Miele W1 WKF120 - Any tips?

[iej]

I splashed out and picked up a new Miele W1 WKF120. It's the 8kg version without the automatic dosing system. I didn't see the need to spend all that extra cash and I find Persil or Ariel more than capable of cleaning. My Bosch Heat pump dryer only handles 8kg anyway so it's a good pairing.

So far, it seems absolutely excellent. It's done a few loads of towels (previous Samsung eco bubble died horribly).

The Miele is really very quiet. You'd hardly know it's running even at 1600rpm.

The wash actions are very different especially the powerwash cycle.

I've set the rinse levels to default to much higher though as that's how I prefer it and at present water isn't metered at my house. I may reconsider that when I get metered (likely to happen soon).

Any advice or tips on using it ?

 

[logixx]

Check with Miele for software updates - there have been many.

 

The guys on the German forum say that Cottons + Intensive + Short is a very good alternative to QuickPowerWash, as it is still fast but does a much better job rinsing the clothes.

 

[henene4]

Congratulations!
Tips? Well, its a Miele. Keep the filters clean, run a 95°C cycle from time to time with some citric acid. USE all the cycles. Every cycle has its own function, so, it really makes sense to use them. Everything else will be handeld by the machine.
I guess yours has the ProgramManager? Keep in mind: The AlergoWash and Extra Delicate Option both include a steaming phase. So Extra Delicate is more like a Crease Care cycle.
Question: Does the Intensive option on the ProgrammManager add any time? And if so, how much? And can you combine it with Short?

 

[iej]

I have to give them a ring on Monday to register it for the extended warranty so o might ask them if there's been any updates.

 

[iej]

I use the odd 95°C cycle with a load of white towels. I've never had any issue in any machine I've ever used over the years with mould and I'm not expecting any with this either

Do they routinely contact about new software or do you need to contact them?

 

[Marky_Mark]

I have the WKH120 WPS and the matching dryer: TKG440 WP.

I like them both. I have recently moved from the UK to Spain. There is no vent in my laundry room here in Spain and I was very apprehensive about getting a condenser dryer. I viewed the washer and dryer at the Miele Experience centre in the UK and I was impressed.

The washing machine came with the Miele UltraPhase detergent system. Once I had used it up, I didn't buy any more. They seemed to work fine but would sometimes oversuds. I now fill one of the containers with liquid detergent for colours and I fill the other with fabric conditioner. I see that you have chosen to buy the model without this system. I would be quite happy not to have it. I guess it is slightly easier to just press a button when you want to add fabric conditioner, but it's neither here nor there really to me.

Like you, I have set it to use maximum water for rinsing. I don't use the QuickPowerWash as it only does one rinse with a low water level. I would agree that it's better to use Cotton + Short + either Intensive or Water Plus for a fantastic powerful wash with two high-level rinses in 59 minutes. Or 66 minutes with 3 rinses (max temp 50 degrees otherwise cycle time is longer).

I don't have any complaints about the washing machine. I understand all the cycles and I think it does a great job. I have not yet contacted Miele about any software updates to the washing machine. However I have contacted them about the dryer. The heatpump dryer does a fantastic job of drying and I do not feel the need to go back to a vented dryer. It dries surprisingly quickly and doesn't get the clothes too hot (unlike a condenser). It also gives out very little heat to the room (unlike a condenser). However it does ball bedding quite badly. In fact I have had a Bosch vented dryer that didn't have a reverse tumble and it didn't ball bedding all that often. Whereas the Miele balls bedding almost all the time. Miele told me that they are aware of the issue and a software update is due out soon.

 

[iej]

I'm thinking of replacing our Bosch condenser heatpump with a Miele vented dryer.

We have all the ducting in place and only really went with the Bosch for energy saving reasons.

Can't say I'm very impressed with it tbh.

I really couldn't see the point of auto dispensing unless maybe if the machine was in a self-catering apartment complex or something like that.

In a residential setup it's not really much of an advabtage and the commercially available laundry products are generally excellent anyway. I've never had any issue with P&G and Unilever products.

 

[BoschExxcel]

Sorry no tips, but would love to see some pics!

I have a Bowch condenser dryer, and it's a great machine! I wish it would reverse though.

 

[iej]

Pic

Here's what the Miele and Bosh machines look like as a pair.

Apologies about the off-focus pic, my phone seems to have some kind of a lens issue!

Also the metal door on the Miele machine is extremely shiny which is why it looks weird, that's a reflection on the door, not dirt.
There's a window facing the machines, so it's actually very bright and the light's bouncing off the chrome. So it's a bit like trying to take a pic of a mirror lol

That's my laundry room / utility room btw.

The look good, but the only annoying bit is that the doors both open the same direction.

If I had a Miele dryer they'd open opposite ways so it makes it easier to transfer the clothes and the Bosch door cannot be reversed.

http://Here's the pair

 

[glenfieldmathk1]

Great Machine...Tips..

I think you can reverse the dryer doors on Bosch. That way you'd have a true unload, and reload without the need for having to use a basket, or dropping items on floor while passing from one unit, past the door to the next?

Write to Miele about your Powerwash experience, and tell them your not happy it gives only 1 rinse. If enough people write, something will get done.

 

[iej]

Unfortunately the EcoLogixx dryer doesn't seem to have the option of reversing the door. The hinge is on the right and that's it. There are no holes to mount it on the left.

 

[logixx]

At some point in time, there was an update for the QuickPowerWash cycle involving two rinses - I even have a manual downloaded where it says two rinses on QPW.

 

[BoschExxcel]

Thanks for sharing! They look really nice, it would look better with matching machines though.

Bosch dryers are good, I love my bosch Black Edition dryer! (It's like yours but black and doesn't have a heat pump)

 

[iej]

When I have time I'll check and count the rinses, at the moment I don't have time to do that.
If it's just one, I'll give them a call and see if they can do a software update.

@BoschExxcel - Yeah, a matching set would be a little nicer looking, but the Bosch will have to suffice for the time being.

I might look at a T1 if I can find a new home for the Bosch at some stage in the future.

Although, I'm almost tempted to put in a Miele vented dryer again as they're just so fast and gentle.

I'd like to see a like-for-like comparison of running costs between the T1 perhaps TKG 440 WP and T 8722

Given the drying time difference, I wonder if the energy savings are THAT big.

Miele claim 496 kWh annual consumption for the vented model and 287kWh for the heat pump T1.

How is that annual consumption calculated?

I mean, 209kWh isn't going to break the bank to be quite honest at about 10.7 cent off peak and 17 cent peak.

I'm guessing they're calculating at about 160 cotton cycles per year i.e. roughly one full dry cycle every 2 days?
Would seem about right based on the vented model anyway which comes in at about 3.** kWh per cycle.[this post was last edited: 9/30/2014-17:02]

 

[iej]

@henene4 - Good tips, but the water here is extremely soft, so I don't really have to worry about limescale at all. Never have to descale anything - kettle, coffee maker, steam generator iron, they all stay perfectly ok.

 

[iej]

I only just realised that there are two cottons 40º and 60º cycles which are oddly enough selected via the temperature control menu

So you've:

Cold, 20°, 30°, 40°, <40°|, 50°, 60°, <60°|, 75° and 90°

The washes in the symbols seem to be extended by an hour!

 

[henene4]

The extended once are the Eco cycles.
40° is usually a cycle with 3 rinses and the main wash temp is 40° held for at least 10 minutes.
The Eco 40° (the long one) heats only once to ~35° after an half to an hour long cold wash period and rinses only twice.
The shorter 60° wash rinses twice and keeps 60° for at least 10 minutes.
The long 60° is quite simmilar to the long 40° cycle, except it heats to about 45 to 50° only.
All data is average and based on the old line of washers. I got this data during my work placement at MediaMark from a Miele selling agent.

 

[northernmary]

Wkf120

Hello,
I’ve had myWKF120 machine since June 2014 and it’s handled and washed everything perfectly with minimal fuss. I’ve set my machine to ask the soil level every time you close the door and proceed to select temperature and spin speed. I select light soil which brings the wash times down and to be honest haven’t noticed any decrease in wash performance and everything emerges from the machine spotless. One thing I have noticed I have to use less detergent now don’t know if it’s down to the jet using the wash liquor more effectively or the powerwash programming I’ve ended up with suds lock a few times but that’s with the specified dose for soft water with powder/liquid so I’ve cut back a bit and no further problems. I’ve had the machine updated with so the powerwash cycle now does two rinses not just one I’ve used it a few times but I’ve always used cottons with short selected if am in a rush which is rare. I don’t have the matching T1 Dryer but I have a Miele T8822c tumble which I won’t be replacing any time soon as it has 10 year warranty like the washer. I know some people aren’t keen on the W1’s but from having a miele W5740 it’s a vast improvement having used both machines the programming of the machine is more finely tuned and the machine has been designed from the ground up not just enlarging the wash tub and placing it in a 60cm cabinet. The local engineer has said the machines have been redesigned from the ground up and have been based on (little giants) and the designers have designed it from scratch improved suspension, the machine is serviced now from the back, bigger tub, improved programming, powerwash technology ect. I just love my W1 Wkf120 its going to remain in my kitchen for years to come!!! I’m very pleased with it ! I use the standard cottons cycle’s I haven’t seen the need to use the cottons eco programmes

Northernmary

 

[logixx]

The local engineer has said the machines have been redesigned from the ground up

 

That's what Miele said as well - the only part that remained unchanged are the feet.