Fisher & Paykel WashSmart WA8560G1 (8.5kg)
VerifiedMPNs: 8099 and WA8560G1149 reviews
This machine is the worst washing machine I have ever purchased. After only 3 washes I noticed it does not spin the clothes dry. They are still very damp. I had to buy a washing machine in a hurry. DO NOT BUY THIS MACHINE. EVEN after spinning the clothes twice they still are below standard from my last washing machine. Show details
Do not buy! Awful washing machine. Puts fisher & paykel to shame. Nothing like the old machines I have had that were brilliant! Everything I read in the reviews and took into consideration, was correct. But you assume that you can't please everyone, so do not take the comments to heart. But it is all true! Initially I wash happy to ignore… Read more
the design faults as I had a new machine - old machine was 15 years old. But as time goes on, you realise it really is the worst washing machine ever! *spin cycle - having to put through a spin cycle 2-3 times (for eg. Just put through a small wash and on 2nd spin got approx another 200-250 ml of water spun from clothes). *automatic water level on filling - you have to check the water level after filling and before washing. Often have to top up water as automatic water fill is insufficient to move clothes around to wash. *washing with hot water - you can not add any more items once the wash cycle has started as the machine will not top up with hot or warm water - hard with a teenager. Despite all efforts, you often find additional items to add. *machine will empty the water randomly. Have not even really figured out why yet. Think one way is if you put machine on pause to soak or while you get other items to add, it just starts emptying the water. You have to turn it on and off a few times or unplug, for it to stop emptying. *pump loudness - the old machines had loud spin cycles, so I am used to noise at the end of the cycle. However, this is the pump that is very loud. So every time it empties water through the cycle, it is loud!
I purchased this machine, not realising that there was a plastic agitator in the bottom that did not attach itself to the bottom. WORST THING EVER!! My towels get chewed up and I have massive holes in them. I cannot put anything delicate in it, on the off chance that it will wreck my clothes. It has even put holes in my delicates bag, when I have… Read more
put it in hoping for the best. It works ok on my husbands clothes and heavy items but for towels, and tea towels, it just chews them up. Choose something different, I have gone through over $400 of beautiful towels.
Reviews with attachments
F & P gone from Great machines to very poor Quality – Washing machine, built china, has been very noisy from new. 4 years old and needs repair. Goes out of balance at the drop of a hat. It never washed the clothes to our satisfaction not like our previous F & P built in Australia.
Good easy to use washer – This is my third F & P washer the previous lasting 15 years. The new washer though slimmer in profile is deeper even though the capacity is the same as the previous model and fits well into small spaces. It washes well on all cycles even though the pump can be a bit nosiy at times. That being said I have never had a quiet washing machine.... A… Read more
lot has been said negatively about this model but if you read the instructions and use it as per them it performs perfectly well. It is a good all round washer. Purchased from The Good Guys Helensvale.
So far so good – My old Fisher and Paykel lasted 10 yrs, only reason I changed was the fin to the agitator snapped, cost to replace and call out fee was not worth it. My original replacement was LG but after reading so many many bad review on this site, I decided to stick with same trusted brand. I got it from the GoodGuy and lucky for me the ordering, the… Read more
delivery and yes installation was very smooth. Not much change from the Quicksmart to the Washmart; softer lid closing, added Delicate, Allergy, Quick wash auto water level and time to go washing. The timing is surprising accurate. They still persist with pouring detergent down the main agitator shaft, quite often the fabric softener lid above it can get stuck. With the new machine, the safety lid function stayed on a lot longer throughout the washing cycle.
One major difference with this new model (my perception) the clothes come out slightly wetter and more lint. It been a week now trying it out with various washing cycle and lint is still an issue, not major.
Operation wise it is quieter compare to the old machine. Measured on my Apple Watch was 65db. I hope the fix the balancing issue with long term usage; our old way shake a lot after 2-3 yrs and I have to manually adjust the legs to level it again.
It is good so far, but after 10 years I would have thought they change the design of the agitator and the tune when cycle complete.
big let down – When you invest in a high-end washing machine like the Fisher & Paykel WashSmart WA8560G1, you expect top-notch performance and quality. Unfortunately, in this case, the machine has fallen far short of those expectations. Leaving marks on clothes is a serious issue for any washing machine, but it's particularly egregious for a high-end model.… Read more
When you're paying a premium price, you should be able to trust that your clothes will come out of the machine looking clean and pristine, without any extra effort on your part. The fact that the Fisher & Paykel WashSmart WA8560G1 consistently leaves marks on clothes is a major flaw that undermines the entire purpose of owning a washing machine in the first place.
Furthermore, the fact that the machine became so dirty inside is a clear sign of poor design and/or maintenance. A high-end washing machine should be engineered to prevent the buildup of dirt, grime, and other debris, and should be easy to clean and maintain. The fact that this machine required such a thorough cleaning, and that it made the reviewer feel sick, is a clear indication that the machine falls short of these standards.
Overall, it's disappointing and frustrating to spend a significant amount of money on a high-end washing machine only to discover that it doesn't live up to its promises. When you invest in a top-quality appliance, you expect it to deliver superior performance and reliability, and unfortunately, the Fisher & Paykel WashSmart WA8560G1 appears to have failed on both counts.
Play a National Anthem Tune – Here is a wee gem hidden secretly away on your touch pad control panel of your Fisher and Paykel washing machine. Enjoy your surprise as you now rush to try it out. Some models may not have this feature. Show details
Positive reviews
A great machine spoiled by a cheap, plastic agitator – A great machine spoiled by a cheap, plastic agitator. At 22 months the lower lobes on the agitator fatigued and one detached - the other two hanging by a thread quickly followed. In 40 years of owning washing machines I have never had such a ridiculous failure. Show details
A smart decision – I chose Fisher & Paykel on a recommendation from a service agent. They are a very reliable unit with minimal moving parts, meaning all other parts are easily replaced and readily available locally! The 8.5kg is mid size but capable of most loads you'd need to do! Reliability, easy operation, quick servicability and a good looking machine! Fantastic choice! Show details
Love this machine - It is quiet and gets on with the job! – This is my 2nd Fisher & Paykel top loading machine, previous one lasted about 15 years. I have had this machine for approx 1.5 years and it hasn't missed a beat, it is quiet and cleans beautifully and very easy to operate. And a shout out to appliances on line, they take away the old and replace with the new, they plug it all in to make sure it operates OK. You wont be disappointed with this purchase. Show details
Negative reviews
Frustrating washing machine – This Smart 8.5 washing machine is absolutely disgusting it's balance is always out can't do any washing. Ready to smash it. Got this off Harvey Norman about 4 year's ago and it's the most frustrating washing machine ever.
Waste of money – Not happy with this machine, within 5 years, the agitator broke, suspension rods broke, constant error displays and loads are too long....Don't waste your money.
Find out how Fisher & Paykel WashSmart WA8560G1 (8.5kg) compares to other Top Loading Washing Machines
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quality is gone as have helpful features – I have had fisher paykel washing machines for the last 30 years - lasting between 7-9 years each. and i have always been extremely happy with them. but in december i purchased my latest machine model WA8560G1 and i am vey unimpressed. firstly it does not have a second rinse cycle. which i need as i am very sensitive to detergents. and if i pause… Read more
the machine during the wash cycle, it automatically drains. even if i turn the power off it still drains after a few minutes. WHY. what is the point of a pause button if you cant pause it for more than 2-3 minutes. i attempted to call your line as i honestly thought it was faulty. and was told oh yeah read the manual some of our machines do this. very poor response. is my particular machine actually supposed to do this. and again if its actually supposed to why would you do this? i have also noticed that you are no longer putting agitators in your top loaders. sadly i think this will be the last ever machine i buy from your company. i also purchased a dryer. which is also not living up to my previous experiences. very sad how your company appears to just not be producing quality anymore. and your features have reduced considerably. like why can't you open the lid once its started washing?
Recent reviews
Broke in 3 years – Worked well for 3 years. As soon as warranty expired the suspension rods have gone. Apparently this is a known problem with F&Ps top loaders and costs $350 to fix. I’m mift that I paid over $1000 and it’s broken in 3 years time. I contacted F&P and no response. Ironically, when it was delivered from Harvey Norman it had a cosmetic dint. The… Read more
delivery person said that they would replace it as the product was dinted in the box. I never heard back from Harvey Norman either.
Do not recommend – I’m so sick of our washing machine! Clothes come out dirtier than when they go in, clothes gone in aren’t even soiled. So most of the time I need to rewash them. It’s a bigger washing machine than our last one but can’t put in as many clothes. Supposed to have an automatic lint system. I do not recommend Fisher & Paykel Show details
I have never hated anything I’ve bought as much as this machine – Honestly in my entire life I’ve never hated anything as much as I hate this washing machine. I am a single female household and it is the biggest piece of junk to do the small few loads I do a week. I have had it for about four years and it’s given me nothing but problems. The biggest issue is the constant failure to maintain the load distribution… Read more
and therefor becomes out of balance constantly during the rinse cycle. As a result I have had extraordinarily high water bills, higher power bills, and I’m constantly having to run up and down the stairs to adjust it up to 20 times to finish the 38 minute cycle. A bit after 12 months pieces of the white inside the drum snapped and had to be replaced around $150. Twice I’ve had it in for repairs at my expense. Cycle always takes 2-4x the time it should because of playing up. Also the sound it makes whenever it plays up sounds like birds, so I constantly feel haunted by the sound of birds thinking it’s the machine beeping at all hours of the day. I can’t wait for it to die. I will never buy anything from this brand again.
Disappointing beyond belief – We have had a fisher and Paykel for the last 14 years and never a problem and loved it. Replaced it 2 weeks ago with similar model and a bit bigger. The clothes come out all screwed up and unbelievably all need to ironed. It is much noisier and the spin cycle still leaves clothes much wetter and this takes drying longer. Have read manual and adjusted settings including the spin to no avail. I’m very disappointed to say the least. Show details
Cant believe how bad it is clothes always covered in lint – We had an older model Fisher Paykel 10kg top Loader for over 10 years and never had an issue with it was an amazing machine. So when we moved house last year to something smaller need a smaller machine so went with the WA8560G1. Well what a lemon. From day one we have had nothing but clothes covered in lint and marks after washing. Tried various… Read more
routing of the drain hose to help with the supposed Auto lint filter but no change. Purchased the Fisher Paykel Lint Filter option but still the lint on clothes is there. We will be purchasing a new machine again but it wont be Fisher & Paykel again. Have tried contacting them but nor response. Very frustrating for what used to be a good brand.
Faulty – Since new was a bit noisy, clunking stop starting a bit. I thought was normal for fisher and paykel. After 3 years when out of warranty it got worse then would not complete wash cycles etc , always stopping with error codes etc. Now its at the tip at 3 1/2 years old. My mother has same machine but newer than mine and still under warranty she just… Read more
had it repaired, doing the same as mine. Have been told this is a problem with this model (and maybe others?) the company apparently knows this and continous to sell them. I now gone back to a Samsung and will never buy from this Company again. (Apparently Haier now own Fisher and Paykel. They need to be held accountable. Avoid them like the plague.
Average machine with lots of issues – It is rough on cloths so you have to use the gentle cycle for regular wash and so on. It also doesn’t have a lint trap and that create the obvious issue. Machine gets dirty frequently which talks to the design and the control board start to give you errors and start to fail constantly. It’s not worth the hassle. Show details
Disappointing – Had machine for just over two years and two of the three agitator fins have snapped off. Used for light domestic washing and has been treated gently. Quality of materials and design is not fit for purpose. Customer service from F and P is unhelpful. Show details
Find out how Fisher & Paykel WashSmart WA8560G1 (8.5kg) compares to other Top Loading Washing Machines
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Wish I had never bought it – My wonderful Washsmart that I bought in 2013 motherboard died and my husband was sick so best to buy another. Biggest mistake I have made in 66 years of marriage. All the washing is terribly tangled so bad I need another pair of hands to help undo the mess, tears straps off and nearly everything is inside out when finished, you cannot stop the… Read more
machine to add or change something without it completely emptying, so you lose all that hot water, I need tongs to get the last of the washing out it is so deep, yes it is narrower but also much deeper, I am 1.57 cm tall and rinsing is terrible full of soap. Agitator is really terrible. Would give anything to get my old one back it was reliable 2013-2022 with no problems. Even sheets completely tangled and so creased on 300 spin doesn't matter what setting. Tried all cycle times and yes it is a top loader. Don't buy Fisher & Paykel have nothing good to say about it at all after having them for years biggest disappointment and aggravation when I need less stress not more.
Always been a F&P fan. No More. This is crap! – I feel SMB2, ( review below ) says it all. I was a 'locked on' F&P customer. Harsh wash. Not able to soak overnight because a child might drown. (i did enquire if i could see the stats on how many children had drowned because the top lid was open.... F&P were not able to provide the backup ) As others have said the Excellence model was perfect… Read more
but now the 'skateboarding, red bow tie, yellow braces brigade have made their way into the technical development division and screwed it. Do Not buy F&P. You will be disappointed. A little part of me has died seeing such a great name/product destroyed by the new owners.
Fisher & Paykel is now owned and sold by China, you will now get Chinese quality! – Fisher & Paykel is now owned by China and no longer in the hands of New Zealand, change hands in 2012, the quality of the products is now being seen to be dropping.
terrible brand and model – barely more than 2 years, and now keep showing a "too full" warning even with a few shirts in it. Expensive machine (brand) but a rubbish brand Show details
Disappointed - Visually looks good but when you start using it you'll see looks are deceptive – Bought this Nov 2019 to replace a 15 year old Excellence model. First noticed the drain pump is noisy, about 70db (almost as noisy as a lawn mower) but support said that was normal and the machine isn't faulty. Couldn't adjust the autofill because it just totally underfills (added towels until the totally over the agitator and still only filled to… Read more
medium), so autofill isn't trustworthy (autofill doesn't wash the clothes clean and leaves laundry powder on the clothes (if placed on the clothes or in the tub) in the wash; autofill doesn't use enough water to suspend the lint so clothes are full of lint, but support said autofill is not suitable for all wash types as it for water saving, and I'm to read the manual again. As for the lint, I bought an OEM centre column lint filter and it solves the lint problem when using Low-Med or above water levels. The inward water temperature control on this model is downgraded to on/off solenoids rather than the Excellence's varying inlet water mixing to temperature, which means temperature sensitive clothes can get blanched by hot water so I have to fill the tub first then add the clothes. The lid locks once the wash cycle is done and moving on to the rinse or unless there's a soak when the lid locks at the start; the lid lock is very annoying when wanting to add or remove clothes during the post wash, the Excellence didn't have a lid lock. But then add the timer reset problem every time Pause is selected and then the lower granulation of wash cycle progress selection (when compared with Excellence) where this machine's cycles restart from their beginning when resuming from a pause; not happy about this at all especially if I want to add clothes in the final rinse. Finally agitation speed, a default wash program without enough water has the agitator playing with the clothes and doesn't wash them; this is supposedly listed auto wash load sensing and I've had clothes not wash at all in this case; so found that if I wait for the water fill then press the power button twice and re-select my wash program etc then the agitator give a vigorous wash that actually washes the clothes clean even with lower water levels. Three years on, I've concluded it's a cheap washer with a high price tag; the good news is I've figured out how to make it wash clothes clean; but my previous F&P Excellence model set the expectation bar high from F&P. If the marketing and F&P support were honest back in 2019 with this new model I'd never have bought it or would have returned it back then. My next washer is unlikely to be F&P because of this really bad experience unless F&P can prove the newer models are actually better than the F&P Excellence.
Won't let me stop machine to overnight soak! – Don't buy if you like to soak overnight. Because F n P think a child may drown in machine????..it empties itself out. Turning off power or using pause button makes no difference. Changed from 30 year Simpson to F n P. Want my old machine back! Show details
Doesn't work – Had 2 fisher and Paykel Machines previously absolutely brilliant given my wife works them to death!! waited 10 days for delivery, install and removal of the old machine (which was noisy but still working) fired up for the first load, would fill to wash and spin and empty then game over no rinse cycle, tried every troubleshoot in the book nothing,… Read more
a combination of Good Guys Gold Concierge and F&P service cant get to us for 3 days not impressed, and when it was working it was louder than a 747 coming into land, it is a certified lemon we wish we had read all the negative review prior to out purchase, who know where we go from here!! don't buy one if is is the last washing machine left on the planet..
Disappointing purchase – I had a F & P machine for 20 years and then purchased the new equivalent. New one is noisy when water is draining, sounds like the pump is struggling. Extremely disappointed- would not purchase another one. Show details
From a reliable pedigree, but not up to its predecessors – We bought this washing machine just over 4 years ago, 9/8/2017, and it has done a reasonable job keeping our washing done. We are a retired couple, so not that much involved. However for the last 6-12 months it has been going off balance more and more, with less and less in it. In the end it just didn't matter what was in it, a cycle just never… Read more
completed.
Of course when I googled the machine I found that it is notorious for its balance rods failing anywhere from 2 years old onwards, based I guess on the amount of use it gets. Luckily we had bought an extended warranty and after going through the hoops which that involved, we finally got Fisher and Paykel to sort a repair guy in our area.
This happened pretty fast TBH, and the guy actually took about 15 minutes to remove the old balance rods and replace them with new ones. He confirms to me that these machines are well known for this failure of the balancing rods. The cost for the service call ($75+) and replacement rods ($110-120) is around $200, and was covered by our extended warranty. I was very annoyed with F&P customer service at first contact as their attitude was "not really our problem" but once I realised I had an extended warranty I was a bit more "assertive" with them and got action fairly quickly.
On balance can I recommend this washer? The bottom line is that it is selling for around $1000 at present and if you can build in the likelihood that it will need this major repair in 2-4 years at a cost of $200 then the decision will be yours.
I just wish I'd known this hassle was ahead when I bought it, because I'd probably have made a different decision. This is a pretty major failure in reliability for which F&P was once renowned. Our previous machine a F&P Smartdrive unit gave hassle free service for around 23 years. I guess that isn't the case any more and I'll never again make a purchase on the basis of F&P's reputation for reliability and good customer service.
Don’t purchase if you have pets – Purchased this after my previous f&p died after 13years. Wash cycles are quick and quiet but I think it’s just too gentle as it doesn’t wash as well as expected. I also have pets and it does nothing to get pet fur off unlike my previous washer. It also says it’s an 8.5kg but it’s a lot smaller than my previous 8kg one. Don’t really want to spend hours cleaning my clothes before cleaning my clothes. Very disappointed Show details
Solid build with smart digital display top loader – Bought this unit during lockdown on applicancesonline.com.au after our old machine finally gave in. The washer was delivered next day, kudos to Applicanceonline! I know that front loaders are the more popular models these days as are generally more energy efficient. However, with elderly parents, a top loader model was the only option as I… Read more
didn't have existing shelving to lift the frontloader off the floor. The machine is very easy to use, and the the digital display has pre-programmed wash cycles which means that loads can be started with the push of 2 buttons. As a bonus there is a soak option so I can set and leave the heavily soiled items soaking before I start the main wash. It has a great stainless steel barrel and is super quiet to operate. Very happy with the unit and am confident that this will last in our household for many many years.
VERY DISAPPOINTED CUSTOMER – My F & P 8.5 KG after 2 years started flashing too full even if it had 6 items in it. After having service guy come out $155 later with no result. He said throw it away. All I can say very poor product & absolute waste of $860 if it can only last 2years. We had a F&P for 15 years it was fabulous. But this model is a lemon. I will never buy F & P again. Very annoyed customer!!!!!
Does not use enough water to agitate the clothes when on automatic – Does not use enough water when on Automatic. It resets itself at every wash. Clothes are barely covered if at all with water, so it does not wash or rinse clean. No lint filter so black and dark clothing are noticeably lint covered. Very disappointing as we are retirees and our wash is not a heavy soiled one. Heaven forbid the results if it… Read more
were not so. I bought it on the recommendation of my daughter who has an older model and says hers is fantastic.
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i wish to regrade the Customer service to 5*. I got customer service contacting me and sorted my issues within the week