W4449 Versus W3844 Wps And Eco Balls
So, I have finally got the money together (£800 to £1100) and think it is the right time to ask the more important question as I have got the message that it should be Miele. Which one should it be?
I have been looking at the new style W4449 as I like all new technology - I get attracted to LEDs and it has a big door. The W3844 WPS seems a more traditional option with possibly more of a robust constitution - in my experience traditional/older styles are better made than anything that is modern/wizzy, not that this knowledge makes me shy away from new technology but just accepting of shorter lives and disposability.
Then the question became, as I use the eco friendly green Eco Balls (and I must say they are very good - just throw them in the wash with nothing else), I don't use the detergent dispenser anymore and only wash on warm or cold washes, which model - W4449 and W3844 WPS - should it be? 13 spin levels (W4449) compared to 6 on the W3844 WPS sounds excessive but I am sure to use some of the features. The question is - is there any information on whether these green eco balls work well or badly with Miele and more specifically with these models.
The real question is length of life - if I buy the modern technology rather than the tradtional one, an I buying something that will not last as long or need more repairs?
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Solution Summary
AI-generated from this discussion
This thread was marked as solved. Here's a summary of the problem and the fix, generated from the discussion below.
Advice comparing Miele W4449 and W3844 WPS, with concern about eco balls and lifespan
- The problem
- The user wanted to choose between the Miele W4449 and W3844 WPS and asked whether using eco balls with mostly cold or warm washes would suit these machines, and whether the newer W4449 would be less durable than the more traditional W3844 WPS.
- Likely cause
- No appliance fault was reported. The accepted reply said the main risk was from washing practices: using only or mostly low-temperature washes with eco balls may lead to slime, grease and bacteria build-up inside the machine.
- What fixed it
- The accepted advice was that both machine styles are built to last at least 20 years and the main difference is styling rather than core internal parts. The W4449 was described as the better machine because it has the silent professional motor and extra features, while the W3844 WPS was also recommended if it was significantly cheaper. A practical limitation noted was that the W4449 is not ideal for fitting under a worktop because of its control panel design. No repair was involved.
- Checks to try
- Consider whether the machine needs to fit under a worktop
- Compare whether the extra features and silent professional motor of the W4449 justify the higher price
- Consider the risk of internal build-up if using mostly low-temperature washes with eco balls
1 Answer
Hello. The eco balls have been discussed here - Eco / Wash Balls? I believe that using only or mostly low temperature washes with just eco balls is a recipe for trouble. There's a good chance that a washing machine will eventually suffer from a build up of slime, grease and bacteria because high temperatures and bleaching agents are needed to control them - Washing machine smells - causes of grease, slime and black mould inside washing machines
Both the Miele styles are built to last at least 20 years. The main difference is in style rather than the parts inside.
The W 4449 is the better machine, it has the silent professional motor and other extra features. However, the W 3844 WPS is a great washing machine and should be considered if it's a fair bit cheaper. The "normal" Miele motor fitted to most models is already particularly quiet so unless you have a particular requirement for the quietest washing machine possible you should be satisfied with the standard motor.
The main thing to consider is that the W 4449 is not ideal for fitting under a worktop due to the design of the control panel.
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