14 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
Should this clothes washer be classified under "Entertainment" instead??
Date of Review: Jan 14, 2008
The Bottom Line: This is a great washer that performs well and has stood the test of time. Find a good deal, and try it yourself! You won't return to the old style.
I will be the first to admit it: I HATE doing laundry. I hate sorting, loading, running, drying, folding, and putting away the laundry. So it was with great skepticism that I purchased my first front-loading washer...could it really make my life easier, as it promised? Would I even notice a difference? Most importantly - was it worth the extra money?
At the risk of spoiling the story, I'll save you the suspense. No, this washer doesn't suddenly turn laundry into a passionate hobby. However, it does at least make the task more enjoyable, and it does make a noticeable difference - even to a laundry delinquent such as myself.
The initial test
After the delivery guys pulled away, my husband and I stared at our new Bosch washer and dryer set in silence. They looked so good together - with the clean white exterior, the spotless stainless steel interiors, and the sleek design. Finally he broke the silence, "So are you gonna give them a try?" For the first (and only) time in my life, I ran to gather up some dirty laundry. I assembled a test load of the dirtiest whites I could get my hands on. I opened the hefty door and loaded in the clothes, being careful not to allow any to hang out beyond the door seal.
I carefully considered my options for the wash cycle. What did I know about such things? I figured that "Regular/Cotton" and "Hot" seemed like a good combination, so that's what I chose. There are additional options to consider as well - Rinse Plus, Bleach, and Power Wash, plus the options for spin speed and delayed start. Wanting to keep things simple, I didn't turn on any of these additional features (at least not for this first test). I measured out the liquid HE soap and pushed the start button.
The washer initially promised that I would get to see my clean clothes in 1 hour and 1 minute. Fair enough, it sure had a lot of work to do! Within seconds, the machine sprang to life. Water started sprinkling (literally) in, and the drum began to turn. Back and forth, back and forth...it was almost mesmerizing. Too entertaining, actually - I'm too embarrassed to say how long my husband and I watched the clothes being tossed about.
The actual wash cycle was longer than advertised - more on the order of 1 hour and 45 minutes. I didn't mind the extra time, but I just wish the washer was more upfront about the time - the timer counted down like normal, but towards the end, started adding minutes instead of subtracting them. I hear it's because it's busy weighing the load and figuring out how dirty the clothes are - all good things, but a more accurate timer would be helpful.
After a really entertaining spin cycle (yes, we watched the clothes turn into a blurry cloud of spinning fabric at nearly 1000 rpm - I told you it was slightly embarrassing!), the washer finally slowed to a stop and announced that it was finished with a loud (and rather persuasive) pattern of beeps. I was shocked to see how dry the clothes already were, without having darkened the door of a clothes dryer. Evidently the spin cycle worked as advertised. Immediately I thought of how much money we were about to save with the electric dryer - given how dry they already were, they wouldn't need very much drying time at all!
Upon further investigation of the clothes, I was quite impressed with how the washer performed. Since there isn't a central agitator, the clothes weren't in the same gigantic knot that I had become accustomed to. Also, I saw a shade of white that I had not known existed in my closet and drawers. They looked brand new! I suspect it was a combination of the detergent and the continual lifting/submerging action of the front loading drum. It definitely out-performed my former, traditional washer.
In it for the long haul
We have now owned the Bosch washer and dryer for nearly two years. They have so far withstood the test of time, with no need for service calls, repairs, or any other nonsense. The washer continues to perform exceptionally well, although admittedly the novelty of watching the spin cycle has worn off. I have managed to learn the advantages and disadvantages of the different cycles and wash options, and I like to think that I now know what I'm doing.
Boiling it all down
So here's what this all comes down to
What I love: I love how well this washer cleans clothes. It is extremely efficient to use, using only a fraction of the water that a standard washer uses and expelling the majority of the water in the spin cycle. It is very quiet and YES, entertaining. Lastly, it has continued to perform well over two years, and I expect to see many more years of solid use.
What I don't love: The obvious answer is that this washer is expensive. Keep your eyes open, though, because home improvement stores often have enticing rebates and deals. Also, I don't like that the timer isn't an actual countdown of the time remaining. Finally, it's a bit inconvenient that you can't add clothes to the wash once it has started - it's just a new habit to develop, to have everything sorted and ready ahead of time, rather than adding things while the washer fills with water.
