Great Cleaning Power, Compact Exterior, Roomy Interior!
Written: Apr 13 '01 (Updated Apr 21 '02)
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Pros: Gets clothes really clean; lots of cycle options; compact exterior size
Cons: Confusing for a first-time user with no manual
The Bottom Line: The Bosch Washer is fabulous; great washing power, great spin cycle! Compact size doesn't prevent it from holding a lot of clothes. Buy it for gentle and amazing cleaning!
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| mykoh's Full Review: Bosch WFK 2401 Washer |
I bought my Bosch front-loading washing machine about a year ago (early 2000) in a set with my Bosch Condensation Dryer (reviewed separately).
Making the Decision
I knew I wanted a front-loading washer for several reasons. First, I appreciate the energy and water savings front-loading washers offer. Secondly, I have a relatively small washing area where I wanted to stack the dryer and washer. Because the washer is front-loading, it allows the dryer to stack directly on top of the washer (instead of raised about on a stand), which makes it more accessible to shorter people.
I looked at several washer options. The Maytag Neptune was too large, and I had heard from a friend with the washer that it had a tendency to collect water inside after washes. In addition, Maytag did not offer a condensation dryer which was a priority. When the choice came down to between Bosch, ASKO and Miele, I decided on Bosch because local dealers told me that the Bosch support and repair people were the most reliable.
Yes, the Bosch washer is expensive. However, as a part of my commitment to having a front-loading washer, I realized I would have to spend a comparable amount of money on whichever washer I purchased. I was able to get money back from local utilities for purchasing an environmentally friendly washer -- if you are considering a purchase, you should also look into similar rebate opportunities.
Functionality
The Bosch washer has an amazing number of options which give the user a lot of flexibility in washing clothes. In addition to the regular cold, warm and hot settings, it also offers Power Wash, which starts with cold water and warms it up inside the machine to the desired temperature. By gradually increasing the temperature, it ensures that all different kinds of stains soluble at different temperatures are removed. It also offers PowerTemp Boost, which heats the water much hotter than you can usually get from your tap.
The washer also offers several options for the wash, such as Short Wash, Pre-soak, Extra Rinse, and Time-Delay Start. Separate cycles such as delicate wash are available, as are other options like soak, drain, rinse and more.
Bosch's spin cycle is amazing; it spins at up to 1200 rpm. It allows the user to control the maximum rpm and provides notes explaining each of the rpm speeds. I leave it at 1200 rpm and have never had any problems. The result is that clothes have much less water in them than when removed from a regular washer, meaning shorter drying times.
Usage
On a basic level it's easy to use: throw the clothes in, set the temperature, pour in the powder or liquid detergent, close the door and click start: At the same time, the washer offers an incredible amount of options that may be a little confusing at first.
One note: the detergent/fabric softener drawer is not very well labelled. It's difficult to tell from the pictures exactly where to put the fabric softener vs. the pre-soak detergent, etc. My mother came to visit and put the detergent in the fabric softener compartment. Once you've done it once, you won't forget, but read the manual through thoroughly the first time to understand the operation of the machine.
Front-loading washers, especially the European ones such as this one, have been known for not holding as many clothes as a regular washer. I am not sure that's true. After all, the drum is a smaller size, but it doesn't have to give up any space for the large central agitator in a regular top loading washer. You can fill up the entire cavity. I'm happy with the capacity, but a large family might need to do a few more loads.
Overall, I'm very happy with my Bosch washer -- I would definitely recommend it to anyone. In addition to being good at its job, the Bosch washer/dryer combination makes excellent use of limited apartment space, and looks great doing it.
April 2002 Update
Another year later, the machine is a little over two years old and going strong. I still have not had any problems with it and have never needed to call for service on the machine. I have noticed it's important to clean the dispenser drawer regularly (as stated in the manual) and to leave it a little bit open sometimes to dry. After I do my laundry, I usually leave the drawer and the machine door slightly open to let them dry out.
My machine still does a wonderful job cleaning the clothes. I especially like the powerwash cycles (which I have since had more occasion to use) for going through all of the different temperatures, which really helps get out all the different kinds of dirt and stains. Still a big thumbs up for this machine!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 850
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Epinions.com ID:
mykoh
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Location: San Francisco, CA
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 2 members
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