Looking for washing machine suggestions

[Viper GTS]

Out of curiosity, what generation of machines are you familiar with? General consensus seems to be that early models had issues, some real and some imagined. The oldest set I owned was purchased in ~2004 and my current in 2012. So eight years on both now.

Should You Get a Front-Load or Top-Load Washing Machine?

Front-loaders have the edge on cleaning performance and efficiency, but there are times when a top-loader could be best for you. Here are the facts you need to make a decision.

www.nytimes.com

If you have comparable, photographed test results that show otherwise please do share.

I don't clean my door seals. I did once a couple years back just to see if I was somehow missing something but there was absolutely nothing in them. No mildew, mold, debris - nothing. I give my washer zero extra thought or care other than leaving the door open when not in use. I have done that from the beginning based on fear of mold but I have never had any issues.

I have had some issues with it walking in my recently purchased house, but those were mostly solved by thoroughly leveling it using a 48" digital level and then completely eliminated via addition of rubber pads. To be fair the place it's in is the most unlevel place in my 120 year old house - the front leveling feet are at full extension with the back at minimum. Not exactly the washers fault and it had no issues in my previous house.

If mine died today I'd consider them to have earned their rest and would be thrilled at the opportunity to upgrade to bigger ones.

Viper GTS

 

[mikeford]

If you aren't beating your clothes on rocks in a stream, quote all the "funny" claims above. Front loaders work just fine, clean as well or better than top loaders, and put less wear on the clothes.

 

[Torn Mind]

Belt-driven top load are generally the best for reliability and ease of service. Vintage Maytag and GE had/has that system.

Whirlpool direct drive top loaders seem to be made so repair techs can have a job.

Sensors add another layer of unreliability compared to old-school mechanical.

Believe it or not, a transmission is worth fixing on a vintage Maytag because build quality is such crap on new washers. If I were to guess, they're built to no longer last a whole 30-year mortgage, but merely 1/2-/1/3 of a mortgage.

 

[mikeford]

Built to fail just after warranty ends, its why consumer washers are $800 and commercial are $3000.

 

[Meghan54]

Your nose isn't working very well if you can't smell the sour stink.

You aren't playing very hard if your clothes don't get dirty.

There's nothing superior about washers that do less of their task - WASHING.

If you really want to not wash your clothes, there are lots of washers with a gentle cycle and a shorter cycle. Why even bother washing clothes, you can just not do that and save so much money!

I care extremely if a washer lasts 20 years. It's not damaging clothing if you set loads to delicate if they need that. Otherwise, it is not damaging my clothes, rather getting them clean so I don't stink and have stains.

It's kind of like low flow faucets. They were developed for idiots that don't know how to use a faucet, to turn it down if they want water to come out slower. Same thing for the setting on your washer, if you want gentle that is not a reason to buy a machine incapable of getting clothing clean otherwise.

Delicate garments aren't what people tend to wear when they are going to get dirty. Your washer should be able to handle both scenarios. That's what those funny looking round and square dials and buttons on it are supposed to be for. 😉

It is nonsense that a top loader, set appropriate to the load, damages clothing... unless you are buying junk that would fall apart anyway.

There is no valid argument for buying a poor performing washer then hoping it keeps poor quality clothing from disintegrating. That's like gravitating towards filling your life with crap, defeated, unable to cope with basic life staples like clothing and cleanliness.

It is a tale of making bad choices and then pretending it's a better choice than made by people who have none of these problems. No. Listen to those who don't make everything in their life a problem. It never ends... self perpetuating.

Talk about an overly broad brush...you got too much hate built up inside you.
Have a Whirlpool front loader. Have had it now 7 years. Not one fuckup...no smells, nada. On the other hand, our clothes are vastly cleaner than with any other washer we’ve used. Consistently gets out old chassis grease, motor oil, brake fluid...all that nasty crap you get when “playing” with vehicles. Jeans I’d have thrown away because of oil/grease stains now come clean.
And agitators do indeed wear clothes out faster than not using one. Here’s a hint about agitators...they’re not there to scrub your clothes. They’re there to move your clothes through the water/soap mixture.

 

[mindless1]

Talk about an overly broad brush...you got too much hate built up inside you.

Fair enough. BUT, who is going to counter idiots that decide for you, how you're going to use your own faucet or washing machine?

No. I'm on firm ground here and want bullets in the heads of all the worthless a-holes that decide for us, pretending that we can't make our own choices.

If you want your washer on gentle, that is a setting. If you want your faucet to use less water, that is a setting.

Sorry no, you are 100% WRONG AND WEAK for pretending that this is some kind of anti-social hate angle instead of what it is which is respecting everyone and not wanting anyone to have to put up with this nonsense.

Please stop drinking the kool-aid. There was a time when everyone thought this kind of issue was ridiculous, when a washer that didn't get clothing as clean was a ridiculous piece of crap, not some "energy planet saving (nonsense)."

 

[Viper GTS]

Good uses like the righteous crusade for antique washing machines?

You have picked the strangest of hills to defend when there are so many bigger issues going on in the world. Many of us love our front loaders. I'm sorry you were harmed by one, but JFC chill out. Go inventory your stash of 100W lightbulbs or something - The internet is clearly much too serious for you.

Viper GTS

 

[shortylickens]

A while back I got a Speed Queen. They now make residential washers. And dryers. Really fast, high quality. Not cheap.

 

[mindless1]

Good uses like the righteous crusade for antique washing machines?

You have picked the strangest of hills to defend when there are so many bigger issues going on in the world.

A battle is won one hill at a time.

I have plenty of other swords out there.... 😉

Trying to suggest we should ignore this is lunacy.

Would you ignore being raped if someone else was murdered? Would you ignore someone stealing $1000 from you if someone else had $1M stolen? No, of course not. I do appreciate the argument that time is better spent elsewhere and it's true, but we're a big big bunch of people that have the capacity to do many things at once.

In this age of disposable appliances, we need to put an end to the idea that an appliance that lasts 1/4th as long and does a poor job during that time, is an improvement.

It is not an improvement to use less materials and less power if the replacements end up using more materials to make and more power to do it too.

The great equalizer is our power bills. Decide for yourself, did your washer that lasted 1/4th as long, pay for itself in power savings? I suppose if you wash enough, you can start that argument but if you do, then your lifespan goes much lower too.

 

[MrSquished]

I never knew that people were so passionate about washers and dryers. I just want mine to last a while.

I'm closing in on year 3 with the new Samsung front loading washer and dryer that came with my condo. They are full sized and stacked, no option for a top loader in this laundry closet. I've never had an issue with getting stuff clean, but besides some hiking don't get too dirty. I'm not too sure how long they will last but I'll find out. Not the biggest fan of samsung but they came with the place.

Only annoying thing is remembering to leave the washer door open for a few hours after doing a load but it's habit now. There is no sour smell in my condo either

 

[mindless1]

^ I'd very much like to never think about my washer, maybe it's just more of a shock how bad they've become to anyone who has had their old one last a long time so the new is 3+ generations worth of bad designs compounded onto each other.