Calling Laundress, a.k.a. Miele Expert

[zipdang]

Based on your previous posts, you're my Miele information centre. You've spoken of your Miele washers, as well as your fondness for line drying, but do you also own a Miele dryer? I ask because I'm contemplating purchasing a Miele "super capacity" 6 Kg washer and dryer. Several years ago I owned a 5 Kg Bosch washer and dryer. I found the washer to be of adequate capacity, but the dryer was far too small. A full capacity load for the washer was entirely too much for the dryer to handle; much of the load met a fate of horrible wrinkles and tangles (particularly denim). Most of the information I've come across with regards to Miele laundry equipment pertains to their washers, so I'm left wondering how Miele dryers cope with large loads. Do you have any knowledge on this subject? (Everyone else who is not Laundress but has something to offer, please feel free to share, too. I'll consider you "Honorary Laundress" for the moment. )

Also, months ago you were very helpful when I was seeking information about the use of bluing, and since then I've become a huge fan of the stuff. Thanks for being such a trusty source of info!

 

[zipdang]

Hey, this was supposed to be in the Deluxe thread. Sorry.

 

[launderess]

Miele dryers are small compared to American dryers. However many people will purchase a Miele washer and use a non matching dryer.

One must remember it is still quite common to hang one's laundry up all over the apartment/house or on a line in Europe. Also there is not the mania for laundering large items such as eiderdowns at home, those get sent out. Also, also since laundry is done with small frequent loads, the need for a large dryer is lessened. This is changing as Europeans increasingly eye the uber-sized front loaders sold by Bosch and others on this side of the pond. Finally with the very high final spins on many European front loaders, items either emerge from the washer only needing to be shaken and hung on hangers, or just a few minutes in the dryer to finish them off. This again, means one is not drying huge loads of laundry at once, thus less need for large dryer.

If you can hold on a bit, Miele is set to introduce a larger 8kg capacity washer (120v) and dryer later this year. The dryers will be both gas and electric power. Not sure if the dryers will run on 120v or 220v and Miele dealers/Miele USA is being VERY tight lipped about things.

What were you drying that found your Bosch dryer inadequate? Remember while it is possible to "stuff" a front loader, because items will compact down when wet, laundry needs room to move about in a dryer. Thus the reason for doing small and frequent wash loads in Europe. Waiting too long and allowing lots of laundry to pile up, usually leads to stuffing both the washer and dryer in an effort to get on with things.

L.

 

[zipdang]

My issue with the Bosch dryer was with pants, both denin and chino. No matter how many, or how few, were dried in a load, they inevitably emerged tangled and wrinkled. I've heard the general rule for dryer cubic volume is that it should be twice that of the washer, and my Bosch may have been, but it still just wasn't big enough for large items like pants to tumble around without tangling up. Other items like shirts and towels dried just fine. Save for the performance on pants, I otherwise really miss those Bosch machines.

I'm intrigued by the prospect of Miele 8 Kg machines, and am certainly not in enough of a rush that I can't wait for them.

Also, apologies for replying to this in the Imperial forum. I know it belongs in Deluxe.

 

[peterh770]

Maybe Endora can merge this thread with the Deluxe one... I replied over there.

 

[utjj99]

I hardly have to use my dryer at all

I have both a Whirlpool duet and a Bosch Axxis washer and to tell you the truth I hardly use my dryer that much at all. I have an old 70's Maytag Halo of Heat electric dryer and it hardly has to run 10 minutes before it dings that the cloths are dry. Most of the time I can take things right from the washer to the press or to the hanger. Hope that helps.