Hotpoint BWM129 > Reviews > Fast and efficient washing performance

Author's product rating:   

Performance	Excellent
Ease of use	Very easy
Durability	Satisfactory
Noise	Average
Value for money	Good

Advantages:	Quiet .  Fast .  Easy to use .
Disadvantages:	It's a built - in model .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Overview
A quiet, compact and simple to use built-in washing machine which washes and spins well and is cheap to run. After three months of once or twice daily usage I can report no problems.

Background
Around three months ago, I decided to replace my old Hotpoint (which was at least ten years old - I inherited it when I bought the house) that was giving up noisily whilst trying to rip itself from the surrounding appliances. It was a built-in front-loading automatic, max spin 1000rpm, max capacity 4kg. When I first had it, it was fast and efficient, but it had seen a lot of use and was dying.

I was attracted to the Hotpoint BWM129 because:
1. It was the same size as the old one, which is the main restriction on my choice of machine.
2. It looks very similar to the machine it was replacing, and,
3. It's marketed as 'Super Silent' which I hoped meant it also wouldn't judder around a lot (a real problem with built-ins!)

Installation
I ordered it from a local appliance retailer (see 'Price' below). They delivered and installed it, and took away the new one. It took the two engineers considerably less than an hour to complete the whole process. They said this model was easy to install, as long as the fittings for the pipes etc. were compatible with what was there before. I was replacing a Hotpoint with another Hotpoint so it was.

Instructions and first usage
The instruction manual is clear and easy to understand. It starts with a labelled diagram of its features and goes on to explain the installation process while advising that it is carried out by a professional. It has a flow chart to help you decide which programme to select, and a troubleshooting guide. As instructed I ran the machine empty once first to clean it.

Selecting a program and starting:
It's simple to use: open the front door, open the round door, put your washing in... don't close the door yet, it's a Hotpoint, you'll confuse it (see 'Niggles' below)... select your chosen programme using the two buttons (it has 20 programs - I only ever use three), then close the door and off it goes.

Washing and spinning
Hotpoint claim that their 'Super Silent' range has features which reduce its volume to 'as low as 47dB' during the washing cycle. The number doesn't mean a lot to me, but yes, it is eerily quiet when it washes, particularly with the outer door shut. Spinning (variable, up to 1200rpm), however, is a rather different matter. Not significantly quieter than its noisy predecessor, although it doesn't try to jump around so much. Having said that, the spin performance in terms of water removal seems very good indeed.

Washing time
The QuickWash programme, which I use for mixed synthetics, is fastest and does a 5kg load at 40 degrees C in about 45 minutes. giving it a decent spin. A non-QuickWash at 60 degrees takes about 75 minutes and a 'White Cottons' at 95 degrees takes 90. That's acceptably fast for me.

Washing performance
Unlike its predecessor, the QuickWash programme performs almost as well as the standard progammes. For smaller loads with light soiling, the difference is negligible, particularly with colours. The other programmes I've used (Synthetics 40, Synthetics 60, Cottons 95) have given excellent cleaning results too. It uses Unbalanced Load Detection to improve its performance.

Choice of programmes
As mentioned above, the QuickWash on this machine actually works. In addition, there's PreWash and HandWash, and a Delicates Programme. It has four delayed starts (I haven't yet worked out why you'd want four) and a timer too.

Energy efficiency
I think this is where I've noticed the biggest difference from the old machine. QuickWash didn't work well enough on the old one, so the fact that it works really well on this one cuts the washing time in half, on top of the fact that it is a much more efficient machine. It consumes about a quarter of the electricity to produce the same result at 40 degrees, which is great. The other programmes are similar in length but use around half the electricity.

Niggles
Just like it's predecessor you programme it, you have to switch it off, open the door, unload/load it, then switch it on and select the program, before closing the door. If you close the door, then try to select, it'll just sit there mutely looking at you. The troubleshooting guide doesn't cover this. Maybe it's obvious but when I first inherited the old one it took me ages of trial and error to get it going.

Little extras that are nice
Platinum Woolmark - I'm allergic to wool so this is no use to me but my Mum has this feature on her machine and it's the first time she's ever successfully machine washed hand-knitted wool items without damaging them enough to annoy their owner.

Dispenser drawer - has a curved, sloping design that seems to stop that horrible cakey, mouldy mess you can get when your other half doesn't realise that you're supposed to take steps to maintain the machine.

Price
The shop list price is £293.99 Ciao lists the best price as £331.49 from Hughes, a retailer I am not familiar with. I bought mine from a local specialist dealer and not online specifically because it's a built-in model and was happily pay a little extra to a local company with a good reputation to make sure it was installed properly. I paid 359.99 in total, including VAT, delivery and installation (and the old one taken away for disposal/recycling)

Vital Statistics
Height 82.0 cm (32.0 inches)
Width 59.5 cm (23.0 inches)
Depth 53.7 cm (21.0 inches)

Efficiency ratings (EU A to G system):
Washing Efficiency: A
Energy Efficiency: A
Centrifugal Efficiency: B

Cotton capacity: 5.0 kilos
Max spin speed: 1200 rpm
Only available in white