Most people want to know which brand of washing machine is the best to buy. As an appliance engineer, I think differently, and I know what they are like inside. For me, the best washing machines are ones that can be repaired easily, and at reasonable cost. But sadly, these days most of them are quite unrepairable. So it’s not so easy to pick one brand. However, some brands are definitely easier and cheaper to get repaired in the future than other brands, and some brands have a better reputation for reliability.
This is how I choose
For me, and I do the same whatever I am buying, there are brands I would never buy, and brands that I would buy. I never just look at them all and pick one. I choose from specific brands that I trust, or that I’ve researched. I do not consider anything outside that list. The most important decision you can make is selecting what brand to buy from. This determines the quality, reliability, standard of customer service and how long it’s likely to last.
What is the difference between different brands?
So, having said all that about picking a specific brand, there’s not so much difference between most of them, actually. Essentially, the majority of different washing machine brands are now extremely similar, in both build quality and design. I recently stripped down a dozen different brands of washing machine (including Whirlpool, Indesit, Beko, Hotpoint, Hoover, Bosch, AEG & Miele) as part of a Which? Investigation. When we lined all the parts up side by side, it was shocking how each of the parts inside different brands looked virtually identical. They also looked, and felt, like the exact same quality.
So as far as build quality and design is concerned, there’s really not so much between them at all. Look at my video of a line of different washing machine drums, where all but one (a Miele) look almost identical. The same applied to all the washing machine parts. We had a line of motors, heating elements, pumps, door seals, suspension dampers — you name it — there is virtually no difference. The only one with substantially different (better) parts was Miele, but even then, many of the Miele parts looked little different from all the others (eg. the heater, pump, water valves, drive belt, motor etc).
Having said all that, Which? still produce plenty of reports showing that some seem more or less reliable. The trend tends to be that the most popular ones often appear less reliable. But is that because there are just a lot more of them, so there are a lot more reports of faults? Or is it because they are popular because they are cheaper, and therefore not made quite as well? The main differences between washing machine brands for me lie in other areas (mentioned later).
Don’t choose on looks & features or even price
It’s common to choose based on looks and features. But there’s little point in having a good-looking washing machine full of features if it’s unreliable, and if it’s too expensive or difficult to get repaired.
A cheap washing machine that doesn’t last very long, is an expensive washing machine. However, and sadly, buying an expensive one is not a guarantee of getting any better quality at all. So you could pay the same price for a top of the range average washing machine, or a basic model of a superior quality washing machine. This is explained properly in my article is a more expensive washing machine a better one?
Which are the most reliable brands?
The best source of this information, which can be subject to change, is Which? (Pick a Which? package that suits you to see all their reviews, best buys, & don’t buy’s).
Some of the most reliable makes of washing machine are Miele, AEG, Bosch, Siemens, and Zanussi. Out of those brands, Miele are far superior, but of course they are more expensive to buy, and to have repaired in the future. I can’t fully recommend any one brand because none are perfect, and all have their pros & cons.
Which are the least reliable brands?
The least reliable brands, according to Which? were Indesit, Hoover, Candy and Hotpoint although these are also some of the most popular. This was from a survey which is now a few years old, though. Their latest findings can be found online using the last link above, which I obviously recommend you check out.
Which is the best washing machine brand?
If you want to know which brand available in the UK makes the best washing machines it’s Miele who are regularly awarded the best domestic appliance brand by Which? They are way above anyone else in build quality and sophistication.
They aren’t necessarily the best washing machine for everyone, though. There are pros and cons to buying expensive, quality washing machines like Miele. Read my overview about them here, Miele build quality review.
If cost is not a problem, you can’t beat a Miele washing machine for build quality and sophistication. Many models come with a 5 or even 10-year warranty.
Looking for cheaper recommendations?
Sadly, it’s very difficult to recommend any other brands at the moment. After Miele, they all tend to be very much the same inside, with all parts looking so similar it’s impossible to see any significant difference in either design or build quality.
For me, the main differences between brands now are how the company operates. How long the guarantees are, how good their repair engineers are, plus how easy it is to buy spares for and get technical information once out of guarantee. As an appliance engineer, I take being able to repair an appliance very seriously.
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Don’t Buy Badged washing machines
Finally, I wouldn’t buy any brand of appliance that does not make their own appliances. There are quite a few cases of brands like Kenwood, Bush, Russel Hobs, or other brands that you’ve never heard of before. Many of these appliances are “badged” appliances.
These companies who manufacture other products like small appliances do not make white goods appliances. So they have them made by someone else, who puts their branding on them. Buying a washing machine from a company that does not actually make washing machines is in my opinion a bad idea. They are notorious for being difficult to get spare parts for in the future or technical information.
Many big retailers also have their own brand appliances. Again, these appliances can be more difficult to get repaired in the future. The retailer doesn’t make them, but has their badge on them, and usually have nothing to do with them once they have been sold. They don’t have repair departments, or spare parts departments. It’s often difficult to find out who actually made it. So if you see a brand of washing machine or other white goods appliance, and you find yourself thinking, I didn’t realise that this company made washing machines, they probably don’t. Stick with proper white goods appliance brands.
Related
Use information in my other articles to help make good buying choices – and check out Which? who do extensive up-to-date tests and survey their members.
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