[Domesticity] Dishwashers and Washing Machines ...

[dancefloorlandmine]

In a sudden mood of domesticity, I have now re-ordered my dishwasher from the handy little electrical goods shop around the corner - it will cost about £30 more than Currys had quoted, but should be with me in a fortnight. Currys took two months to tell me nothing, so I cancelled the order with them.

Now I just need to get a washing machine and the kitchen will be complete. Do any of you domestic gods and goddesses out there have any advice regarding washing machines? Are washer/dryers more trouble than they're worth? What should I be looking out for? What should I avoid? Are any of you subscribers to Which? [grin] All I know is that I'd like something in silver, to match the other appliances ...

Comments

[jfs.livejournal.com]

I've got a washer dryer (cos I've also got a very small kitchen) and I haven't really had much problems with it. However, one thing to bear in mind for most washer dryers is that your optimum washing load is about twice your optimum drying load so you either

a) let it try to dry a full wash which takes longer and which might conceivably break the dryer eventually
b) wash half loads and let them dry, thus taking much longer
c) wash a full load and take half of it out to let the other half dry which is frankly a faff.

Given that mine is a rented machine, I'm going for a) on the grounds that if it breaks, they'll come fix it.

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

As another small-kitchen-owner, I think I'll add "renting and killing" to the list of options!

[jfs.livejournal.com]

I use Forbes Direct (http://www.forbesdirect.tv/) who are pretty good in terms of service - no idea how they compare to other companies in terms of price; I'm paying about £18 a month for a washer dryer, with a minumum contract of 17 months.