Miele washer, spin-only cycle

[gump]

Hi,

Last year I replaced my workhorse W1070 washer (20+ years of excellent service) with one of the last of the US 220V models - a 5Kg model, the W1113. For reference, this is in the same family as the following Miele models:

W1113 5 Kg Angled Controls
W1119 5 Kg Flat Controls Full Décor Panel
W1203 6 Kg Flat (No delay washing control)
W1213 6 Kg Angled Controls, white front
W1215 6 Kg Angled Controls, Stainless Steel front

They had a warehouse sale and I was able to get it on sale too!

Since I was replacing the same size washer with the same voltage, I didn't have any remodelling work.

I love the following :
+ delayed washing cycle (to take advantage of lower cost washing times)
+ the honeycomb drum (but which is quite a bit thinner than the old drum)
+ the near boiling wash cycle (just like the old one)
+ the choice of *not* having a pre-wash cycle (b/c how often are clothes *that* dirty)
+ fewer rinse cycle (the W1070 was close to abusing water since it had so many high rinse cycles)

but I hate the following :
- build quality has gone down (the W1070 was a tank, this a SUV)
- lack of a spin-only cycle.

I have young boys with 'dry at night' issues (you know what I mean), so we have a few mattress covers with water-proof layers. When I wash them, some water gets 'trapped' within the centre of the mattress cover so that some parts of the cover are absolutely soaking when I remove it. Needless to say, I would like to be able to put the mattress cover in the washer again (with the water-proof side to the inside so that the water can escape) and put it on a spin-only cycle levels.

But I can't choose that option which is baffling to me.

I got my hands on a Miele Programming Manual where I can program the washer (by holding down the Start/Stop button at the same time I turn it on), but it doesn't give me the option of spin-only.

Any help out there for the Miele Touchtronic washers?

 

[brummybear]

LG

Hi there, The LG had no separate spin cycle either. I asked the engineer ( on one of his many visits) why it dose not have a separate spin cycle. It has he said! Just switch on the machine and turn the spin speed selector and there you go spin only.

Its not in the instruction book any where. Don't know if its the same but its worth a thought.

 

[pulsator]

There is a hidden spin-only cycle. I have the W1215 and have used that many times. There is a special button sequence you need to use and you have to babysit it. (It doesn't make an attempt to balance, it just tumbles, distributes, then takes off and will spin at full speed until you shut the machine off.) It's useful if you need to spin out something quickly.

 

I'll have to see if I can find the button sequence again so I can post it for you.

 

[pierreandreply4]

why pay for a 220 volt washer wich consumes more electricety

why pay for a 220 volt washer that consumes more in term of electricety when a 120 volt washer with the same cycle and options can do the same job as a 220?

 

[pulsator]

It consumer no more or less energy. You would still have to pay to heat the water in your water heater, it makes more sense to heat it right in the machine. That way you don't have to bleed the hot water lines or get a cooler wash due to the hot water cooling as it travels through the pipes.

 

[launderess]

Have Been Looking For A "Modern" But Yet "Older&

As well to take the work load off Big Bertha, but quickly crossed the 1100 and 1200 series off my lists. Mainly for the reasons you yourself have discovered; lack of a separate rinse and or spin only cycles.

For reasons known only to Miele those cycles were removed after the 1900 series on washers sent to North America, only to return with the 3000 and 4000 models.

Because the 1100 and 1200 models are purely electronic models one cannot even stop the machine and return to the rinse/spin cycles or some such work around. Yes, IIRC there is a way to do a "spin" cycle on these units from what one remembers nosing through the technical/service manual, but the process is just that. Machine does not perform any sort of distribution tumbles to balance the load but gets right on with things. While that *may* get whatever spun dry it could also lead to tub damage in the case of a very unbalanced load I shouldn't wonder.

As you well may remember the 1070 and 1065 series allowed one to skip the "pre-wash" cycle by using "Short" for Cottons, Permanent Press and Delicates.

Rinsing/water usage:

Most all European/UK front loaders from the same vintage as the Miele W1070/W1065 used lots of water for washing but in particular rinsing. At least ten gallons per rinse and there were often four, five or more.

Reason behind this is that without modern electronics these machines simply could not cope with spinning a wash load that would produce froth. Hence all those rinses (usually about two or three) before the washer would even attempt a partial or full spin. The owner's manual for mine suggests loading the washer slightly less than capacity for "absorbent" loads such as terry towels. Again this is due to the machine simply not being able to cope with too much froth at early spins. All these machines of that ilk will do is slow down the speed to protect the pump and perhaps motor, but they do not extend the spin cycle. This means once the timer is told to advance into the next rinse it will do so regardless if all the soapy water from the previous load was spun/drained away.

 

[gump]

Hi all,

Thanks for your help, but I spent a couple hours trying to figure it and I think I got it!
I ran into a big potential problem when somehow I got into Programming Mode and accidently turned off the Display! Of all the things I could have screwed up, I did the 1 thing that could really make me call the Miele repair guy in! Fortunately, I went back into Programming Mode and was able to turn the Display back on.

I then figured out the Service/Test Mode. I've written all the steps down below. Although it seems complicated, it really isn't, it is just I'm a little OCD with instructions.

Miele W1113 Washer : spin-only cycle

0. Put the item to be spun in the washing machine.
1. Machine is off (On/Off button is 'up', Display is dark/off) for several seconds.
• once you begin the access procedure, it must be completed within 10 seconds.
2. Press and hold down the Start/Stop button.
3. Press the On/Off button and release.
4. Hold down the Start/Stop button for another 2 seconds and release. A smalls yellow dot shows in the Display.
5. Quickly press the Start/Stop button 2 times, then press and hold the Start/Stop button a 3rd time.
Hold down the Start/Stop button (~4 seconds?) until the Start/Stop LED indicator turns flashing green.
• if you don't do step 5 quickly after step 4, the washer will revert to normal operating mode.
• this puts the washer in "Service Mode"
6. The Buzzer LED will be blinking 2× (short flash).
7. Press the Buzzer button until flashing U then flashing 0 (i.e. U0) in the Display.
• normally you have to press the Buzzer button 2×.
• the 1st press will give you flashing F then flashing 0 (i.e. F0) in the Display.
• this puts the washer in "Component Test" mode.
8. Press the Start/Stop button 7×.
• under STATUS, the Soak LED will blink 7×
• this is the "Drainage and spin drive" selection.
9. Press the SPIN button until desired speed.
• 1 = Max
• 2 = High
• 3 = Med
• 4 = Low
• 5 = Slow
• 6 = No Spin
10. Press the Start/Stop button to return the washer to normal mode.

It is great to have this option. I don't need the spin-only cycle that often, but it is here to avoid the soaking wet situations.

 

[gump]

Further to your comments:

The reason I wanted a 220V machine was that my washer/dryer combo is on the 2nd floor (very convenient to be able to iron in the bright sunlight). When the previous owners wired the laundry room, they only wired for 220V. Therefore I don't have a 120V circuit handy so I wanted a direct replacement for the old Miele.

Another neat thing I found with the Service Mode is it has a reading of how many hours the machine has been in operation. I'm at H281 since September, or approximately 1.5 loads a day (young kids...).
I sure wish I could have known the number of cycles on my 23 years old W1070!

Questions :

1. What detergent do you use? Right now we use the Tide powder for HE machines. I just can't see the value and inconvience of Percil. Any issues with HE Tide powder? Should I go to the HE liquid instead?
2. Do you ever use bleach? And how do you do it?
3. Has anyone figured out current use on this machine. I have both the W1113 and T1315 on the same circuit that is supposed to be 220V / 30A. I looked at the supply wire and it ain't 14ga. Is there any chance of damage to the wire? I haven't blown the 30A cartridge fuse yet.

 

[launderess]

Am That Happy You Found The Spin Only "Cycle"

But still would want a washer that has a dedicated program for "rinse/spin" or "spin" only without having to resort..

Am trying to find locally a Miele w1926 or w1986 since they are some of the last tank built quality but yet hold slightly more than my 1070.

Detergent wise one uses all sorts of products, so am not the one to ask to nail things down. Have found in the past Tide HE powder wasn't as clean rinsing as Persi or my other European detergents. Also the stainless steel sink my washers drain into seems to have some sort of white haze after dealing with water laden with Tide, or even Cheer (Colorguard) powder. Indeed the later badly discoloured the aluminum tub of my Hoover TT.

 

[laundromat]

Mine had the same cycle selection and is full twenty seven inches in width.To get a spin only cycle, I had to erase the extra rinse option so it would spin without rinsing.

 

 

[mikeklondon]

No Spin

I have never had a Miele with no spin cycle in the UK. I hope this is still the case next time I have to replace mine, I really could not go to the bother of programing as above. may be the best solution to the problem for gump, or anyone that has a machine with-out a spin only program is to buy a small extractor. I just cant think why they would make a machine without it.

 

[launderess]

At Least For The United States Market

Miele has gone back and forth with cycles since the 1900 models. At various points in model years "Soak", "Rinse", "Rinse & Spin" and or "Spin Only" cycles are omitted,only to be returned for the next seasons' offerings.

The 1100 and 1200 series didn't have rinse and spin cycles, but the 3033 and 3035 brought them back. Who knows what they are thinking over in Germany.

IMHO it boils down to Miele simply just doesn't really understand the American laundry market and rather than building a plant in the USA and coming over here to *really* learn, they simply do market research and plod along in Germany. One of the main problems IMHO is that the United States still is a niche market for Miele. Thus most of their laundry and other products are designed for worldwide distribution but then certain "changes" have to be made to accomodate the United States.

Even when Miele tries to make products for the American laundry market things don't seem to go well. The recent introduction then swift removal from the market of the uber-sized Miele W 4000 series washing machines and IIRC their matching dryers are a prime example.

Miele claims the model line was withdrawn because of slow/low US sales, but from what one has been hearing those machines were nothing but problems for many customers.