Background:
We have a 4.0kg LG top loader washing machine which I think is on it's way out but DH thinks is fine (he doesn't use it much - only occasionally). The lint filter is beginning to get holey (a couple of the threads that make up the mesh have pulled out and now there's gaps in the filter and lint hangs on the gaps all the time) and I see reasonably regularly a fine-ish grey lint-like mess on the clothes that won't come off with a lint brush - to remove it, I need to wash the clothes again. To combat the grey mess on the clothes I am now washing at the next water level up (ie instead of a small/medium/large load - washing at a medium/large/extra large load) I also use some lint ball things (small balls that go in the washing machine with Velcro-like stuff on the outside) to try and reduce the lint that sticks to the clothes.

I don't use softener just a small amount of SA8 powder detergent. I used to use a little bit of vinegar instead of softener but it made the clothes smell to DH so I stopped using it. I have tried doing hot washes with vinegar to get rid of the grey lint-like stuff from the machine as well.

It's about 7 or so years old and doesn't have a gentle cycle (we didn't buy it - were given it when we moved in 5 yrs ago after a house fire by my parents as they were supplied with one at their then new house). I am due to have bubs in mid July (so we will be going from a 2 to 3 person household). I'm intending to use MCNs so will be using the machine a lot for nappies I know; not sure about how NB clothes and sheets and things go.

I'm curious to know if we should upgrade to a 7.0 kg washer (Fisher & Paykel top loader) which I have done some research about. DH thinks we won't need to, but I think we'll (aka I'll) be doing a lot more washing with a newborn in the house if we stick to the 4.0kg washer.

Thing is, just at the moment we can't afford to buy it outright (even though the sales are on and there are some really good prices for this model). I know that we would get the baby bonus (in the fortnightly payments) after the birth and so I think we could try to put it on a layby/rent to own/interest free purchase method to get it and pay it off fairly quickly afterwards. DH thinks that getting a washing machine would not be what the baby bonus should be used for (Quote: It's to get stuff for the baby). We have already bought most of the big ticket items for the baby & it's room and I think that we will be using the machine for the baby.

I'll be going back to full time work about 3mths after bubs is due (financial constraints mean I have to and bubs will go part time CC and part time with DH at least to the end of the year). So I won't have a huge amount of time to do lots and lots of loads of washing. (currently each load takes about 45-60 min)
Currently we (okay I) do about 3 - 4 loads of clothes a week - towels & sheets somewhere between fortnightly & monthly depending on when they look like they need a wash.

Questions:

1. Should we upgrade the size of our washing machine? (ie could we survive with the 4kg washer that we have or would it make more sense to upgrade?) What's your experiences?

2. Is buying a new washing machine out of the Baby Bonus a reasonable thing to do?