Miele W1 WMB120 review

The first thing that I noticed about the Miele W1 WMB120 washing machine was how sturdy and heavy it is. Compared to other 8kg machines, the WMB120 is a bit of a lump and it certainly weighs a lot more, too. Far from that being a bad thing, it shows just how ruggedly constructed this machine is. Besides, extra weight should mean it stays put even when spinning at full speed, and this was certainly one of the less intrusive washing machines that I’ve tested. There’s a lot to be said for build quality and it’s fair to say that the WMB120 is one of the best made machines that I have seen.

Miele has also decided to keep things simple with its front panel, with a simple dial switch that lets you pick the type of wash you want (Woolens, Delicates, Cottons and so on). Once you’ve set your wash type, you can then use the additional option buttons to customise it to your esact needs. These include adjusting the temperature and spin speed, plus you can say how soiled your garments are (Light, Normal or Heavy) to further tailor the wash and get your clothes as clean as possible.

On top of those options, the W1 WMB120 has a set of wash options to improve the quality of your wash. There are the usual options for a short cycle, an extra rinse (this is good for allergy sufferers that need all of the detergent washed out), and soak and pre-wash options for getting heavily soiled garments cleaner. For this machine, there’s also the Pre-ironing option, which uses steam, via the SoftSteam honeycomb drum, to smooth out garments after they’ve been cleaned. It makes a noticeable difference and makes garments that bit easier to deal with. 

Capacity

As noted, the W1 WMB120 has an 8kg capacity. This isn’t the largest load capacity that I’ve seen, but it’s probably the most practical for the majority of households: this gives you enough space for a regular week’s washing and there’s room for bigger items, such as duvets, too. Besides, washing machines work out to be more efficient the closer you have them to full capacity, so 8kg is easier for most people to deal with than larger 10kg machines.