Bosch WFO2466

Just had my reminder that my Bosch WFO2466 washing machine is now 3 years old - not a sign of any problems & has proven to be reliable. I am really impressed by this machine which replaced a Zannussi I only had for 2 years that was slow & unreliable.

I bought this Bosch WFO2466 Machine on the strength of having owned a Bosch dishwasher for the last ten years and, despite twice-daily use, broke down only once, and that was when the drains were blocked, and the machine stopped pumping to avoid a flood.

My first impression whilst looking at this model in the shop, was that the machines Bosch build now aren't quite as robust as the older applicances they made. However, the machine itself is heavy and very solid feeling, which is reassuring.

When it was delivered, I had to remove the transit bolts (read the manual on this - oddly not at the front of the manual as you'd expect, but at the back - as you need to do exactly what they say to remove them.

Connections were easy and straightforward. As all modern washing machines, this is a cold fill only.

I would advise a thorough reading of the manual beforehand. It does take away any doubt you might have about how to use it as it's not entirely intuitive, although you could work it out fairly easily. It's odd, as the process of selecting the wash, etc, starts with the right knob and you work your way to the start button at the left of the macine.

One feature I particularly like is the depth of the soap dispensing drawer. This means when you close it, the fabric conditioner doesn't slosh everywhere, and the length of the drawer is much shorter than normal. It is easily removed for cleaning. It has a prewash and a regular wash section for putting the detergent in.

When I first used the machine, I was amazed at how little water it uses. I'd owned a Hoover Softwave before this machine, and it used loads of water, especially during rinsing. However, the Bosch takes in a little water, and tops it up whilst monitoring how much water it's going to need to wash the clothes AND saves water. I was then worried that the clothes wouldn't be rinsed properly, but that hasn't been a problem.

The "ready in" feature is excellent. Never thought I'd have a use for it, but it's surprisingly handy. It can be a bit alarming on the hotter washes when you add an extra rinse and a prewash. I think the longest wash is two hours and something. The average wash is from 47 minutes to one hour and twenty minutes.

If you can afford it, go for the 1400 spin speed option. This is because the spin-only option will only go to 800rpm, which I don't think is terribly useful. If you've freshened up a load of towels that you need to spin again, 800 will still leave quite a bit of water in them.

What amazed me during the spin cycle is how quiet it was and how stable the machine was. It seemed to adjust itself and doesn't like bumping around.

The machine will wash a range of fabrics, from thick cotton sheets to delicate silk. The drum construction is well made and there seem to be no snags or gaps where smaller or delicate items could catch or get lost.

I was suprised too to see how much cleaner my washing was coming out. I've been using auto washers for a few years now, but this machine really seems to be cleaning the best.

It also has a reduced ironing button which apparently spins in cycles so the clothes get less creased. Not being one to iron if I can help it, I haven't really used this function.

The door catch is still one of those irritating ones that only open a minute after the programme stops. I never know why they have this delay put in.

One word of caution: given the door and the opening are so big, it'd be wise to keep pets or children out of the way. It wouldn't be much fun to see the tortoise spinning around one day, or indeed one of your kids!

Overall, the robustness of the machine is what swayed it for me. The build quality is excellent compared to a comparatively priced Hotpoint in Indesit. I got mine for £260 and it came with a TWO-YEAR manufacturer's guarantee. That's something that's worth bearing in mind about the trust they have in their products.

Someone once gave me a piece of advice which has always proved to be correct: When buying kitchen applicances, buy German. My next washer will be a Miele, but I suspect that'll be a few years down the line. I think this Bosch washer is built to last.