Used W4800 cleaning and programming

15 years ago

Hello to all, it's been a while I wasn't over here since things have been going well with the W1213 I bought almost a year ago.

Long story short, last week I came across a used W4800 on craigslist for 500$, the deal was good so I bought it for the parents to replace a not so old GE top loader.

The machine is now installed, it was a pain to bring up the stairs, and it already did a couple of washes with respectable results.

The machine has the following minor issues considering the price paid:

1: Plastic part where the control panel sits on is cracked along the lip; it seems like a bad plastic batch.

2: Upon pulling the boot to see the drum, there is some mold in there.

3: The heavy door is a little sagging.

4: Water levels are ridiculously low! I can barely see water at the bottom on the normal cycle.

Some problems I'll live with given the price paid and the fact that the machine is out of warranty, but other stuff is bugging me.

Does anyone know how to program the water plus on this one? I searched the forum and most of the discussion is about the 4840. Is there a service manual available somewhere for the 4800, I have the one for my 1213 and it came in really handy?

I would also like to know how many hours of usage this thing has.

Can anyone recommend a machine cleaning procedure?

I was thinking to do the following, all in Sanitize mode:

1. One cycle with 3-4 tbsp of dishwasher detergent to degrease the machine.

2. Another cycle with a good load of bleach dumped in to kill the mold.

3. A delicates cycle to rinse the whole thing.

4. If needed a cycle with some citric or oxalic acid to remove any possible scaling.

Is this overkill?

Thank you for any input, it is greatly appreciated.

Mihai

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

livebetter
15 years ago
Hi Mihai,

This is a link to Miele Canada website with the W4800 manual.

I don't think the things you listed for cleaning can do any harm so why not.

I'm not sure about the programming menu on the W4800 as there is no display screen.

Here is a link that might be useful: Miele W4800 manual
suburbanmd
15 years ago
Send me your regular email address (click on my name, and then click on "Send me an email"), and I'll send you W4800btd.pdf. It includes programming instructions for the W4800. Apparently the W4800 can be programmed via the panel buttons, even though it has no display.
Related Professionals
Joplin Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Fayetteville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Killeen Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Victorville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Knoxville Bathroom Remodelers · Eau Claire Bathroom Remodelers · Murrieta Bathroom Remodelers · Durango Bathroom Remodelers · Sarnia Bathroom Remodelers · Somerset Cabinets & Cabinetry · Fayetteville Cabinets & Cabinetry · Raleigh Cabinets & Cabinetry · Watertown Cabinets & Cabinetry · Santa Barbara Cabinets & Cabinetry · Rapid City Cabinets & Cabinetry
Cavimum
15 years ago
" 4: Water levels are ridiculously low! I can barely see water at the bottom on the normal cycle."

This is normal level on my W4842.

As for the mold, you might have better luck with a dedicated mold remediation product. I have some that I bought from an allergy store, which I use to treat a foundation wall that gets damp from time to time. This is what the companies use in homes that have been flooded, etc. I was told this stuff messes with the DNA of mold and really kills it, versus chlorine bleach which only bleaches it to a lighter color. (I'm just telling you what he said).

The active ingredient is the same active ingredient in the Dow Scrubbing Bubbles aerosol bathroom cleaner.
mihai914
Original Author
15 years ago
Livebetter, thank you for the link, I had already downloaded it from the website.

Suburbanmd, message sent, I really appreciate it! I already programmed my compact machine which has a basic display (numbers only), you have to use blinking lights to figure things out, and it's not that bad to do.

Cavimum, thank you for the tip, I will most likely have to go that route as the mold is more stubborn than I thought. After that sanitize cycle with dishwasher detergent you could see mold particles floating around during rinsing.

I've seen worse before and it currently doesn't smell but I would rather take care of it now than deal with it later.

Mihai
sshrivastava
15 years ago
There's also a product out there called Microban that will kill mold and disinfect.
dvmak
13 years ago
Did anyone ever figure out how to program the W4800 to use more water per wash?
User
13 years ago
You do not need to program it. Just do not use the Normal cycle. It is designed to meet the Energy Standards, because the vast majority of people just set any washer on Normal, and let it rip. It is specifically designed to be stingy on water, have very low water target temperatures, and have shorter wash times. Use any other cycle besides normal and you will be fine.
dvmak
13 years ago
Miele1966,

I have never noticed a difference between the different cleaning cycles. I never see any water in the drum. Also, is there a way to get a second rinse?
User
13 years ago
I might suggest this: The next time you are washing a load, let the washer go for about 10 minutes. Pause it, and open the door. Push the laundry back and see if there is a pool of water on the bottom of the drum. Honestly, there should not be more than a few inches. You will not routinely see water splashing in any new front load washer. Maybe even try to check on different programs, to confirm that water levels vary by program. If you do not see a small pool of water, then you will probably need to call Miele service. You should also have an Extra Rinse, or Sensitive button on the console. That option will give you extra rinsing. Let us know what you find, and good luck!
canuck123
12 years ago
Can someone send me the service manual mentioned above? I'm pretty much in the same position as the original poster; got a used one and want to jack up water use and see what else I can do :)