"Mo Miele, Mo Miele, Mo Miele..."

[sudsmaster]

Video at 11.

Yep, today I picked up yet another Miele washing machine. In this case, with what may be its matching dryer.

W1065 washer plus a T1036 dryer. Both cosmetically in very good condition, although the washer has some mold on the boot and a musty odor (which I'm now airing out in the driveway).

Cost? All of $50 for both. Eventually I'll be moving the washer into the shop to hook it up and see if it works. Probably will have to pull one of the existing W1065's to make room.

Best of all, both came with the original installation and operation manuals, a real bonus.

So what am I up to, Miele-wise?

Current total: 3 W1065 washers, one 1918 washer, one T1070 dryer, one T1036 dryer.

Of these, three of the washers are hooked up, although I mainly just use the 1918 for whites, tidy whiteies. I like the 1600 rpm max spin, and it seems to rinse very well despite its sipping water.

I played with programming in a fifth rinse and extra water on the 1918, but on one load of bath towels it overwhelmed the trash can/sump pump drainage system so I had to back off that mode. (The sump pump lost its automatic switch long ago so I have to manually activate it at the end of each load. I could go back to the fifth rinse and more water if I were to fix it or get a sump pump with an automatic switch).

Of course I'm curious as to how the latest W1065 works - if the mold is an indication of failed heaters, or what. Time will tell!

 

[MrX]

To kill the mould just run a 95C boil wash with a good dose of high quality detergent.

In general, that will remove detergent deposits and kill off any mould.

If that doesn't get it all off, you could run a specialist washing machine descaler through the machine.

Miele sell one themselves : https://www.miele.co.uk/accessories/Details.aspx?aid=519

http://https//www.miele.co.uk/accessories/Details.aspx?aid=519

 

[launderess]

Boot on my Miele 1070 was quite fouled with mould and gunk when the machine arrived, had Miele service change the thing when they came out to attend other matters. Damn good thing too, as the boot had a nice sized rip/hole clearly seen when replaced. Trust me if you see mould on the boot when it is in the machine, you don't want to know what is growing on the parts you cannot see. Was going to keep the old boot to show how gross it was, but upon seeing how gross it was when the service man removed it from the machine, it went straight into the rubbish, and the rubbish went out of doors.

Mould around the boot can be caused by several factors; such as not keeping the washer clean and especially keeping the unit closed for long periods of time between washes. Mould grows and feeds on the detergent/soap residues and body soils left on the inside of the drum and door boot by using poor laundry habits, including lots of cold water washing.

Problem with trying to entirely clean the boot is the thing is never totally immersed in water, even during high water rinses or the wool wash cycle. If you clear out the mould from the areas you can see, water touches, any remaining will grow in time to retake the areas cleared off. No, best start with a new boot, IMHO.

L.

 

[sudsmaster]

Yes, L, I remember your tale of woe about the foul boot your W1070 brought with it, and the heroic Miele mechanic who liberated you from the mouldly boot's thrall.

I don't think the mold on the latest Sudsmaster Mansion Miele Collection is as bad as you described. It's in a ring around the front of the boot. I think it can be cleaned off ok, and a few boil washes should handle the rest. We'll see... my big question is whether or not it's still capable of boil washing.

The think is still lanquishing under a furniture pad in my courtyard. I will have to do some surplus appliance shuffling to squeeze it into the Miele testing area.

 

[bobbyderegis]

Sudsmaster:
If your Miele washers are half as good as my Miele Silver Moon vacuum, they must be phenomenal. I love the look of them. They seem to be of so much better quality than the LG, Whirlpool or Electrolux. A lot better than Bosch too?
Bobby in Boston

 

[nmaineman36]

They are Bobby they are!

 

[sudsmaster]

Bobby,

The build quality on the Mieles is excellent. You can't really tell from the outside, but inside it's very obvious. ALL the cabinet sheet metal and bracing has a thick porcelain coationg, inside and out. The weights for the tub are black painted cast iron, and well designed to maximum weight in a minimum of space.

I don't know about Bosch washers because I've never had them apart. But I'd have to say there is no comparison with the build quality on a Maytag Neptune FL. Not that the Neptune is a bad machine - I still have my matched set in the main house, and it works well. But the Mieles are built like little tanks. If the Neptune had the build quality of a Miele, it wouldn't be rusting around the detergent door opening - a result of insufficient powder coating (not even porcelain enamel) in that area as well as under the top panel).

The build quality is one reason why I don't mind accumulating these washers. Just opening one up lowers my blood pressure ;-).

 

[bobbyderegis]

Sudsmaster:
Good to know some company is still making a good quality product. I'll have to look closer at them.
Bobby in Boston

 

[nmaineman36]

I know I am rehashing a couple of pics here but here is the insides of my Miele 4800 washer

 

[nmaineman36]

another shot control computer

 

[nmaineman36]

side shot

 

[nmaineman36]

and another

 

[nmaineman36]

and the dryer Miele T9800

 

[nmaineman36]

and the insides

 

[nmaineman36]

And my dishwasher

 

[sudsmaster]

Notice how even Miele has had to make construction and material changes to their latest washer offering for the US. In exchange for much greater capacity and 110 volt compatibility, we get some less desirable changes.

Instead of a stainless outer drum, it's plastic. People have mixed feeling about that change.

Instead of porcelain coated steel internal braces, it's galvanized steel braces. These probably work just as well, but probably also will eventually rust sooner than porcelain enamel coated steel braces would.

It is nice to see that Miele retained the neat and compact cast iron drum counterweights in the 4800 series, vs. the tacky looking and bulky concrete blocks that other mfg use. The wiring for the electronics appears to be of similar quality as on the older machines.

Next time I have a 220 volt Miele open, I'll snap some photos so we can see the differences.

 

[launderess]

According to Miele's press releases, the outer "plastic" tub is made from the same fiberglass as hulls of high speed yachts/boats, and is every bit as durable as stainless steel. Certianly better than the enamelled porcelain outer tubs some other front loaders use instead of stainless.

Miele cut some corners and ate some crown with several washing machine models being offered in the United States. After claiming for years Miele would NEVER offer 110v washing machines, soon that will be all there is on offer on this side of the pond. Miele also gave up doing battle with Mrs. Average American Housewife and her love affair with LCB, and not only permits usage of the stuff in their machines, now there is even a dispenser slot for it.

Miele certianly still offers quailty for the money, but would rather a large capacity, robust front loader, with the older controls, rather than this new trend towards everything being chosen by cycles.

L.

 

[sudsmaster]

Well, it's not the same fiberglass as one might find on a '57 Corvette.

Looks like plastic to me. I don't think this is hand-laid fiberglass. And those thin ribs couldn't have much glass in them, at least not the traditional woven fabric type.

Miele also had to give up its treasured rant against tilted tubs with this machine. I never fully bought into that line, anyway, but I do agree that a perfectly horizontal drum is probably better for a number of reasons. The tilt seems to have come about largely for ergonomic and maybe marketing reasons. GE sort of killed the whole perfectly horizontal drum argument by coming out with a badly flawed implementation with their Adora series, although the Frigidaire/Elux Affinity series seems to be doing much better (another perfectly horizontal drum machine).

Interestingly, if one googles Miele fiberglass, the name of a guy Miele pops up here and there for a patent on water-resistant fiberglass. Wonder if he's of the same family that owns the Miele company...?

 

[nmaineman36]

That outer tub is very tough. Its not the flimsy plastic one would find on a Whirlpool or Frigidaire built machine. You have to remember there are plastics out there that are fiberglas filled...meaning that they have small fragments of fiberglas in the pellets or resin before molding. This tub I can tell you isnt going to let me down. Also the angling in the drum isnt a problem wash wise. I really notice one thing though....this washer can remove stains I never thought I could get out. And she heats water very well.