Help finding an idiot proof washing machine

LBonsaichop on 27/08/2014 - 20:03
Last edited 27/08/2014 - 23:41 by 1 other user

Hello all, I need a little help!

It's to do with my mother. She's asian, old, thinks she knows everything, and if anything goes wrong, somehow its my fault.

I bought her a $1200 Fisher&Paykel washing machine 7 years ago, after years of abuse, trying to tell her how to balance the washing load, how to use it, she still does things her own way and now the inlet valve has leaked and i'm not going to get it fixed again ($250 and the remains of my sanity).

Here are the basic facts:

  • She is a full time carer for my father who had a stroke, he is incontinent so there's lots of washing to be done.
  • Current machine is used 3-4 times a day.
  • Loads may vary from 1 towel, to filled to the top with blankets/clothes. Usually its 1-2 towels as they cannot wait till later in the day to be washed for reasons beyond the realm of reasonable thinking.

She will not:

  • Balance the washing so it does not spin until the machine is rocking from side to side (I refer to it now as the washing machine trying to run away)
  • Fill the machine at least 1/2 way with clothing
  • Use any other cycle other than "Fruit Stain" because everything has a stain
  • Will not use any other spin cycle than fast
  • Listen to anything I say
  • Embrace the power of common sense

She Will:

  • Think she is right 100% of the time
  • Listen to anyone who IS NOT me
  • Blame anything that goes wrong on anyone but herself
  • Wash things 1 at a time
  • Use the machine 3-4 times a day, the record so far is 6.
  • Destroy your soul and the will to go on living

So I need help, I'm looking for a washing machine that has as few functions as possible. Is so easy to use a pet rock would be able to use it. Does anyone have any suggestions on machines that can stand the test of stupidity?

Energy efficiency is a must. Like how America does not negotiate with terrorists, she will not negotiate the need to clean - every - item - on - its - own.

Front loaders are out, she does not like them. I cannot reason with her on this, otherwise I'll end up on the nightly news.

I'm located in NSW, does anyone know if there are any rebates available? When I purchased the last machine there was a $150 rebate because apparently it was energy efficient.

Home & Garden Washing Machine

Comments

  • HAL on 27/08/2014 - 20:36
    +20

    I had to LOL…

    I've just had the same discussion with my mum in regards to Top vs Front loader (since the Front uses less water she doesn't think the clothes will be clean enough).

    Energy Efficient + no need for balancing = Front Loader (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/158172 <- good deal a few days ago)

    You sound a bit frustrated, I come from a similar background sometimes you just need to take a step back and just laugh at it all, one day they won't be there and you'll miss it… :)

    TBH if it was me I would buy a front loader and show her the error of her ways… having said that my mum got a top loader, bought it before I could make a move!

    • eatwell365 on 28/08/2014 - 02:30
      +1

      LOL. Exactly like someone I am having at home.

    • J5 on 28/08/2014 - 18:12
      -1

      Front loaders wont spin only 1 or 2 items

      • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2014 - 08:18

        Sounds like a good thing if front loaders don't spin for one or two items lol. Maybe that'd force the OPs mum into rethinking her current ways. She'll have to accumulate enough to do one proper load before washing anything. That'd be more water and power efficient as a result, surely? win!

      • rodericb on 29/08/2014 - 12:27
        +2

        ??? I have never known any which do that. Mine will spin when empty or with one sock in it or whatever.

        • muncan on 08/06/2015 - 11:45

          Who spins one sock? Or is that what they get up when they're by themselves?

  • imcjb on 27/08/2014 - 22:33
    +10

    I would buy a older commercial/laundrette type Maytag. Indestructible, very few settings and will run for the next 10 years no problem.

    • Davo1111 on 28/08/2014 - 02:35
      +3

      +1 they've got like 3 buttons.

      Although i'm not sure OP will get one for a reasonable price :/

      tbh i'd just buy a front loader, and if she didn't like it, she has the other option of a washboard

      • Davros on 28/08/2014 - 04:53
        +2

        Ebay - I bought one about 15 years ago for $150 and I looked just now and they still have them for about the same

    • Randxyz123 on 28/08/2014 - 17:44

      Yup agreed with this. Check gumtree/eBay. Maybe there is a dedicated site somewhere for used commercial machines. The only issue with these machines is that they may not be very energy efficient…

      You could also send her to Harvey Norman or somewhere else near where she lives and hopefully the sales person can talk some sense about front loaders into her…

  • airzone on 27/08/2014 - 23:43
    +1

    ROFL… I converted my parents to a front loader, but I cannot convert my inlaws to the next generation in washing… But they are as likely as anything to wash their clothes in a bucket using watered down cheap dish-washing liquid and then hang it out to dry in the rain as anything… FFS, they re-use teabags. They are uneconomically stingy… If there's such a thing. Sorry, a different problem to you… But amusing none-the-less.

    • diddy50 on 29/08/2014 - 17:23
      +2

      seems like they invented OzBargain

    • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2014 - 18:01
      +1

      My grand-father in law re-uses teabags for his wife, He writes every expense down in an A5 book and they both save just enough to do weekly activities with their friends. I'd say they are on to a win, the fact they live off the pension amazes me.

      • airzone on 31/08/2014 - 16:58

        It's a different scenario though… In your case, I totally respect that. My in-laws are one of the richest families in town, and will spend $20 to save $10… It drives my wife crazy lol

  • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2014 - 08:08
    +13

    Subscribed to thread because LOL.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2014 - 14:33
    +9

    Okay. The OzBargain Forums are always here to help:

    You will, initially, be charged with murder, but will likely then be given the chance to cop a plea to aggravated (aggravated - by your mother) mumslaughter.

    Factoring in a lenient judge (likely), you may well be out before there is a deal available for an All-Seasons 'Game of Thrones' Blu-ray boxed-set.

    That deal, will, of course, be posted on OzBargain.
    The Forums will also be here to assist you in getting your life back together.

    Do you actually have a bonsai collection?
    I am willing to look after that you.
    For a very, very, small gardening fee.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2014 - 15:05

      "It depends on how people treat the machine, people don't leave the door open, overload machines, don't follow the user manuals, things like coins and hair clips can cause hundreds of dollars of damage," Mr Popov said.

      What does he mean by "people don't leave the door open"? Which door? I'm confused.

      • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2014 - 15:30
        +2

        Also important for toploaders (equally, maybe moreso). To allow any residual water to evaporate after-use.

        If anybody should know about the perils of excess water onboard, it's you, w'logged turnip.

        • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2014 - 15:42
          +1

          lol. I had no idea! We have a toploader and never leave the lid up.

        • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2014 - 16:28

          @waterlogged turnip This time, go to your room and stay there.

          If the 'we' refers to other members of the moisture-laden Turnip family, they should also go to their respective rooms.

          If your Dad doesn't have cause to frequent the laundry, he gets a pass.

          Is that sexist? Probably.

        • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2014 - 17:46
          +1

          @Tas: The sole reason, I'm convinced, for our washing machine lasting over 14 years so far with weekly use (sometimes more than once per week) is the very fact that my father does not use the washing machine without supervision.

          Recently he managed to sneak in there without warning me and I went out the back to hear loud thudding. He was lifting and slamming the lid repetitively and quite violently. Why on Earth? The machine kept stopping, he said, utterly baffled as to why.

          I opened the lid and he'd shoved all his laundry on one side of the barrel. Think heavy jeans, heavy jumpers, heavy everything (and possibly some loose change for fun, as usual).

          Sigh. lol

        • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2014 - 18:24
          +1

          @waterlogged turnip:
          I'm about to post a comment below, but I revoke the above.
          Your DAD can go to his room.

          You and your Mum can roam free.
          Wild Turnips.

  • shkev on 28/08/2014 - 17:29

    I was in the same situation as you. I just went on gumtree and searched for a model similar to the one that she has used before. It was cheap and make sure if you go and inspect it bring your mother along, because you need to seek her approval.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2014 - 18:26

      If the OP wants to go down that path, it is worth mentioning - given the nature of the usage involved - that the older-design Kleenmaid toploaders (heavy-duty, very basic controls) that were sold in Australia up until fairly decent years (I think), may be available secondhand now, albeit in small numbers.

      Household models, although expensive and niche in Australia, still had the reputation of being extremely reliable, and very similar to laundromat-spec machines.

      I can remember almost buying one as a first big whitegoods purchase, but bought a slightly cheaper, otherwise similar G.E. model, instead. An ok decision, but in retrospect…

      • J5 on 28/08/2014 - 19:26

        kleenmaid was a rebadged speedqueen which you can still buy

        but they are nowhere near water efficient

        • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2014 - 22:24

          Yep, terrible water efficiency from older-style toploaders.

          Influence of globalisation, maybe, but doubts about quality of newer 'SpeedQueen' badged machines, by the looks of it.

  • J5 on 28/08/2014 - 18:16

    so the last machine you bought was an Aquasmart

    go and buy the standard F&P toploader

    you can set it up so all she has to do is press power and start

    the standard top loader doesnt have the out of balance issues that the aquasmart does
    and can take far more abuse

  • PVA on 28/08/2014 - 18:24

    don't get a front loader as they take longer to do a wash - I am comparing similar wash sizes/cycles between our old top loader and our new front loader.
    I think the front loader is way better (Panasonic) but if she does up to six washes it will take a long time.
    You do have quick wash cycles on the front loader but you mum wont use that 'cos I bet she wont think it cleans as good.

    Just get a top loader that has some electronics for balancing, our old top loader was a Hitachi and if there was an imbalance it would spray some water n to move things around and slow the spin speed etc. No idea if they sell Hitachis any more but it lasted 20 years.

    • iSamurai on 28/08/2014 - 20:51
      +4

      If washes take a long time she may eventually reduce the number of washes a day…

      • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2014 - 08:16

        That's what I thought, too. Some 'downsides' could actually work in the OP's favour in terms of modifying (by force of inconvenience) his mum's behaviour into a more practical set of habits..

  • gimli on 28/08/2014 - 21:05

    Lost and found

    • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2014 - 08:18
      +2

      For a new mum? Or are we still talking about the washing machine..?

      • gimli on 29/08/2014 - 16:22
        +1

        Idk tldr

  • OBone on 28/08/2014 - 22:19

    This might be just a long shot, but what about a cheap mini twin tub from ebay (in the order of $120!)?
    Considering your mum washes small loads frequently, why not get a machine size to match?
    I don't know much about them myself, whether they are efficient/reliable or not, but my dear old mum has had one of those ebay ones for a couple of years now. Maybe it's blind luck, but it's still working for her.
    It's as basic (knobs only) as they come but does require moving the washing from the washer to the spinner.

  • Bonsaichop on 28/08/2014 - 22:24
    +13

    Ahh thanks for all the great replies!

    In no particular order i'll respond to some of the statements above, some parts bolded for effect:

    • Yes it is an Aquasmart. Her previous one was a hotel/industrial Kleenmaid. Before I could finish my HSC I had an intimate understanding of the Kleenmaid's inner workings because my arms were small enough to get in there and fix it under the instruction of my father. She would unbalance the load so bad on the Kleenmaid that it knocked a hole in the wall from rocking from side to side. Actually that washing machine is where our phrase of the "washing machine trying to run away" came from!

    • The other reason a front loader is out, is the way her laundry was redone.. because of the Kleenmaid running away! The vanity is positioned so that if the machine decided to 'walk' forward it would eventually be stopped by the vanity to stop the hoses from being pulled off the wall. I kid you not!

    • To the above mentioned, the vanity cannot be moved. Think of some gordy tim burton inspired laundry with bathroom vanities against a small marble facade adorned above by a horrid 70's kitchen cupboard in such a way that anyone who is taller than 5 foot will bang their head against. Does it look horrible and unimaginably stupid in your head? YES SHE WANTED IT THAT WAY!!!

    • Second hand on gumtree wouldn't be a bad idea but again, the grand inquisitor superior know it all that knows everything better than anyone else including herself because that's the kind of paradox that only she could concieve aka my mother turn her nose up at a washing machine that was used stating that they 'may have washed their shit in it'… again I do not kid…

    • The current machine takes about 90 min for a wash, longer washes only equals more complaining and her being up at all hours of the night. Time.. is irrelevant! Within the walls of the 7th circle of hell!

    • The aquasmart she currently has apparently has load re-balancing however after several attempts at balacing a floormat (yes.. today there was a floormat in it, just one, very thick, very water absorbing floormat) it just can't do it.

    • Lost and found? Is this somewhere I can drop her off to??

    I did actually have a good stab at locating the leak last night for several hours.. after my inital suspicion of bad hoses which were replaced, i've also found additional leaks in the inlet valve assembly (small drops), washing powder funnel (which was fixed by MacGuyvering a new gasket out of draft reducing foam), and cleaning out all in internal funnels which were quite disgustingly dirty, it is still leaking but nowhere near as bad.

    I'm not so hot and heavy for Fisher and Paykel anymore, product reviews online are not so fab, and her $1500 F&P fridge I bought for her last year has a bad fan which makes it sound like a cow with constipation and no way to relieve itself. Luckily/unluckily for me she's deaf (and in denail!) so she can't hear that issue.. yet.

    Had a quick look online, didn't mind the look of this Samsung, but I don't know if it could take the washing machine world equivelant of a 24hr counterfit sweatshop that is our laundry and its evil overlord, for whom my partner and I nickname "KWANZAAAAAA!!!!": http://www.thegoodguys.com.au/buyonline/Samsung_7.5kg_Top_Lo…

    Has anyone had any experience? :)

    Keep the comments coming.. quite entertaining and helps stave off the homicidal tenancies! :)

    • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2014 - 08:20
      +8

      I love you. lol

      I'd say let's get hitched but I don't think I want your mumma as my mother-in-law.

      Nor do I think you want my mother as your mother-in-law (she's a clone of your mum, in many painful ways).

    • YTW on 29/08/2014 - 23:53
      +2

      I did actually have a good stab

      You had me worried for a minute there.

      Just go into a couple of shops and see what is there - it will be a lot quicker for you to visually compare the models. Don't take her with you though, too many witnesses should you go over the edge ;)

    • ozgriff on 30/08/2014 - 19:45

      Awesome thread, loving the vivid imagery.

      We had a front-loader and went back to a top-loader for these reasons:
      - Front loader got very mouldy in the rubber inlet for the door (seems common)
      - Bending over pulling out washing can be quite hard for some folk
      - Did take a long time to finish
      - Took a long time to dry, I think due to the differences and speed in the spin cycles.

      We are happy with our Fisher and Paykel fridge and washing machine - but I understand not going back to a brand you have had personal issues with.

      The one item that may be of assistance, is the machine has a programmable favorite button - turn it on and press the heart and off it goes. If you programmed it to not be fruit stain, would she use it, probably a long shot :-)

  • Tigi on 28/08/2014 - 23:42

    She will not: Use any other cycle other than "Fruit Stain" because everything has a stain
    She Will: Wash things 1 at a time

    How hard would it be to convince her that program no 2 "quick wash" replaces the ol' "fruit stain" cycle?

  • fleetoiler on 29/08/2014 - 00:05
    +2

    Ok, so this doesn't abide by basically any of your requirements… But we bought a new front loader and it's pretty goddamn sexy and I want to gloat/tell my story a little so bear with me while I tell you about the process.

    We went into the seconds white goods outlet store set on getting an aussie brand top loader but came out wanting the exact opposite. We had all these reasons why top loader was better for our situation, and it turns out the had them all beat.

    It's a Beko front loader, euro brand with a very good rep.

    There is a one-to-two item quick wash setting that takes 14 minutes that will do for a single towel or a few shirts/lightly soiled items, depending on how soiled it is it might be just the thing, saving your mum water and time. They have a simple dial with a < 30m daily wash, a pet-hair setting and other preconfigured settings that I'm sure you could just apply some whiteout or slap some tape over the settings to make it simpler for her, heh ;)

    The shorter/smaller load settings are smart and actually wash better, with less water. I can't remember if it has a "detect load size" setting because we're still working out how best to wash things together all in big loads or smaller daily loads. Don't worry, if your mum thinks the longer it takes is better, there's an Eco-cottons setting that takes 4 hours lol!

    We wanted to be able to add things in mid cycle. You can open this thing mid cycle with water still inside, you just press pause, the water drops down below the door (not drains, but just goes to some other dimension for a while), wait a minute then you can open and put more stuff in, close and press go and it continues from where it left off.

    We were set on getting an Aussie/known big brand but the rep convinced us they were all just made in China with less than reputable parts/quality control, whereas these Bekos are still euro made… Or something like that. The place we went to actually sells these beko washers new, because they hardly ever get any seconds or scratch n dents, and they sell like hotcakes, it's the only brand they sell new.

    If bending/leaning over is an issue like it was for us, get it to the right height with a stand which is what we're going to do but it's just on the slab downstairs for now, it's really quiet and auto balances the spin cycle, if it gets clunky it can tell and does something to fix itself, not sure how/what.

    So like you said, your mum doesn't sound reasonable at all, but perhaps if you can get at the reasons behind thinking front loaders are the devil, you might have a chance at changing her mind like our minds were changed.

    Either that, or you just don't give her a choice. Go in one weekend, uninstall the current one, lug it out on the street preferably a few houses down with a "free, still works" sign and it'll be gone in a few hours. Buy a front loader and install it and just yell and scream at her until she gets the message that this is the way it's going to be, go ballistic and be wide-eyed drooling with rage rabbiting on about how the magical beans you bought with it will destroy all traces of poop. Don't try to sell it or be reasonable, don't try to talk sense about how much easier, cheaper, better it will be. Just point out at the top of your lungs its got a pretty chrome handle and a big tub inside and makes whoosh whoosh noises like the old one. If there is a family cat/small dog offer to demonstrate by throwing it inside. While still yelling obscenities, start undressing down to your boxers and throw your clothes in there and do a 14 minute quick cycle or better yet, do that before you start screaming and by the time things have settled down the cycle will be done.

    Hope this helps ;)

    • eatwell365 on 29/08/2014 - 06:19

      Just in case, OP, what is the police helpline number again? May see you a fresh clean boxer in the nightly news.

    • t_c on 29/08/2014 - 06:52
      +2

      Rep probably forgot to tell you that they make a killer profit margin on the beko's too.

    • J5 on 29/08/2014 - 19:14

      Beko is made in Turkey

  • srr on 29/08/2014 - 00:12

    Miele front loader. Worth every cent, esp. if you'll manage to get it on special

  • AG_ACT on 29/08/2014 - 06:35
    +6

    If I was you, here is what I would do:
    Go to Harvey Norman, find a salesman, tell them your washing requirements. Even though they are idiots, listen to their recommendation.
    Ask them to match the cheapest price you can find for their recommendation
    Take product care (covers wear and tear)
    Budget for a new machine every 5 years

    Or, if you have a Costco near you, buy a commercial machine, and have warranty for as long as you are a member… - more expensive option.

    I know you already know this, which is why you are on here looking for a washer but might help to read it again to reinforce your beliefs: Sometimes, our choices in life aren't the most logical; anyone who says they are always logical is kidding themselves. Your mum sounds like she has a very tough job, probably with vey little reward. The few areas of her life she CAN control, she probably wants to hold on to. Just imagine, if u r this frustrated with a few quirks, how much bigger is her problem with the issues she has to deal with as a carer.

    best of luck, hope you find something bullet proof.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 29/08/2014 - 09:11
    -1

    I am going to give advice, and not about washing machines.

    Move out.
    For your sanity.

    Let her sort it out on her own. She is a grown woman. Best thing you will ever do for yourself.

  • McFly on 29/08/2014 - 10:24
    +1

    She's asian, old, thinks she knows everything, and if anything goes wrong, somehow its my fault.
    So I need help

    …to make it look like an accident? Oh, just read the thread title. nvm

  • JimB on 29/08/2014 - 10:44
    +2

    I've buy a front loader, get it delivered and tell her you won it in a competition.

    I've never go back to a top loader.

    My 10kg front loader can wash up to 6kg on a daily wash cycle in 60mins.

    Or a quick wash in 30min, never used it.

    However I normally use the full load cycle (10 kgs) which takes 2 hours. Best thing about a 10kg front loader is that it always fits a weeks load of colours, or a fortnights load of whites. Worst thing about a 10kg front loader is that it takes ages to hang the clothes, especially infants clothes.

    • bargainy on 29/08/2014 - 11:38

      Miele front loader addresses most of her misuse issues and it will last longer than her. Door locks automatically during the cycle so there is no interfering with the load once it gets going. :)

    • YTW on 30/08/2014 - 00:02
      +1

      Sounds like you have a Samsung? I have the 10kg Samsung front loader. I agree, hanging 10kg of babies clothes all at once is a PITA.

      I put 10kg in the daily wash cycle with an extra rinse (so 59min total) and it comes out perfectly for half the time of the normal cycle - just thought I'd mention that if you haven't tried it. Got that tip from somewhere online, apparently a lot of people do it with these machines. I have programmed that in as my favourite cycle so it's literally three buttons pushes that I've trained my toddler to do. Now I just need to train her how to load and unload it ;)

      Actually OP…you might want to look into some of the new machines that you can program a favourite cycle - and tell your mum that you've put it on the super heavy duty wash and then program in a normal wash. Only a couple of button pushes for her, and hopefully shorter washes for your sanity.

      • JimB on 01/09/2014 - 11:39

        I have a Whirlpool Sports Washer, made in Germany for some reason, but Germany > USA.

        It's odd, I checked out the Samsung 10kg machine and the drum is smaller than the 10kg Whirlpool.

        The drum in the Panasonic 10Kg machine is laughable small.

        It's prob true they are all rated at 10kgs, but have much different drum volume/capacity in m^3.

  • cannedhams on 29/08/2014 - 11:46
    +7

    Every ABC I know has a mother like this. I don't think its the washing machine, I think she just wants to bust your balls about something. She probably grew up washing her clothes in an old copper boiler so I doubt that operating a washing machine would be beyond her ken.

    My Asian mother-in-law does exactly the same thing with her laptop. She used to nag me to come and fix it all the motherf***ing time. I installed teamviewer so I could fix it remotely, but after two goes of that, she then claimed that she was no longer able to start the teamviewer application. Yeah, I bet.

    Her mouse stopped working the other day. I said pull it out and put it in another USB port. USB port? What is this? Me no savvy. Infuriates me. I drove to her house, walked in the door, pulled the mouse out and put it in another port and then was back in my car within 45 seconds.

    She wouldnt bother asking me to fix her washing machine as she knows I couldnt do it. Basically it is up to you how long you want to go on enabling this behaviour, but I don't doubt that she has a very challenging job looking after your dad.

  • Azn310 on 29/08/2014 - 13:21

    Mate, why not ask her to take it out to the laundromat / launderette with coin operated washers and dryers ? Cost of a broken machine would be equal to cost of outsourcing per year, less the headache.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2014 - 13:35

      She probably wouldn't go anywhere near a communal, public machine considering what the OP has said of her opinion on second hand machines lol…

      Second hand on gumtree wouldn't be a bad idea but again, the grand inquisitor superior know it all that knows everything better than anyone else including herself because that's the kind of paradox that only she could concieve aka my mother turn her nose up at a washing machine that was used stating that they 'may have washed their shit in it'… again I do not kid…

      Plus travelling to the laundromat with one towel, several times per day might not be possible if she's a full time carer to her husband.

  • iampoor on 29/08/2014 - 13:23

    Good Friday afternoon reading - makes you feel pretty good about your life :p

    The machine you chose looks good, the most important being that it doesn't have a central agitator "rod" to allow her to manually unbalance the load by stuffing everything to one side. Your next challenge is preventing her unbalancing the load by washing a floor mat or equivalent which soaks up the water and kills the machine during the spin cycle.

    My suggestion here is to Dynabolt the machine to the floor with maybe rubber dampers in between the machine and floor so that it doesn't shake the whole house down or an equivalent method of immobilizing the machine. This way the machine won't jump side to side and the mechanism to stop the machine won't trigger.

    This is just an extension of what I did as a kid - my household had a pretty dodgy top loader that kept cutting out and I found that by sitting on the machine my weight was enough to keep it from rocking around and cutting out.

    I don't have the specific model you are looking at but my house is pretty much Samsunged and everything is working fine.

    I had an issue with my TV which was handled well once they were made aware of their obligations under ACL, no fighting or arguing, just a nice brand new TV:)

    Best of luck!

  • goraygo on 29/08/2014 - 14:42
    +1

    Totally understand you.

    If the machine was only take 15 mins but it is a front loader, will your mum be happier?

    I have a Siemens front loader, they do quick wash for 15 mins. still very clean and nice after the quick wash cycle.

    everything automated, no need to balance the machine, it will do it for you. And yes, we have washed one towels or even one shirt in that machine. No issue.

    Also got automatic detergent dispensing, so she will never have to worry about that.

    costs around $2k+, got mine off Winning Applicance.
    http://www.siemens-home.com.au/products/laundry/washing-mach…

    • [Deactivated] on 29/08/2014 - 15:18
      +1

      +1,000,000 for Siemens front loader. Trade your Mum in for one.

  • centrelink on 29/08/2014 - 14:43

    You should do what i did and ditch your parents and never talk to them again.

  • Zoop on 29/08/2014 - 15:56

    http://www.bosch-home.com.au/appliances/laundry/washing-mach…
    Bosch WAS28461

    Has a 5 star water rating and a 4 star energy star rating.
    This is the cheapest machine which qualifies for the water rebate (VIC only).
    I see you're from NSW. Maybe you can get a mate in Victoria to help you out.

    When you have a smaller load, it'll use less water and less time.
    Spin is 1400 rpm so finished clothes are relatively dry.
    With the amount of washing she does, might be worth getting this water and energy saving machine just for the efficiency savings.

    Siemens is really good too, I-DOS for the win!

  • young_dazza on 29/08/2014 - 18:45

    I don't understand why are you buying her a new washing machine when you know she is going to blame you for it.

    Do you have any other siblings who can take her shopping? (Yes this is a hospital pass but sometimes you have to for your own sanity).

    If not, maybe you tell her you know nothing about washing machines, take her to the shop and let her choose one. Most importantly don't say a single word when you are there.

    When it breaks or she does something stupid its not your problem and she should contact your sibling or the store salesman for help.

  • Tech5 on 29/08/2014 - 20:09
    +1

    Ahahahah you just made my day with that post mate.

    I feel the problem is less the washing machine and more your mum haha

  • Bonsaichop on 29/08/2014 - 21:45
    +9

    Well.. this ride through the 7th circle of hell is near completion, a new washer was purchased today from HN.. more details below but first I shall respond again in no particular order to the posts above;

    • Twin tub is out, god forbid if she had to move wet clothes from one tub to the other. That's beneath her!

    • The substitution of the 'Fruit Stain' cycle is a bitter road that has been well traveled. One time I became so hysterical over why the f&(k she kept using the bastard of an option I would have had what could be medically defined as an 'Episode'. She just did not get it, and was convinced that the washing machine had some special powers/arms that came out of nowhere like inspector gadget to attack each mark on the clothing with special robotic fingers. Personally I don't give a flying f&(k that she used it, it was just that it included a fast spin cycle, when coupled with 1 item of clothing would spin the washer out of control to defy space and time, and end up in out of balance mode.

    • I actually measured the space available in the nook created for the current washer and a front loader door would not have enough room to swing out, so even the good old knock her out with a 2x4 and then replace it with a front loader without her knowledge plan would still not work.

    • Sorry already spoken for, my partner is my rock, and she keeps me together, I'm currently refining gold so that it can be formed into an engagement/wedding ring in the future, not because i'm cheap (well I am..) but because 1) science rules 2) A gift I helped create seems to have more meaning.

    • No need for the police helpline number, if anyone asks… she fell! ;)

    • I wanted to stay away from the $$ euro brands. Not because I want to be a privilege denying monster, but I'm planning this machine to have 5 years of usable life which is as long as the extended warranty gets these days, after which it will probably need replacing from a self induced suicide. She doesn't know a Milie to a Bosch to a Samsung. A $1300+ euro vs semi-decent $800 Asian that has extended warranty to cover all forms of stupidity means a $100/year saving.

    • haha ABC… took a while for the cogs to kick in gear.. Yeah she really loves to bust anyone's balls over the slightest thing. Though its not only me, the support nurses that come in for my father really get a hammering from her. She's managed to get at least one fired over nothing, and a few have come a few times and never again. For anyone that works in the aged care/disabled services industry my hat is off to you and have my utmost respect.

    • Laundromat is out. She can't drive. side track story here I never could figure out why my father never taught her to drive, apparently he did. So after his stroke I tried to teach her. So one day I tell her to get in the drivers seat to get a feel for the controls, she goes to drivers side, swings the car door wide open putting a proper size dent in the car next to her. Her response? "Oh.. don't worry it's someone else's car"……. no.. just no…

    • Ahh dynabolt! I wish I had a photo of the old kleenmaid after my father dynabolted it to the floor. That old saying the strongest part of a chain is in its weakest link? Turns out the weakest link in an industrial Kleenmaid washing machine is the outer skin which CAN AND WILL tear apart under certain unscientific circumstances of stupidity!

    • Logic would dictate that a 15 min wash cycle would be a benefit. But you need to view this from the mind of someone who knows everything but knows nothing. 15 minute wash = 4 washes an hour. Old machine could do 1 wash every hour, this means I can wash less stuff to make it 'more clean' and still get the same amount done in 1 hour. Doesn't make sense and is completely irrational? Yes.. that the world we're trapped in.

    • No other siblings, sadly an only child. I do have 1/2 brothers and sisters that like to check in from time to time to see if my father is alive only to not hear from them again till the next 'is he alive' check in. That's a whole other thread..

    • I can't ditch them. Yes it is true that I'm not a big fan of either parent, actually I'm not that big on them at all. But there is no other family. That and I have some kind of fear that when I grow old and stupid I do not want to be abandoned by my own children for the same reasons I would abandon them. It's a TLDR story (not that this is not long enough as it is!) but they have a debt that they cannot pay, so I have to pay it for them. My partner and I simply cannot afford to have two mortgages so for the time being we have to live in some kind of symbiotic relationship until their shit is manageable. My partner and I run a small business, it's good, its alot of fun and keeps us very close but it can only support so much.

    • I tried the "not say a word and take her to the shop" when it came time to replace her bedroom suite. The handbrakes had to be applied when she told the sales rep she would only accept "Solid wood" and was settling on an $9k bedroom suite FOR A FRAME TWO BEDSIDES AND A DRESSER!! WTF!??!! DO YOU NOT KNOW YOU HAVE NO MONEY!?~??! I was thinking $2k maybe $3k tops..

    SOOOO THE BIG NEWS!! WE BOUGHT A NEW MACHINE

    Went to a couple of places, much to my own disgust because of their usually inflated prices I bought one from Harvey Norman. BUT WHY!?!?

    Well first, this is what we chose;
    http://www.samsung.com/au/consumer/home-appliances/washing-m…
    Cost: $839 all inclusive with extended warranty.

    • Free delivery (tomorrow!)
    • Free removal of old machine (though i guess I could have left it on the side of the road for those scrap metal maniacs to take it)
    • Free 6kg of washing powder (enough for maybe 1 day? :P)
    • Price includes 3 years of extended warranty (5 years all up) in the case of a major fault or more than 2 minor faults during the warranted period it will be replaced a new machine.
    • HAS LIMITED RANGE OF WASH OPTIONS!!! WOOHOO!!!!!
    • It has a glass lid! Maybe she can be pre-ocupied with watching the washing so that if it does spin out of balance she'll be right there to sort it out.
    • 8kg washer, same as the old one.
    • No central agitator, her request not mine.
    • Can actually fit!
    • More reasons I just can't think of at the moment

    The big thing was the extended warranty, which I'm sure I'll use. I took the advice of many above and just went out with my partner and got one without her. Went to a few places and entertained some reps, the guy at HN was actually great to deal with for once and we were both entertained about the whole situation. I explained the situation and all of her requirements and we even did some role playing on some machines to see if they were idiot proof enough! Quite entertaining! Probably the best experience I've had at an HN so far. Though he did seem concerned when I rhetorically asked myself if I could fit her in one of the larger washers haha..

    And in true OzBargain fashion, I looked up the computer control and motor drive control modules from the old machine on eBay, turns out they're worth a bit of money! So I'm going to take them out, resell them on eBay and should be able to still recoup $150-$200 in the spare parts. Score!

    The battle has concluded.. but the war carries on.. she blew up her Dyson Vacuum.. I came home and she was about to use it and it was so full that the dust and dog hair (shedding silky terrier) was starting to build up in the pipe!!!!! I told her to empty it out before starting to vacuum, she thought she knew better and started the vacuum to only be greeted with a great big BANG! and the power cutting out. Now she's gone from a $800 Dyson to a $30 big-w job. Sigh……

    Thank you again all for your great posts, and bearing with me! I'm sure it has been a traumatic experience for all involved haha..

    • cim85 on 29/08/2014 - 22:07
      +1

      Geez that's been a great lol - your mother reminds me of my ex-wife who is a 'right fighter' - always believes she's right, end justifies the means and bloody stubborn to go with it.

    • YTW on 30/08/2014 - 00:10

      Looks like a great choice to me. Hope it goes well.

      If the Dyson is under warranty still then just email them direct - they are great to deal with.

    • fruit on 31/08/2014 - 10:58

      Extended Warranty is a scam, you have rights enshrinedt into law.

      http://www.accc.gov.au/publications/top-5-publications

  • love2buy on 30/08/2014 - 06:10
    +1

    Man…lol All she really wants is for you to help her do the washing! Is it that hard to get the hint!

  • Freakycat on 30/08/2014 - 08:38

    Try the washing machines from Graysonline. I bought a Panasonic front loader for $300 retail for $1200 (http://www.panasonic.com/au/consumer/household/washing-machi…). New never used. You waste your money fixing. My sisters and brother changed washing machine every 3 years and they bought new. They kept getting the repair men to fix their machine. You need to balance the load for top loader, but not the front loaders.

  • msmhw on 30/08/2014 - 08:57
    +5

    Buy one that she has to load coins to use it. It may give her some kind of control and will not wash small loads.

    • fredzfrog on 30/08/2014 - 12:02

      Brilliant! Then the money earned can go to a new machine/fixing!

      • No ONE on 30/08/2014 - 14:59

        Perhaps to the bills

  • sintro on 30/08/2014 - 15:04

    Hey bro, glad you sorted out that washer.

    You must watch this Mark Passio - Natural Law Seminar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASUHN3gNxWo

    It expains the human psyche well, how people refuse to admit that they are wrong and are WILLFULLY IGNORANT. Hopefully you can use some of the knowledge to drive some common sense into her and others.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2014 - 18:05

    Maybe it's just me but I dislike front loaders, they don't get out EVERYTHING (by that I mean I could put 3 kilo's of bananas into my top loader and when I open it they would be gone).

    • JimB on 01/09/2014 - 11:43

      I think it's just you :D

      A decent front loader cleans better than a decent top loader. But I can't confirm the 3kg banana test.

      Furthermore due to the rpm, they dry clothes in less than half the time.

  • exonerate on 30/08/2014 - 22:50
    +1

    Great writing skills OP ! I hope life treats you, your partner and your family well.
    Side note; had you started a kickstarter fund raiser I'm sure ozbargain would have supported you and helped you get a kick start on life!

  • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2014 - 14:25

    I hope she isn't my neighbour. I can always hear their washing machine spinning out of control! It's freaking loud too.

    Furthermore, since we are on the asian topic. Blacks go with blacks. I don't know how many cheap asian clothes I have bought that aren't colourfast. So, this might be what she is doing.

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