Miele Washing Machine
In any field of manufacturing, there are models that are well known for their quality of construction and their durability in the field. "The field" means that these manufactures made high quality machines that simply refused to wear out. In lawn equipment, that manufacturer was Black and Decker. And in most cases, if you bought a machine made by the high quality manufacturer, you paid more but that product lasted forever.
When we were growing up, it was not uncommon for a washing machine to last 20-30 years. But in the last couple of decades, companies that make household appliances realized that if they made a machine that lasted forever, there was no repeat sales potential. So we got this thing called "planned obsolescence", which means makers of household machinery made appliances that only lasted for a few years and then they wore out. Then they made the ability to repair those machines so expensive that it just made more sense to buy a new machine.
This is not to say that if you buy a washing machine made by Maytag or one of the well known manufacturers, you won't still get a high quality machine. But the old line washing machine makers are no longer the only game in town. There are other washing machine manufacturers who have develop reputations for extremely high quality and well made machines that would last forever. One example is the Miele Company that makes a washing machine that is very well known for being tough and durable. The surface of the drum, for example, is specifically designed to resist scratches. So if your teenager leaves tire inflator gauge in his pocket, it wont destroy your washing machine as it might have before.
A lot of washing machines have really cool looking exteriors and are great to look at. That has some value because your washing machine is part of your home. But quality construction goes from the inside out and a lot of it you never see. Washing machines built to last a lifetime show that quality in places that never show. Miele's washing machines, for example, are made with cast iron interior design. The belts, hoses are attachments are all pass the highest durability standards to perform without failure for years and years.
This is not to say that even a well made washing machine won't need maintenance and repair from time to time. Moving parts and soft parts like belts and hoses wear out and need to be replaced. But as long as the "guts" of the unit are solid, your repairs will be few and far between. It takes a little more money up front to buy into a washing machine like the ones made by Miele. But if it is the last washing machine you will ever have to buy, that is a sold investment in your home.