These are the six signs you need a new washing machine – and how often you really need to replace it
- Consumer experts from Choice said if it’s leaking or noisy, it’s time to upgrade
- Giveaway signs are if it’s older than six years, it’s moving and staining clothes
Washing machines need to be replaced every six years, consumer experts have claimed.
The team from Choice revealed six giveaway hints it’s time to buy a new machine, including if it moves around during a cycle, leaking or even staining your clothes.
Others signs it might be time to upgrade include if your machine is noisy, it’s no longer right for your situation and – crucially – if it’s more than six years old.
Consumer experts have shared the six signs you need a new washing machine, and the average life span of an appliance (stock image)
1. It’s more than six years old
According to Choice, once your washing machine hits the six year mark, a ‘major failure usually means you’ll need to buy a new one because any repairs will be expensive’.
‘If you have a front loader, once it hits 12 years of age, it’ll likely be cheaper to replace it that repair it, even for a more minor failure. For a top loader, that figure drops to seven years,’ Choice experts said.
The Choice team recommend you clean and maintain your washing machine as regularly and well as possible.
You can do this by wiping out the inside of the door seal to clean off mould and scrud, cleaning the lint filter (if fitted) and leaving the door ajar (if your laundry allows) to extend the life of your door seals.
Each month, you should also run a cleaning cycle or run the machine empty on its hottest cycle with a bit of detergent as this will help clear out scrud.
You can wipe away mould deposits on door seals and other surfaces using hot soapy water and a soft cloth.
2. It’s moving around
The second sign it might be time to get a new washing machine is if it’s regularly moving around during a cycle.
‘There are two main reasons why your machine is never where you left it before a cycle: it’s either off balance or the shock absorbers have failed,’ Choice said.
If it’s vibrating, they recommend checking the machine’s feet to see that they’re all ‘properly adjusted and making firm contact with the ground’.
You can also put a rubber mat underneath the machine to protect the timber floors, or move it to the corner of the room, where it may be more stable.
A simple sign that your washing machine is on the way out is if it’s getting louder than ever, as is it moving around the room or vibrating too much (stock image)
3. It’s getting noisier
A simple sign that your washing machine is on the way out is if it’s getting louder than ever.
The Choice team said if you notice it getting noisier, it’s possibly time to ‘have it serviced, repaired or replaced’.
4. It’s leaking
A leaking washing machine is one of the most obvious signs it’s time for a new model.
But Choice said there are many different types of leaks, and some are more benign than others.
For instance, a tap connector that isn’t tightened properly isn’t all that serious, while others – like a ‘coin or key getting in between the washer’s two drums, punching a hole in the outer drum’ – requires more attention.
5. It’s staining your clothes
One of the most annoying signs your washing machine is getting tired is if you start seeing rust stains on your clothes.
‘There are many things that can cause rust spots in your washing machine, including damage to the drum, but even leaving damp laundry in the machine can cause rusting (not to mention an unpleasant smell),’ Choice said.
You can get rid of surface rust with a wash cycle or two, but Choice’s consumer expert Ashley Iredale said if you keep seeing the stains, then your machine is ‘pretty much done for’.
6. It’s no longer right for your situation
Finally, sometimes in life, we just need to change washing machine.
This might be the case if you’ve moved from being a single person doing one or two washes a week to being with a partner and young twins creating a ‘small laundry mountain each day’.
The two options are a front and top loader.
Front loaders are more expensive outright, but they’re cheaper to run, more space efficient and use less water.
Top loaders on the other hand are generally cheaper to buy and weigh less, but they cost more to run and use more water.
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