replaced 3 times now as it has burnt out and it trips all the electrics and then I’m left with a washer full of water that you cant really empty out as you can’t run the washer….only choice is to open the trap part and mop the floor up after….nice.
I hate my moon with a passion but can’t afford another washing machine yet.
KEEP WELL AWAY FROM CREDA HOTPOINT CANNON AND ARISTON THEY ARE ALL INDESIT
I HAVE BEEN ON TO INDESIT MANY TIMES THEY HAVE NOW BLOCKED MY EMAILS HOWEVER AS A GESTURE OF GOOD WILL THEY SENT ME TWELVE LIMESCALE SACHETS AND OFFERED ME A BRAND NEW MACHINE FOR £150 YAHOO CANT AFFORD IT
Completely agree with all the negative comments about this awful machine! Finally had enough of it and just ordered the Samsung Eco Bubble. Costs a bit more but will hopefully do the job its intended for….getting my clothes clean!