How Long Does A Washing Machine Last?

The length of time a washing machine lasts can vary greatly - anything from a couple of months to about 20 years. It really depends on how well you look after it and how well made it is.

I recently bought a washing machine from John Lewis and the sales assistant told me he would expect a washing machine to last from five to 10 years. He also gave me a few tips for how to make your washing machine last as long as possible; which I’m happy to share.

Firstly, never load your washing machine with too many clothes. Once it is loaded you should be able to put your hand in the drum above the clothes and wave it around without touching the clothes or the top of the drum.

Secondly, every 100 washes or so do an empty cycle so the water can just run through the system and clean out any grime which has been building up. Some people also do this cycle with baking soda and distilled white vinegar to really give it a good clean.
Finally, make sure you empty all the pockets before putting clothes in the washer, bits of tissues is definitely not going to help its lifespan.

I do think it’s important to buy a brand you know - from a shop that you trust, that comes with a guarantee. Most guarantees are at least one year long which will protect you if the machine has any kind of initial faults. Also, if it is a well known brand you are more likely to be able to get spare parts or get it fixed if something does go wrong.

There is no fixed time period that a washing machine should last but I know if I had to replace mine in the next five years I would be very disappointed.

A good quality washing machine can last many years! Buy one that doesn't have too many electronic parts that can go out. The led lights and numbers are fun and look impressive, but plain 'ol dials work fine and don't usually break.

A normal life span of a modern washing machine is about 5 years. This is because in today's time people prefer to buy a new washing machine rather than repair it, as the gap between cost of repairing a washing machine and cost of buying a new machine is decreasing every year. Also, due to the availability of newer models every year, people also prefer to update their washing machine even if there is a slight problem with their machine. As oppose to the olden times, when manufacturers sold high quality washing machines and then provided services to take care of the machine through out its life span, nowadays modern manufacturers want to sell their washing machines in bulk. Hence, the prices are cheaper but the quality is also poorer. Hence, the life span of a washing machine automatically decreases.

My GE is over 20 years old and has never broken. Do other people have ones that have lasted this long. My husband says we need a new one but why should I if this one is not broken

My family still use an old style washing machine, washer and spinner no drier because here we do not need a drier. We have this machine...Singer for over 10 years and it still works very well. My wife wants to have the new modern one but we still can not afford.What we do is we keep it inside and clean it well every time after we use it.I checked the motor and clean the drainage often. Before use it make sure that nothing is left in clothing pockets, such as coins, hair clip. These will cause troubles. This is how we can keep our washing machine last this long

My Current washer and dryer are about 15 years old. Sears. The previous ones lasted about the same amount of time, also Sears Kenmore. I've had to have a few minor repairs done, but I don't see the need to upgrade every few years. I bought not the top of the line, but close to it. I used to buy the maintenance agreement, but found it's really not worth it. The dryer seems to be taking a little longer to dry, so it may need to be replaced, but the washer still does a great job.

Believe it or not, I have a washing machine which is over twenty years old.It is much older then I am, but it is very good at washing and has still got no faults.I think most washing machines wear out after a few years, but it's best to get a good quality one that will last for a long time.

I have never had a washing machine last more than 2 years which is very upsetting because they are so expensive. My last one broke today. It is a Maytag front loader than cost me $900 in August 2008 so it is only 23 months old. I don't know what to do because I just can't keep buying them.

We had a Washer and Dryer from Sears that lasted a long time.  The washing machine died about two years ago and now last week the dryer finally quit.  So I guess considering the dryer lasted 16 years and the washing machine lasted 14 years – we got our moneys worth out of the deal.

Only gripe I have is we went from a gas dryer to an electric one.

I agree with the above sentiments, lights look impressive but makes the appliance more complicated. Just get basic, they last longer. Mine Hoover 18 years. I just wish I could get the same but new, Is it possible? To still get an appliance that old? Thanks Jack.

Our hoover washing machine is in its 17th year and still working fine, had  small maintenace repairs twice in that time so propably still has a couple of years left

It really depends on your machine and how it has been taken care of. The average is 5 years but we had one that was 9 years old when we upgraded to a new one.

My top loading Sears Kenmore lasted 11 years with 2 teenage boys overloading it constantly. Not sure why I was surprised that it finally quit yesterday. Paid $465. For it so I did get my money out of it.  After reading other reviews, my new machine will not be electronic nor a water senor.