Washing machines - call for opinions

[celticdragonfly]

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?

Comments

[callibr8]

[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.

Clothesline ban

[dawn-pillsbury.livejournal.com]

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)

Re: Clothesline ban

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

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.

Re: Clothesline ban

[a-steep-hill.livejournal.com]

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.