Washer Machine (Recommendation)

Hi MOLers

Well it looks like it is time to buy a new washer machine .. Phil has fixed it but it seems its time to get a new one ....

I was searching for threads about washer machine ( the most recently one I believe was 2 years ago) and it seems that most people recommends LG or Kenmore ...

My question is ..

Is LG and Kenmore are still the top one for MOLer ??
And where do you recommend I should purchase it ??

I'm not looking something expensive but not the cheapest one either

anything rec would be very much appreciate =)

Ileana

I wouldn't mind buying ( in a good condition ) a washer machine ... or if you are trying to give away yours =)

We have an LG Front Load. Aside from the "smelly washer problem" (look it up) which we overcame with Borax in every wash, it does a great job.

We never had a front load .. Always had top load ... Always thought front load was more confortable ...

Thanks for the rec strateguy

LG front loader also. Love the satinizing cycle.

We are very happy with our Whirpool Duet front loader. Don't remember exact reason we went with that over the comparable LG or Kenmore model. I think it may have been a sale event vs a particular technical merit.

I always wanted a front load after reading reviews, but I wished I hadn't gor one.
If I don't remember to clean the seal my laundry smells awful.

We always leave the washer door open after use. Never had a smell issue.

We leave the door open and have no issues. However I have forgotten to remove the clothes and left them overnight and had to clean it.

Interesting comments ...

Does anyone knows the difference between top loader and front loader ?? Cons and pros

I'm asking because if I'm investing some "caching" here ... Wanna make it worth it

pmartinezv said:

We leave the door open and have no issues. However I have forgotten to remove the clothes and left them overnight and had to clean it.

This. The only times I have had any issue with smell is if I left it closed by accident. I do use washing machine cleaner, but very rarely. I purchased a box about 3 months ago and still haven't even opened it.

HQ, I've been told that front loaders are more efficient with water and with detergent.

When my basement flooded with Irene last year I had to buy a new washer/dryer. I was home and had the time to do a ton of research and my best find was the Maytag front loaders (I also bought the storage drawers to place them on top of to avoid any future flooding damage). PC Richards had the best buys of anyone around (I personally found Sears way overpriced on the same models I researched). I've never had the "smelly washer syndrome" and find my clothes get a lot cleaner than they did with my top loader. I also use a lot less water (I've gone one notch lower on my water bills since I have the machine). Good luck!

I would NOT recommend a new-fangled top loader. They are required to use very little water, so it's pretty rough on your clothes.

Either get one of the only old-skool top-loaders still around (Speed Queen) which uses a lot of water, or get a good front loader if you want to save water, but not be so rough on clothes.

I got a samsung frontloader from bestbuy. I researched via consumer reports because I wanted something with reduced shaking since it is on the second floor. I have only used it a half dozen times but so far so good, and although it does shake a lot I think others might shake even more. Otherwise it is very quiet, which is another thing I was looking for. I felt like I got a good price because it was a holiday weekend so maybe look at prices around the next holiday weekend.

@Cleo: I wish I could wait that longer but I can't

I really do need a washer machine VERY SOON ... With Phil's plumbing clothes ( everyday ) .... Sammie's clothes and I'm starting to wash my new born clothes as well ...

I really need a big washer machine, plus when you have cats .. Well yeah I tend to put pillows, small rugs, curtains etc etc ... Inside the washer machine.

I really appreciate all of your post is very interesting and helpful ...

It looks like we will go with front loader still debating the brand and where to buy it ...

I was checking with LG and wow can they be pricey !!!! :O

I went through this exercise about 18 months year ago. I consulted someone who is friends with the guys who sell them at a HD. They said the only real advance in the washers today, worth paying for, is the High Efficiency, nothing else. So, since I was replacing a Maytag that had lasted 20 years of extreme use with no problems, I went with Maytag again. I found one advertised online at HD for $449. It is a Bravos MVWX500XW top loading 4.3 cu ft capacity (real nice)). And I love it. I love it. I love it. There is no center post, so no more hiking down to the laundry mat to do bulky items. I get the HE special detergent on sale for $1.99 at Shoprite (initially the special HE was expensive now they all make a version, just look for the silver caps). My water bills have dropped like a rock. Check the online prices, they periodically run what I call the "catch the cheapskate" deal, to snag all the careful shoppers looking for the best deal - before leaving home. You don't need the exact same model, just look for a HE, top loading 4.3 cu ft capacity Maytag. Good luck.

I'm guilty I do out a lot of bulky things to my washer machine ...

@RobinM I will check maytag .. I wasn't considering buying one because I never heard anyone recommend it ... But I'll perk on it thanks !!

Maytag? You never heard of Maytag? The brand with the repair guy who was so lonely? Well, I don't know if the new Maytags have the same reliability, but the one we purchased when we bought our home, was a huge work horse, we ran it all the time (very messy kids), and it never gave us any problem for 20 years. Then one day it just died. It was actually a bit spectacular. One day there was smoke coming from the basement, and we called the Fire Department. They came out quick, quick, quick (yes, I felt I got some of my property tax value that day), used some fancy devices to see if there were any hot spots and found none. So they left and we just chalked it up to a mystery, until I realized that I had been running the washer and it was now off. Opened it up, and then all the smoke came out! But it was harmless. So, I just relied on the same brand. You could probably check reliability in Consumer's Reports. But go with the large capacity, that I like a lot. Also, Sept & Oct are supposed to be good months to buy big appliances (like the cars, the new models are coming in), so it might be worth hanging tough for a month and relying until then upon the kindness of friends (and the local laundry mat on Valley Street). Good luck.

Speed Queen, Speed Queen, Speed Queen. Great value for money and only washing machine still made in the USA. Top to bottom 3 year parts and labor warranty 5 year on the motor and 10 on the transmission.

Washes great, no computer to break, and you can open the lid and add the sock you found under thecoauthorh cushions because there is no lid lock.

http://www.epinions.com/Washing_Machines--brand_speed_queen?sb=1

We bought ours through designerappliances.com and picked it up at their Mountainside warehouse so no delivery charge.

^^^^ pretty pricey !! Holy Moly $$$$$

I looks like its a pretty good washer machine

You might have looked at the ones for laundromats as they do almost all the machines for them. Ours was less than $700 I think it is either this one or the next model up.

http://www.designerappliances.com/speed-queen-awn412s.html

CapnMarko said:

You might have looked at the ones for laundromats as they do almost all the machines for them. Ours was less than $700 I think it is either this one or the next model up.

http://www.designerappliances.com/speed-queen-awn412s.html

Now that's a better price how is it with water ??

It uses it ... it is not a "high efficiency" machine but my water bill seems normal and uneffected.

They come "set" to the new EPA reduced water for top loader standards but if you want to wash a comforter or something and need to fill it all you have to do is adjust a screw to the height of water you need then either leave it or crank it back down.

Check out Speed Queen washer on YouTube some good videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBHO1bPnlUU

^^^^^ will tell Phil about it ... Thanks !!

RobinM, what is the secret with the no-agitator top loaders? I used one while away from home, and it tied long shirt sleeves and pants legs in big annoying knots. Was I doing something wrong, or do you just get used to it for the sake of the savings in water?

People generally call it a washing machine or a washer, but not a washer machine.

mjc - I almost did not get the HE because of those kind of complaints, but I've had no problems. Yes, the clothes are really wrinkled when I pull them out, but I just shake them out and throw them into the dryer as usual and when they come out of the dryer, there are no wrinkles. (If you don't shake them out, they would probably be very wrinkled). If I don't want to put something in the full dryer cycle (such as my work out gear), I put it in for five minutes which gets all the wrinkles out, and then just let the item air dry, and no wrinkles. Also, because the HE senses the amount of clothes you are washing, I don't feel bad about doing small loads, since it uses only the amount of water necessary for the size of the load. Also, for times when I've had delicates to wash, I just put it on the delicate cycle and nothing has been ruined.

That is why I really like it, I have found zero serious downsides. The only downside I've noticed, and I think is more about the absence of phosphates than about HE, is that periodically you need to "wash" the tub since it gets smelly (after months of washing, and not doing the cleaning). I bought the suggested Afresh tab and that worked fine. Now, I don't often use bleach, however, I'm using bleach today (to wash my son's camp socks), and I'm guessing that will clean the tub nicely. I think the same thing happens to the dishwasher, which I know is because of the absence of phosphates. Every few weeks I run a load of dishes with a cup of bleach. Works very nicely, like it used to work when we had the phosphates! In between, I use a cup of vinegar, which doesn't work as well as the bleach, but I don't think it is good to use so much bleach.

The high efficiency washing machines have no agitator and rely on the abrasion of the clothes to get the clothes clean. So you can't really do a small load and expect the clothes to come out clean. We have also learned that all washing machines today, even the agitator type, do not fill the tank for rinsing. They spray water to rinse. So nothing gets really thoroughly rinsed. As for front loaders, avoid at all costs. The seals get moldy if you don't keep the door open or fail to wipe it after each load. A real nuisance, and the seals aren't usually under warranty.

So if I were you, I would seek out the agitator type. It will at least get your clothes clean and no seal/mold to worry about. And you won't have to use HE detergent. You can buy whatever is on sale.

^^^^ interesting jayjayp ... Thanks

I can't say I have had the same experience as jayjayp with small loads in my HE machine; I haven't noticed any difference. In fact, I just did a tiny load of my son's socks (with the bleach, which is why I did them by themselves) and they were very clean. Also, I have to disagree about the HE detergent being more expensive, since that most definitely has not been my experience. Now that all the detergent makers are making a HE version, I find I can get it on sale for approximately $1.99 a bottle at Shoprite (depending on which brand is on sale that week) and I notice that this week it is selling Fab and Dynamo for $1.99 (50 oz bottle). Just get the version with the silver cap and make sure it has the "he" logo. Also, I am pretty sure, but stand to be corrected, that even if you prefer Tide, you don't pay more for the Tide HE version (I gave up the luxury of the more expensive Tide when the kids were no longer in elementary school, and didn't get that dirty, well except for when my son walks around camp in just his white socks). I know it used to be more expensive for the HE version, but that is no longer true in my experience. Actually, because you use a smaller amount, even for a full load, technically, it is actually cheaper. Good luck!