I bought this to replace a lifelong series of Meile and Bosch appliances, specifically this time my VarioPerfect from Bosch. The tile might give it away but I only buy quality brands, because the premium they command usually means they are long lasting, built properly, and perform their allotted tasks very well.
This is my first AEG purchase, but given the research I’d done, I wanted to try this manufacturer, the prominent display on show at my local store highlighted it’s premium status, as did the price segment.
Sadly I didn’t give Miele a look in this time, because to approach the technology in this machine would have cost me many hundreds more, what you can buy for £1000 isn’t what it was from them. Nor Bosch, they didn’t really have a cohesive design that I liked this time round. Plus they seem to have positioned themselves upper middle segment now, not top tier.
SO to the machine, it was a pleasure to set up, and learn the functions. The supplied fittings were of good quality, and the sound proofing strips for the floor were a very nice touch which work well.
So far I’ve tried most of the programs and been delighted with the results. Specifically what sold this machine to me was the softened water device, and the stand alone steam “wash” since my partner wears suits to work, being able to do the best part of a dry clean at home is going to save a fortune. Indeed the cycle works very well, we simply hang the suit as soon as the cycle finishes and its dry and fresh in 20 minutes.
The machine is also very very quiet, which I like since I often do my washing at night when my energy is cheaper. Last thing I need is to be able to hear the machine thumping away to its’ self. I can scarcely hear it in the hall next to the kitchen let alone the living spaces.
The machine feels quality. Everything from the feel of the buttons and dial, to the door handle and hinge and the detergent drawer feels well crafted and like its been thought about before being produced. It’s solid and strong, and that’s reassuring in these days of throw away appliances. It’s also heavy so you do need two people to set it up, move it and level it. Even the supplied spanner for levelling was of decent quality. I’ve had them in the past just stamped from metal and sharp on the edges. This was a properly machine finished tool.
All in all while its early days, and I’ve not approached any issues, I can say I’m VERY impressed with the machine, the laundry it’s producing and the look of it in my Kitchen. (It’s very stylish) I’m hoping for many years of untroubled use, and the 5 year extended guarantee was a thoughtful touch from AEG when I registered.
To help keep my machines in pristine condition, I do the following, you should too.
1, Service them once a year with a trusted service engineer.
2, Use them as instructed.
3, Keep them clean inside and out.
4, Use softened water / water softener additive.
5, Run them on a hot wash with a manufacturer approved cleaning / descaling solution twice a year minimum.
6, Keep the door open between uses and keep the seals clean.
7, Keep the use of detergents to the minimum required.
8, Keep the dispenser drawer spotless, they remove for easy cleaning.
9, Actually read the manual and do as instructed.
10, If something goes wrong, get someone qualified who can guarantee their work to sort it out, unless it’s something the manual says your can have a crack at.
