washing machines

[molly]

If any of you have had the misfortune recently of having to replace a washing machine, you will understand my frustration! This is CRAZY!!! Apparently the government has decided how we are to do the laundry. The amount of water that they will allow in the new washing machines amounts to dry cleaning your clothes.

I was shocked to find out all the problems that people are having if they purchase a new machine. If you have an older laundry room set-up, that won't fit the front loaders, as they are very deep, you are really in a pickle.

We waste gobs of water watering lawns, golf courses, taking baths (that will likely also be outlawed), etc. But can you put a few extra gallons in the washer now........no way.

This is very discouraging.

I am willing to "hug trees" ....BUT........I want to do it in CLEAN CLOTHES. When you live in the deep south, you need HOT WATER to scrub your duds and then a seriously good rinse cycle.

Suggestion: If you need a new washing machine - be prepared to go down to the river with a scrub board!

 

[W2R]

How awful, Molly! I haven't bought a new washer since 2002, so I had no idea.

They don't make the same old-fashioned top-loaders any more? Wow. I hope mine doesn't break any time soon. I know what you mean about needing lots of water to clean clothes well here in the South.

Edited to add: Have you tried Best Buy? I went to their website just now and found some, I think:

Top-Loading Washers | Best Buy

 

[REWahoo]

Molly, I feel your pain...

However, we moved from a traditional top-loader with a center agitator to a new-fangled ecowater top-loader and it works great. Yes, there is a learning curve and you have to do a few things differently, but it really does work.

PS - we live very far south.

 

[molly]

If you are happy with your top loader - please share the brand & model #. I have been to BB, HD, & LOWES for many hours. They tell me that all the customers are complaining.

In addition to the water situation, all the new machines have electronic panels that are susceptible to "brown outs". The control panels are VERY expensive to replace. Only truly mechanical and agitator washer left on the market is the Speed Queen. Even that has had its water level zapped but............there is a way to circumvent it on the SQ.

 

[W2R]

Oh gosh, now I really dread the day when my washer dies, Molly. I will be complaining, too. I think these forced water usage controls are so stupid - - I never use more water than the minimum charged on a water bill here. It would make more sense to just charge more to those who use more water and let the rest of us use it as we wish, IMO.

 

[Janet H]

I have a set of Maytags from 1992. They just keep working and yes, probably use lots of water and electricity. Otoh, we don't do much laundry these days - typically 3 or 4 loads a week and they are paid for. I talk to the plants when I water and give the old maytag a nice appreciative pat on wash day and am hoping for another 20 years...

 

[REWahoo]

If you are happy with your top loader - please share the brand & model #. I have been to BB, HD, & LOWES for many hours. They tell me that all the customers are complaining.

We bought the Whirlpool Cabrio WTW5700X at Lowes. Our daughter liked ours and purchased the same model and we are both satisfied customers.

I did a lot of reading prior to purchasing and saw a lot of complaints - and a lot of positive recommendations. It appears to me those who don't like it are not following the instructions on how to use it properly - as I said, it requires different loading techniques. If you dump your clothes in like an old top-loading agitator model and throw in some soap, I guarantee you won't be happy with the results. We laminated the instructions, follow them closely and have never been disappointed.

If you are worried about the electronics, you can always buy an extended warranty. Since the machine cost less than $500 on sale the extra expense didn't seem warranted.

 

[W2R]

We bought the Whirlpool Cabrio WTW5700X at Lowes. Our daughter liked ours and purchased the same model and we are both satisfied customers.

I did a lot of reading prior to purchasing and saw a lot of complaints - and a lot of positive recommendations. It appears to me those who don't like it are not following the instructions on how to use it properly - as I said, it requires different loading techniques. If you dump your clothes in like an old top-loading agitator model and throw in some soap, I guarantee you won't be happy with the results. We laminated the instructions, follow them closely and have never been disappointed.

If you are worried about the electronics, you can always buy an extended warranty. Since the machine cost less than $500 on sale the extra expense didn't seem warranted.

I'm embarrassed to ask, but what else can you possibly do with a washer other than dump in the clothes and throw in soap? I am SO hopelessly outdated. My username should be "20th Century W2R".

 

[REWahoo]

I'm embarrassed to ask, but what else can you possibly do with a washer other than dump in the clothes and throw in soap?

First you have to friend the machine on Facebook...



You have to place clothes around the edge of the tub keeping the "button" in the center clear. Takes an extra 30 seconds vs. dumping.

 

[JPatrick]

If you are happy with your top loader - please share the brand & model #. I have been to BB, HD, & LOWES for many hours. They tell me that all the customers are complaining.

.

We recently bought a pair of Maytag Bravos, in silver no less.
Top loader with all the water saving features.
There is a definite learning curve, but washing bliss will soon arrive.
These tested out pretty well with Consumer's reports also.
As a bonus, they make many interesting sounds..

 

[W2R]

First you have to friend the machine on Facebook...



You have to place clothes around the edge of the tub keeping the "button" in the center clear. Takes an extra 30 seconds vs. dumping.

Ah! OK. I can learn to do that...

 

[W2R]

We recently bought a pair of Maytag Bravos, in silver no less.
Top loader with all the water saving features.
There is a definite learning curve, but washing bliss will soon arrive.
These tested out pretty well with Consumer's reports also.
As a bonus, they make many interesting sounds..

As long as the dryer buzzer cannot be heard from probably a block away, like my present dryer buzzer, I would never complain about the sounds.....

 

[Amethyst]

This must be a rather new development. We replaced all our home appliances in 2008, including washer/dryer (old ones dated from 1990) and had no trouble finding a top loading washing machine that uses all the water one could want.

We glanced briefly at front loaders - the height seemed to be largely a function of the expensive pedestal that must be bought for the washer to sit on. That set-up wouldn't fit in our laundry room, unless we removed the laundry cabinets above the washer and dryer. That said, we didn't see any practical advantage to a front-loading washing machine over a top-loader.

Amethyst

If any of you have had the misfortune recently of having to replace a washing machine, you will understand my frustration! This is CRAZY!!! Apparently the government has decided how we are to do the laundry. The amount of water that they will allow in the new washing machines amounts to dry cleaning your clothes.

I was shocked to find out all the problems that people are having if they purchase a new machine. If you have an older laundry room set-up, that won't fit the front loaders, as they are very deep, you are really in a pickle.

We waste gobs of water watering lawns, golf courses, taking baths (that will likely also be outlawed), etc. But can you put a few extra gallons in the washer now........no way.

This is very discouraging.

I am willing to "hug trees" ....BUT........I want to do it in CLEAN CLOTHES. When you live in the deep south, you need HOT WATER to scrub your duds and then a seriously good rinse cycle.

Suggestion: If you need a new washing machine - be prepared to go down to the river with a scrub board!

 

[molly]

Well my dear Amethyst.....hang on to those machines. If they bust...get them repaired! Today's top loader = BIG TUB & teeeeeeeeny water.


JANUARY 1, 2011 is when these wonderful rules went into effect. Now ANYBODY who wants a new WASHER has to abide by the government's system of washing clothes!

As you can tell everybody...I am seriously aggravated. THIS TIME THEY HAVE GONE TOO FAR.

 

[james7]

My, my, such a depressing thread!! My washing machine is vintage early 1980's, and the house I moved here from had a washing machine from the 1970's. Right now I only talk to the cat and the plants, but it looks like I'll have to start talking to my washer to make it last longer.

 

[jimnjana]

We bought the Whirlpool Cabrio WTW5700X at Lowes. Our daughter liked ours and purchased the same model and we are both satisfied customers.

I did a lot of reading prior to purchasing and saw a lot of complaints - and a lot of positive recommendations. It appears to me those who don't like it are not following the instructions on how to use it properly - as I said, it requires different loading techniques. If you dump your clothes in like an old top-loading agitator model and throw in some soap, I guarantee you won't be happy with the results. We laminated the instructions, follow them closely and have never been disappointed.

If you are worried about the electronics, you can always buy an extended warranty. Since the machine cost less than $500 on sale the extra expense didn't seem warranted.

The only complaint I have with the cabrio model is the length of time it takes to complete a wash.

 

[REWahoo]

The only complaint I have with the cabrio model is the length of time it takes to complete a wash.

Yep. Pounding your clothes on a rock is much faster...

 

[Sarah in SC]

Oh wow, we just keep fixing the ones we have. Pair given to us as a wedding gift, 19 years ago. Plain old top load washer and front load dryer. Pretty rusty these days but I dry outside most of the time anyway, so the inefficient dryer is ok by me. Maybe shop on Craigslist or a thrift store for older models? If the new ones aren't to your liking? I just went and looked- mine are GE brand.

 

[W2R]

Yep. Pounding your clothes on a rock is much faster...

Being retired, I don't think this would bother me as long as the clothes came out clean. I have all the time in the world...

I just went and looked- mine are GE brand.

Mine too, even though I have a gas dryer.

 

[FinanceDude]

I have a GE washer about 5 years old. Make sure you get a "direct drive" motor, no transmission. I usually have great luck on bestcoveries.com or cnet.com for reviews on what to get.........

 

[Nords]

As you can tell everybody...I am seriously aggravated. THIS TIME THEY HAVE GONE TOO FAR.

Deep breath. You don't want those guys with the black helicopters paying you a visit.

Might I suggest if you're living in the "deep south", that a water conditioner will help remove enough minerals from your water supply to make it easy to do your wash in a couple of gallons of water. The money you save on laundry detergent (and dish detergent, and soap, and shampoo, and on plumbing atherosclerosis) will pay back the cost of the water conditioner.

I've seen front loaders "supported" with plywood boxes or bricks. I think the advantage of their high-speed spin cycle (which practically dries the clothes) saves a lot of dryer time. Brownouts? Buy a $40 voltage conditioner off Amazon or an electronics store. We use that in place of an UPS on our computer. Works great.

But we use a traditional top-loader washer in our rental property because there's not enough space in the laundry room. We buy Kenmores off Craigslist for a few hundred bucks, and I suspect you'll find many acceptable used top-loaders off Craigslist for years to come... without those pesky governmental regulations.

Cheaper than buying a government-approved machine, too. Although it still might not protect from black helicopters.

 

[Walt34]

I'm wishing I had brought the 1979 Maytags with us when we moved to WV. They were still chugging along when we left.

This is not good news and we'll baby the ones we bought in 2002.

 

[RunningBum]

We glanced briefly at front loaders - the height seemed to be largely a function of the expensive pedestal that must be bought for the washer to sit on. That set-up wouldn't fit in our laundry room, unless we removed the laundry cabinets above the washer and dryer. That said, we didn't see any practical advantage to a front-loading washing machine over a top-loader.

Amethyst

The pedestals aren't a "must". Unless some brands are different from when I bought my front loader in 2008, it's just to raise the opening to a more comfortable height. It doesn't bother me to bend down so I didn't get them, especially since the price was ridiculous.

I like my front loader. It uses less water and is more gentle on my clothes than the agitator kind. It takes more time but I don't do that many loads.

A lot of the front loaders had bad track records when I was buying (and still may), but my Samsung has been good. Luckily I have plenty of room for the larger washer. My brother had to take off the folding closet doors in his house. You have to keep the door open to avoid mold build up.

I agree that it sucks that the government mandated out the old washers.

 

[JPatrick]

The only complaint I have with the cabrio model is the length of time it takes to complete a wash.

Same with the Maytag, but it does clean well in hardly any water.
Also remember, you'll need to get that line of credit to afford the HE soap.

No really, not long ago Tide HE soap has become a favored shoplifting item.
Tide on the black market? Well you can't say it's a dirty business.

(LA Times)

Thieves seem to be embarking on an anti-grime spree, some media outlets are reporting, saying thousands of dollars in Tide detergent is being swiped from shelves across the country.
One Minnesota man stole about $25,000 worth of the liquid laundry detergent from a West St. Paul Wal-Mart over 15 months, authorities there say. Some stores, including a CVS in Prince George's County, Md., have taken to wrapping anti-theft devices around the handles of the orange bottles

 

[JPatrick]

Deep breath. You don't want those guys with the black helicopters paying you a visit.

Might I suggest if you're living in the "deep south", that a water conditioner will help remove enough minerals from your water supply to make it easy to do your wash in a couple of gallons of water. The money you save on laundry detergent (and dish detergent, and soap, and shampoo, and on plumbing atherosclerosis) will pay back the cost of the water conditioner.

.

What device are you referring to when you say "water conditioner?"
Water softener??