[Sunshiney]

I've never used a front loader before, and the purchase is making me nervous! I don't want to waste my money on a lemon.

Can't help with those brands - but just wanted to say don't be scared of front loaders - they're fantastic! Usually use less water, more energy efficient and protect your more delicate clothes far better than top loaders. I have a Bosch and it's love

[~Bells~]

Have you considered either setting up your old WM in the garage or using a laundromat for your pet bedding, to save the 'good' new machine?

I have considered setting the old machine up in the shed for this purpose, but the machine is very near dead, and I need a new one to replace it. And the pet hair isn't causing any problems in the current machine, the problem is that the machine isn't removing all of the hair from the fabric. So I suppose, continuing to use the machine for pet hair might be a bit redundant.

We have been using an asko washing machine and condenser dryer since October 2011. I'm currently going through post-pregnancy hair loss, and we have two british short hairs. Although their coat is short, it is very dense. So far I'm really happy with the washing machine and haven't had a problem with clogging yet. It is gentle on the clothes and cleans them really well.

The dryer is a different matter. We've already had asko out to look at it and after using it again for only 2 days, there are already problems. It appears that the dryer is not coping with my hair loss or the cats fur.

Good the hear an Asko/Pet Hair experience, thanks PriLou. That is surprising about the dryer though! All the sales people I've spoken to about this problem have no idea how to deal with the question regarding the washer, and point me towards a dryer to get all the excess hair off the fabric! Hopefully your dryer serviceman fixes the problem for good this time.

As an aside, I know post pregnancy hair loss is a hormonal hair-cycle thing, and while my own hair loss is more stress related, I use Nioxin hair products and have found it very useful. It takes 4-6 weeks for it to really start to work, but I immediately noticed a lack of hair loss, and then stronger regrowth.

[~*Amethyst*~]

Could you email both Asko & Miele with your questions? If not perhaps edit your title to 'removing pet hair from clothes when washing' or similar to get the responses you are after?

You could also try posting in the EB pet section or even phoning an animal shelter for advice.

You could try an old cheap twin tub in the shed for pet bedding perhaps? Good luck!

xxAmethyst

[brazen]

we have asko, cost around $1200 6 years ago. i wouldn't recommend it

[creepersgonnacre...]

LG I love mine never buy an electrofux

[sueb31]

We have a Miele washer and condenser dryer. Have had problems with both. We only have one cat but I do wash his bedding.

I have eventually (I think) figured out that the dryer issue is just the filters blocking, there is a big filter you can take out and clean. So that is OK now.
The washing machine - its one of those situations, where you have the feeling they never got to the bottom of it..you know what I mean? One problems, fix it, another happens etc. I'm sorry I am not mechanically minded so can't recall what the specifics were. The upsides are that it does a great job, the washing doesn't need ironing nearly as much. With the last problem they said it shouldn't have happened, so although out of warranty, they only charged me for labour, not parts. (Of course, the cynic in me says, wither you pay for all or none...but of course I took the bird in the hand!). They've certainly ahd a good look and never found pet hair in teh machine's workings though.

Short version - I'd be surprised if hair would affect the washer, but could the dryer. The Miele dryer has a number of ways you can clean out the inside filters, so as long as you were prepared to do that, it would be OK.

Sue

[~Bells~]

Thanks everyone!

I sent both Miele and Asko emails through the week, and am still awaiting a reply. If I haven't heard from them mid week, I'll ring them.

I think I still have another few months of struggling out of my current washer (which should work in nicely for the start of renovations), so I might try the pet forums as suggested also.

The reason I used the brands in the post title is from all the reading I did, those were the two brands most tooted for longevity and not needing repairs. But by the looks of the replies here, people are experiencing the same issues with these "better" brands anyway, which is disappointing given the manufacturer's claims. It's good to be able to put that into perspective.

I really appreciate the time given to respond. Thanks everyone!

[fillesetjumeaux]

I have had 4 FLs - one in the UK whose brand I can't remember, a Maytag (in the USA), an Electrolux and a Bosch.

I don't remember having issues with the UK or US ones.

I haven't had any issues with clogging etc in either the Electrolux or the Bosch, but the one problem I have (and for which I would change back to a TL if our laundry hadn't just been rebuilt with a big stone bench the whole way along, meaning I HAVE to have a FL!) is that they don't actually deal with the pet hair very well. When I wash my dogs' bedding, the hair just tends to gather on the inside of the glass on the door, and lots and lots around the rubber seal. Which I then have to spend time removing before doing the next load. And even then, I can't get all of it, as it clings to the rubber, not to mention there is usually a copious amount still floating around in the drum itself.

Having washed the same bedding from the same dogs in TLs, I never had this problem. The hair would just be collected around the lint filter, which was easy to clean.

My Bosch is otherwise an excellent machine (my Electrolux sucked and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, despite the fact that Choice does, which is why I bought it in the first place), so I won't be getting rid of it until it dies, but finding a machine that deals effectively with pet hair is on my priority list for next time.

[Chelara]

My asko is great at washing by not problem free unfortunately. It often gets an error f11 while washing heavier items ie towels or bath mats. I might only do 2 towels in it and it mst unbalance or something. I think f11 means its blocked though so I do go hrough the emptying and checking the tubes etc each time which is a complete pita. It is a delicate balance between choosing enough of e heavier stuff to keep it going without unbalancing but still ensuring it washes properly.

It cannot wash queen sized wool or synthetic wool blankets. It just doesn't get them wet enough to wash, I think single sized is ok. The queen sized do fit in the machine but they come out without ever having been wet in most parts.

I think mine is a 2010 5kg or 5.5 kg machine. The new bigger ones might handle the big stuff a lot better.

[Indi]

My Asko FL is coming up to 10 years old now and apart from the fact that an elastic hair tie got caught around a pump once, it hasn't missed a beat. 3 kids in cloth nappies, a tradie husband and living on a farm - it gets a good workout. BUT I would never wash my horse blankets in it. I have an old top loader in the shed for that. I used a plastic curry comb to remove as much hair as possible and then wash. I'm sure the Asko would wash them beautifully but I've always had a separate machine for the animals.