[rogerxp]

This is something I've been putting off for ages but think I need to get someone to look at our washing machine but can't work out whether to bother or just go and get a new one.

It's not been using much conditioner for a little while now and seems the soap isn't being used much either now so something needs doing.

When you get an engineer out, are they pretty good at solving issues??? Can they been treated a bit like a car and have a software update which sorts them out???

It's a decent washing machine which is why I'm reluctant to just get a new one. Bought it about 7 years ago and was top of the range at the time - I guess they last a lot longer than this though. I know I can pick up a brand new one for peanuts but, knowing me, it'll be top of the range again which will set me back.

Anyone got any experience with getting these things sorted??

Anyone know anyone decent near me (it's a Bosch)??

[willhollin]

Tried running it through a cleaning cycle?

[rogerxp]

Wouldn't know where to start mate. Suppose I could try to dig out the instructions that I think I still have somewhere. It's an Bosch Logixx machine.

edit - I know realise they're still churning out the Logixx name, no reference number on it, so will have to see if I can dig out some paperwork...

[willhollin]

Just one of these.

http://www.dr-beckmann.co.uk/product...chine-cleaner/


I expect like most, the wife washes at a low temps and the machine is all bunged up.

You could give this method a go -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A51927717

[Dr Dave]

I had the same problem with my machine, found one of the wife's thongs (yes, hers.....not mine, you freaks) had got out of the drum and had lodged in the water outlet bit at the bottom of the drum shell!!!!!!

[rogerxp]

Well, given it as good a clean as it's getting in a 10 minute stint, got 5 dishwasher tablets going round at 90 degrees , so we'll see.

Next step is to look for one of Daves wifes thongs in my machine .

[Boyd1963]

Check the siphon that draws the conditioner out of the drawer. They often get blocked and are very easy to clean.

[magic77]

hmm sounds like problem had with my hotpoint. turned out to be the dispenser draw was the problem. When you remove hte draw the top ofthe housing has lots of small holes through which the water gets pushed through to mix the powder and the softener. After abotu 6years and low heat cycles it had become blocked up with gunk. Took it all apart cleaned it with air pressure and water jet and washing machine back to working order.

[rogerxp]

You might be onto something there. I quite regularily clean out the draw but must admit to not thinking about where the water drops from - checked before and it was pretty gunged up - now cleaned and and we'll see what the hot wash does (didn't think when it said 90 degree it meant it; touched the glass before and burnt my hand!!!).

[magic77]

its scary how easy to forget the temps washing machine can get up to these days. In times where most washes are done at 35/ 40 degrees. WHen I did the hot wash to clean the machine the whole house was filled with smell of detergent.

I think thats where the problem is , with low temp washes gunk gets built up as it nothign gets heated up as much as in old days. I've found a spares place on line and will probably order a new tray as its easy enough to replace next time it gunks up.

The one thing I learned is to always buy the simplest wahsing machine with most basic functions. This way doddle to repair and until this ours has worked perfect since 2003.

[JLR1969]

Think I will give ours a clean and do a boil wash with some dishwasher tablets tomorrow just to be on the safe side.

[hmi1750]

Originally Posted by JLR1969

Think I will give ours a clean and do a boil wash with some dishwasher tablets tomorrow just to be on the safe side.

+1

[BGM]

think ill give me a clean too reading this thread.. never done it, and continually washing muddy football kit probably isn't doing it much good

[JLR1969]

The conditioner dispenser hole was nearly blocked so gave it a clean then ran a 95c boil wash with 4 DW tablets.

Smells good if nothing else.

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by JLR1969

Smells good if nothing else.

That was my first reaction!! Not managed to see if it's worked properly yet, my fear is that I've just pushed the algae (or whatever it is) up the holes so might need to get the end of a paperclip to work.

Dishwasher next...

[scooba0010]

Hi Roger , dont know if this will help but I have seen our washing machine soap draw in our dishwasher from time to time ,I have never asked the wife why I think its to keep it clean off soap etc on another issue.do they get gunked up.

We had a top of the range Bosch washing machine it was still going strong after 13yrs trouble free and found a receipt from 1995 ,anyway a couple off years ago we replaced the kitchen and utility room and I see a old mate who I know works for Bosch , I asked him should I buy a top off the range machine etc etc as we were so pleased with the old one , what he basically said was fuck me fella the MC move on so much your need a new one asap and get one off our new logixx range off WM . Had it 2 yrs now its really good and quicker more energy efficent and uses far less water cost about £400 two year ago and the old MC was £699 in 1995 .If it last half the time the old washer did ill be happy,BTW my mate the plumber took he old one for a friend and as far as I know its still being used. HTH

[RCUK]

Cant believe you guya have gotten me wanting to go clean out my washing machine now and try this dishwasher thing!!

Gutted that i need to wait as its currently on!

[willhollin]

So much you can do to these washing machines these days.

Mine is down at Evolve HQ at the moment having a new titanium drain hose fitted. Also having an ECU remap which should see 2000rpm on the spin cycle.

[rogerxp]

It's hilarious isn't it - haven't we got anything more exciting to talk about .

Hadn't considered the efficiency argument but surely, on a cost saving point of view, it's not worth actually changing your machine for a new one - I mean, how much more efficient can they be - how long would it take to pay for itself with reduced utility bills .

I do seem to remember, when I bought all my white good (for my first house), the energy efficient ratings were all the rage - I'm sure everything I bought was an 'A' at the time so a change for improved efficiency would surely be minimal (unless they've changed the ranking goalposts).

[magic77]

Very true but at same time unless the saving on energy is huge its the old petrol v diesel challange

How many years of using it before it repays itself over just buying a small part for say £30 to repair it.

[doughboy]

Roger, had all this with ours and sorted it myself.

Its a common problem with mould in the water spray compartment above the soap dish. It stops the conditioner spray from working properly. 99% of modern machines use the same patented type of detergent spray device. It uses 2 water feeds and one solenoid to control 3 compartments (pre-wash, conditioner and main wash). water feed 1 does pre-wash, 2 does and main wash and BOTH will spray the centre conditioner compartment.

Here lies the problem, as mould stops the 2 jets merging properly inside the lid and instead you get main or pre wash again instead of conditioner.

Running hot washes has no effect as the soap dish is always cold fed.

You need to remove the top off the machine, take lid off the soap compartment, split it open and wash all the mould and goo out of it.

It a pretty easy job, took me about 1/2 an hour.

Most importment: In future always leave the machine door and soap dish wide open when not in use to help it dry.

[RCUK]

Just cleaned out the tray and the water dropping bits... was pretty mucky.

next stop - 4 dishwaher tablets and a 95 degree wash.

If this thing breaks - im going to say 'it was like that when i found it' when wife comes home.