Miele Twindos & Ultraphase 1 / 2 almost a year on.

[iej]

I thought I would just start a thread on the TwinDos Miele machines and their Ultraphase detergents.

I’ve been using the system for approximately a year at this stage an I have to say I am very satisfied with it. The detergent packs are working out as *cheaper* than typical top of the line stuff here in Ireland and they are really doing the job.

Each pack works out at €12.99, or slightly less if you buy them in kits of 5. That’s actually significantly cheaper than Ariel and Persil here and it’s very effective and convenient.

My laundry room is spotless since I switched over!

I’ve tried other detergents and the main thing I’m finding with Ultraphase is the clothes smell fantastic. It’s an old fashioned, very mild detergent smell that is extremely pleasant and smells clean. There’s no overpowering highly synthetic scents like Unilever Persil or P&G Ariel. It’s just a subtle and very classic old detergent scent, at least to my nose.

I’m finding my whites come out great, the machine is staying completely mold and gunk free and, because it’s a component detergent with separate peroxide bleach and optical brightening agents in the Ultraphase 2 cartridge, my jeans and dark coloured clothes are lasting way longer and look fantastic.

I tried using Persil liquid instead and I immediately noticed significant pilling and the clothes were kind unpleasant feeling and the scent was just overpowering.

I’ve also tried Ariel liquid and their capsules which are the same 3 capsule system Tide uses and the results were similarly not quite as good and you could clearly see the OBA impact on dark clothes .

Miele’s “pod system” which is like a giant Nespresso pod full of specialist detergent is however a total gimmick and a huge waste of plastic. Their wool detergent is amazing stuff though and much better than Woolite. I just buy the big jug of it.

I also did not like the Miele T2 scent flacons for the dryer. They’re totally overpowering but, I guess there are people who like to smell like a car air freshener exploded on them.

Also sorry Miele, but your fabric softener is vile. It’s like a cheap smelling old “comfort blue” softener from the 1980s

Unilever Comfort Pure is FAR nicer.

I’m just curious about other people’s experience with these machines and their optional detergent system. [this post was last edited: 5/28/2018-13:26]

 

[perc-o-prince]

They were "launched" here in the States a month or 2 ago and so far have been well-received. I've had them down to nearly their last screw and they're not that bad for service, all things considered. One of our supervisors bought a set as soon as he was able, and is sorry he bought the BOL and not a dosing model.

I also like that the capacity is back to what the SLC machines would handle, without the footprint!

I must say that I'm not a huge fan of screwing the stacking kit into the lid, but there must be some advantage or Miele wouldn't do it!

I just wish they offered an unscented detergent. Maybe down the road. I too, James, am not a fan of the single use capsules nor the scent flacons.

Chuck

 

[launderess]

Probably one of the better post release reviews:

https://blog.designerappliances.com/miele-w1-washer-t1-dryer-review/

Neither need nor want a new washer or dryer for the duration, so can't say will be buying either. However should something pop up cheaply on CL or wherever who knows?

Will be keen to hear real world reviews of the T1 dryer from Americans.

 

[iej]

Without the fragrance pods, the dryer is pretty good. It's a lot more gentle on fabrics than anything I've used previously (including a Bosch heat pump). I'd say if you're use to a dryer that really heavily heats things, you might find it a bit hard to get used to.

Basically, your clothes will be taken up to about 40ºC at most on a typical cycle but it really dries quite effectively. For example, I put in a huge load of towels, they took a couple of hours, but you have to factor in the very low energy use.

You clothes will absolutely never come out so hot that you can't touch them, nor will anything ever scorch. It's simply not possible.

My electricity bill has gone *WAY* down since I've switched from a vented dryer.

For smaller loads with lighter fabrics, the speeds are pretty good. The main thing I'm noticing is that my clothes are most definitely lasting a lot longer, they're not shrinking at all, I can safely dry shirts in it without worrying, my t-shirts no longer shrink at all etc..

Items generally don't wrinkle at all in it either, unless you jam it stuffed full which is probably not a very effective way of drying anything anyway.

The steam function works very well too, although it's more of a mist of water and tumble approach, but it has a very impressive impact on things like shirts.

I also *love* the simplicity of the Miele approach to keeping the condenser system fluff free - a very effective 3-stage filtering system.

You've two filters on the door, similar to what you'd find in an average dryer and then over the intake into the heat exchanger, there's a mesh/foam filter that's about 1.5cm thick. It's a multi-layer filter similar to what you'd find in a vacuum cleaner, and it's hand washable to clean.

BSH machines use a convoluted system of backwashing the condenser with condensate, which I've never found works very well. Miele just keep dust out of the condenser in the first place.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Thanks for the concise explanation of the machines. I'm more tempted now to consider a heatpump machine - but Bosch's versions do seem to be awkward and troublesome.

Does this Miele dryer do reverse tumbling, or does it go in one direction only?

 

[iej]

It reverses - Miele would hardly forget that

 

[saj6952]

I've just finished a 6 month supply of TwinDos...

Which I got as a promotion when I bought a new Miele washing machine last October. Whilst I couldn't fault its cleaning performance, the TwinDos system itself seems to require more intervention than I'd expected to cater for different loads. I also found that laundry washed in this stuff on low temperature programmes developed an unpleasant odour when the laundry was dry. I've given the TwinDos system a try with my usual liquid detergent & fabric conditioner as well by using the refillable containers which was ok apart from the residue that was left in the TwinDos compartment.

I've shelved the idea of using the TwinDos at the moment and gone back to my usual brand of detergent and indeed have resumed dispensing it the old fashioned way. Which has led to me concluding that despite the my 50/50 reservations over the TwinDos system, the machine itself is an excellent performer. Even if it is isn't quite as refined in its operation as my Miele machine from a decade or so ago.

 

[rolls_rapide]

@iej:
Ta! Lol

@saj6952:
In my experience, liquid detergents, low temperatures and fabric conditioners are poor companions. Sooner or later, strange sour smells do develop.

You can get away with low temperatures and standard powder detergents; they are chemically more active, and the built in oxygen bleach has a sanitising effect.

One of the German consumer magazines recommended washing in a standard powder, should odours be detected when using non-bleach detergents (i.e. 'Colour', liquids, gels, pods, gems).

 

[iej]

I definitely haven’t experienced any unpleasant of odours.

I tend to do most of clothes on Cottons ar 40°C, with Short and Water Plus selected. It takes about 1h17min and I use Comfort Pure which is a mildly scented alergy friendly conditioner.

Towels go in at 75°C

It requires some intervention in the sense it asks : the soil level and whether you’re waging colored or white clothes.

Also you can wash colourfast, light colors with the white option. It’s only peroxide and OBAs, much like normal powder detergents are.

 

[ranny]

clothing stench, condenser dryer

A little late to this thread in 2020, but found it because I've just started using the Miele twindos washer with 'power wash' (top of the range) and the condenser dryer. I whole hardheartedly agree that those softener pods that go in the dryer have a vile smell. And I have experienced some issues with heavier items of clothing developing a slight, but noticeable stench that I never had with my old, American front loaders. By setting the dryer to max dry setting, it's not as bad, but the whole process seems fussier than the old machines and I'm giving serious consideration to returning them. On the plus side, the washer is very quiet - none of that noisy, buzzing drain pump from the conventional American style machines. And twindos is convenient. It's surprisingly nice to just put the cloths in and go without having to fuss with detergent.

Anyone else having any problems with clothing stench when using a condenser dryer?

 

[iej]

I’ve never experienced a bad odour. Just make sure that if it’s a very heavy item with padding that you use Extra Dry or a timed cycle. The heat pump can’t really burn or scorch clothes so, you’re safe to just set a long cycle. It’s not really a brute force of heat system so the same precautions don’t really apply.

Miele’s sensor system always used the full surface of the drum. It’s possibly stopping while the inner layers of the heavy item aren’t fully dry?

You may also not be dosing enough detergent for your water type.

 

[gdc]

Miele Wash/dry Cheese smell on clothes after

We switches to a new Miele TwinDos washer and condensing dryer- clothes come out smelling fine but after a week or so they develop a foul "cheese/ vomit" smell- doesnlt matter whites/ darks/ hot/ warm- anyone else?

 

[perc-o-prince]

after a week or so they develop a foul "cheese/ vomit&#

Interesting! I typically hang my clothes in the boiler room after drying them and putting them on hangers. Rich noticed a kind of "old" smell to the clothes when I'd wear them- like the heat of my body was activating it- we attributed it to some clothes being in the boiler room longer than others. I haven't noticed it much lately though.

 

We'll definitely be keeping an eye on this! And, I'm forwarding it to a friend who's still at Miele.

 

Chuck

 

[rolls_rapide]

Odours in laundry

Link below downloads a PDF.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/11/1709/pdf

 

[iej]

Haven’t had any issues - I use the sensitive version.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Well, we've narrowed down that "smell" to the clothes that have been hanging in the boiler room too long; they're the only ones that get it. If I hang clothes in there for a day or three to finish the dry, they're fine.

 

One thing I've noticed is that you need to very carefully monitor your detergent use when not using TwinDos (I have the BOL unit that doesn't offer it because I got it for a song when the local Miele showroom closed). We use All Free & Clear liquid and get about 6 months out of a 32 load bottle because we have to use so little. The clothes come out smelling clean and not of anything else. If a bit too much is used, there are suds still in the final rinse and you can see traces of them in the final spin! I'm talking about 1/2 teaspoon, about 3-4ml. per "normal" load!

 

Also, if you do use chlorine bleach, you have to tell the washer in setup that you want the chlorine bleach feature on, or it won't disperse the bleach at the correct time, if at all.

 

And, don't forget that there's a setting on the dryer for bed linens! If you use any other cycle the fitted sheet will swallow up everything else and you'll have a damp tangled mess! I learned the hard way. Once again, German over-engineering, but if you know about it you appreciate it!

 

 

Chuck