Customer Reviews

Bosch Axxis Series : WAS20160UC 24 Front-Load Washer

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Though I've been running it for slightly under two months, I am extremely pleased with all aspects of operation. Sure, compared to the run of the mill American machines, it is costlier, slower, and has a smaller load capacity, but it fits my space perfectly, and has really been a wonderful machine. I've owned similar Bosch products for years (for the same reason of limited space,) and the improvement in the current model is truly amazing. For my personal needs, this was the best machine on the market. I recommend it wholeheartedly. (If you plan on stacking a dryer upon it, you'll more or less be limited to purchasing the matching Bosch dryer because AC power supply most ideally comes from the dryer, and the matching dryer unit stacks perfectly upon this washer.) The manufacturer does not STRESS STRONGLY ENOUGH the importance of removing the four (4) packing bolts/screws from the back of the washer. Those steps are easily overlooked. MAKE CERTAIN you have removed four (4) very long bolts/screws from the back of the washer BEFORE you ever turn it on. Search until you find them!!! You can easily install the machine yourself (with your wife or husband, your friend, your teen-ager, etc.,) if you take your time, level judiciously, have a small step ladder handy, in case you're stacking the dryer atop the washer, etc.) However, if your deal includes installation, that's probably worth $50-$100. I ordered through Amazon, and the delivery was extremely speedy; but then, I order almost everything I buy through Amazon... so I was not surprised by the good service.

Very happy with this machine. It replaced an old ultra compact (CREDA) which was 15 years old. This machine is extremely quiet, washes great and is easy to operate. I am not a heavy commercial-like household and laundry needs are simple. I use Meyers detergents only and a little dry non chlorine "bleach" in the wash on whites and everything is done well. I also make sure to leave the door open after doing loads since mold would be unavoidable given the tight door seal without drying the unit out. All in all I'm very pleased with this unit.

This machine does an excellent job of washing clothes. It is quiet, efficient and versatile. It holds way more clothing than you would think. The only complaint that I have is that the door seal gets mildew stained and smelly within weeks, and eventually the rubber rots and begins to leak. Mine is not yet two years old and I am replacing the seal, having lived for 18 months with the smell and unsightly appearance of the mildew. I tried wiping it with bleach, until that bleached out my black shirts! Too bad, I wish they had a solution to this problem.

I've done everything recommended, and still the mold smell persists in the washer. Bleach, vinegar, 'cleaners' dry it out for days on end - nothing works. Now my clothes come out smelling moldy, too. Don't buy this mold factory. Bosch should be ashamed to put their name on this piece-o-junk.

Matching dryer has it's own set of problems - requiring annual (expensive) visit from the repairman to clean out unreachable lint traps inside the machine.

As with most other reviewers, we have had problems with mold accumulation. If told in the manual to wipe seal after every wash, we would have done that, but there is no such warning. We have always left door open after washing, so our mold didn't show up until close to a year after purchase, but now we can't get rid of it. If we had a choice in size (under counter and shallow depth) we'd go with a different manufacturer. Shame on you, Bosch.

We bought our Bosch about five years ago. We have probably spent about $500 on various service calls and replacements since we've owned it. We had to get the motor replaced about a year ago. The mildew problem stated by another reviewer is a problem we've experienced, too. Plus, the spin cycle (when working) is extremely loud. It sounds like a jet airplane taking off! Next time, we will buy GE--their products last and repair is not as expensive.

This machine looks nice, touts efficency, and carries a good name. Bosch has tarnished their name by making a unit that needs entirely too much attention for a washing machine. Bosh is aware of the mold issue and will do nothing to help, only offer the advice that you should magically know when you buy the unit (although it is nowhere in the manual) to wipe the door seal dry and leave the door open AFTER EVERY USE!!! I have found this ridiculous and unacceptable. Changing the door seal yourself is a nightmare (and I'm an experienced mechanic) do yourself a favor and STAY AWAY FROM ALL BOSCH FRONT LOADERS! They continue to manufacture this design as if nothing is wrong. BOSCH: SUCK IT UP AND RECALL THIS GARBAGE.

The only cycle that cleans clothes reasonably is the extreme high heat cycle for whites. Non-whites going through any other cycle come out smelling of mildew. There is no other solution than to pre-soak clothes once or even twice, then wash them. This method works most of the time (not all of the time), but since I work a full time job it now takes nearly a day to get one small load of clothes through the soak, wash and dry cycle: I have to put them in the soak cycle when I go to bed, in the wash before work, then in the dryer when I get home. I fold before going to bed. The washer is so small that it means I am doing laundry all the time. Worse, sometimes one extra soak cycle is not enough to get the mildew smell out of clothes, so I have to run the tiny load through another day of the cycle.

Do not waste your money on this piece of garbage. Stay away from this machine.

This unit (with its "take forever to dry" 220V dryer) fits a tight closet, like in our one BR condo. Thats why we bought it. Its attractive. Those are its pluses. But beware: Its small size makes it suitable for very small loads only, like one set of sheets from the bed or a couple bath towels. The wash quality is adequate.

Cons: It takes a long while to do a load as it spends half its operating cycle time reversing directions. The operating manual is horribly written, poorly laid out, general to dozens of models, and yet the washer controls are cryptic at best - but you will figure it out after a while, mostly anyway. I am sure there are some special features that this engineer has yet to determine.

We have not had a mold problem yet, but the door seal promotes water retention and you have to dry it after each use (this is obvious) - Bosch needs to ask a college senior design group to redesign what their careless engineers cannot.

I cannot recommend this unit unless it is your only option (we had to have something to fit a 24 inch space). Then it is adequate performance, but expensive for what you get with high maintenance after each use. I prefer our old Whirlpool.

I purchased a Bosch washer (model WAS20160UC) and dryer (model WTV76100US) set in December 2011. This is the experience I have had with the Bosch appliances. It is a vented dryer, not the condensation model. This review is mostly about the dryer.

Pros: Stylish (witch makes no difference since the dryer is so poor)

Cons: This dryer takes very long to dry even small loads. It will get warm but not hot. A Bosch technician measured the temperature of the dryer at 122 degrees Fahrenheit. But, he informed me that this was normal for this dryer. In one test; two bath towels, two hand towels, and one facial towel were washed in the washer and rinsed on maximum spin to remove as much of the water as possible. It took the dryer 1hr. 20 min. to dry the load. After many phone calls and 3 or 4 service calls, they replaced the dryer. It performed as poorly as the first. So, I called an electrician to really find out what was going on. With freshly washed towels in the dryer, he observed the dryer drawing 10 amps (about the maximim rating) for 15 to 20 seconds. Then it went down to 5 amps for about about 30 seconds (he described it as half heat) then down to room temperature air coming out of the exhaust for another couple minutes. It repeats this cycle. At no time does the dryer actually get hot enough to remove the moisture from the load. It mostly just uses ambiant temperature air to dry the clothes. If touch the clothes in the middle of the load, they mearly feel slightly warm. While it is not practical for most people to use a clothes line, I think it would be just as effective as this dryer.

The thing that bugs me the most about this whole debacle is this: Both Bosch and the appliance store had the attitude that I should just accept the poor performance because it is a European design. I heard many excuses defending an appliance that I truly believe they KNOW does not perform as it should.

If you buy a coffee maker, do you expect it to make coffee in about 15 minutes? If you buy a blender, do you expect it to blend what you put in it? Well, when you buy a DRYER, you kind of expect it to actively dry.

In fairness, this washer/dryer set may be suitable for a single person who does small loads of laundry. You can expect a small load to take 60 minutes to wash and 80 minutes to dry. So you are right around 3.5 to 4 hours for two small loads.

Update: The appliance store has taken back the Bosch washer and dryer. I have replaced them with a GE unitized washer/dryer (model GTUP240EWH) This dryer completely dried the same load in 30 minutes.

I hope this review is helpful for you.