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BoschWGB256A1GB

Freestanding
Large capacity
10kg

£899View retailers

Test score

Lowest available prices

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The Bosch WGB256A1GB washing machine claims to offer an i-DOS automatic dosing system that measures the precise amount of detergent and water needed. What does that mean for its energy and water efficiency, and how well does it clean? Read our full Bosch washing machine review to find out.

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What's included?

What is it?
How well does it clean, rinse and spin?
How much does it cost to run?
Is it easy to use and live with?
Should I buy it?

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KEY TEST RESULTS
Overall cleaning
Energy efficiency
Ease of use

Jan 2024Last checked by Which?
Aug 2023First reviewed by Which?
May 2023Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test washing machines

2 May 2024

Overall cleaning

How we test overall cleaning

The combined cleaning star rating is based on the wash results from our tests for both the 40°C cottons and 40°C synthetics wash programmes.

Water use

How we test water use

We measure the amount of water used by the machines on both their cottons and synthetics programmes when washing at 40°C.

Cotton wash

How we test cotton wash

We check how good each washing machine is at removing stains when washing cottons at 40°C and when loaded to 80% of the machine’s capacity.

Synthetic wash

How we test synthetic wash

This star rating shows how well each washing machine removes stains when washing synthetic fibres at 40°C. For this synthetics test, we load each machines to its listed capacity for synthetics.

Rinsing efficiency

How we test rinsing efficiency

We check how well each machine rinses detergent away from clothes by stopping the machines just after the rinse phase and then analysing the remaining water for signs of detergent. We use a spinning machine to extract the water to analyse.

Spin dry

How we test spin dry

We weigh the clothes we wash before and after the wash to be able to judge how well each machine spins water away.

Ease of use

How we test ease of use

We run more than 50 ease of use assessments as part of our tests. We look at how clear the instructions are, how easy the machine is to load and to unload, we check the clarity of markings on the control panel and how easy the controls are to use. We also take a look at how easy it is to use the detergent drawer.

Program length

How we test program length

During our tests we record how long both of the wash programmes we test take to run. The star rating is based on the length of the programmes and is relative to the capacity of the washing machine.

Noise

How we test noise

We use an expert panel to listen to each machine as it fills, washes, spins and drains. Our panel listens for the normal operating noises as well as any annoying sounds the machine makes. A five star machine will be just about as quiet as a washing machine can be. A one star machine will make a lot of noise as it fills, washes and spins.

Energy efficiency

How we test energy efficiency

We record the amount of energy used by the machines on both their cottons and synthetics programmes when washing at 40°C.

General
Type	Freestanding
Colour	White
Height	84.6cm
Width	59.7cm
Depth	64.6cm
Drum capacity	Large capacity
Cotton capacity (kg)	10kg
Synthetics capacity (kg)	4
Quick wash maximum capacity	4
Cotton 40°C run time (mins)	219 mins
Synthetic 40°C run time (mins)	151
Wash temperatures (°C)	cold,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90
Annual energy cost (£)	£57.28
New energy rating	A
Max spin speed (rpm)	1400
Which? test programme	We introduced new washing machine tests in September 2022. This model will not be directly comparable to those tested before then.

Features
Delicates or handwash	No
Digital display	lcd
Extra rinse	Yes
Panel safety lock	Yes
Quick wash	Yes
Smart	Yes
Start/End delay	Yes
Steam refresh	Yes
Steam wash	No
Time remaining display	Yes

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BoschWGB256A1GB

Lowest available prices