Miele W1215's Premiere Washload

[pulsator]

FINALLY!!! The day has come (and by now gone.) My dad and I got the wiring hooked up to the Miele earlier this afternoon, however I had to go out for thr evening with my dads as a late father's day type thing. But when I got home, I decided to do a nice big colorful load of towels for my Miele's first load ever! I got 6 of my best towels into it and let her go! Here she is all lit up and ready for action!

 

[pulsator]

The dispenser tray loaded with Tide HE powder, Downy and of course, some wonderful STPP!

 

[pulsator]

All loaded up!

 

[pulsator]

Press start!

 

[pulsator]

And away we go!

 

[pulsator]

Spinin away

 

[pulsator]

And finally, the finished soft and fluffy load! (As you can see, I couldn't wait to do a boil wash!)

 

[ultramatic52]

Thank you for the pictures!!!

They are great, and your machine is beautiful!!! Congratulations!!!

 

[launderess]

Excellent! Well Done!

A few pointers from another Miele owner?

You can use 1 tablespoon or less of Tide HE if you are using STPP. The stuff is very concentrated on it's own and STPP lessens the need for high dosage by half.

To really see what a Miele can do, especially with really grungy/badly stained whites, try some Persil or other European/UK front load detergent. All are designed for long washes and even boil washing (temps above 160F)

Don't know what kind of water you have, but it probably is no where near as hard as what they've got over on the other side of the pond. Still it does not hurt to run a "descale" wash every few months or so to keep the heating elements/wash tubs free of crud. Hard water deposits are the main cause of heating element failures.

Despite what the manual states about cleaning the "lint trap" often, I've never found anything in there worth bothering about. On average one will open the thing up once ever quarter or so and see what is what. Again aside from the odd shirt collar stay, nothing really comes up down there. Then again am very careful about making sure pockets are empty and such before chucking things into the wash.

Am sure you have heard this advice already, but try to leave the washer door open between uses. It really does help keep the washer "fresh" inside.

For your maiden boil wash, may one humbly suggest the most "stank" items you can find. Your Miele with the proper detergent is more than up for the challenge. Don't know if your washer goes up to 200F like mine, but don't be shocked if you hear bubbling sounds coming from the washer as the temperature rises. That is just the water "boiling"! *LOL*

Best of luck with your new baby!

L.

 

[pulsator]

The clothes I used for the boil wash weren't stinky really, they were just stained! The load consisted of about 10 washcloths that were grossly dingy, and 2 t-shirts that had bad sweat stains in the pits! Everything came out better than I expected, those stains had been there for over a year and still the Miele managed to get rid of them! The load came out brilliantly white and I can't wait to do more! according to the manual, my Miele will heat to 203 degrees F. However, I thought that machines would usually fill with more cold water near the end of such a high temp wash? I thought Robert's Asko did that when I saw it run, but it was a long time ago and I don't really remember... Kinda worries me to dump near boiling water down the drain, I know it shouldn't really, I do it in the kitchen all the time, but still...

I'll keep in mind the Tide usage, although I saw near no sudsing at all in the load I've done so far, and I'm just so used to having suds!

 

[mielabor]

Dispenser tray

There is a lot of talking going on in this forum about chlorine vs oxygen bleach. From this I understood that European washing machines destined for the US market have an extra provision for dispensing chlorine bleach. When I look at the dispenser tray it looks exactly the same as the one in European machines. So where is the chlorine dispenser?

 

[launderess]

My Miele fills with cold water at the end of the wash cycle (fills to the default rinse level, which is the same as "Delicates") for the cotton cycle. After a bit the water will be drained and the series of rinses will begin. On the Permanent Press cycle, the washer will add cold water as above, but drain down abit, then add more cold water, etc. This goes on several times then until the timer advances over to the first rinse.

Purpose of cooling the water in PP cycles, was to prevent wrinkling and creases, especially of man made fibers. However the machine will do this even if the water temperature selected was warm or cold or even tap cold, where there really isn't any need.

Cooling water in the cottons cycle is also to prevent creases, especially when using the boiling hot water temperatures of 160F and above.

Boilng water won't hurt your plumbing, in fact may help clear out biofilm, grease and muck as the hot water/detergent combination makes their way down. Copper and cast iron pipes can take water temperatures in excess of 200F. Not sure about PVC, but think it must belong the same lines.

Back to the Miele.

Am surprised that the washer does not add cold water towards the end of uber hot cycles. Not that you want to start messing with your new machine, but peek over on the other Miele thread where a member tells of how he "adjusted" his Miele washer to suit his tastes. Can only assume in yet another attempt to meet US government mandates about water/energy use, certian changes have been made.

If you really want to see what a boil wash can do, add 1-2 tablespoons of oxygen bleach such as Ecover. TideHE does not contain oxygen bleach, however Persil does. Nothing smells fresher than whites/lights boil washed in oxygen bleach!

L.

 

[eddy1210]

programmable options

Hi Jamie, your machine should have many programmable options such as cooling the suds after the main wash, raising the rinse water level, setting the child lock etc. I found out recently that I could program my Miele W1986 to do all these things and more! Check out the manual or if it's not in there (like in my case) call Miele US and ask tech support.
Congratulations on your beautiful Miele.
Eddy

 

[askomiele]

Dum question: what's STTP:$

 

[newwave1]

Hi Pulsator,
I really love the look of your miele! The stainless steel is a beautiful look! I also really liked the look of that towel load you did! Nice and bright! Any chance of seeing a close up picture of it rinsing?

Congrats on your new machine! I hope you have many fun washes with it!

Darren

 

[foraloysius]

Theo,

Only the new Mega Mieles (W4800 and W4840) have the bleach dispenser. This machine is actually based on the Miele Little Giant series and is a bit of a dumbed down European machine. I would prefer this one though over the Mega Mieles that run on 110 Volts.

 

[foraloysius]

And Jamie...

Thank you very much for the pictures. Many happy years of Miele washing!!

 

[lavamat78800]

Here is the link of the german version of your machine, Jamie!
But i love yours much more.
Have fun with it.

http://miele.de/media/haushalt/product/images/d_20000039253.jpg

 

[pulsator]

Well, I've learned so far there a parts that I love about this machine, and parts I hate, but mostly parts I love! I thinkit does an amazing job cleaning and it's so very gentle with everything! I love the noises it makes too! Nothing like a quiet jet plane taking off in the basement!

The Good:
-BOIL WASH
-gentle
-quiet
-efficient
-JET PLANE
-flexible
-chidlock (requires a passcode to open the door and to get the machine to respnd in any way at all!)
-drum light
-chrome
-stainless

The Bad:
-only rinses twice (unless the sensitive option is selected, then it will add a rinse, but not raise the water level.)
-the rinses are at the same water level as the wash
-the softener dispenser does not get cleaned out very well, there ia a lot of fabric softener left over that I have taken to pouring in a few cup of water til it gets cleaned out
-it won't fill from just cold water and heat from there, gives an intake error
-usually doesn't reach the full 1600 RPM

Most of these things I'm sure have been changed to meet US water and energy usage standards and I'm sure I can change them back to European settings somehow...

STPP is sodium tripolyphosphate, found in detergents most everywhere except the US.

 

[askomiele]

Hey
-strange normally it really has to raise the waterlevel in the rinse cycle... maybe extra programable option.. That's there new rinse cycle is 2 long rinses on a high water level if you use cold-medium temperature there are 3 rinses...

-doesn't fill only cold? again strange??? maybe you have to switch the machine buy pressing a code or so

-does not reach the full 1600??? That's veeeeeeeeeery strange post a video maybe there's someting wrong or so... or maybe not and it's so quite...

Please keep us posted... Really lik you machine but don't have te money...

 

[askomiele]

Hey
-strange normally it really has to raise the waterlevel in the rinse cycle... maybe extra programable option.. That's there new rinse cycle is 2 long rinses on a high water level if you use cold-medium temperature there are 3 rinses...

-doesn't fill only cold? again strange??? maybe you have to switch the machine buy pressing a code or so

-does not reach the full 1600??? That's veeeeeeeeeery strange post a video maybe there's someting wrong or so... or maybe not and it's so quite...

Please keep us posted... Really lik you machine!!!

 

[brisnat81]

Hi Jamie,

I've got a 2515 which has a similiar control panel, but is the 5.5kg model.

Most of the bads you talk about are programmable options. I'll email you the user manual for the 2515, or you can ring Miele, whichever you are more comfortable with.

The Cooldown above 70degC is a programmable feature, the 2515 manual states, that it is only necessary for plumbing that doesnt meet Australian and British standards from 1974, otherwise its not required.

The rinse levels/options are programmable and can make the following changes when sensitive is pressed:
option 1: Add an additional rinse
option 2: Raise the water level in the wash and 2 rinses
option 2: Add an additional rinse and raise the water level.
I've got both my machines programmed to just add the extra rinse, and I find the 3 low level rinses do an adequate job. I've just switched back to two low level rinses due to water restrictions here, and the rinsing is still reasonable. Depending on the absorbancy of the fabric, the machine measures the time it takes for the load to cool down after wash, and if it cant cool down within a fixed period of time, it adds another rinse. Also if you spin below 600Rpm and add Sensitive, it should acheive a 4th rinse.

With the softener draining, check that your syphon tube is correctly installed as per the manual. It is normal however for a puddle of water to remain in the bottom. I've had mine for 2 years now, and I dont bother about leaving the dispensor drawer open after the cycle, only the washer door, and I'm yet to have any mould problems. I dont even wipe the boot heaven forbrid

To set a hot and cold fill machine (Like my 2888) to cold fill only, Miele need to come onsite with their computer and program the functionality in. The the change to the hot and cold fill is a service only programmable feature. After having had a cold fill 2515 for 18 months, and getting a hot & cold fill 2888, I'm yet to see any performance difference, only a decrease in cycle times.

With the 1600RPM spin, my 2515 only hits its max of 1400 in the final two minutes of spin. My 2888 only hits 1800RPM in the final 2 minutes of spin. Otherwise the other 6 minutes or so, should be at about 1000-1200.

Let me know if you'd like any more information.

Regards

Nathan

 

[foraloysius]

Askomiele,

The American machines are somewhat different than the European models. They don't have as much preprogrammable options as the European models, at least preprogrammable by the owner. It might just be that Jamie might have to contact Miele. Have a look at the manuals at the American Miele website. You will see that there aren't as much options as on the European models. I think the lower water levels are a default setting that can't be changed, at least not through normal procedures. I bet there are possibilities to change it, but that will probably have to be done by a Miele technician.

Another thing is that these Mieles are connected to hot and cold water, they fill with a somewhat lower temperature than the temperature that is selected IIRC. It's the same system as the Miele Allwater has.

 

[askomiele]

Oke right forgot about that... this is an american machine your right foraloysius... uhu but with a service call maybe you should get all problems solved maybe even without an intervention...

 

[mielabor]

Bleach dispenser

Foraloysius,

Based upon your information I have downloaded the manual for the Miele W4840 and now I see how it works with bleach. I wonder if there are other adaptations in the mechanical construction as the manual of my late Miele washing machine specifically warned against the use of chlorine based products because they could harm the machine.

I also prefer the more classic design of this machine over the Mega Mieles.

 

[launderess]

On the 4000 series Miele washers,the outer tubs are a type of fiberglass, not stainless steel. The warranty on the tubs are not the same as for previous Miele washers IIRC, could be wrong.

L.

 

[lavamat78800]

Jamie, didn´t you have to do a first cycle without any clothes?

 

[platinum6]

I bet you're enjoying using your new Miele, that load of towels you did looked very colourful and they came out nice and clean too!

What do you think of it's special Honeycomb Drum? It looks nice doesn't it? Here's a couple of advantages. It really cares for your clothes and it doesn't leave a hole pattern on the laundry after spinning which of course is a good thing!

Do you know what I do with mine? Well, I deliberately raise the water level myself by pouring a few litres (Sometimes More.) through the dispensing draw until the level is very high! It may mean more water but it does give better washing and rinsing results though! Maybe you can do that if you're not happy with the normal level of water in the machine.

Just a little bit of advice from me!

Keep on washing!

 

[lavamat_jon]

Jamie - neat machine!

I have to say that your list of cons is similar to mine, though ours offers the programmable functions to get over those issues.

I often just use the standard default 2 low level rinses and it's actually amazing how well it rinses laundry with so little water, yes it's boring but does such a great job that for a lot of the "set and leave it" loads that we do as a family that I only really use the extra rinse/extra water if I want washday fun, not necessarily for better rinsing performance! (Ask me a year ago and I'd have said different, but having used the standard rinsing for months now I'm more than happy to not press the extra rinse and water plus buttons!).

To solve your hot water issue - have you tried connecting a y-piece to the plumbing? That would solve the "errors" you'd get - I know they have this as a possible installation in the US manuals so yous hould be able to get it to profile heat up from cold.

Enjoy the machine! I'm sure you'd come to love it, if not already. I swear by mine, and will never be without one .

Jon

 

[westtexman]

Launderess . . .

When you mention your Miele, are you talking about your solid-door model with the automatic timer? Do you also have a W1986, or was I dreaming this?

Bryan