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phrase implies it will either last a very long time, or that a product is so technically advanced it is unlikely to be superseded by anything better in the near future.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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We bought an indesit moon a few years ago and only recently had the mould problem, which I have since soughted. The problem we have is that my wife accidentally pressed the 60 degree wash and suspended the wash by pressing and holding the on/off button but now nothing happens. We have switched it off at the mains overnight hoping that the washer would reset itself but now when we switch it back on all the wash programmes light up but we cannot choose a programme and when we pressed the on/off button again it just flashes. Anyone have any ideas how we reset the machine as not paying £110 for a call out would rather buy a new machine. Although this is the only major problem we have had with it.
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.
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
I have the exact same problem with my Moon and have been told by local engineers that the mould/scum issue is a common problem. I have had a variety of machines, always used the same products and no other machine has ever had mould like this. I was told to put the machine on a boil setting (obviously impossible) after leaving household bleach in the machine overnight. Once a month!
I had a baby 8 months ago and although i tried my hardest to scrub the seal clean it just wouldnt budge – feeling pretty sure that the machine didnt transfer this mould onto clothes i used it to wash my little ones first batch of all whites. Completely ruined – the only way i could get the majority of the stains off was to handwash straight away! Being hormonal this completely pushed me over the edge! To be honest i had rarely noticed this transfer before as we have very few whites ourselves and the marks dont show on coloureds. I was told a new seal supplied and fitted would be £120.00 – i dont think so! Cheaper to save up for a better machine!
After reading some of your comments i am also relieved to know that the smell of the clothes is also effected – i was starting to think it was me – musky and damp, sometimes B/O smell, completely YUK!
I am very pleased to see that this problem has been escalated to Watchdog (to be shown next Thursday) and i just hope that Indesit do something to cover all owners of this model (not just those with extended cover) as i feel that Comet haven’t ever been so helpful in this complaint.
Nice looking machine but on the whole completely crap – so very relived that its just not me!
I have had a Indeset Moon for two years and its the worse washing machine i have ever had it does not remove stains its not good on whites and it leaves whit marks on lots of the clothes if I could afford it I would get rid of in a heart beat and buy a desent machine. I think they are being featured on Watchdog next Thursday so that might be and interesting veiwing.
my machine gets filfy inside the door and i have to remove it to clean it I am disabled with two Lung deseases so i find it a big struggle’ anyone interested im up for a swap.
Yeah i would get rid of mine too if i could afford too, bloody usless machine, watchdog phoned me as i had moaned to them about this machine they wanted too come around and film but i was at work :(
Hopefully somethihng will get sorted next week on the program and hopefully we will ALL benefit from it.
I wish i had never brought it!
I have now found that if I use the 60 degree proramme most of my clothes end up covered in crap….so now I only wash on a 40 degree, never the lowest one because of the scum that gets over everything.
I regularly clean my machine, use the stuff Indesit told me too, I use a biological powder, add white vinegar to most washes. When I do a white wash at 40 degrees I add a sachet of whitener to the wash, normally Dr Beckham or what ever its called and either that stuff in the pink tub..vanish thats it, and usually the washing comes out ok. Leaving the door partially open when you’re not using it can keep the smell down but not always. I pour hot water through the wash powder/liquid bit when I have scrubbed it out and I wipe inside the seal around the outer part of the drum and all over the seal with a mixture of white vinegar and lemon juice. I will NEVER have a Moon again, I hate this machine and I’m willing it to break down and not be repairable.
They are just too much hard work!
i have had my moon 2 years never had a breakdown this machine looks the dogs nads but if this is the future lets go back in time i have spent a fortune on stain removal products cos your clothes come out worse than they go in never clean and stink when they come out and the mould is unreal i thort it was me till i see a clip on watchdog at the end well i am a bloke and we are use less at washing . lol. so lets see what indersit are going to do for people that have a moon and it beter be 4 every body i cant afford to get new machine
Is everyone watching Watchdog onThursday for the piece on this machine? i sure am!!
I can’t see any mention of Indesit on the Watchdog site but I’ll watch it and see thanks.