Home clothes washer testimony's?

[typetwelve]

We need to get a new washer...but I am not having much luck in finding one that doesn't have a large amount of scathing reviews on it. I've looked at Whirlpool, GE, LG, Samsung, Frigidaire, Kenmore...pretty much you name it, all seem to have serious "love-hate" reviews and most have some serious horror stories applied to them.

A big one seems that these new washers are all now so "energy efficient" that they don't use enough water to properly wash the clothes. I've read this about nearly every major brand out there.

Anyway...anyone bought a new top load washer recently and if so, any thoughts on it?

 

[soFlaNative]

I'll be looking real hard and prepared to spend the bucks on a Speed Queen when the current refurbed Estate (Whirlpool) quits. The previous Kenmore pooped out after 3-4 years, the tub assembly cracked and the current trend is all about computer controls.
Give me mechanical settings every time.

 

[Ranger17]

We bought an LG set w/ top load washer a couple years ago and so far it works great. The only complaint (if that) is my wife is shorter and the deep tub can be tough for her to reach everything. Fine for me reaching, though again those big tubs are deep. Thats an fyi in case one has a bad back etc.

But overall we are happy with them. Ended up getting them at home depot which was the best price/service we found at the time here.

 

[motom]

As soFlaNative said check out Speed Queen. When we bought ours they had one with mechanical controls and two with computer controls. Good, better and best. Went with the better as it had 2 years more warranty if I remember correctly for $100 each for washer and dryer. Wife said best had settings she would never use.
She has no complaints with her choice.

 

[tlawler]

We've got a stacking front load LG set that's been pretty good. Coming up on 10 years old. Had to replace the pump on the washer at about 8 years ($24 Amazon) and one of the dryer rollers just gave out and I'm going to replace them as a set ($19 Amazon). We got the stackable ones because they were "trendy", but we're definitely going back to top load next time.

 

[s&wchad]

We bought a Whirlpool Super heavy duty large capacity washer and dryer in '93 when we were married. The dryer is still going strong and has only needed a couple thermal fuses.

The control panel (rheostat dials) on the washing machine went bad about three years ago and the Mrs. decided we needed a new high tech top loading, water efficient machine. I could have fixed the old machine for under $200, but she does the laundry and I'm smart enough not to argue with her!

The new machine, a Whirlpool Cabrio Platinum cost close to a grand with an optional extended warranty. When they hauled away the old machine, the delivery man told us not to expect 23 years out of the new one. He was right! The three year old Whirlpool washer needed service earlier this year because of a bad pump. The tech was here three times before it was fixed and we were visiting the laundromat for a month. The tech mentioned that the pressed-on drum bearings go bad fairly often on these new machines, which is a $400-$500 repair. We've since extended our five year warranty for an additional three years. My wife loves the machine and it does a good job on clothes, but I have no faith in its longevity. The electronics are a nightmare and there's virtually nothing about it that's user serviceable.

If I have my way, our next machine will be a small commercial washer like they have in laundromats. I'm in "The Great Lakes State" and could care less about low water usage!

 

[Sevens]

I've heard Speed Queen recommended here before, but the lowest model offered is showing a price of $899 with just a 3-year warranty.

I also would spend the money on a quality machine, but that's nearly twice the price of a low-tech, low-end, non-Eco, non-front load.

If I knew I could get ten years out of it with no issues, I could see throwing $900 (before tax) at it. But I'd love to read some real reviews from real owners.

 

[Sevens]

Here's an article on what Speed Queen is offering right now, today, and it isn't good.
Speed Queen: The Internet Commenters' Favorite Washing Machine: Reviews by Wirecutter | A New York Times Company
It's an interesting review and not overly long and drawn out.

 

[Rustyt1953]

We have a 4 yo Whirlpool Cabrio top-loader. It does a very good job. The best testimonial I can give is that running daily due to 3 school kids that use every available towel, it hasn't complained yet.

 

[paulh]

Buy a used Maytag, Speed queen or a really old Whirlpool. All easy to repair and no electronics that don't get along with moisture. I would stay away from the LG's and Samsung's from what my peers say about them. GE not much better. To who ever said 3 year warranty, who, where?

 

[doublesharp]

I bought a speed queen analog set two years ago just before they went all digital. There may be some new old stock still in the pipeline but I'd hurry. Mine were about $1600 for the pair and we've had zero problems.

 

[LVSteve]

We bought a LG matched pair washer and drier. The washer is a top loader and is huge. I hear what you say about the low water levels and I think it's because they are set up for neutral water, neither hard or soft. That means you will appear to be short of water for rinsing. Our washer has an "Add water" button that we use every time and we have no complaints about how clean the clothes appear.

 

[Ματθιας]

I'm in the same boat. I have a 30 year old Kenmore that's going out. It needs a new transmission.

I priced some new ones and read the reviews, I've decided to fix it. For under $300, and my labor, I'll have a refurbed, proven, washer that will probably last another 30 years.

 

[dave1918a2]

I bought a Whirlpool top load, no agitator from Best Buy 2 years ago. Love it. Cleans great. Don't remember the model but it was on sale for 429.

 

[Jim R]

We bought a set of Maytag Commercials 2 years ago. They were on sale for about $1000.00 for the pair. 3 year warranty. This is still the old style, old school machines. I talked to our local appliance repair shop and bought one of the 4 or 5 that they said they could easily get parts for.

Had a guy I shot with years ago that sold appliances. He said just buy whats on sale, doesn't matter what features it has on it, your wife isn't going to walk past it on her way to a laundromat. Best advice I ever got on home appliances.

 

[SteveA]

I bought my wife an Electrolux washer/dryer combo after our last Whirlpool died. She loves it.

 

[WardenRoss]

I bought a speed queen analog set two years ago just before they went all digital. There may be some new old stock still in the pipeline but I'd hurry. Mine were about $1600 for the pair and we've had zero problems.

What he said. ^

Pecked out on my iPhone.

EDIT, BACK AT THE LAPTOP.
A close family friend owned a mom and pops appliance shop for forty-years and recently retired. Before he retired he got me a Speed Queen combo. They say commercial on the logo but just don't have the coin slot mechanism.

When the washer runs, you can't hear it or feel it doing anything. Smooth and heavy. It has no electronics. No water level sensor (which he says are problematic).

He went into all the details about it's quality. All I know is that our last Whirpool was a piece of junk and only lasted a few years.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

One of my friends from church is a foreman/supervisor on the floor at the Whirlpool plant in Marion, Ohio (They only make washers there). I have a front load, energy efficient, water saving, and High Efficiency washer. For four years not a single problem. My friend says he won't have a front load, because they spin too fast and will shake themselves apart. I have not noticed any undue vibration!

Ivan

The G.E. Heavy Duty Commercial washer we got the first year we were married (1979), lasted for 22 years being used once or twice a day with 4 kids that were raised using cloth diapers! That model hasn't been available since 1985. The Kenmore "Heavy Duty" that replaced it needed replaced in 3 years. The Top of the line Maytag she got for the 25th Anniversary lasted until the move 4 years ago (the transmission became mess up in the move!) Hence the Whirlpool's.

My friend also said they (The Whirlpool Company) bought retail a LG that copied the model that I have. At the R&D department the took it apart and checked every aspect about it. The body sheet metal was 2 sizes thinner, the motor was 7 amps less powerful, the door hinges were a pot metal instead of stainless steel. They did a price comparison and decided if they cut all the corners LG did, they could market it for 25-30% less than they paid for it! My daughters pair of LG front loaders (In a beautiful Candy Apple Red) were junk in 6 years, of use with triplet boys!

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Yes, top loaders are superior-you can let things soak.

 

[Jimmyjones]

When my Whirlpool washer from 91 died a month ago, I got a Speed Queen.

Love it, gentler on the cloths, quieter. Don't know how I got by with the Whirlpool.

Let see how it lasts.