Bosch WGG244F1FR (washing machine with automatic detergent dosing): our review

Sunday evening, and the washing pile includes bedding, school shirts and the towels nobody remembered to bring downstairs. The 9 kg cotton capacity gives the Bosch WGG244F1FR room for bigger loads, making it a sensible candidate for a household that regularly fills the basket. That capacity belongs to a full cotton load; synthetics and wool programmes accept much less. A favourite jumper still needs its own care instructions followed.

The 65 L drum offers generous room for laundry to move. That matters when bulky washing takes up space before it reaches the permitted weight. Planning to wash a duvet at home? Check the programme guidance for the particular item before committing. Capacity is useful breathing room, not permission to squash everything through the door. The last pillowcase does not get a vote. We like the emphasis here on accommodating substantial, ordinary family washing.

A wash put on before work still leaves a drying job when you get home. The 1400 rpm spin is vigorous and intended to help laundry dry sooner, which is useful when the clothes airer has to share the spare room with everything else. Spin efficiency class B is the relevant classification here: expect a contribution to drying, rather than laundry ready to fold straight from the drum.

Fabric care still decides the appropriate setting. A delicate garment should not be sent through the strongest available spin simply because the machine offers it. For everyday cotton washing, though, this is a practical specification to have. Drying needs its own plan. Leave space around clothes on the airer, and allow for the fact that towels and lighter shirts will not necessarily be ready together. The appeal is less water left to deal with afterwards, without promising a particular drying time.

In a flat where the kitchen opens towards the sitting room, the loudest part of a wash can influence when you run it. The declared 71 dB is an average spin noise level, measured during spinning, the noisiest phase. It gives a useful reason to think about timing when somebody is working nearby or settling down for the evening. It cannot describe every sound during the programme.

Spin noise class A accompanies that figure, and an induction motor is included. Neither fact promises an inaudible appliance. We would plan around an audible spin, particularly with thin walls. Correct installation matters too: appliance manuals require the transit bolts to be removed before first use and the machine to stand level. Those are ordinary installation jobs to have completed before the laundry routine begins.

Automatic detergent dosing is a welcome convenience when the utility room is busy and you want to get a wash started without another measuring job. There is also a quick programme for occasions when a smaller washing task needs attention. Its permitted load and duration need checking in the programme instructions before you rely on it for tomorrow's football shirt. The full cotton allowance should never become the assumed quick programme allowance.

The WGG244F1FR belongs to the Bosch Serie 6 range and carries energy class A. Its repairability index is 9.2 out of 10, an encouraging indication of repairability rather than a promise of trouble free ownership. Our overall assessment puts it among the best on the site. That judgement fits a machine with a clear family role and practical conveniences. Automatic dosing removes a recurring chore; it does not sort the red sock out of the pale shirts.

The Beko B3WFT51243W is better suited to large laundry loads, with 12 kg available for a full cotton wash. Consider the Beko B3WFT51243W when substantial loads are your regular pattern. The Haier HW90-B14939S8 is better suited to a flat with thin walls, with a declared spin level of 67 dB. The Haier HW90-B14939S8 is also better rated overall.

For this freestanding, front loading machine, the decisive practical constraint is its 63.2 cm depth in a shallow position. Check the 59.8 cm width against the available gap and the 84.5 cm height against any overhead obstruction. The left hinged door also needs room to open and let you load comfortably. Before ordering, establish who handles delivery, installation and removal of the old appliance, and confirm the warranty, after sales support and returns arrangements with the retailer. A clear plan beats a washing machine waiting in the hallway.