Review: Miele Washing Machine WQ 1000 WPS Nova Edition

Is it a good idea to have a washing machine that senses how dirty the laundry is and adjusts its wash cycle accordingly?

Opinions are divided.

Miele responds with a resounding yes, for otherwise they would hardly have built just such a programme into their WQ 1000 WPS Nova Edition washing machine and given it a name that immediately brings to mind the 1960s cartoon about the Jetsons. SmartMatic. (A name they are so fond of that they have registered it as a trademark).

From yours truly, the answer is a resounding “meh”. Perhaps because you can’t help but think of all the laundry you’d actually prefer to decide for yourself how to wash. Underwear, dishcloths, delicate fabrics and really filthy, germ-infested fabrics. Think of the bottom of a teenager’s sports bag. If you dare.

In Miele’s defence, it must be said that in the description of the SmartMatic function, they emphasise that it is primarily about the amount of laundry and how much water and detergent to use. But how is the machine supposed to know if a sock has been left to marinate for three weeks and is teetering on the line between a 60-degree wash and disposal as hazardous waste?

Socks: 1 – SmartMatic: 0

Of course, there was only one way to find out. We loaded the machine with a load of ‘light’ laundry, which included several pairs of teenage tennis socks with suspiciously grey soles. Could the machine remove the smell and get the tennis socks clean?

After washing, the socks smelled fine, but they were far from clean. It turns out we probably should have selected the ‘light soiling’ option for the SmartMatic programme. By default, the programme is set to a medium level, but it is actually possible to select ‘heavy’. However, it somewhat defeats the purpose of a machine that can think for itself if you still have to go in and make those kinds of adjustments.

The cream of the crop

In case you didn’t notice the price in the fact box for this article, let’s set the record straight once and for all. The WQ 1000 WPS Nova Edition isn’t just any old washing machine. It’s a washing machine in a league of its own. One of the washing machines you’d find in a $20 million penthouse in a New York skyscraper in a Netflix reality series.

So what do you get for your money, apart from SmartMatic?

In short, you get it all. A specially developed drum without ribs, which doesn’t wear out your clothes. It’s called InfinityCare. Automatic detergent dispensing. App control. Loads of programmes and more ready to be downloaded (yes, even one specifically for soft toys). We’ve never seen the ‘New Fabrics’ programme before, which, according to the app, is designed to remove manufacturing residues from the fibres. And, of course, there’s so much AI built in that you can almost have a conversation with the machine.

Auto, auto, not auto

As mentioned, the machine (naturally) has an automatic detergent dispenser built in, but it is worth noting that Miele washing machines have a unique feature: the automatic dispenser only works with the manufacturer’s own special detergent, which is sold in special containers that are placed at the bottom of the machine. It is located far away from the detergent drawer. Which is where other manufacturers have placed their automatic dispensing systems.

In other words, Miele has built in a clever little upsell. Just like when cheap printers require expensive ink cartridges. Except that here, both the machine and the detergent are expensive.

If you live in a multi-million-dollar skyscraper in New York, you probably don’t care, but for the rest of us, it feels a bit like being put in handcuffs. Because if you don’t want to use Miele’s own detergent, you have to pour ordinary detergent into the perfectly ordinary detergent drawer with every single wash, just like all other ordinary people. We’ve said it before, Miele: it’s not entirely fair.

But who knows, maybe one day there’ll be a market for generic detergent, just like Nespresso’s coffee capsules.

The app and everything else

The joy of owning a washing machine with an app is only marred if you’re unlucky enough to own a machine from a manufacturer that hasn’t developed a 100% functional app that just works. That will not be the case if you own this machine.

Miele’s app is reliable; it connects to the machine in seconds, responds quickly AND is intuitive. In short: excellent.

Throughout the entire test period, it works perfectly, showing not only the remaining wash time but also exactly which part of the cycle the machine is currently running. It sends notifications without fail when it’s time to empty the machine, and if you don’t get there quickly enough, it runs an anti-crease programme where the laundry gets a gentle shake at regular intervals until the door is opened.

Even the small detail that the machine can actually be switched on via the app boosts the overall rating.

Conclusion

A truly world-class machine that will meet even the most discerning expectations. There is an interesting inherent contradiction in a washing machine that features both automatic programmes and highly specialised programmes, such as the one designed to remove manufacturing residues from new fabrics. The question is, will you remember them all in the hustle and bustle of daily life, or will you simply stick to the same good old programme that you use for 85 per cent of your laundry anyway?

Communication with the app works brilliantly, and the app itself is well-designed and intuitive. Everyone can get to grips with it.

All in all, a true luxury machine that the vast majority would love to own. Certainly, we would.

 

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)