I purchased my Whirlpool shortly before Xmas 2007 as a replacement for my old machine which had decided to give up on me at the worst possible time of year. Having now had it for almost four months, here is my opinion so far.
Decision to buy ============
The reason for going for this model was primarily cost driven. Being close to Christmas I wanted a brand that I had heard of, but at the same time getting away with paying as little as possible. This model was advertised for for just over £200 which seemed quite reasonable for a 1400 spinwasher. Another incentive for me was ordering via Sainsburys on-line so at least my Nectar points got a bit of a boost. I must say that for the price, I wasn't expecting miracles, but in actual fact I have been pleasantly surprised with
its performance.
Features =======
As stated one of the big selling points for me was the 1400 rpm spin speed. I was somewhat surprised to find that the machine was given a "B" rating for efficiency. In actual use, I have found the spin to be excellent, particularly when washing heavy cotton towels. The amount of water removed is very good significantly reducing drying times.
At the end of the day, what we all need to know from a washing machine is "Will it get my stuff clean"? In my opinion, the answer with this particular model is most defiantly YES! I have to say the wash results I have found to be very good with the need to re-wash being very rare indeed. Official rating for the machine is "A" for this model, from personal experience I can quite confer with this.
One of the most useful features I have found is the "over-sized" wide door opening. This really does come into it's own when washing larger items such as double duvets. Loading the machine with these items is made much much easier without having to fight with the door.
The machine is very flexible in terms of the variety of garments that can be put into it. In addition to the standard every day wash programmes, there are a variety of more delicate programmes to cater for everything from woollens to hand washing.
Another useful feature is the variable temperature. As most detergents are now designed to wash at lower temperatures, this feature allows you to do your bit for the environment and also save a few quid on your electricity bills. This was a new feature to me as my old machine did not have this facility. I must admit I was a little sceptical as to whether the 30 degree wash claims were realistic. However having now tried it, I have found no difference at all in the wash results compared to washing at 40.
Other energy features include an automatic "half load" function. Again this I find useful as with my old machine, I would frequently do a small wash but forget to press in the button. With my Whirlpool this is automatically done for me so I know my machine is always running as economically as possible. I would assume that this is why the machine was given an official "A+" rating for energy.
Negative points ============ There are only two negative points that I have come across so far. The first of which is the noise level when the machine is enters the final spin stage. Whilst the noise is not over excessive, it does seem noisier than other machines. The second point is the drum capacity. A lot of machines now seem to have 6 - 7Kg capacity. This model however is the standard 5Kg load.
General Opinion =============
My overall opinion of this machine is very good. It certainly does the job it is designed for and does it well. Considering the purchase price, it appears to be well built and sturdy enough. The controls are easy enough to understand and operate and the routine maintenance of cleaning the filter is easy to carry out. There are a couple of not so good points as mentioned above, however at the end of the day, as they say, "You get what you pay for". For a budget priced machine I would certainly recommend this machine.
Specifications =========== Dimensions (cm) (H)85.0 x (W)59.5 x (D)54.0 Manufacturer Warranty 1 Years Loading Front Loading Spin Speed 1400 RPM Wash Load 5 Kg Energy Rating A+ Rated Wash Performance A Rated Number of Programmes 18 Variable Temperature Automatic Half Load Hand Wash Quick Wash Delicate Wash Wool Programme Wide Opening Door Child Safety Lock Rinse Hold Water Consumption 44 Litres
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
The 1400rpm spin Whirlpool AWO/D 4605 white washing machine is rated 'A+' for energy ... more
efficiency and has 5kg load capacity. It features 18 wash programme settings including hand wash, quick wash and a 40º wash for energy saving. There is also a light ...
Postage & Packaging: from £4.85 Availability: refer to website
Apr 23rd, 2008
exceptional by (1%):
very helpful by (99%):
