Bosch Nexxt300 WFMC220 Front Load Washer

We have been the proud owners of the Bosch Nexxt 300 Series front loading washing machine for more than three years now, and whew, those years flew very quickly.  This washer has been used every day during this time with at least two loads per day without a single problem.  It washes perfectly and has saved us about $15 per month on our water bill and about $5 per month on our electric bill.  That adds up to about $480  in savings from the washer alone in two years!  I am happy with that.  They are solidly built and are extremely reliable.

BACKGROUND
We purchased our Bosch Nexxt 300 Series Front Load Washing machine after researching on-line and trudging around to many showrooms. 

We had previously purchased a pair of Amana units - a top load washer and gas dryer in 1999 and both units were already failing. At the time we bought those units we had paid $1100 for the set. We thought that spending that kind of money we would have them for at least 15 years, but they just were not made well and failed long before their time. The washer had been repaired many times. The timer had to be replaced, the belt broke several times, and the pump had to be replaced. The dryer had to have the rollers replaced, the drive belt, the natural gas solenoids, and finally the timer. The last straw was the washer needed the main bearings and seals replaced due to a severe leak. This would have been a major repair, but we just finally gave up on them. In addition, they use way too much water and water is expensive where we live.

CHOOSING BOSCH
There are a plethora of machines available when it comes to front loaders. We found ourselves quickly lost in this "sea" of options when trying to find the machine that would fit our needs. Considering the cost of the average front loader is well over $700, the foremost thing in our minds was durability with a close second for functionality.

We were first attracted to the Bosch line because of their solid reputation and build quality. They are attractive from a utilitarian point of view, but they are not ugly in any way. There are no bells and whistles here. They remind of the way a a good German automobile is built. The Bosch line includes much flashier and costlier models than the 300 series, but they are all basically the same as the 300 series with a few more features and chrome accents (woohoo!). We asked ourselves why should we pay hundreds more for the same machine, when the basic structure is the same? We also came to the conclusion that the basic model had all the cycles we would ever need. Their frugal use of water was also very desirable to us because of the cost of water here in northern Illinois.

This is a high efficiency, extra-large capacity unit with an energy star rating. The machine uses about 13 gallons of water to wash a normal load, while a top load uses about 45-50 gallons. The starting price was higher than we originally wanted to pay, but it appears to be very well made. When compared side by side with the Duet series the Duet series build quality is nowhere near Bosch, not to mention the price for the Duet series is notably higher. Almost every review we could find on the Bosch lineup was favorable. They also have the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. That "sealed" the deal for us.

DETAILS, DETAILS
The units can be purchased and used as is, but we opted to purchase the 15" pedestal to bring the washer up to a more reasonable height (we are not getting any younger). The pedestal also adds useful storage space. It seems to me that these machine should be offered with the pedestals up front and free because without them the access openings are almost on the floor.

The tops of the machines are made of a special scratch-resistant material so the area can be used to fold clothing items. First of all, the tops are not easily accessible if the 15" pedestals are attached (unless you are taller than 6',5"). In addition, the "detents" for the cycle dials are very weak, and if they are accidentally bumped they will turn. If this happens during a cycle the machine will stop and the cycle will need to be re-started (extremely annoying).

The washing machine's controls are logical and easy to understand. We did not have to read the manual to figure out how to use this machine, although the manual offers details into water temperatures and cycle combinations. There is one dial that is set to choose the fabric type and temperature, and then a series of buttons to control functions such as: start/pause, heavy duty, gentle, add an extra rinse, and finally delayed start (up to 19 hours).

There is a "Kids Care" setting that starts with cold water and heats the water to 150 degrees in various stages. This allows the detergents to work in every temperature to help remove stubborn stains without damaging fabrics (this cycle is a hefty 2 hours long - woo!). There is an LED display that shows how much time the machine thinks the chosen cycle will take. It will readjust depending on what is encountered during the cycle (extra spins to remove suds, extra attempts to balance the load, etc.)  Directly below this large LED display is a series of vertically placed LED lights that shows what part of the wash cycle the machine is in, such as "wash", "rinse", "spin", "door locked", or "finished".

The high speed spin reaches 1000 RPM, the low speed speed reaches 700 RPM. The default spin for permanent press is 700 RPM to help reduce wrinkling, but a higher speed can be chosen before the cycle is begun. We have tried both and notice little wrinkling at the higher speed, but permanent press will dry faster at the high speed (about 15 minutes). Cottons spin out at 1000 RPM, but a lower speed can be chosen before the cycle is started.

WATER SAVINGS
This machine is amazing with regards to its use of water. The amount is so little that you wonder if your clothes will really get clean, and yet they come out sparkling clean and fresh. As we have used this machine more and more I swear our clothes are getting brighter and cleaner than before. In terms of water savings, our water bill has dropped $15 dollars per month. At this rate of savings the machine will pay for itself in about 4 years! This does not count the savings from using less soap and fabric softener per load.

GENERAL COMMENTS / OPERATION
This is a very quiet machine. Barely a sound can be heard aside from filling and spinning. 

One of the hardest things to get used to is that there is no setting for the water level. The machine uses only what is needs. It initially fills and tumbles for a bit, then it stops to sense the water level, and adds just what it needs. It does this several times during the course of the cycle as water is absorbed into the clothes.

The soap dispenser is logical and incorporates a dispenser for powdered or liquid soap, a place for fabric softener, and a spot for liquid bleach. More than enough water flows through the dispenser to assure that everything ends up in the wash tub with nothing left behind. The bleach and fabric dispenser work by a siphon action and can sometimes leave a small amount of water behind after flushing the compartment, but it not annoying to us. Just make sure to thin down the fabric softener to help it flow out easier. Also, do not overfill the liquid dispensers because they will overflow into each other during the cycle. The dispenser lid pops off easily (but can be put back in place easily too) and does seem cheaply made in contrast to the rest of the machine, but it serves the purpose well.

The cycle can be stopped or paused at any time by pressing the "start/pause" button. The machine will stop and unlock the door so that additional items can be added or removed. This is a great feature, however, the timer resets to the beginning of the wash cycle each time the door is opened. So, if a cycle starts with an hour on the timer, and 10 minutes later it is paused to add more items, it will reset back to 1-hour as soon as as the door is opened.

The drum is tilted on a backward angle so you never see water in the window. This is why the door can be opened during the wash cycle without water pouring out all over the floor. This tilted drum also helps create a "3-D" effect with regards to moving the clothes around in the tub area. In a typical front-loader the clothes just spin around in the same area of the drum. The tilted drum causes the clothes to move not only horizontally, but also from the back of the drum to the front of the window in a spiral motion. I think this is the main reason the washer cleans so well.

PROOF OF HOW WELL IT CLEANS
My wife splashed hot cooking grease on one of her favorite blue-jean blouses and was quite sure she would never get the stain out completely. This type of stain can be very difficult to remove from cotton. We put the blouse in the washer with some other clothes and set it to the "Kids Care" cycle. This is a very long cycle, but it removed every bit of the oil stain. She was very pleased indeed. 

I recently was working on my car in the driveway - replaced the brakes and the front half shaft.  My jeans and shirt, as well as some rags were covered in grease and grime.  When I removed the half shaft the packing grease plopped out all over my clothes.  It was black, gritty, and seriously ground into the clothing items.  My wife was certain they would never get clean.  She placed the rags, shirt and jeans in the machine (no other items) and set the machine to the "Kids Care" cycle.  Much to our amazement there were no signs, and I mean no signs, of grease or grime on the clothing or rags.  Even the rags were completely clean (cleaner than when I started using them).  Also, there are still no problems with mold, the electronics, the door, the gasket, pump, or any other problem.  This machine has been used for 2-3 loads per day since June 2008 with zero issues.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
The washer and dryer have paired cycles so that you can wash and dry in the same amounts of time. I like this feature, it really helps to get the laundry done logically and quickly. We have noted that towels, jeans, and other heavy cottons dry in less than the initial 1 hour on the dyer timer because this machine spins so much water out of the clothes they are almost dry out of the wash.

TIPS
The machine is extremely heavy, which made it somewhat difficult to maneuver during installation. Have someone help if you are installing yourself. If you have to move this machine alone I found that if you slide a slippery blanket under the unit it can be slid across the floor and positioned with relative ease. The wrenches given to remove the shipping bolts are useless (remember to save the shipping bolts for future use!).

Large loads will sometimes cause the machine to shake a bit, which can be disconcerting, but it has never moved from its place. The machine will make several attempts to balance a load before it spins. It will start to spin at a low speed and if it is not happy with the weight distribution it will stop, change directions several times and then try again. This can add time to the overall cycle if it has to keep trying. It does help to put a few smaller items in with larger items whenever possible to help with the weight distribution.

Also of note: This washing machine must be perfectly level. Not close to level, but exactly, perfectly, level. Assuring that the machine is perfectly level will minimize any vibration. I thought I had leveled the machine correctly when I first installed it, but it shook like crazy during high speed spins, mainly with towels. I later found out through research that even a slight off-level can cause this problem. I purchased a bubble level created just for flat surfaces (this is a flat disc-type device that lays flat - you find level by adjusting the feet until the bubble is in the center of the circle). After I leveled with this device the shaking is very minimal. It no longer looks like it will self destruct. It also helps to place a rubber floor mat under the washer to help keep it in place.

SMALL NEGATIVES
As with almost all front load machines, they are designed to have the washer positioned on the left and the dryer on the right. The door cannot be switched to have the washing machine on the right, which is a negative for those of us that have our setups with the washer on the right. This is not only a Bosch problem, as most manufacturers have done the same with their washing machines. We had to purchase longer water lines and drain lines to hook the washer up they way it was designed, with the washer on the left in our laundry room. This also caused the setup to take a bit longer.

There is only one washing machine we found that would work with the front load washer on the right and that was the Miele 4840. That machine cost three times the amount of the Bosch Nexxt 300 machine. We just had to say "no" to the Miele (even though we really, really wanted it).

We also purchased the Bosch Nexxt 500 Series gas dryer, which is the mate for this washer, even though it is from a different series??!! The funny thing is that even though both of these units are white, they do not match in color! Overall, we feel we made a very smart purchase, but time will tell.

I contacted the seller and asked if I could have an additional discount because the colors did not exactly match. We had an original 10% discount when we bought the machines and they offered an additional 10% off for the mismatch. The washer was originally $718.20 and total discounts brought the unit to $581.74. Of course, these prices do not include the pedestals (which we got for $179.00 each). Now I can say we are very happy with our purchase!

CORRECTIONS
As to the size of the machine - I washed an over-stuffed king-sized comforter and it came out perfectly clean with absolutely no issues. That is something we could never do in our old top-load washing machine. We always had to take the comforters to the laundromat to clean them. Despite what the specifications state on some websites, this washer's capacity is really 4.0 cubic feet (the manufacturer website clearly states the correct specification). 

The machines are available in red, blue, and the standard white. The red and blue have the chrome accent around the door window. The standard white model does not have the chrome accent. We miss neither the color nor the chrome and we can use the $200 saved for other necessities.

"SECRETS"
We have not had any problems with our washer, but I found out the following tidbits gleaning information on the Internet. Here is an important "secret" about Bosch washers that is not documented in the manuals: If you get an "E04" message on the LCD panel it can mean that the pump is suds locked or the pump is blocked, but the manual does not tell you how to clear the pump. This is something that can be done by almost anyone. Unplug the machine from the outlet. There is a 6-8" circular access panel in the lower right-hand corner on the front of the machine. To open the panel, insert a very small phillips screw driver or large paperclip into the small hole (anything that will fit in the hole that is strong enough to press) and depress with medium force, at the same time rotate the disc clockwise until the small hole is about in the 6:00 position. The access panel should then come off easily. Get several large towels and carefully insert your hand into the access opening. The opening is VERY sharp so avoid touching the metal (I sanded the edges of ours to smooth it out). The pump clean-out is right by the opening. Grab the handle and remove the clean-out cover by rotating it counter-clockwise. A large amount of water will spill out onto the towels. Four to six large towels may be needed. Once the pump access cover is removed any foreign objects can be seen and easily cleared. Replace the pump cover (assure it is snug) and then replace the access panel. Plug the machine back into the receptacle and the "E04" message should be gone.

As we did further research on the internet we found that front-load washers can have odor problems. These front-load machines have very tight seals. The moist environment inside a washer is a perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria. We have not experienced anything yet with the Bosch, but we found several things can be done to help keep odors out of the picture:

First and foremost, always wipe the door seal dry after your last load and leave the washer door open while you are drying that last load. This will help to allow the seal area as well as the drum area to dry. Take care with the gasket area to assure you do not tear or rip it. This can be a costly repair.

Secondly, at least once per month run the washer empty on its hottest setting with bleach. Pour the bleach directly in to the drum before starting the load. About 15 minutes into the cycle add 1/2 cup vinegar to the soap dispenser. The vinegar drops the pH of the water and helps the bleach to have a more active effect on killing bacteria.

Thirdly, fabric softeners and cold washes appear to be the biggest sources of odor problems. Fabric softeners have an animal-fat base, which is an excellent food source for bacteria. Use fabric softeners sparingly. The front loader's efficient spinning action will remove most detergent residue effectively, so less softener is needed per load. We use less than 1/2 the recommended amount and everything still comes out soft and smelling fresh.

And, finally, odor can be caused by an object or item that has become lodged in the pump trap area for any length of time. See above on how to clear out the pump.