Smeg and Dolce & Gabbana: how important is the look of a product?

However on Manette’s Conversation article.

The 77% score is for a Best Buy toaster. There are several brands that score better but perhaps significantly the reviews from subscribers give it a one star as the wires burnt out. Another case of short-term testing being shown up.

As it has seven SMEG toasters [different colours] in the top 39 Best Buys one would have to read all seven to see all the comments. A rather foolish way of displaying subscriber reviews as the colour is immaterial to the failed functionality. One wonders how Which? do not have words with the testing company and also review the Best Buy tag. Of three reviews three one star scores – but given the number they experienced faults with – eight – you might think a fairly useful sample.

I have been a critic of Which? toaster testing as it is flawed, and invariably never mentions toasters were you have replacement parts available.

Your second para says why we have never considered Smeg appliances when things called Neff or Bosch are available. Many product names evolved from their inventor’s or manufacturer’s, so is (was) there a Mr Smeg?

From the Smeg UK website:
SMEG was founded by Vittorio Bertazzoni from Guastalla, a town near Reggio Emilia in northern Italy, and is today one of the world’s leading home appliance manufacturers. The Bertazzoni family’s entrepreneurial history began way back in the 19th century. Starting out as blacksmiths, the Bertazzonis soon branched out into metal enamelling. The very first Bertazzoni cookers were put on show at the World Expo held in Milan in 1906.In 1948, in an era of economic growth and rapid urbanisation, Smeg was established as an enamelling plant working with metals. Today, the acronym of Smeg (Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastalla) continues to serve as a memory of the initial activity carried out by the company.

Perhaps the livery of the new Smeg products is proper enamel, as befits their heritage.

Thank you for that background information, Wavechange.

The outer surface of SMEG products always looks good quality; whether it is vitreous enamel I don’t know – modern three-pack paint treatments have been developed to give a surface coating that will last as long as the likely life-cycle of the appliance.

I tend to think the best refrigerators and air conditioners are more likely to come from hot countries.

Hi Manette – Thank you for your comments.

I’m familiar with the information provided about tests including the one about washing machines, and that’s both helpful and at a level that will be comprehensible to all users. What I am looking for is more detail in tests of individual products.

Which? has reported that modern washing machines often wash at temperatures well below the temperature settings shown on the machine. That does not seem to have been followed up in reports on individual machines. It might not affect the washing performance but low temperature washing can mean very long cycles and accumulation of a slime containing bacteria on the inside of the machine.

Which? has reported that many washing machines contain integrated assemblies such as sealed tanks and sealed doors. Bearing failure on a machine with a sealed tank is unlikely to be economically repairable and a sealed door will require replacement of the whole door if anything goes wrong. Some of the ‘regulars’ on Which? Convo would love to have some assessment of repairability of washing machines and other appliances.

I’m not sure if Which? reports which machines are hot & cold fill, which is useful information to those who have solar water heating, even if it is not important for the rest of us.

I bought a washing machine that has an option to use extra water, but this option is only on some programmes. Had I known, I might have looked for a different model.

For washing coloured fabrics I use gel capsules containing a pre-measured amount of laundry detergent. Sometimes they quickly get trapped in the door seal and continue to release detergent during rinses, so that I need to put the machine on again. It does not happen every time but it is annoying when it does.

I’ll bet that the Which? tests collect a great deal of information that we never get to see, but perhaps it could be put on the website for those who are looking for more detail.

That’s intended to be constructive criticism – honestly. 🙂

Well made points wavechange.

The point about dual-fill is well-made as with 391 washing machines listed there is no filter to find the dual-fill models of Which I suspect there are only 20. Seems faintly insulting you can have a filter for pink machines but not one for a more practical use.

I did recommend strongly to Which? testing team at the last AGM this needed to be fixed. It is interesting to see that after six months a green electricity saving item has not been added. And before anyone quibbles about solar heated water and electricity saving I suggest you read a Miele manual which provides the figures.

Which? has no complaints procedure. In the last century it was suggested there should be a Members’ Ombudsman .

” Energy use: During each of the three cycles, we measure how much water and energy the machine uses, what temperature the machine gets up to and how long the main and rinse programs take. We do this on the 40°C cotton setting, the one most commonly used.”

Why do Which? not report on the accuracy of the claimed temperature? The German testing body have found machines that are over 30% off from claimed washing temperatures. For people where hygienic cleanliness is far more important than optical cleanliness where can this information be obtained other than through a consumer body. And this consumer body measures but does not report it !!??!

Hot & cold fill machines may not use hot water on lower temperature programmes. My very old machine only took in cold water on a 40°C wash and took in both hot and cold water on a 60°C wash. I don’t know about modern computer-controlled machines but it’s certainly something worth investigating if you do have free hot water. Details of how individual machines handle hot water could be provided in supplementary information on the Which? website.

I wish Which? would push manufacturers to stop using temperature settings in washing machine instructions and control panels unless they represent temperatures achieved.

In view of the confusing information from manufacturers, it’s worth having frequent guidances, especially as low temperature washing is becoming increasingly common and some fabrics will not withstand higher temperatures. Low temperature washing is OK for most purposes most of the time provided that regular maintenance washes are carried out. If it is necessary to wash nurses’ uniforms or clothing soiled with faeces, something like a nappy sanitiser should be used. I would not trust washing them at 60°C. Using a powder laundry detergent containing a bleach will help to keep the machine free of bacterial contamination between maintenance washes and is not a bad idea for washing underwear and anything that is not dark coloured.

It would be interesting to hear an opinion on quick washes at low temperature. My machine does a 20 minute ‘express wash’ at 40°C. I tried it out of interest and only half the time was used for the wash cycle. Whereas a long wash at low temperature mechanically removes bugs in the same way that it removes dirt, I cannot think an express wash achieves much. I might yet start to be concerned about low temperature washing. 🙂