Diary of a Dumpy Princess: Hotpoint Ultima Washing Machine.

Hotpoint Ultima WMUD962P Washing Machine.

When the Hotpoint Ultima was delivered I was quite shocked (but in a good way) of the size of the machine. Compared to my previous washing machine it looked somewhat bigger however I think this was just due to the overall look, with it having a bigger drum and therefore a bigger door which made the appearance quite deceptive as it fitted straight into the space that was there for the machine in the kitchen.

It was very well packaged but I didn't have to deal with any of that as the Hotpoint delivery man disposed of this so it was straight down to my first impressions which were really good.

The Ultima that I have is white, and a very crisp clean white it is too. It is a front loader machine with the large round porthole door being in the middle of the washing machine.

The dispenser drawer is a completely new thing for me, as unlike any washing machine I have ever used in the past, this one does not just pull out by rotates to the side which I think is a really cool feature. It makes the inside of the drawer really easy to get to and I am no longer filling a narrow slot with powder as the slot is quite large and rounded.

On the our side of the dispenser drawer you will find all the wash cycles printed which makes it easy for you to see what you are doing at a glance.

On the opposite side to the drawer is a neat little digital display screen, this lights up with orange coloured writing when on.

And in the middle of the drawer and screen is the power button which is surrounded by a series nine smaller buttons which control the wash cycles. The buttons are silver in colour which I think adds a really nice touch to the washing machine.

So far so good, I am already really impressed with it and that is before it has even had a chance to wash any clothes!

Once the maintenance wash was completed I was eager to get a load of washing in the machine. Having a pile of whites and darks at the ready I set about with the dark load first. The machine has a huge 9 kg capacity drum and even though I had a fair pile of washing to put in, I was quite disappointed with myself that I hadn't managed to fill it! Anyway, this load wasn't particularly dirty so I though a fast wash would suffice.

You wouldn't believe how impressed I was when I found out that the Hotpoint Ultima can do a wash in just 15 minutes! I didn't use that cycle at that time but chose to do the Fast Wash 30 which washes clothes at 30°C and takes just 30 minutes. All I was required to do was simply press the Mix button twice, filler the (awesome) drawer with powder and press the start button.

I also feel that I should mention that the machine sings to you! Not literally but when you put it on it does a little beep tune and the same when you turn it off. This is something I love!

The washing was done in 30 minutes and it was easy to see how long was remaining as the digital display has a timer which tells you. Again this is a feature I really like as in the past I have put on a load of washing, got ready to leave the house and assumed that the load was nearly done only to be sat waiting for another 20 minutes or so whilst the machine does finish. Not anymore!

I was a little dubious as to how clean the clothes could be within just 30 minutes but they were clean and smelling fresh.

I washed the white load on the Fast Wash 60 which washes clothes at a temperature of 60°C and lasts 60 minutes. This load came out sparkling clean too.

When my son arrived home from school I noticed that his uniform was looking clean but not smelling so fresh (he’s 12!) so I popped his clothes in the machine on the Fast Wash 30 but then decided to take a closer look at the manual and that is when I noticed that the fast wash got even faster!

Around the digital display screen is a number of buttons, 9 to be precise, by pressing the Time Saver button when on the Fast Wash 30 this meant that the time was reduced by 50% meaning I could get my sons uniform washed in 15 minutes, it only needed a freshening up as it wasn't dirty so I gave it a try, and I am really pleased I did as this is now something I use on a daily basis as it means I can get his uniform washed, dried and ironed in record time. In the past I would leave it until late at night and then put it in the dryer before I went to bed but now there is no need for me to have the dryer on all night and it is saving me electric.

~ Button Functions ~

Now that I have mentioned the buttons I feel that I should go through them and tell you a little about each button.

Around the digital display are nine buttons each on obviously has a different function.

1. Cleaning Action – By pressing this you can choose your desired wash intensity.

2. Anti-Allergy Rinse – For more rinsing should you require it, helps get rid of allergens/pollen etc.

3. Delay Timer – Delays the wash cycle for when you want it to come on.

4. Time Saver – To reduce the wash time on certain cycles.

5. Reduced Creases – Modifies the wash and spin cycle to reduce creases.

6. Eco Wash – Uses cold water rather than heating it to save energy.

7. Child Lock – An incredibly cute baby symbol pops up on the digital display to show that you have activated the child lock function, hold the button in for a couple of seconds and it will then beep to show that it is active. Great for stopping little fingers from messing around with the machine.

8. Temperature – Allows you to change the temperature of the wash cycle.

9. Spin – Allows you to reduce or exclude spins from the cycle.

Underneath this is the Start/Pause button which you of course press to start the wash cycles or to pause it mid cycle.

~ Special Wash Functions ~

The Hotpoint Ultima has a range of special wash function. It has the most different wash functions I have ever seen!

Like I have already mention I have used the Fast Wash 30 along with the time saver which cut it down to just 15 minutes. I am so impressed with this as it is ideal to freshen up clothes that are particularly dirty, I wouldn't use it for stained or soiled items of clothing but if something has been hanging for a while and has a musty smell or like in my case my son’s slightly whiffy uniform, this special wash is brilliant.

The fact that it even has a Reduce Creases button is beyond me! How cool is that!

And also the Eco Wash would be good if you are trying to cut down on energy consumption. I am yet to try this feature but I suppose I will at some point.

~ Ultima’s Technology ~

This washing machine is packed full of really cool technology. It seems more than just a simple washing machine! I love doing the laundry and tend to do it everyday and this machine has simplified this aspect of my life somewhat!

Having the digital display helps me see exactly what I am doing, how long is left, when I want to do it, everything. It’s all there at a touch of a button.

There is a button on the machine that is symbolised with a simple M, this is the My Cycle feature, this allows me to store my own preferred washing cycle on the machine, meaning that I don’t have to go through multiple button presses to get the wash done, I can access this wash by simply pressing the button marked M. I think this is a brilliant touch and is something really useful to me as I do tend to stick to a certain cycle when washing. I will use different cycles now and again but generally stick to the one.

There is another button that I use frequently too and that is the Bed & Bath function. I do think it important to wash bedding and towels at a higher temperature than I do for general clothing and this is all set for you. With the push of a button the cycle is set and ready to go. This uses a 60°C wash and makes sure the bedding and towels get a good and proper wash.

With certain cycles you can choose to change things, like the temperature, the spin, and I like this as I feel I have more control over how my stuff gets washed.

~ The Basics ~

So now I have told you what this machine can do, here are the basics –

The Hotpoint Ultima has a massive 9kg capacity, it is super silent down to it’s brushless motor with Super Silent wash action, it has the coolest rotating dispenser drawer which is something I have never seen before, making it easier to access the compartments. With it’s 1600RPM spin speed it can get more water out of the wash load and reduce drying time.

It has a really sleek and attractive look that is very appeasing on the eye, it excels when compared to other cheaper washing machines I have had in the past and with the masses of technology it has it gives the user more control. I feel I am able to choose the wash cycle more aptly now for different garments and have been really impressed with how well it washes clothes.

Due to the generous size of the drum I am able to wash quilts at home now rather than take them to a laundrette which of course saves me money and time.

~ Overall ~

I am sure you can tell from the review I am really impressed with this machine, there isn’t one thing that I don’t like and I have enjoyed every minute of using it.

It is so quiet that you barely even notice that it is on so I am thankful for the little beep that it gives at the end of a wash to remind me that, yep I did put the washing on!

This is a smart looking machine that would take pride of place in any kitchen, unlike years gone by when an appliance was simply that people now tend to look for more fancier looking white goods and this is definitely an attractive appliance that is modern and has kept with the times. The crisp white finish is set off by the little silver hints and it looks like an all round great, classy machine.

I was very pleased with the delivery and was offered installation but decided that I was more than able to do that myself, the delivery man couldn't have been more helpful and removed the packaging and disposed of it too which saved me a trip to the skip yard.

As previously mentioned the installation was a straight forward process which involved connecting the water pipe and the drainage hose to the appropriate places under my sink.

The washing machine has been used daily over the last three weeks and it has worked perfectly every time. With the beautiful weather we have been lucky enough to get lately I have had the washing on the line all the time and with the short washes on this machine I am getting through washing quicker than lightning! I have even seen the bottom of my wash basket which is nothing short of a miracle!