Disadvantages of Bosch washing machines

It's easy to find countless positive reviews of Bosch washing machines online. They seem perfect in every way. Sometimes, it seems as if these reviews aren't personal, but rather written for a fee. Let's try to reverse the process and gather information about the main drawbacks of Bosch washing machines. Let's look at the downsides of these machines.

Main disadvantages

Probably no washing machine can be perfect in everything. Although Bosch equipment receives many positive reviews, and the reliability of German machines is beyond doubt, there are still some drawbacks that can make using these washing machines a hassle. Typically, buyers highlight the following disadvantages of the equipment:

• High cost. Indeed, when compared to budget brands, the price of some Bosch models may seem inflated;
• Small holes on the drum surface. This keeps the laundry fairly wet even after intensive spinning. Fortunately, this feature is only common in certain models;
• Flimsy handle. The door handle breaks very often. The machine has to be repaired, which is an additional hassle;
  
• The touchscreen is unresponsive. You have to press the buttons several times for the display to respond to your touches;
• Top loading models are quite noisy;
• The automatic drum parking feature doesn't always work on vertical washers. After a wash, the closed drum flaps sometimes remain down, requiring manual rotation to remove items.
• Sometimes errors occur during washing programs. The intelligent system automatically changes the parameters, switching to other modes. For some users, this "self-management" has damaged delicate items.

Other drawbacks may also vary depending on the washing machine model. For example, some machines don't rinse fabric softener well, others waste too much water, and others leave liquid left over after the cycle, requiring the machine to be dried.

For some users, the self-cleaning drum feature is very important, but not all models offer it. Therefore, this may also seem like a significant drawback.

It's best to read reviews about a specific Bosch model to understand what disadvantages are specific to it.

When choosing a washing machine, you should tailor it to your needs. Not all of Bosch's shortcomings may be significant for you.

People's opinions

Mowek17, Moscow

When choosing a new automatic washing machine, the depth of the unit was practically the main criterion. We needed a narrow washing machine, measuring 40 cm. After researching a ton of information online, we settled on the Bosch WLG 20060, which costs around $200. After a couple of months of use, I'm just itching to replace it.

The machine's advantages include its affordable price and compact size. Another advantage is its virtually silent operation. That's where the pros end, and the cons begin.

Our washing machine:

• The machine doesn't completely rinse out the detergent when running the quick program. You have to run an extra rinse cycle again afterward.
• It doesn't remove stains well, even fresh ones. Therefore, express modes are only suitable for refreshing practically clean items;
• It only copes with dirt when running long programs lasting 2-3 hours.

Washing bed linen turns into torture for me. The entire set cannot be washed at once; you have to “twist” the duvet cover separately, then the sheet and pillowcases. Before the cycle, I soak the items and then run another rinse. This is the only way to ensure the fabric is clean.

The program selector on our model is very sensitive. If you pass by and slightly touch the roller, the cycle stops, forcing you to restart the wash cycle.

I'm really looking forward to the machine breaking down so I can buy a new one with peace of mind. A washing machine should make a woman's life easier, but this one is just a pain. Our next "home helper" will definitely be a different brand.

Anastasia, Omsk

I'd also like to share my thoughts on using a Bosch washing machine for a year. I wouldn't say my experience was a disaster, but the machine did cause some inconveniences.

Among the advantages of the Bosch washing machine, I can highlight its quiet operation, compact size, and good build quality.

At first glance, the machine seems to have a wide range of modes, but after a few weeks of use, it becomes clear that most of the programs are rather silly. For example, there's "Night Wash." It lasts an hour and a half, and the laundry is left wet because it doesn't spin. So, if you run the cycle before bed, your laundry will sit in the drum for hours straight. How can you even talk about cleanliness?

When we bought the machine, we had high hopes for the "Shirts/Blouses" program. My husband and I work in the office, so we have to refresh our white tops every two to three days. The machine simply soaks the items for an hour and a half in a full drum, only occasionally swishing them around. Of course, stains from light-colored fabrics aren't completely removed in this program, and it doesn't achieve the desired whiteness.

I'm also not happy with the "Baby Clothes" mode. It's just a dud, with a maximum water temperature of 60 degrees. My two sons' street clothes are still dirty after washing and need to be spun at at least 90°C.

Ultimately, out of the wide range of programs, my family only uses "Intensive" and "Super Fast." The control panel has a cycle time reduction button—another very useful addition, and a plus for that.

And the last negative worth mentioning is that after six months of use, the machine's spin time has started to fluctuate. For example, while this stage should last 15 minutes, it now fluctuates, dropping to 5 minutes.

   

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