Thanks Az,

cripes DianeLT you have had a horror start to the new year. I hope things are improving.

Why would anyone with a family of 6 buy a 5.5kg top loader to start with?

I had an 8kg top loader for 4 people. F&P too and it didn't eat the clothes either.

perhaps it's all she could afford.

I wanted a 10kg front loader but it wouldn't physically fit in the available space so had to get a smaller one.

My F&P clothes drier has a "sensor". It stops when it "senses" the clothes are dry. Yeah right. 😐

However I love my new washing machine! :-x

Which is NOT a F&P.

My F&P dryer is the same....it tends to overdry the clothes.  If you set it one level lower than autodry it will probably be dry enough, specially if you want to iron anything.  I also find that if you use a lower heat setting the sensor is more accurate and does not overdry.

I have been using F&P washing machines for over 20 years now and my experience is that they will eat the clothes if they are over full. Try smaller loads and see how it goes.

Why would anyone with a family of 6 buy a 5.5kg top loader to start with?   I had an 8kg top loader for 4 people. F&P too and it didn't eat the clothes either.

Family of 8.....and of course a large machine uses more water.... but you do less loads so it balances out.......

January 6th

So i have been hand washing for my family of 8 for the past two weeks because my washing machine has died. I now have very sore hands and completely over it. No laundrette near by.

Can anyone recommend a good brand in a top loader?

if i buy a 5.5kg top loader will that use more water then my 4kg machine which is also a top loader? 

 my old machine is a old 4kg Hoover premier. which has been good and i wash around 3-5loads a day, much more on a weekend. 

Id like a large machine but i have been told they use lots more water then a small machine.

Any advice will be welcomed. Thanks.

My F&P dryer is the same....it tends to overdry the clothes.  If you set it one level lower than autodry it will probably be dry enough, specially if you want to iron anything.  I also find that if you use a lower heat setting the sensor is more accurate and does not overdry.

Mine underdries the clothes. There's always a corner of a doona cover still wet. It's really annoying.

I have a 10kg front loader. I think it's samsung but can't recall. Will check later.

Had it for about 2 years and it works really well.

But aside from the way it works, buying a 10kg was the best thing I ever did. I can get the weeks washing done for the family in 2 loads - one for whites and one for darks.

The samsung 10kg is the machine I wanted, but it didn't matter how many times I measured it, and measured the space (which I did heaps over a 3 week period) I couldn't make it fit 😞 . It had brilliant reviews

I was thinking about this thread last night in bed (yeah sad I know, I have no life) and came to the conclusion that the problem with OP's machine is load size rather than the machine. A big load would push the clothes to the bottom where they could get caught under the agitator. Not using a high enough water setting might have the same effect.

Basically what Lyndal said in #24 🙂

I have just bought a F+P 5.5 top loader and it works like a dream, there must be something wrong with yours.

F&Ps a kiwi brand isnt it? wouldnt touch 'em:-p