Crowdsourcing ideas for a new washing machine

[Saab2000]

I know somewhere between little and nothing about washing machines but now I need to get one. Looking for suggestions.

Top loader?
Front loader?
Brands?

Not looking for a ton of features or GPS connectivity or weird stuff. But I am looking for quality and durability.

When asking around I had two totally different opinions on top vs front loaders. One person was adamant that top loader is the only way to go. The next guy says front loader is the only way to go.

[Too Tall]

Whirlpool Cabrio. It's the best one so far.

[Saab2000]

Whirlpool Cabrio. It's the best one so far.

Thanks. I'll investigate.

Bought a house the other day. The previous owner is keeping the washer but not the dryer (per the purchase agreement). These are strange and mysterious times.

[rwsaunders]

14 years with a Whirpool top loader (don't recall the model) that had to deal with two of us and three kids. The unit almost ran full time. We replaced it with a Whirpool Carbrio 5 years ago and it has been just as reliable. I couldn't see the value offering for us with a front loader but if you need to stack units, that's obviously the route that you need to go. I just lifted the lid and checked the model number for you...WTW6200VW0

[sine]

Quality and durability today........beats me. Deciphering online reviews is probably your best bet. We last purchased a washer in 2000 for our Potomac, MD house. German made Kenmore front loader that still worked like a charm when we sold the house last fall. Our new to us house in NC has a 3 year old basic GE top loader that makes some odd noises and the lid is rusting. It works ok but for how long.

I think a front loader with lower end to middling options is the way to go.

[edoz]

If you don't need a lot of modern bells & whistles and want the most reliable machine you can get, check into Speed Queen. You'll pay more, but they are the only company that still builds them to last and the warranty reflects this.

[sk_tle]

Avoid consumer oriented washing machine with their unreliable shitty plastic parts and buy one of those front loading industrial grade one that equip laundromats. That's what I have (sorry can't remember the name of that swiss brand, let me time to go back home) and I'm pretty sure it will survive me (I must be the 4th owner or so).

[Saab2000]

Avoid consumer oriented washing machine with their unreliable shitty plastic parts and buy one of those front loading industrial grade one that equip laundromats. That's what I have (sorry can't remember the name of that swiss brand, let me time to go back home) and I'm pretty sure it will survive me (I must be the 4th owner or so).

I have considered this actually but I'm not sure about the plumbing and electrical needs of such a machine. Nor do I wish to spend thousands of dollars on this. That said, I would consider a commercial machine if I knew a bit more about the process.

But honestly, I live alone and so probably don't really need a machine that will survive an earthquake or even 12-hour per day usage. It'll get used a couple times per week and that's about it.

I wouldn't mind getting the Toyota Land Cruiser of washing machines but I'm probably OK with something a bit less extreme.

[Scott G.]

Speedqueen commercial top loader, about $1400
runs on 120v15amp, now avail with quantum electronic controls or traditionalist knobs.
coin operation, to make money from dead beat house guests.

http://docs.alliancelaundry.com/adv_pdf/ac17-0025.pdf

[Chad]

Absolutely hate our front load washer. Smells funny most of the. Get the best old school top loader with simple controls that you can find.

[false_aesthetic]

Build your own and steal the bearings from a bicycle.

[Saab2000]

Build your own and steal the bearings from a bicycle.

I could ask Graeme Obree for help on this!

[Tom]

Absolutely hate our front load washer. Smells funny most of the. Get the best old school top loader with simple controls that you can find.

Apparently you're supposed to clean the gasket on a front loader after the last load of the day. I found this out from our friends when we were moving his mom from one old folk's home to another nearer them. His wife went to use the washer for the resident's use and came back all green colored and said she was going to take everything to a laundromat because the washer was a giant mold farm.

We have a cheapo Kenmore top loader that in 15 years needed a new clutch but other than that is working fine. The dryer makes me crazy because I can't get it to figure out that nothing is really dry even though I've replaced the metal strip and the little sensor module that goes with it. I hate to throw it out before the motor or bearings give out but I'm getting there.

[bigbill]

Have had a front load Kenmore (probably Whirlpool) for 11 years now. Have the matching dryer too, both on pedestals. Never had a problem with either and they've done two cross country moves. About once week I wipe the door seal and once a month I run a load of cleaner (mostly bleach) in the empty washer. No smell I can detect. Man, I can cram so much stuff in that washer, plus it has all kinds of settings for different types of loads.

[Too Tall]

Dear Jim, you have ruined Vsalon. This is your fault and we are to blame.

Everyone please give to the gofundme site: buyjimboawashingmachine.com

We love you soooo much.

[Saab2000]

Dear Jim, you have ruined Vsalon. This is your fault and we are to blame.

Everyone please give to the gofundme site: buyjimboawashingmachine.com

We love you soooo much.

I wanted to re-title this as "Thinking about a new washing machine" but it was too late. I was hoping it would go 20+ pages and get locked. Well, it may yet get locked, but so far there's good intel here.

[bigbill]

I wanted to re-title this as "Thinking about a new washing machine" but it was too late. I was hoping it would go 20+ pages and get locked. Well, it may yet get locked, but so far there's good intel here.

Clean clothes are a right. Until we establish a single washer system, we won't have a fair society. And tubulars.

[Saab2000]

Clean clothes are a right. Until we establish a single washer system, we won't have a fair society. And tubulars.

I haven't heard POTUS mention this a single time. He clearly doesn't care about his constituents or about clean clothes. I wonder if Russians enjoy clean clothes? I wonder if he even rides tubulars.

On that note, I'm going for a bike ride.

[nrs5000]

We have 2 boys and our washing machine runs constantly. We have had several front loaders, mostly US domestic brands most likely all manufactured by Whirlpool. Our first domestic died. The Samsung that replaced it was good. Our new house had an existing 10+ year old domestic that finally died last year after a hard life. We replaced it with another domestic.

As a single adult I doubt you'll tax the durability of a front loader; just don't expect to run heavy loads of, for example, 8 bath towels. This will wreck the bearings.

Keep it clean and run the freshening cycle periodically. Don't wait until you get a smell. Check the instructions for any other cleaning procedures. Follow the instructions on the amount of detergent; too much is bad.

The most recent machine we purchased has a feature called "fresh saver" or something like that -- after the load is complete, if the clothes don't come out right away, a fan turns on to blow fresh air thru the unit to prevent mold. We've had it a year and the inside of the machine still smells very fresh.

[Too Tall]

Are we done here 'cause BigBill just won this thread.