Advice about Washers & Dryers
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Advice about Washers & Dryers
Installing a 2nd Floor Stacked Washer Dryer
Nov 2012
We are planning to install a new stacked washer/dryer on our
2nd floor. Does anyone have advice about how best to
minimize sound and vibration as well as what models perform
best (quietest/least vibration) for this type of
installation? Thanks. New Homeowner
This is a little off topic but please be very aware of your
washer if you're putting it upstairs. We got a brand-new,
top-of-the-line washing machine from Samsung in July. We got
this machine because our old one was ruined when a pipe
broke upstairs in our house and flooded it. We had to live
in an apt for 5 months while our house was rebuilt. You can
imagine my dismay when, less than 3 months after we moved in
to our rebuilt house, our new washing machine flooded our
garage. All of the water drained out the bottom and ended up
in our garage and there was a lot of it. We spent the entire
day moving everything out of the garage, drying it out, and
then moving it back in. We've spent the last 5 weeks trying
to get Samsung to fix the problem. Apparently a part broke
and that part is on back order. We are supposed to have a
new washer delivered this weekend but I'm not holding my
breath. I'm also very apprehensive that the same problem
could happen again.
The saving grace was that this flood happened in our garage
on a sunny day. If it had happened upstairs, I would have
lost my mind. There was a lot of water and I'm sure that it
would have ruined the flooring and drywall again. Please
make sure that you have a pan with very high sides under the
machine and that you never run the machine unsupervised.
Tired of flooding
I own a duplex and have lived in the upstairs unit and the
downstairs unit. Both have stackable washer/dryers. From
my experience I can tell you that if you get the smallest
stackable version, the noise is minimal. Downstairs, we
hear them doing laundry, but it's not a nuisance (and we
have kids napping directly under their machines). If you
get a larger combo unit (as we have in our downstairs flat),
the noise can be significant and they are extremely heavy so
the spin cycle can rattle the house.
Also note that the small stackable offers top loading
washers. The larger units only offer front loaders. We've
been beyond dissatisfied with our front loader as it
requires meticulous maintenance to avoid a strong mildew
smell. We discovered long after buying and installing that
this issue is very common with front loading washers. Do
yourself a favor and look into it before buying! anon
Dryer Vent Installation
July 2012
The dryer in our laundry room needs to be vented. It was
previously vented with a small diameter vinyl duct into the
crawl space below the floor, which we are afraid may be a
fire hazard. We would like to install something safer (a
larger diameter metal duct straight through the wall to the
outside?). Has anyone had similar work done recently? Any
recommended contractors? I am not even sure if I should be
looking for an HVAC specialist, or just a general
contractor. One concern is that the house is stucco, and if
we need to drill a hole in the wall, we do not want to
damage the stucco siding in the process.
Thank you!
Kristen
You should be concerned about structural damage. I just
visited a friend who has a 9 year old home where the dryer
was vented the same way as yours. One day they noticed the
floor buckling and called a floor company to get it
repaired. They floor company pulled out the floor only to
discover the moisture from the dryer vent had rotted several
of the structural beams in the house. The cost to repair
the damage is $30k.
Their insurance won't cover the repair because the house was
built with the dryer venting the way the house was built.
The builder isn't taking any responsibility since the city
signed off on the installation.
I guess you know who's stuck paying the $30k? - Yup the home
owner. (And they are the nicest people.
Before getting someone to replace, you might want to see if
you have any structural damage.
I hope you don't.
ANON
Full size stackable washer and dryer
March 2012
Hi
We would like to buy a full size stackable washer and dryer
that can also be side by side, space is not so much of an
issue in their size. Any recommendations are appreciated.
Also, if you have any recommendations about where to buy,
would be great. Thanks Lesbeth
We have been very happy with our Bosch front-loading,
stackable washer/dryer. They fit in a tiny closet in the
house on top of each other. Great quality, environmentally
better. We got ours at Galvin Appliance, a family-owned
business in El Cerrito. Happy customer
I really like my full-size LG stacked washer/dryer. It
holds so much! Check out Consumer Reports for ratings -
it rates highly.
New washer & dryer questions
Dec 2011
We have several older appliances (2
giant, heavy TVs, refrigerator, and washer & dryer) that we
are going to replace over the next couple years because just
the ELECTRIC part of our PG&E bill is $300/mo, with very
minimal use of our central heating. First up, washer & dryer
(15 yrs. old). Questions: front or top loading? Do front
loaders have drainage and mold issues? Is it worth it in
savings to hook up a new gas line for gas dryer?
Priorities: Energy Star, energy efficient, good quality;
low maintenance. Generous size (3 kids). Appearance and
extra options not important. Simple is fine. Thanks for any
advice! Goin' Greener
Front loading washers use a lot less water so you'll save
heating that water and then getting rid of it during the
spin cycle.
You'll save a ton of money if you put in a gas dryer.
We haven't had mold problems with our front loading washer.
We leave the door open between loads so it can dry out. The
only downside to a front loading machine is that you can't
put in 'one last thing you forgot' after it has started.
Make sure you get pedestals for them to sit on so you
aren't stooping over.
--energy saver
High efficiency top loading washing machines?
Jan 2011
I may have to replace our old 10+ year old top-loading
washing machine soon. Due to space and layout limitations, I
do not have room for a front-loading washing machine, so I
am mainly looking for top-loading washer. I would like to
get a high efficiency one to save electricity and water, but
after reading all the complaints online about HE
top-loaders, I am getting rather worried. The major
complaints I hear are that clothes don't get properly
cleaned, clothes come out tangled or torn, washer often gets
unbalanced. Washers that are highly reviewed by Consumer
Reports are often panned by user reviews, so I am at a loss
as to whom to trust.
I wonder if minds greater than my own can explain to me
whether a HE top-loading machine really conserves that much
water? I was not able to find statistics comparing them to a
regular washer with an agitator. Are the complaints online
just grumpy consumers, or is there something inherent in the
design of these washers that tears and tangles up your
clothes, and/or leaves them a little dirty? I understand
that polling BPN is kind of like reading random reviews
online, so I am mainly hoping for someone who's looked into
these machines or has worked with them, and can explain to
me what I should be looking for, what to avoid, and how I
can buy a good one. I don't need advice on front-loaders,
because I really can't fit one in my laundry room.
Thanks!!
--Just want to wash my clothes
I know you said you aren't interested in a front loading
machine but have you considered a compact front loading
machine (smaller footprint than conventional top loader)?
We bought a Bosch 'under counter' front loader that we're
very happy with. Clothes get very clean and it sips water.
You do have to have clearance to open the door on the front.
The capacity seems to be about the same as our old top
loader. in case you hadn't considered this...
One drawback about the Bosch undercounter washing machine
that I forgot to include in my previous post! It requires
220V (because it's built to stack with an electric dryer)
and a special outlet to fit a air-conditioner-like plug.
That being said, I LOVE how compact it is and that it fits
under the kitchen counter! Sally
Front-Loading Washer -- RELIABLE brand?
April 2010
We did a ton of research before buying a front-loading
washer from Sears (Kenmore) a few years ago. Since then,
the machine has broken 3 times (the first time it had to be
replaced entirely) and, even when it's ''working,'' it gets
stuck every third time we use it. We realize that we've had
nothing but trouble with Sears for years and have finally
learned our lesson. Can anyone recommend a reliable
front-loader that will actually complete a cycle and has a
long life expectancy?
Thanks!
Drained & Spun
I love my LG front-loader. No problems in over a year.
Before that, I had a Frigidaire front-loader that lasted
over 8 years.
Check reviews at Best Buy and other places online.
Happy front-loader
We bought a Bosch front loading washer and dryer when we
redid our kitchen 2 years ago. We bought it primarily
because it was the only unit that would fit the particular
space we wanted to use. Overall, it's been good - nothing
has broken in the 2 years we've used them (we're a family of
4 with 2 young boys so we do a fair amount of laundry).
One gripe is that the washer is loud, very loud, sounds like
a jet engine taking off during the spin cycle.
But if I were to be in the market for a new washer/dryer, I
would buy Bosch again.
We bought from Expo (the one in Emeryville before they
closed).
rockridge mom of 2
We also had a lot of problems with our Sears Kenmore
washer and ended up having to replace it last year. We
were told by the repairman that Sears was aware of the
problems but didn't disclose them. In any case, we
replaced it with a front loading GE that was top rated in
Consumer Reports for about $700. It's been great so far
and it is used by a very active family of 5.
gc
We use a LG from Best Buy... It was on sale due to it's
color (dark green)... we have had it for years and never a
problem.
Happy Washing/Drying!
Keri
i bought a front loader in october 2009, and i haven't had
any problems with our LG WM2301HW. (funny, i got it from
sears.) the LG brand was not recommended by a local washer
vendor because to get it repaired is virtually impossible
due to the lack of parts from LG themselves - it's not a
streamlined process by any means.
but i still went with it anyway because LG seemed to have
the lowest breakdown record than other brands. (who needs
access to repair if it doesn't break down, you know?) we use
it at least every other day due to cloth-diaper washing, and
for a month, we used it maybe 2-3 times/day for reasons i
won't go into - i'll just say that we had a lot of stuff to
wash often. thankfully, we haven't had any problems at all.
oh, another reason why i went with an LG is because my
parents bought one few years ago for their dry-cleaning
business where it gets a lot of use - it has yet to break.
so i ignored all the reviews and got the LG, and it worked out.
get it from a place you can return easily - i actually
ordered a lower-end model first, but returned it because i
wanted the sanitary wash and baby wash functions. good luck.
- washer user
Washer Dryer-gas, front loading
Nov 2009
We are in need of a new washer/dryer. Ours are at least 20 years old (since
we've lived here). We want gas, and we want front loading.
Not a lot of fancy electronic do dads...just your basics.
My husband has been researaching, checking consumer reports, looking at store
ads, researaching some more....and yet...we still have no washer adn dryer.
So, my dear BPN washer/dryer users...what do you have that is relatively new
that you like. What don't you like? What stores have great service? Lousy
service? I'm on a mission...WE WILL GET A NEW WASHER DRYER. Thanks in advance
Woman on a mission.
I did a lot of research too and was kind of overwhelmed. I
ended up buying a pretty simple LG front-loading machine --
I think it was the 2016 model. I purchased it at Pacific
Sales in Emeryville -- a great price, with free delivery and
haul away of my old washer. I've had the washer since
September and it has been great. It uses less water, and I
think it is easier on our clothes, and the dryer time is
shorter. I also applied for a rebate from PG&E and EBMUD -
this model qualifies for $200 back!
Happy with my LG
Our family (mother in law, me three times, and my ex and
his wife) have all used Galvin Appliances on San Pablo
Ave. north of Solano Ave. for all our appliance purchases.
They may be a bit more expensive than OSH, etc. but they
are very knowledgable and their installation and removal
of old equipment have been done expediently and by very
nice installers. Most recently I purchased the Maytag
Bravos Quiet Series 300 washer and dryer. The dryer is gas
and a front loader. The washer is HE and a top loader. I
love it because I can wash big things like quilts and
sleeping bags in it safely. It is also quite water
conservative. Get thee to Galvin's!
kathryn
All in one washer dryers (ventless)
Sept 2009
I live in an apt. without laundry or laundry hookups. As I
approach my due date I am thinking about moving to avoid having
to take my baby to the laundromat (I'm a single mom so I won't
have help). I recently saw an ad for all in one waher/dryers
that can be put on wheels and hooked up to the kitchen sink-
and the dryer plugs into a regular wall outlet. They are rather
expensive and the reviews I read were somewhat mixed. Does
anyone have experience with one of these? Would I be better off
moving than shelling out about $1400 for one of these?
I had a ventless all-in-one washer/dryer about 3 years ago and it
was the most frustrating, useless product I'd ever spent so much
money on. I bought the top-rated one at the time. I suppose it
is possible that there have been improvements since then, or that
I had a particularly bad experience, but we spent ages trying to
use it and finally gave up altogether. My advice is to save your
money! Here were the problems: first, it leaked in various ways,
so once you had it fixed in one place, a new problem would arise.
Sometimes user error (the drain in the sink would slip into
place so the sink would overflow, someone would trip on the
connection and it would pull loose from the faucet spraying water
everywhere, for a couple of examples), and sometimes
machine/design failure-- but so many problems! Then, to get it
looked at was a pain. It was under warranty, but no one was
familiar with it (we lived in Chicago at the time) and it was
hard to get knowledgeable service. It was also hard to hook up
to the sink and it took a very long time to go through a cycle--
a time during which you could not use the sink. Also, even when
it was working, it didn't work. Loads were tiny-- a set of
sheets was too much for it-- and even when I kept loads very
small, the wrinkling was unbelievable. Even washcloths came out
in a bundled, super-wrinkled mass. I am not what I would call a
fastidious person, but my clothes looked like they had been slept
in and then tied into a ball and left that way. I thought maybe
adding more fabric softener, as I saw recommended online, would
help and added so much that I was worried I was making my baby
super-flammable, the clothes had a super-strong smell and they
had a nasty coated feeling, but they were *still* comically
wrinkled. Clothes come out damp, so you will have to hang things
up to finish drying. I would recommend using your money to pay a
laundromat to wash your clothes or moving someplace with a real
washer/dryer rather than buying one of these machines. We ended
up at the laundromat AND owning this machine, which sat unused.
I'm sorry to rant-- this was my most frustrating purchase of all
time.
-Hate Laundromats, but Hated my Ventless W/D More
I lived in an apartment for five years, with two small
children, and I wouldn't have made it without my wonderful
washer/dryer combo. It's one of the best purchases we ever
made, seriously. We finally moved to a house (for other
reasons), and I was actually just going to post it for sale on
BPN, so if you're interested, please email me. But first let me
tell you about it:
It doesn't need installation (we hooked it up in one of our
bathrooms). The washer works beautifully, it washes really
well, it calculates the right amount of water for each load, so
it saves water and energy. It uses HE detergent, which we
bought in Costco. The dryer works well for small loads,
especially for smaller clothes (baby and kids stuff, underwear,
etc). For larger garmets, it does leave them somewhat wrinkled,
but if you take them out a bit damp to airdry, it does the
trick. The dry cycles do take a long time, though.
Email me if you want more info and/or if you're interested in
mine. It's in great shape.
toni
I have an all-in-one washer/dryer - front loader by LG. Yes - it
is pricey... but I like it.
Pros:
You put the wash in, set it to dry and walk away! No
transferring! No musty forgotten wash!
It gets clothes REALLY clean.
Small and power efficient.
Cons:
The drying function isn't air - so clothing doesn't come out so
fluffy and more ironing is needed than with a regular dryer -
clothes come out pretty wrinkled... but I think it's less hard on
clothing. If you take your clothes out right away and fold it or
hang it it's better, but still be prepared to deal with wrinkles.
There isn't a lint screen, so getting the lint out is scraping
the lint off the inside with your hand. And large objects can get
stuck in the pump motor(matches, dimes) - I've had the technician
out to fix ours 3 times in 2 years- so buy the extended warranty.
All things considered, I love having a washer/dryer in my house -
and I really like having the all-in-one. I would spring for one
again - no problem.
Jennifer
I don't have a ventless but I am in the process of trying a
''green'' laundry system while lacking indoor hook ups. So maybe my
experience can add some more layers to your decisionmaking. For
several years now, we have been using a hand-cranked, ''amish
washer'' which we got from Alternative Laundry (actually called
the Wonder Washer) despite the complaints of poor customer
ordering experience, because it had a drain spout unlike the one
at Lehmans (I emailed to see if they had it in stock first before
ordering). Mind you, we had a newborn and cloth diapers. The
amish washer with Oxyclean and Charlies Soap gets our diapers
very clean and can also do delicates. It's only a little bit of
work cranking, which also tones your arms, but if you prefer not
to be so involved or burn calories while doing laundry this def
is not for you. We line dried diapers and continued to go to
laundromat once every week or two.
This year we decided to get a Haier portable washer, a Charming
spin dryer, and a Lehmans indoor clothesline to reduce the
laundry pileup. We decided against the ventless or getting a
clothes dryer because of space/energy use issues (it takes a very
very long time for a ventless to dry wet clothes). After lots of
consumer research, we got the Haier XQJ50 portable washer from
Amazon which got rave reviews everywhere. I cannot comment on the
usage of the darn thing because it came to us with a faulty door
sensor and for the last two months we have been dealing with
warranty-authorized craptastic A&E factory (Sears) trying to get
it serviced. I'm still hopeful that once it gets serviced, that
it will run smoothly.
On the other hand, we've been getting a lot of use from our spin
dryer. I would highly recommend the Charming spin dryer for sheer
efficiency (clothesdrygreen.com). It's sole purpose is to
centrifuge out the water from wet clothes in 2-3 minutes similar
to the bathing suit spinners you sometimes see at public pools.
It gets up to 3200rpm and gets clothes almost dry which means
less time in the dryer or on the clothesline. Cloth diapers now
dry in a few hours, even indoors, which is going to be important
in the winter. Even if you use a dryer, this is a major
time/energy-saver.
We've yet to install the retractable, indoor pully clothesline
from Lehmans because the shower head gets in the way so we have
to cut the poles shorter but not having wire laundry racks
obstacles for our now toddler is going to be worth it this winter.
green launderer
Need a new energy efficient Washer Dryer
Sept 2009
We are moving and I finally get to leave my 50 year old monster washer
and dryer (that
will NEVER break) with the old house. I need a new washer and dryer.
Anyone have a
recommendation? Energy efficient of course and would love something that
comes in
colors!
Nina
Go to Galvin's Appliance on San pablo Ave., north of Solano
Ave. I got the Maytag Bravos 300 quiet series washer and dryer.
Very efficient. High capacity and no agitator vanes, so will
wash quilts and sleeping bags.
kl
I've used front loading and top loading energy efficient washers
(Miele, Maytag Neptune, Fisher Paykel). I LOVE my Fisher Paykel
top loader and have purchased two of them. Excellent machine.
- I'm just not into bending over with front loaders and prefer
top loaders, but I do a lot of washing.
- Some of the european front loaders take a long time (approx 1.5
hr) to do a load (ex Miele). Will that bother you?
- I'm the type that likes to open the lid now and then to either
add an item or just to look at the water swish. Once you close
the door to a front loader and start the wash, it's a done deal.
- There was a problem with my Maytag Neptune that it tended to
get moldy and smelly around the inner rim... don't know if Maytag
corrected this defect.
*Recommend Airport Appliance in Hayward. They have good
warehouse sales, if you can wait.
Signed, a Fisher Paykel fan
Installing a washer and dryer in a condo
March 2009
Does anyone know someone or some way to have a washer and dryer
installed in a condo/apartment unit? There is plenty of room
to add a stackable near a water source, but I am not sure about
how, air venting, permits and opening walls. Should I start
with a plumber or electrician?
anon
Our whole extended family has used Galvin Appliances on San
Pablo in Albany. I recently bought a new washer and dryer from
them and have purchased stacking units for previous homes which
were great. Don Robinson did a great job for us on the last
purchase. Great installation, removed old unit. Galvin is at
619 San Pablo Ave, 510-527-2244.
kathryn
You might check your HOA rules first. Sometimes you have to have
permission, or there are guidelines for where and what type of
W/D you can put in.
Lost in the CCRs
Kenmore vs. Maytag frontloader and dryer
Aug 2008
We need to get a new washer/dryer and want a quiet but highly water
and energy efficient one this time. We don't need all the bells and
whistles but want a reliable and efficient machine. Also where to
buy them for the best deal?
anon
I have a Kenmore front-loading washing and dryer and like them,
though they are my first FLs so I have nothing to compare them to.
Check out the Sears Outlet in San Leandro before you buy elsewhere
-- they often have good prices.
No Complaints
About two years ago we purchased a Maytag front loading washer. It
was the only available US product that would fit into the custom
cabinets the previous owner built around the washer/dryer space.
The washer itself has operated fine - it's very quiet, holds a
surprising large load for it's size and gets the clothes clean.
However, when one day I missed some change in a pocket a quarter got
lodged in the pump and I needed it repaired. This is where the
nightmare began. The service received from Maytag was without a
doubt the WORST I have ever experienced for any item in my life. It
took them 7 visits over 4 months to replace the pump and fix all the
problems they then caused themselves (replacing control panel for
one). Thank goodness it was still under warranty or I shudder to
think of the cost. There were scheduled appointments where no one
showed up; they sent the same repair man back after I specifically
requested they not send this person (I gave his full name). !
They were very unresponsive to my requests and frustration. In
short, I will never purchase another product from them for fear of
having to have it repaired.
I recommend you do some research to see feedback not only on product
performance, but on vendor service as well. ConsumerReports.com
might be a good place to start.
Good luck!
-Not a fan of the Maytag repair man
LG Washer/Dryer
July 2008
We are considering buying an LG Washer/Dryer (front loading) or
the Whirpool Duet washer/dryer(no steam). I was wondering if
anyone had one of these two models and if so, how you like
them? Would you recommend them? Thanks!
I have an LG front loading washer and dryer. We chose it
because we got a great deal on a floor model and it was on my
list of OK models regarding energy and water use. I think it
is a good washer/dryer combo, but didn't research compare too
much. The washer holds alot! The controls are great and easy
to use. I have never used the steam feature. The manual says
that the steam feature is not for cotton (most of my clothes)
and I'm too paranoid to try it and maybe ruin my clothes. What
I don't like is the seal on the washer holds water and it gets
gunked up a bit and starts to smell musty. I have to leave it
open to help it dry out and wipe it down after use -- and try
to get the gunk from under the seal. This may be an
unfortunate design problem with all front-load washers. It has
a special tub-clean feature to clean it, but the manual says to
run it with bleach. I feel that running a special empty load
to clean my washer wastes energy and water! I also try not to
use bleach in my household. I've tried a couple of different
things (bleach, bac-out, baking soda), but the funky odor
persits. Read the manuals on the models you are getting, maybe
this is an LG problem and you can be musty-odor free.
satisfied, but not thrilled with my LG
We just bought the new LG steam washer and we LOVE it. I am
amazed at how little water it uses and HOW UTTERLY clean our
clothes are! Very very happy. AND, we bought it that Sears
Appliance outlet in San Leandro so we got it for about $940 which
is way cheaper than if you buy it normally. It supposedly has
scratches or dents but I couldn't tell. And, you get a rebate
from EBMUD as well.
washer woman
I've had my LG front loading washer for one year now and it
works great. It gets very loud during the spin cycle (sounds
like a jet!) and shakes quite a bit. We keep ours in the garage
on cement, so that's not a problem for us. Could be a
signifincant noise problem for a second story laundry room.
Uses little water and does a good cleaning job. no smell in
washer (some people complain of this) but I wipe down the
gasket around the door and leave door open when I'm done. It
needs to air out.
hope that helps.
Windy
Stackable washer dryer
April 2008
My husband and I are looking to replace our old clunky washer
and dryer with a new set. We would like something stackable
because we are really tight on space. We're looking for
something reasonably priced, but we're willing to pay for great
quality. I'd really appreciate any recommendations.
-can't wait to do laundry!
We love our stackable Frigidaire. It's a high-efficiency,
full-sized, heavy-duty model that uses very little detergent
and a lot less water than top-loading machines. I think it
washes well, too. If you get the vanilla models, they tend to
be less expensive than the fancy colors with all the bells and
whistles. Look for manual buttons and knobs, not the
computers.
Down-side is that it has a shimmy that we haven't been able to
completely get rid of. It was serviced once under warranty
when the internal electric connection to the motor worked
itself loose (because of the shimmy), but that was many years
ago. It's almost 10 years old and still goes great!
You may want to do more research on it, but I have been told
that you can stack the front-loading washers and dryers. I
know they are a lot initially, but your clothes last longer and
you save energy (not to mention dry cleaning expenses since you
can wash your big quilts etc. in them). We bough ours at the
Sears outlet in San Leandro. Most of the appliances only have
a small dent or scratch. Actually, it is the only place my
husband will let me buy appliances, but so far I have been
happy with our purchases from there.
Outlet shopper
Front loading washer and dryer
April 2008
I am going to buy a front loading washer and dryer and am overwhelmed by all of
the choices! So far, I am leaning towards the Whirlpool Sport Duet (Costco, $699
each), the Maytag Epic, or the Frigidaire Gallery $1299 for both at Aiport
Appliance). I will need to stack the dryer on the washer, so if you have any
experience with this configuration, I would appreciate your advice.
In shopping for these products, what should I be looking for? I like the idea of
larger capacity and less energy and water, but I am not sure what else to look
for.
Thanks!
Karie
We had Frigidaire's in our last home, though not the Gallery
series. We had a full size drier (separate component) stacked
on our washer, stuck in a closet with the water heater. They
were fine -- better than most, not as nice as what I have now.
I have top-of-the-line LGs right now which make me a lot
happier.
Just a thought for you...one of my girlfriends bought some
side-by-sides and then had her husband build a cabinet around
them. Believe it of not, they were in her living room. The
cabinet became a tv stand and also gave her space for folding,
etc. Another friend did the same thing in her kitchen. It
seems weird, but front loading washers are so much quieter than
standard fare. Also, I had one when I lived in Europe and I am
sure that they must sell them here now, but there are washers
that are also driers...it is a great space saver and if you only
have a closet, at least you can still have some trappings of a
laudnry room...
jan
Sears delivered my dryer but couldn't install it becuase my gas
line didn't have an on/off valve. I had to call a plumber but
got lucky and called Erik Westergard at 510-828-2956. Erik and
his brother Ken fixed a gas line in my laundry room and hooked
up my drier. They are happy with jobs big and small which is
great since lots of us have small plumbing jobs.
NT
Front loading washers?
Sept 2007
We need to purchase a new washer/dryer but I'm flummoxed by all the choices. We're
interested in a front load washer, but the BPN reviews are from 2001. Has anyone
had good experiences with the Frigidaire Affinity, Whirlpool Duet Sport, others?
Any recommendations or warnings for us? Thanks.
Clueless
I have a Frigidaire, which I bought at General Appliance on Shattuck. It has been
great. I was told by someone, that eventhough you can buy the same machine at
Home Despot, and other outlets, that supposedly the finish on the SS drum is
better when bought at an appliance store. Can't back that up, but I've had no
problem with mine in the 3-4 years I've owned it. I leave the door open so it
will dry out. My brother had the same machine, but after the drum support bearing
went out he bought (1-2 yrs ago)an LG, supposedly they're better.
Happy with a Frigidaire
We bought a Frigidaire front loading washer, don't remember the model, at Best
Buy a couple of months ago. It works great, gets the clothes very clean, uses
less water and energy, and is very quiet. I'm really happy with it. It's not
much of a track record but I hope it helps.
Rebecca
We bougt a Kenmore Elite frontloading washer from Sear's and I would highly
recommend against it. I had to have repair people out countless times because of
flooding issues and because the rubber came off the front door. The problems
started only a few months after buying it. Sears sent out totally inexperienced
people and then on the umpteenth time, I finally got an ''expert'' repair person.
He said that personally, he'd only buy a top loading machine as he's had nothing
but problems with the front loading ones Sears sells (he had 15 years' experience
repairing washing machines). He also said that Sears delivery people routinely
get promoted to repair person but have no idea how to do repairs. He DID fix the
thing and then we sold our house and left it there and I have no idea if problems
persisted (we bought the people that one year appliance warranty with new homes)
but I was happy to see it go.
Never buying Kenmore or from Sears again
Did you check out Consumer Reports, to see what they recommend?
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/laundry-and-cleaning/washing-machines/reports/cr-quick-recommendations/index.htm
--Always Checking with C.R First!
I have the GE front loader and love it. However, there are 2 things I would change: add a timer
(Bosch has it) and reconfigure the rubbery lip around the opening. Little things like nursing pads
and toddler socks get stuck in there!
susan
I got a GE washer/dryer a year or so and I would not purchase one again. First, it
has a smaller capacity than a lot of the other frontloaders which is a bummer for
us. I have to do just as many loads as I did with the top loader. Second, about
every 2 months or so, the ''filter/drain'' or whatever it is gets plugged up with
gunk. I know, I should probably be better about searching pockets on pants before
washing them...but it gets filled up with a few coins, and then gunk builds up. The
result is that the washer doesn't drain properly and you end up with stinky gross
clothes. there is no easy access way to empty the drain/filter. You have to open
the washer below with a screwdriver. Then take the filter cap off and all the built
up water/gunk drains onto the floor (its too close to the floor to get a good size
bucket under there. So its really a design flaw. And once you have the front off,
its really hard to screw it back on...it takes two people, one to hold it up and
ano!
ther to screw it in place.
Also, its impossible to clean out the lint drawer in the dryer too (there is a ton
of sand, etc at the bottom of the lint filter that I can't even reach with my
vacuum cleaner.)
So I generally feel like my clothes are just not as fresh as the used to be, and I
don't feel like I am getting the ''huge capacity'' that I expected. But it was the
cheapest one, so I guess I should have expected it.
unhappy with my GE frontloading washer
Just a tip for the poster who said little items get stuck in the rubber gasket -
throw them into a net lingerie bag. They are cheap and readily available at Longs,
Target, etc.
R.K.
Need a new Washing Machine/Dryer
April 2007
Our workhorse of a washer has died on us. It was a 15 year old Kenmore &
was
fabulous. I've heard that the newer models are not as durable. I'm
looking for
recommendations on brands for good washers/dryers (preferably from
someone
whose had theirs for a while) & perhaps which brands to stay away from.
Also,
interested in good places to purchase them. Thanks.
My main suggestion is to select a front loader. They use much
less water, detergent and energy, are gentler on clothes, and
leave the clothes drier, so your dryer won't have to work as
hard. We've had our Kenmore for about 5 years, with no
problems so far.
R.K.
Maytag Washer Problems which Maytag Will Not Honor
Aug 2006
Two years ago, I purchased a Maytag Neptune front load washing
machine. A year or so ago, I received notification that Maytag
was sued in a class action lawsuit. Apparently, there are many
defects in the Neptune front loader, including development of
mold because it does not drain completely. At the time, my
machine was fairly new and the mold had not yet developed. And
so, I didn't qualify under the class action lawsuit. Now, one
year later, mold has developed. I tried calling Maytag. After
dialing 4 times and speaking with 4 different people, the story I
finally got from Maytag is, the class action lawsuit is over, and
so is the one year warranty. There is nothing that Maytag is
willing to voluntarily do. If I want the mold out of my machine,
I must arrange for a service call, and it will cost $250.00
I called the appliance store, and what they told me was that
Maytags have problems, and that next time, I should buy a German
made front loader because it has better engineering, and is much
more durable and well made.
Euro Washer/Dryer
May 2006
Does anyone on the list have one of those Euro washer dryers? We
have only a washing machine, and for various reasons are thinking
about getting an all in one unit than can dry things as well.
When the weather is fine, we hang things outside, and in the
winter, we dry things inside in front of the woodstove. I would
at least like the option of having a machine do the drying, and
for space and environmental reasons, this seems like a good option.
But, I'd like to find out how people like them AND to find out if
they suck the lint off of clothes like a normal dryer. The one
drag of line drying is that there's no lint sucking-off, and
clothes wind up with dog hair on them forever, it seems. I know
my clothes are lasting longer for the line drying, but every once
in a while I'd like to have a good lint sucking... I'm aware from
previous postings that they don't quite all the way dry things,
and that's fine. What about the lint?
Thanks,
Merrilee
Sorry to say this, but my experience of the washer/dryer combos in Europe was un desastre from
start to finish. It took forever to wash clothes, they didn't seem to come clean unless put on
the ''boil'' setting which destroys many American items, and the dryer... Well, four go-rounds
in the dryer failed to dry our towels. This was in France, I can't remember the brand, but I
vote ''non.'' usually a Euro-enthusiast
I don't have one, so can't advise, but I suggest you check the
''appliances'' forum at gardenweb.com/ You can do a search, and
join (for free) to ask specific questions
R.K.
Front-load skinny washer & dryer
April 2006
We would like to buy a 24'' wide washer + dryer (stackable) of the front-loading or
''European'' variety. I've seen Bosch, Maytag, and Eurotech, which get varied reviews
and have a very wide price range.
Any current advice on these or other models? I already know the broad advantages
of the front-loading washers, so am really just looking for the right brand.
Thanks --
Letitia
We have an ASKO. In the 6+ years that we have had ours, we have
had to have it repaired three times; the most recent repair
involved a brand new motor. 'Nuff said
Best portable washer/dryer?
Sept 2005
We're moving from our house to a small apartment and can't bear the thought of
being without dishwasher and washer/dryer. Unfortunately, they will need to be
portable, with no vents for the dryer. Does anyone have experience with what the
good brands/models are? Anyone have bad experiences with something that we
should steer away from? Any good ''consumer reports'' websites we could check out
that review portables?
Hooked on Appliances
i have friends in small apts both in SF and UK, that use the
combo washer/dryers that can hook to your faucet. i think the
cycles are fairly long, but they work just fine.
If you are considering purchasing a ventless washer/dryer, I
would NOT recommend any of the units by the company Thor.
Three years ago I purchased one of their ventless washer/dryers
and it is a piece of junk! It is poorly designed, has not
worked properly since I got it, and was expensive. Now that we
are moving, it is going to the dump. A great website to gather
information on washer/dryers is
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/laundry/
Good luck with your search.
Charlotte
Stacking Washer Dryer
Dec 2004
I'm interested in ideas about what stacking washer-dryer
to buy -- I liked the Maytag Neptune when I saw it, but
then read there was a consumer suit (settled) about it.
Has anyone had happy/unhappy experiences with this, or
other stacking washer dryers. I'm fairly short, and
wondered if this is a problem with any models.
Carol
We have had a regular (i.e., non-energy-saving) Maytag
stacking washer/dryer for about 17 years. I am 5'4" and we
have employed shorter people, and no one has complained that
it is too tall. We needed the model because of lack of
space and have no complaints.
Francesca
We bought a Frigidaire stacking front-loading washer and
gas dryer 6 years. They are separate units, not a single
machine. I think other brands (e.g. Kenmore) carry
virtually identical machines.
They wash and dry very nicely. The dryer's coils died a few
months ago, but I was able to replace them myself for about
$50. I'm tall so I can't comment on the height issue, but
you could check it out in a store, perhaps.
As a side note, front loading washers are nice even if you
don't need to stack them because they are more efficient
and they are gentler on your clothes. We wash many "hand
wash only" items in it with no ill effects.
David
Portable washer/dryer
May 2004
I am expecting and live in an apartment. I would like to have a
washer and dryer in my apartment so I do not have to go to a
laundromat. Do any of you have any recommendations for which
type would be best?
Thanks so much for any info you're able to provide.
We have the Equator combo washer-dryer and LOVE it. We bought it when we found
out that we were expecting also and lived in a small apartment.
We bought the ventless one and it is great. It does take a little but longer to dry
than a regular dryer, but it is more energy eficient (uses 3 gal. during 120. mints)
and takes up very little space (aprox. 17x 23X 33B4B4). You can use it even if you have
to use the kitchen faucet to get your water from. It has the possibility of having one
or two water intakes. It also has many different cicles.
It is more expensive than a reagular washer-dryer (around $1200), but it is better
for the environment and very convenient for small spaces. You can buy it al LoweB4s,
Equatoronline.com or ajmadison.com (where we bought it).
Happy washing mom
Fisher Paykel GWL11 washer?
August 2003
My 20 year old Kenmore washing machine is nearing it's end and am
looking to replace it with a Fisher Paykel GWL11. Looking for
feedback from anyone who has tried a GWL11 and
what you like/don't like about it.
Thanks in advance,
Elai
I own Fisher and Paykel washer for a little over two years. In general I love it very much. I do not own a dryer, so I hung laundry outside. Since the washer spins water out so well that laundry dries in about two hours if sunny. Sometimes I can do two or three loads of laundry per day!
However, 10 days after a manufacturer's warranty ended, it stopped working. Although out of warranty, I wanted to negociate with Fisher and Paykel to cover the repair cost. It was a bit hard to deal with their customer service. Actually they were rude, inpatient, and very unhelpful. In order to have it repaired for free, I needed to get authorizatio from their technical customer service (not regular customer service.) However, the only person who can talk with tech.
costomer service is a person from a repair company. I needed to ask repair company's person to negociate on behalf of me with Fisher and Paykel's tech. to get authorization.
Afterall my repair was covered (no charge), but I felt somewhat betraid by them since their customer service treated me so badly in spite of my faithful love to the washer. (too attached to it?)
The person from a repair company said that it seldome breaks down (so I
guess I was an unlucky one?), and their customer service is great. Obiously he seems to have different kind of experience with them from me.
So,,, I do love this washer still, but I do not like Fisher and Paykel's customer
service.
mom of two little boys
In the market for a washer & dryer
April 2003
Hi there,
I am in the market for a washer and dryer and would love to here
some recomendations. It is important to me to have energy
efficiant appliances, the other most important thing is
something that washes really good. Noise dosnt matter to me as
they will be in the basement, and of course im on a budget.
thanks,
cris
We had to buy new w/d last summer when we moved into our new
house. I did a fair amount of research at the time, first by
going to Galvin Appliance on San Pablo and finding out what I
could. Essentially, the front loading washers can have a larger
capacity because the agitator stick isn't taking up all the
room. At the same time, it is incredibly water efficient. We
ended up getting the Maytag Neptune system which was a little
spendier, but it came with the Maytage service warranty (which
has turned out to be pretty nice, since we called them last
month, they came out in 24 hours ON A SATURDAY, figured out the
problem was our dryer duct, and helped us with it even though it
had nothing to do with their product). We got it at Home Depot
during an appliance sale, and there was about $225 worth of
rebates from PGE and EBMUD available at the time. I am IN LOVE
with my washer dryer. It is quick, flexible, and quiet. I think
now Kenmore (Sears) and some others make the same kind of
efficient system, but I haven't heard too much about them.
Good luck
Shahana
We love our Kenmore (Sears) compact stackable low water using
energy star washer/dryer. We went w/ gas for the dryer. It's
front loading. It fits in a closet. We junked the old one and
added a baby to our household at the same time. Even w/
additional laundry intensive resident our water usage remained
the same and is occasionally lower than w/ previous monster
washer. you have to either use sparing amounts of liquid
detergent or a special low sudsing powder. We are doing fine w/
all free and clear. If we note too many suds in the window of
the front loader, we just set it for extra rinse.
Jessica
I haven't bought a washer lately, but recently bought a Kenmore
refrigerator and dishwasher. Several years ago, we replaced our dryer
with a Kenmore dryer. I have been very satisfied with all of these
appliances and will continue buying Kenmore; While not terribly
glamourous, the appliances work well and mine have never needed
servicing.
You can find them on www.sears.com. (saving yourself trips to the
store). If you can't decide between their products, you can get
additional information from a special department in sales which I found
quite helpful when buying my dish washer.
Deborah
I just bought a washer and dryer at Bay Appliance on
Broadway in Oakland and had a great experience with the
salespeople and the men who came to install the
appliances. If you go, talk to Gene or his son. They are both
extremely helpful. I too wanted a water-saving washer, but
after doing research and talking to Gene found that they are
twice as expensive, have problems rinsing well (often
requiring another rinse, thus eliminating any water-saving
benefit), and break down more often, making them even
more expensive. However, they did have a variety of
energy-efficient appliances, and I'm sure they would be able
to tell you which ones are best. Good luck!
clean and happy
We can recommend our front-loading washer by Frigidaire, which
we've had for a couple years now. Front loaders are more water-
efficient, and the spin cycle removes more excess water than top-
loaders, so your drying time goes down. Supposedly, there is
less wear and tear on your clothes, too, but I have no way of
verifying this in a head-to-head comparison.
Maytag also makes front loaders, and there are a couple
different European brands, I think. Frigidaire was one of the
least expensive, but, even so, front-loaders do generally cost
more than top loaders. I think we paid around $600, after
rebates and all, but we feel it was worth it.
One more thing-- you do need to switch your detergent to what's
called a high efficiency (HE) type. We've only seen this made
by Tide and one other well-known brand, whose name is escaping
me at the moment. Some newsgroups say that you can use regular
detergent, but you need to reduce the amount drastically,
because front-loaders create much more suds. Who knows- it may
be only market-hype that you need to buy their special HE
detergents. I'd be interested to hear if others can de-bunk the
HE recommendation.
Jim
We recently got a washer and dryer set. We did a lot of
research- spent an hour in Sears learning about all the
features, got the latest copy of Consumer Reports and headed
down to the Sears outlet store in San Leandro where we bought a
Kenmore set at a definite discount. You'll need to go and play
with them- do you need front loading to have more space? Or
will you need a top loader. Do you need gas or electric? Some
are quite low do you want to invest in a riser or build one
before getting your machine? We found the outlet place to be a
great value we bought our fridge and washer and dryer there and
haven't had any problems. Good luck.
Juliette
Another reason to buy a frontloading washer, even though they
are more expensive ''up front'' (ha ha), is the money you can save
on drycleaning. I can machine wash things I used to have to dry
clean - the wash is so much more gentle w/o the agitator. Not
only cheaper but the clothes smell so much better too!
Fran
We bought the Kenmore energy star stackable washer and gas dryer
set in February and have been very impressed. We can even fit in
a full size comforter in its deceptively small size (no agitator
makes a huge difference). We use all, tide, or safeway brand
free and clear regular detergent and have had no problems (just
use 1/3 to 1/2 the amount) and the clothes come out CLEANER than
in our old washer. Thought about trying the high efficiency suds
but decided its really hype and besides haven't seen a no dye,
no perfume option in this sud type. We DO use woolite instead of
just dish liquid though for handwashables as the dish liquid
does sud up way too much in the new washer.
In February, Sears had sale prices, free delivery rebate (worth
$50)and true ''no interest for a year'' (ie. only pay interest on
outstanding balances, if any, at end of year, not on entire
purchase amount). In addition we got rebates from PG&E and
EBMUD totalling another $250!! I admit the Kenmore doesn't look
as cool as the European models, but its in a closet anyway so
who cares?
Karen H.
Someone asked about detergents for front-loaders. Regular
detergents create lots of suds, which front-loaders don't do
well with (note that the presence of suds is not an indicator
of cleaning ability; they add sudsing agents). However, you
are not limited to Tide and the other one (Wisk?). I find that
the Tide HQ is very expensive, is NEVER on sale with the other
Tide versions, and it doesn't come unscented (which I really
prefer), so I did some research and found a few alternatives.
Trader Joes sells its own brand of powdered detergent, in a
greenish box, which is low-sudsing, fine for front-loaders,
unscented and CHEAP. I use just 1/2 scoop in my front-loader
(as recommended on the box), and our clothes come out plenty
clean. TJ's also sells another brand that is fine for front-
loaders (and quite inexpensive), but it is too strongly scented
for me. Sears also sells an acceptable detergent (at least,
used to), but I can not always find it in unscented (it may be
discontinued), and it is not as convenient to buy around here.
So now my regular is Trader Joes. There are also some European
brands you can get online, but TJ's works fine for me.
R.K.
I would like to make a commentary as well as contributing my own
recent experience with washers and dryers.
It's very tempting, and a common practice, to get a slightly lower
price by purchasing an item, such as an appliance, at a large
chainstore (like Home Depot) while using advice and information
sought at a smaller store (like Galvin Appliance). But I think
it's important to support the stores who provide this information.
The stores that offer personalized and knowledgeable
service are usually smaller, established, family owned ones that
are struggling to hold on in this world of chain megastores, and
the competition is killing them off. If we don't support our
community stores, they'll all disappear and we'll be at
the mercy of the chains. And I have never once found anyone at
Home Depot who actually knew anymore about the products than
I could read myself off the shelf. And, they don't offer the
kind post-purchase support that a store like Galvin does.
About washers. I got my Maytag Neptune (at Galvin) several years
ago when it was first on the market, and wish I had chosen a
regular style. First there was an awful problem with it holding
water in the front gasket which would get rank and stinky (you
were supposed to regularly run an empty load through with bleach
to prevent this, thereby losing your supposed water savings). I
called Galvin, and they told me that the manufacturer knew about
this problem but that the consumer had to call the company
directly to get it remedied. I did, and eventually Maytag came out
and retrofitted it with a new style of gasket. I thought it was
outrageous that Maytag wasn't proactively contacting consumers to
offer this fix (and they were prohibiting the retailers from doing
so!).
The machine really twists and tangles my clothes worse than an
agitator machine, and I haven't noticed any water savings. I'm
really disappointed in it and wouldn't recommend spending the
extra money. I am however happy with the Maytag gas dryer, not the
matching Neptune model, that I purchased at the same time.
anon
Concerning low suds, high effeciency detergent for front
loaders....don't bother. We just recently purchased the
Kenmore Elite HE3 set (very impressive by the way!), and
the manual says if you use regular detergent, just use half
of the amount you typically use. We've been using our
regular detergent, only half the amount, and it works just
fine. I found the HE soap to be very difficult to find. Not all
markets carry it.
3loons
A great place choice is the Kenmore front loadingn washer (&
matching dryer). The front loader uses 40% less hot water and
has other energy saving attributes that I can't recall. A great
place to buy washers & dryers is at the Sears Outlet in San
Leandro off Davis Street - I think its on 144th or something?
Call Sears and ask for the phone number for the outlet. They
sell current styles that are slightly damaged (dinged side,
missing dial) for great discounts. We bought ours there and love
them.
Chris
I just bought a washer and dryer for my 2-person condo, so
had to make compromises. The other person did not want a
front loader, so I was limited. I picked a Fisher & Paykel
(from Australia, I believe). It's a top loader but water-efficient
enough to be the only top loader on the recent energy
efficient rebate list -- I think it's even better than the Neptune!
Energy efficiency is also great. And it's got everything and
more in the way of options. Cost -- $600, but (at least in SF)
we were able to get 2 different $75 rebates. I hear the Fisher
& Paykel Dryer is just a GE under a different label, so if you
don't need matching appliances, check out other dryers (I
got a Maytag).
wbrown
Rebates from PG&E
They were offering a variety of rebates including certain energy
saving washers & dryers until the end of March, but the program
had money left and was extended until funds ran out. Funds are
probably gone now, but you might call and check. I got the
impression that PG&E does these programs once in a while if you
want to wait. I don't know when the next round is though.
BTW, we ended up buying the non-energy saving washer & dryer.
We did the math and it was cheaper to buy the regular appliances
even after the rebates. It would of taken 10-15 years before we
broke even with the energy savings. It also saves a lot more
money utility-wise to have a gas dryer (if you already have gas
hookups). I've heard from 35 to 46 cents a load with gas.
(Might be worth getting a plumber to put the gas line in, esp if
you have a gas water heater already and the dryer will be near
that-get a plumber quote first.) Of course, to save the most
money and energy: nothing does the trick like a clothesline ;)
if it's compatible to your situation.
I purchased my stuff from Home Depot. I went on a week night
when it wasn't so crowded and got sufficient help. Also check
out, Lowes.com. They have information to help you pick a
washer&dryer that suits your life in their ''how to buy a....''
section. Unfortunately, Lowes.com didn't have half the products
they listed on their website and you don't know unless you call
the store with the product number. Home Depot also has a rebate
on delivery & installation if you spend over $399 ends in June
(you should double check this info too).
mt
If you are looking for a good source for reconditioned washers
and/or dryers, I have a contact for you.
His name is Jamie Caseber and he is located in Berkeley. He
specializes in reconditioned washers and dryers (spec. Kenmore
and Whirlpool) and will deliver to your home. He also has a
storefront on 10th street in Berkeley.
For more information call him at 510-548-4419.
Happy laundering
Jennifer
Sept. 2002
People really love their Neptunes, but at the Sears Scratch and
Dent we can get a Sears Calypso washer and dryer for the price
of just the Neptune washer. Does anyone have any opinions or
advice about the Calypso. It is an Energy Star rated top loader
with a large capacity, well rated by Consumer Reports, but it
has that odd little agitator or washer plate. Is it effective
and easy on your clothes? Can you wash a down comforter without
destroying it, does it do well with heavily soiled clothes? Any
info appreciated.
Eleanor
We bought a Sears Calypso top-loading washer last spring and we
are mostly satisfied with it. (We love the energy rebates and
lower cost water, PGE,and detergent bills).
We have washed king-sized comforters and sleeping bags with good
results,although we've had to do an extra rinse cycle to get soap
residue out, even after using the recommended amount of HE (High
Efficiency) detergent. I notice that even when washing on the
Delicate cycle, clothes come out of the washer highly wrinkled.
Once out of the dryer, clothes seem O.K. I'm curious if anyone
else experiences this. One other glitch for us is that we need to
use unscented products, and the only unscented HE detergent on the
market is the Sears brand, which is sort of a pain to procure. It
is possible to use regular unscented products, but you need to use
about a third of the normal scoop, and you're never really sure if
there is too much sudsing for this washer.
In terms of buying from the Sears Outlet, I'd recommend getting
the 5 year extended warranty. When my new washer was delivered
from Sears, it had what looked like only a cosmetic dent on the
side, and although I was willing to take the offered 10% off the
price, our appliance person recommended against it, saying the
washer could have fallen off the truck or been hit with a
forklift and that the balance of the drum could be off. So I sent
it back to Sears for a replacement, and maybe our original washer
will end up in your house! It could be perfectly fine, but I'd
advise buying the warranty.
Anne
We bought the calypso washer at the Sears outlet a few months ago
and have been very happy with it. It does a good job
cleaning the clothes (but I haven't tried to wash a big
comforter yet) and is quiet and very easy to use. I like the
the fact that it has a different washing system that doesn't
require the big spiral in the middle. There's nothing for the
clothes to get trapped on and the loads don't get unbalanced.
Karen
Front-Loading Washers
2001
I'd be much obliged if anyone who has purchased a frontloading
digitalized Maytag Neptune 2000 rated #1 in consumers reports this year
could share your experience(s) with it. It's very expensive and I hope
to hear your feedback before getting it. Also what is your experience
with toploading vs frontloading? Any experience with longevity and low
maintenance of some washer brands?
Susan
I'm not familiar with the Maytag washer, but I have a Kenmore front loader.
My husband and I absolutely love it! It is more water and energy efficient
than the front loaders and it is stackable. Our model has two settings for
the spin cycle-fast or slow. The fast cycle wrings out so much water that
the drying time is cut in half. But, some of the seams on some clothing
items have unraveled. So, I don't use the fast spin setting for everything.
We chose the Kenmore because my parents, aunts, and inlaws have always sworn
by Kenmore. Plus, my husband's cousin is an appliance repairman who works for
Sears. He services all brands and makes of appliances and says Kemore washers
and dryers have better track records.
On our machine, though, there are some limitations. For instance, the washer
has a very loud end-of-cycle signal that cannot be turned off (a problem which
has been corrected in the newer models). The other thing, the water level is
not adjustable. Now, according to the literature, the amount of water used
is about 50% less than in toploaders. The only other complaint I have is
poor bleach dispensing. I've noticed that if you fill the bleach dispenser
with more than the recommended amount, it is dispensed directly into the
drum without being diluted first. For me this is a problem because I use an
awful lot of bleach when I wash. On the other hand, there is a setting for
an automatic second rinse cycle. This is handy if you need to do second
rinse cycles for baby clothes or for anyone else who is soap residue
sensitive. Overall, though, I must say we are very happy with our washer and
dryer set.
Well, not quite the information you wanted, but I hope it helps.
Jeanette
We have had the previous version of the Maytag Neptune (not digital) for
two years and have really liked it a lot. We got ours at the Sears
outlet (tiny dent) which saved enough to buy a matching dryer too all
for the price of just the new Neptune washer. I really like the front
loading machine ... uses a lot less water, less soap, and really does a
great job at cleaning. It's great to be able to simply stuff in a huge
comforter or even very delicate items and in both cases it works great.
We've had zero problems with it, but probably only being two years old
is not really yet a test of any future maintenance. So far I think it's
been well worth the extra cost. -Mike
I have had a Creda for three years. I find that it washes very well, spins
the clothes to nearly dry, and is supposed to be very water and energy
efficient. However, it is high maintenance. I have had the motor brushes
replaced twice already, the pump replaced, and the door handle parts
replaced. Luckily I purchased it with my VISA card, so my warranty time was
extended to three years. I would not recommend the Creda. The appliance
repair person (who I now know too well) recommends the Maytag.
Ruth
We do not have the +latest+ Maytag front-loading model, but one bought 3 years
ago. But I must say that I actually ENJOY doing the laundry now with our
Maytage
Neptune. The front loader is like the European washers, which use a lot less
water and soap to do a really fine job on your clothes without mangling
them in
the process. I can wash hand-washables and many "dry clean only" items without
fear of wrecking them. Even "unwashable" stuffed toys, like my son's 4 year
old
teddy bear, have benefited. My tenants, based upon my recommendation and their
own research, waited almost 6 months to get the stackable models, they were so
sold on this type washer. Finally, although you did not ask about the
dryer, it
too is a marvel. I never use softener and nothing ever gets overdried and
wrinkled, unless I forget and let the clothes stay several hours after the
drying is done. The best prices, we found a few years ago, are at Circuit City.
Nori
We recently purchased a Sears front loader and love it. Our water bill is a
fraction of what it used to be with the old top loader. EBMUD and PGE offer
rebates (or did six months ago) for frontloaders. Darcy
I haven't used a Maytag frontloader, but I did buy a frontloader a few years
ago. I was persuaded to by the fact that they used less water (up to two
thirds
ess) and can be more reliable, because the motor spins the tub directly, not
through a 90 degree turn. They are generally also more efficient with
electricity
for the amount of washing you do. Also, my Mother claimed it made clothes
cleaner
because the water was forced through the clothes (by gravity). I looked around
for a while, then picked up what I thought was a bargain machine in a closing
down sale. What I discovered is that not all frontloaders are equal. This one
was not particularly energy efficient, and in particular it had problems with
sucking baby socks into the filter arrangement if I didn't go through every
piece of washing and put small things into washing sacks- a single coin left
in a pocket could completely incapacitate the machine and require an hour
lying on the floor trying to clean out the filter without flooding the entire
laundry. I got quite experienced at this. The particular machine (my nemesis)
is no longer made, for good reason, and most repair people hated it. It ended
up costing me more than a much more expensive machine, plus the hassle. I
began
to have fantasies about finding cliffs to tip it off the edge of, or bombs to
explode it with. Not all frontloaders are like this, of course. The main thing
that's annoying about them is that the washing programs take so long. Also,
it turns out that frontloaders, on average wash LESS well than toploaders,
which surprised me. I would check on whether all underwear has to be separated
and washed in sacks or not. On the plus side, it fitted into our rather small
laundry, didn't use much water and I thought it washed okay. There are much
better machines out there - Europeans use pretty much nothing else.
I've heard good things about the Miele.
Fiona
The most striking features that we experience are the massive capacity and
the extraordinarily miserly soap consumption. Oh, and the dryer's
auto-shutoff feature.
With our landlord's old, smaller top loader, laundry was a weekly task that
seemed to take all day with lots of interruptions to check for imbalances,
and drying was "keep checking 'til it's dry" or "set it for 15 or 20
minutes longer than you expect, so that you'll be sure it'll be done when
you come back."
Now we just cram scads of clothes in the washer, add a quarter cup
of liquid detergent, run the wash, transfer to the dryer, and wait for the
buzzer. Mounds of clean clothes come out, we used less water, less soap,
less energy, and spent less time. The laundry chore that used to be a
high-maintenance production now consists primarily of the folding & putting
away. (I don't think they'll ever automate that.) We're happy campers.
Greg
I purchased the non-digital Maytag Neptune front-loading washer last
October. I think it is a terrific machine. If the claims about water and
electricity usage are true, it is much more efficient than any other washer
of its size. I have found it to do an excellent job of cleaning clothes and
to be much gentler on delicates (I have even washed some "hand wash" cotton
sweaters on its delicate cycle with excellent results). You can also get
quilts and large blankets into the machine without worrying about
unbalancing the machine or getting them wrapped around the agitator (since
there is none). Since I've had it only a few months, I don't know anything
about the longevity, but Maytag machines in general have excellent
maintenance records. It is very expensive, but I think you need to take the
lower energy usage into account in determining the real cost to you
(especially in this energy environment!).
As another note, you don't say where you are considering buying it from, but
I bought mine from Sears, who gave me an extremely short delivery window,
showed up right at the beginning of it, installed the washer and dryer in 15
minutes and were done. I couldn't have been more pleased.
Stephanie
We purchased a frontloading
Maytag Neptune 2 years ago and absolutely love it. If you can afford it, I
think it is worth it. It does a great job, saves water, washes big
loads...With kids, you do not want to mess around with a broken machine or
one that is not going to hold up. We just had a repair done and it was
covered under warranty and hassle free. Scott
We purchased a new Maytag Neptune washer in November 1999.
Overall, I have been really happy with how it washes the clothes and,
especially, how little water it uses. I have to say, however, that we have
had a few
problems (covered by warranty) with a few of the electric components. That
said,
Maytag service is excellent and they sent out a repair person immediately.
We had
to have two components replaced within the first 9 months, but haven't had
a problem
since.I would still buy the same washer, you just need to be aware that
sometimes
with all the digital parts, some piece will malfunction. The washer came
with a
one-year warranty and the service was excellent. After we had the problems, I
decided to go ahead and spend the extra $$ for the 3-year extended warranty.
Hope this helps. It is still the best washing machine I've ever used, far
better than any of the top-loading washers I've used before. One other
piece of
information my mother-in-law has the Frigidaire front loading washer and
loves it too.
I've used her machine when we've visited them in Texas and it is also
excellent (and a
lot less $$). I went with the Maytag because it has a much bigger capacity.
--Susan
We recently bought a Frigidaire front loader from Galvin's, expensive but
not as expensive
as the Maytag. The big surprise for us came with the first load. The
machine was almost
eerily quiet, but when it came to the spin cycle, the whole house shook so
violently I grabbed my daughter and crawled under a desk, thinking it was
an earthquake. The
Galvinians came out to check the machine, said it was fine and properly
installed,
but that we might have to shore up our flooring underneath the machine, or
better
yet, move the machine to a cement slab.
Since we don't want to do our laundry upstairs in the garage, I guess we're
going
to have to beef up the sub-flooring in our laundry room. We never had this
problem
with our ancient top-loader, so I guess frontloaders are just heavier. Our
faithful appliance repair guy (who keeps all our ancient appliances
machines alive with
frequent expensive repairs) was appalled and told us we were crazy to keep
the machine, said it was just a yuppie scam and we should get our money
back, why risk our house falling down the hillside for a frontloader?
But we still have the machine, and haven't done anything about the flooring
(anyone
have a handyman to recommend?), and our appliance repairman has lost all
respect for us. Anyway, if you aren't planning to put the machine on a
cement slab, you might just ask if the Maytag is as prone to rattling the
windows as our Frigidaire is. Because of this, it's been a hassle--and will
add significantly to the cost of the machine when we do the flooring.
I bought a Kenmore front-loader this year and really like it a lot. It
is full-sized but it can be stacked beneath a dryer, which I needed. The
great thing about it is you can wash pillows and comforters without
having to wind everything around that central agitator. It doesn't
mash and grind all the clothes so they suffer much less than before. Plus of course
it uses much less water. It is so efficient at spinning out water that if I
use the "fast spin" the clothes are smashed flatter than pancakes and don't unwrinkle
well in the dryer. So be sure to set it on regular spin, not fast.
The one thing I don't like about it is the
obnoxious 5-second-long buzzer that sounds at the end of the cycle.
Ginger
Lori
I bought the Maytag Neptune non-electronic front loading washer and matching
dryer a couple of months ago and I just LOVE THEM! This is sick to say, but
washing clothes is actually pleasurable! The washer is soooo quiet, it
practically purrs when it is washing. Less water and less detergent,
machine is much gentler on clothes on account of not having an agitator
agitating the clothes. It holds more clothes, especially larger items (I
routinely wash queen sized down comforters, lambskin rugs, blankets). There
is no need to make sure that the loads are evenly balanced (hence, no
"walking" washers). For towels and other thirsty fabrics, there's a Max
(water) extract. I feel the extra expense is worth it. The amount of
laundry of my family of five produces will increase as the kids get larger
and I feel this is an investment in staying ahead of the laundry pile. I
also have the matching Neptune dryer. It's a bit noisy, but more like a
white noise. I like the electronic moisture sensor, so the dryer will shut
off when the clothes are dry. There's a 5 minute cooling before the dryer
completely shuts off, which prevents wrinkles. It is a definite improvement
from my old 21 year old dryer which needed 3 hours to dry a load!
I bought my Maytag set from Home Depot since they still carried the now
discontinued non-electronic models. The prices were on sale, even. And
free delivery, set up, and take away of old units. Good deal! Plus, there
still may be energy saving rebate offers. Aside from the lower cost of the
older models, I prefer turning knobs and pressing buttons and having all of
my options spelled out in front of me vs. scrolling around looking for some
command. Guess I'm essentially a low tech type. LD
I also love my front-loading Maytag Neptune (2+ years old). I bought it
(and the matching dryer) at the Sears outlet in San Leandro and saved
enough to buy a refrigerator. Plus I got rebates from both PG&E (unlikely
now!) and EBMUD because the machines save energy and water. I found I can
use any detergent in it (despite manufacturer's information) and only need
half or less of the normal amount of detergent. The only drawbacks to the
washer are (1) you can't open the washer after it has started to add that
sock that fell in the hall on your way to the machine -- it locks once the
wash cycle starts, and (2) the rubber gasket around the inside portion of
the door traps water -- I generally soak it up with a rag or towel. This
design feature isn't present on all front-loaders though, and may not be a
problem on more recent Maytags.
Karen
I don't have the Maytag front loader, but rather the Kenmore someone else
mentioned (also the dryer) and am very happy with them. I'm glad to know
that the latest model includes the option to turn off the strident
end-of-wash buzzer, because it's the worst feature of mine. If space is at
a premium, front loaders offer the advantage of being stackable. My house
has only a very narrow space into which a washer/dryer fit, and if I wanted
both a washer and dryer they had to be stackable. I didn't like any of the
"apartment sized" stackables I saw. The Kenmore (which is, I believe,
identical to models sold under the Frigidaire brand, too) stacks and offers
the capacity of a regular full-sized washer. It's my first in-home washer,
so I have no previous water or utility bills to compare, but the increase in
monthly bills was minimal.
I live in an old house, and the washer spin cycle does rattle the place.
It's not a yuppie scam. My guess is that the spin action in a front-loader
works differently than in a top-loader
Lorraine
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