celticdragonfly | Washing machines

Washing machines - call for opinions

Looks like

selenite and I may be about to buy a new washing machine.

Short form - our 9+ year old washer has problems, repair dude said it'd cost $280-odd to fix it. That's probably more than half the cost of a new one, we're thinking.

So we're going to be looking into replacement. Maybe shopping some tonight, maybe later. Not sure where yet, either.

Anyway. The old one is a large capacity. I'd *like* to get a MEGA capacity, but doubt I can afford that, but I gotta have the large capacity.

Other than that - suggestions? Advice? Avoid brand X? Make sure we get one with those nifty new Left-handed Dingleboppers that they didn't have 9 years ago? Talk to me, people.

EDIT: On the various advice about frontloaders - it occurs to me that might really help with the "training Maggie to help with the laundry more" plan. Hm. How do you put the soap into those things?

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Look at one of those places ... oh, heck, can't remember the name but there's one in Grapevine Mills Mall ... that sells appliances with scratches and stuff. I got my washer and dryer for $300 lower than they sell in regular stores because they had scratches on the front. (Like I care about scratches? I'm not featuring my washer and dryer in the living room...)

Will go look for the name of the place I got them. I ended up paying about $750ish pre-tax for the set, I think, and it's a pretty big capacity, at least extra-large.

Oh, duh. Sears Appliance Outlet.

Do they end up with any warranty? Because that was one of the appealing things about replacement.

I do know that the coupon won't work there, but it might come out better anyway, I suppose.

I don't remember - it was about three years ago. I didn't get one, but with just me washing my own laundry instead of a family's amount of laundry, there's less chance anything would go wrong and I doubt I would have gotten one if it were offered, so that's not a sign they don't offer them.

And I second the front-loading thing that everyone else says - my mom has one and I love it. I have a hard time reaching socks on the bottom of my washier if they're behind the spindle, because I'm only about 5'1". :)

I love our Fischer and Paykel.

http://usa.fisherpaykel.com/global/laundry-products/laundry-products_home.cfm

27 yards of fabric at one shot. Haven't had any problems in the 4 years we've had them. Automatic water level. Delayed start. Programmable cycle.

The only problem is they aren't cheap. It was almost $1400.00 for the set.

a_steep_hill and I have been very happy with the Equator (http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Large_Appliances-All-Washing_Machines-Equator_Ventless_Clothes_Processor_EZ_3600C/display_~reviews) front-loading washing machine/dryer we got second-hand a year ago (from a couple who had the mangiest dog in existance and found it wasn't up to cleaning all the rags the dog generated - luckily the wet dog smell came out with a vinegar rinse).

Its only disadvantage is that it's designed for use indoors, therefore has no vent and thus the dryer component isn't terribly robust (takes hours to get things mostly dry). Fortunately, we have a long clothesline.

I highly recommend getting a front-loading machine (http://www.epinions.com/search/?submitted_form=searchbar&search_string=front+loading&tax_name=Washing+Machines&dyn_nav=0&dyn_nav_id=&search_vertical=t103377&searchbar_submit=Search). They use less soap and water and get the clothes *much* cleaner.

Fortunately the dryer is still pretty new - had to replace it when we moved here 3 years ago, as we had a gas dryer and the house requires electric. We freecycled the old one. Sadly, we are *not allowed* to use a clothesline outside here, which annoys me.

I want to echo the recommendation for a front-loading washer. Everything I've heard about them turns out to be true. They use less water, produce cleaner clothes with less residual soap, and put less wear on clothes. Best of all, the super-fast spin cycle gets the clothes much dryer than a standard washer, which saves both drying time and energy. With an electric dryer, you may actually notice a reduction in your electricity bill, depending on your rates and total usage.

Our use of a combo washer/dryer is necessitated by our particular situation. The dryer system sucks (especially because it's just 120V electric), but the washer portion works great.

Also, front-loaders tend to allow you to do larger loads in proportion to the size of the drum. Our Equator is small, but can wash nearly as much in a load as a top-loader. The full-size front loaders actually have a bigger capacity than what you're probably used to.

The only brand-specific advice I would have is to watch out for Neptune units -- there was a successful class-action suit against the manufacturer a couple of years ago, due to reliability issues. Presumably they've fixed the new units, but if you buy used, don't get Neptune.

Also, you can find a list of energy efficient washers here (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=clotheswash.pr_clothes_washers).

Thirding it. I can wash "hand wash" stuff in the front-loader, too!

And fourth. I'm pleased with my new (since last summer) front-loader as a general concept, though it's got enough quirks that I wouldn't recommend this brand (Maytag). I bought a smaller sized one anyway, for my one-person household. When I need to wash the comforter, I go to my sister-in-law's...

Detergent in mine goes in a pull-out drawer at the top, as does softener if you use it. "High efficiency" liquid is what they recommend.

You might find an affordable front-loader on the Dallas/Fort Worth Craigslist (http://dallas.craigslist.org/search/hsh?query=front%20washer). You might also find that there is a Craigslist closer to you (http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/tx).

I strongly recommend you get a front-loading washer. It will not have the mega-capacity you want, but 1) it is gentler on your clothes, so they last longer, and 2) it is more economical of water, so your water bill will go down. It will cost you more up front (probably around $800+), but the payoff in clothes and utility bills is worth it in the long run.

We got ours from Sears (a Kenmore (what else?)), and so far have had no problems with it after five years.

Check out Consumer Reports annual buying guide for further recommendations.

That is another great advantage. The T-shirts I got at last year's Tribal Fest are hardly showing any wear in the screening, despite nearly weekly washing.

My sympathies about the no-clothesline policy (http://www.californiasolarcenter.org/solardryer.html). Not to mention the electric dryer. *tumble tumble tumble oh god will they ever be dry?*

no arguments with hubby (above) on the washing clothes part of the question
BUT
for dying, washing fleece, and so on? front loaders suck.
you cannot fill one full of hot water and use it to dye cloth, wash fleece, or etc. they are LOUSY at the "soak" feature, and most dont do it at all.

for clothes? da bomb! but you should know about the crafts issue before you buy.

Front loaders rock. The only thing I haven't tried doing in ours yet is intentional felting.

As for loading the soap, mine has a little drawer that pulls out in the front where you pour the soap, bleach, and fabric softener.

The only thing I haven't tried doing in ours yet is intentional felting.

See comment in below re felting in a front-loader; I've done it several times with quite satisfactory results.

[Front loaders]: How do you put the soap into those things?

Both the Kenmore (Sears brand) that I bought in 1999 and the one here at the Treehouse (which looks to be similar vintage), had a pull-out drawer at top left, for the soap/bleach/fabric softener. Ours is a "standard" size washer rather than large size, but it works fine for us; maybe we do a couple more loads a week, but that's not a real hardship.

We've seen the same cleaner-clothes, less-soap, less-soap-reside, less-wear results that others have reported. It takes approx ONE OUNCE of detergent per load, even on moderately soiled stuff (since we don't have pets or kids, nor do we garden, we really haven't had occasion to try to get heavily soiled stuff clean).

What's with the no-clothesline cr@p anyway? That's bizarre!

A final note: one can even use a front-loader for wool-felting projects. What I've done is to boil a kettle full of water, put the item to be felted in a large pot and pour the water over it, then carry the pot down to the washer and dump the contents in. I start it on a hot cycle with some soap and my "felting jeans" (stiffest/heaviest ones I could find, acquired at a thrift store), then as soon as the fill is done and the agitation starts I switch from the Hot/Cold setting to the Warm/Warm setting; that way if I need to put it through an additional time I haven't "shocked" the wool with cold water.

HOA policy seems based on the assumption that clotheslines and their attendant laundry bring down property values. These folks (http://www.laundrylist.org/) feel otherwise. Feelings on this topic can be violent. (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-12-09-laundrywars-usat_x.htm)

We don't even HAVE a HOA. We deliberately avoided them when shopping for a house. Saw some nice possibilities - but then discussed it and decided to avoid them, so we told the realtor not to show them to us.

Turned out it was in the city CC&Rs for the property anyway. I can't legally have any livestock here, either, or any pets beyond 4 'typical' - which I believe they mean 'cats or dogs' - although I expect small indoor pets wouldn't ever get noticed.

I don't know if Texas has a solar rights act, but if so, it's entirely possible that your city CCRs are in violation of it. If no one's challenged it before, no one would know.

What

aeddie says about the Fisher-Paykel is completely true. However, what I love about it is the super-spin cycle. Your load is only moist when you put it into the dryer, which makes the dryer much more economical than it would be with standard spin cycles. The engineering is much better in some way than regular ones--Æddie and Selenite would be able to explain it to you far better than I can.

We started out buying Sears, as your grandparents Seiver had. First one was ok, but died when we moved in 1983. Bought a Maytag then, still using it! For top-loading machines, it was innovative, in that to work on the motor you pop off the front panel. Other machines, you had to walk the heavy muthah out from the wall! Ironically, we haven't had to work on it. 'Nuff said.

Oh, and the Sears drier we bought in 1985? Replaced in about 3 years with a Maytag - still using it. Just sayin'.

i want the live journal icon.. its exactly right! can i have it?
if you have answered me already i will get it in two days. my email has been like that.
also you uploaded a sign langage one... its GREAT! where did you get that? are there more?

Sure, go for the icon.

For the sign language one, you mean this one?

fordprfct made it after I'd been saying I wanted one.

Pardon me for changing the subject but I looked up on the interests page people who like the comic "Xxxenophile" and you came up...is this true? :)

Jon

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Washing machines - call for opinions

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Front loaders

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Easier on the clothes

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Clothesline ban

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Brands

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