Fisher & Paykel WashSmart Front Loader 1st Gen

Quiet & Cleans Well – This was our first front loader having used top loaders for 20+ years. We have had the machine for 3 1/2 years and with a household of 4 children & 2 adults average 10-12 loads per week. We haven't needed to call for a service at all during this period. All of the issues with the machine were caused by us (user error e.g. loose items being left in… Read more

the clothes, bobby pins, coins, hair ties etc.) causing blockages in the pump filter.

Pluses for the washer:

Super quiet from day 1 and still the same after 2000+ wash cycles

Has a good selection of wash cycles from heavily soiled (2 hrs) to a super quick 15 min cycle

Cleans clothes really well

You can add garments mid-wash

High speed spin gets clothes really dry (but can be a bit harsh on delicates & towels)

Has both a hot and cold inlet

Seems to use very little water and power

Have just replaced the drain pump (myself) - which has been the only service item

Super fast spares network - ordered 11am Monday - part arrived 9am the next day

Negatives:

Drain hose only on the right hand side

If you spin towels at 1400 rpm they can come out a bit on the rough side - slowing down to 800rpm stops this

A bit touchy on the pump filter smallest of items left in pockets etc will cause the unit to stop until cleared (error 37 message)

I would definitely recommend this if you find one on runout etc

Fantastic Machine! Quiet Operation – Fisher Paykel's WashSmart Front Loader is an excellent machine, the best I've owned! It's super quiet in operation (even on spin cycle) and cleans clothes perfectly. I love the wash cycle options, the 15 and 30 minute cycles are great for quick washes where garments just require a quick freshen up. The machine also looks great and I like how there… Read more

is a dryer to complement the range. The display is easy to read and tells you remaining wash time and where the cycle is up to (wash/rinse/spin). I also love the Eco function and the option to add a garment once the cycle has commenced. I also use the delay start function quite often, so that's great to have.

Prior to the purchase of this machine I was living with a friend who had the model below this 'QuickSmart' which was also excellent though I've found spending the bit extra and having additional functions has been worth it!

I purchased the machine on sale at David Jones for a great price.

Highly recommended!

not working – door stays locked washing inside no matter what cycle you use it comes up with error 37 and the drum on spin cycle is out of balance.cannot access to get clothes out and machine is under warrenty but still waiting for a repairer to come out.paying the extra for 5 years was worth it as i got it in 2016 and its only 3 years old. Show details

love this front loader – This is my first front loader and i will never go back. It washes everything well. the only thing it doesnt have a button for is soak, but you can manually go back and forward to do this. Very quiet, cycle times are very adjustable. Does woolens well Show details

Great – I bought this a year ago and I love it. Very easy to use with turn dial and easy to read functions. Everyday wash cycle just under 60 minutes and great spin speed. however lately ive noticed it may need a clean usually put dark clothes in the washing machine , I'm very satisfied with the product's controls and its performance when I apply different settings.  Show details

My clothes are ruined. I'd give it a zero if I could! – I've had this machine for a little over 3 years and it has ruined so many clothes I've lost count. Bonds onsies, cotton underpants, bras, cotton jersey t-shirts and bed sheets are all quickly destroyed in this machine. Fabric gets stretched to the point of see-through, neck and leg binding is pulled irreversibly out of shape, holes follow and… Read more

sheets are rendered threadbare. I'm talking in a matter of weeks too! If you buy this machine get prepared to purchase new underpants every two months and replace almost your entire wardrobe every season. Even my husbands heavy cotton drill, extra tough work pants are damaged by this machine and need replacing or mending after 6 months (they used to last 3+ years in our old Fisher & Paykel top loader).

Not to mention how rough everything comes out of the machine, even using fabric softener (which the manual actually advises against). I CAN NOT let my towels dry on the line, lest they become cardboard and virtually crack upon folding. I have to put all my towel in the dryer so we can stand the fabric against our skin, which is a ridiculous waste of energy and money. I never had this problem with my old machine.

And wrinkles! You can't get away with not ironing with this machine no matter what function you use.

The wash cycle times displayed on the machine are both inaccurate and impractical for a family. I often have to leave the house with clothes still in the machine, even though I put the load on with enough time for it to be finished and hung out before I had to go. For example, a load that says it takes 59 minutes to complete might actually take 1.5 hours or more. Don't bother checking on the time remaining because it can display the same time, say 8 minutes, for 20-30 minute intervals.

The capacity is laughable. It is supposed to be 2 kg's larger than my old top loader but it holds less.

Cleaning it is a nightmare. They recommend you clean the filter once a month, but to do it you will need to lay flat on the ground, put towels on the floor to catch any water that spills, use a coin to open the door, put a slice pan or other shallow dish on the ground to syphon the wastewater into, then struggle to pull the filter out of it's socket and push it back in again without scraping the skin of your knuckles. It is a complete joke!

I will say it is quiet, it's helpful to be able to add things once the load has started, and it's also good (although necessary) to have long delayed start option (so you can get the machine started at 2am to ensure it's ready to hang out in the morning before you need to leave the house).

But, all in all, I hate this machine. It's done nothing but cost me money (clothes and clothing repairs) and waste my precious time since I got it. I expected so much more from a company that made a really great top loader.

Have to wash every towel separately or else it won’t spin dry. I regret giving up my Simpson Top loader. DO NOT BUY!!! Show details

Great for small family – Very satisfied with the product and great package for small family Also very great if you want to wash your blankets/heavy loads. Highly recommended and appreciated. Little bit disappointed when put woolen cloths like sweaters, cardigans, jackets. Cause it not really squeeshing the water out from those type of clothes.  Show details

Best machine I’ve owned – I’ve had mine almost 4 years and it’s never missed a beat. It washes everything, even large bulky items brilliantly. It’s so quiet, you don’t even notice it’s running! The quick cycles are great if you’re in a hurry or have a smaller load. Everything comes out beautifully clean even on the quick cycles. Clothes dry really quickly thanks to the great spin cycle.  Show details

Great, efficient washer – Great front loader with many options. I generally use the 30 min wash which is perfect for normal soiled loads. Spins well and keeps turning finished wash to limit creasing, until I get back to hang out. Highly recommend the brand, although this model has now been upgraded, but likely as good or better.  Show details

Would’t Buy Again – We’ve had this machine 3.5years and it’s had to be fixed 3 times, twice under warranty & once not. And now deciding if to have it repaired a forth time or throw it out for something new. Their service & advice on the errors that have come up has been poor and on the most recent episode we’ve had no response at all. works okay when it’s working but overall a disappointing purchase. Would not recommend!  Show details

Terrible Do Not Buy – This is supposed to be a large machine. It will not even wash one queen size sheet and a couple of pillowcases. Or 2 bath towels and one bathmat and a hand towel in one load.It forever beeps saying it is too full when it is not. It is a nightmare. It washes clothes on auto with the water not even covering the clothes which will shred them. I want to return this machine. It is 1 week old. A disgrace.  Show details

Aewsome – This thing has been given an absolute flogging since we bought it 3 years ago. It does 3 full loads a day every day as we have a king bed, queen bed and double bed, plus family members who play soccer and matial arts as well as tradesmen clothes. The place is like a professional laundry. Cleans well, has lots of options for loads, water levels… Read more

and clothing types. Gentle wash is very good for fragile fabrics. Runs very quietly. Definitely would recommend it.

Well Made, Works Well, But One Issue to Consider – We've had one of these now for six months, and it gets solid use. It washes well and is easy on the clothes, while being as silent as you could expect. The only issue I have with it is that the standard wash cycle takes just over an hour, so if you have more than one load a large part of your day is going to be taken up waiting for the machine. … Read more

(On the other hand, I am sneaky, and generally use the quick 30 minute cycle which washes well enough that my wife has yet to spot the difference.) So when looking for a washing machine, investigate how long the wash cycle takes to make sure you can live with it.

Great and reliable washing machine – I bought this washing machine in mid 2016 and overall has been very satisfied with it. I didn't want to get a Samsung at that time and wanted to give F&P a try and it turned out to be a very good product and it was cheaper than Samsung. Though i am not sure if it has smart features to measure how much water I need for my clothes, so far it has… Read more

done its job of getting everything cleaned and doesn't wear-out my clothes. I also like the variety of function it has to offer though i mostly stick to "everyday" mode. I strongly recommend any electrical appliances products coming from F&P and I personally also own an F&P fridge.

Best washing machine Ive owned – This is a great machine. Its quiet, easy to use, got heaps of different programs for all your needs. It also has a hot water inlet incase you got free hot water from solar or something. If not you can just have the machine heat up the water as we do. Take your time when you set it up and make sure its lever otherwise it might walk away from you during spinning cycle.  Show details

Avoid! – Have had two of these machines now. The first one failed after about 2 months. A major component broke loose inside during the spin cycle, denting the side of the cabinet as it flailed around! Terrible noise and vibration! The damage being irreparable the machine was replaced under warranty. Sadly after another 3 years the replacement machine… Read more

failed in exactly the same way. The machines received only light use and were never overloaded.

Prior to this we had very good experience with F&P clothes washers which is why we selected this machine, despite misgivings due to bad experience with an F&P dishwasher.

The dishwasher was replaced with a European model and we will be doing the same with the clothes washer.

Oh and don't bother contacting customer service. After collecting details of model, nature of failure etc for their records you will never hear from them again.

Never again F&P!!

Washed well and quietly, until the bearings disintegrated – Bought it as it was one of very few washing machines that could handle low water pressures, and has hot and cold water feed. It also has handy features such as delayed start, wool wash, add a garment and received positive feedback from the store. It washed very well, very quiet. Had to reduce the spin cycles to 800rpm as higher speeds require a… Read more

solid floor to stop it going walkabouts. After 2 years the washing machine started to make a squeaky sound which became increasingly louder when the drum rotates this led to eventually calling a technician. The washing machine was written off as the costs of repair were in excess of NZ$1100. It has done less then 100 washes in the 2y3m I had it. Thankfully I had been persuaded to take out an extended warranty.

Finally an excellent washing machine – Had years of hassle with various Whirlpool models, so I was nervous about yet another new washing machine. It's been almost two years and this one hasn't been the slightest problem, does what it needs to do, and keeps up with our very large household and daily washing. I like the options available, makes it easy to make sure each load is handled… Read more

exactly how it needs to be. No noticeable wear on the clothes, nice and quiet, and overall a really reliable and quality item. It's nice to get what you pay for sometimes.

great washing machine – This is the best washing machine ever. My partner works as a driller and previously always struggled to have his work clothes cleaned properly - this does it every time. I love the fact it has so many options to chose from and the add garment feature is handy. It also has a drum clean option which is fantastic  Show details

Best machine I've owned – This is by far the best washing machine I've owned. It does a terrific job washing, be it clothes, towels, linen. The running noise of this machine is very quiet - ours is perfectly balanced so even on the fastest spin dry it is fairly quiet. Very easy to use menu on the front panel and the child lock is an absolute must for us  Show details

3 parts replaced not even 2 years old!! – Do not buy this washing machine!!! I have owned ours for not even 2 years and it has had the water pump replaced, suspension replaced and now a part in the motor replaced!!! Local repairer said they are made with cheap Chinese parts and does not recommend them!!! Stay away!! Fisher Paykel customer relations are totally useless. Couldn't care less!  Show details

Then the glass exploded – Yesterday the glass in the front door exploded. Literally. Glass all over the laundry and steam venting from the machine. Heavy cycle no more than 4 bath towels worth. F&P says this has never happened before but aren't in a hurry to investigate what went wrong (next available technician is 12 Sep and yes I live in a capital city). Up until that… Read more

moment I would have rated the machine 5 stars. The replacement part will cost $50 plus a call out fee of around $145.

Happy with it – This machine works well. Easy to use, and the clothes come out clean. The main issue is that the 'time remaining' indicator can be off by quite a lot, especially if you have a large mixed load and the machine is having trouble getting balanced before the final spin cycle. Used to have a F&P top loader - the front loader is MUCH better. No more white marks on clothes, and it's much more gentle. Would never go back to a top loader.  Show details

Out of balance and the bearings are m asking a noise after 2 years – This machine has been playing up for the last 6 months and is not long out of warranty. The drum looks like it is out of balance and it keeps stopping halfway through the cycle, unbalance, error code 37, door lock, takes 40 mins to complete the spin cycle after 2 rebalances. The bearings are now making a knocking noise and it's just getting worse.… Read more

Was nice and quiet but this has just got bad. Not much of a washing machine if it won't last over 2 years. Our last washing machine lasted 9 years.

Works to perfection – I got this washing machine after a friend told me how good it was. I have found this to be so true! I have notice a drop in my water bill right from the start which was very important in my choice of machine. The efficiency in cleaning my cloths is noticeable and would have to say I am very happy in my choice. I have found it to be a little on the noisy side but the results of the wash are worth it.  Show details

Customisable and reliable – this machine is quiet and does not wobble on the spin cycle. its customisable but as not as much as some newer machines. i love the eco-saving cycle. the buttons are easy to use. it rinses well. it cleans good. i paid $540 ,for mine in 2012 at harvey norman  Show details

Amazing washing machine – It cleans my clothes better than any other washer I've bought before. It's very quiet. I love how easy it is to use. It's easy to clean and wipe out. It looks great and is really economical to use. I would recommend this washer to anyone, in fact my mum bought the same one when I said how happy I am with mine.  Show details