Washing Machine

[Bird]

I've got an 18 year old Kenmore washer and dryer. We sold the house and the new people did not ask for them so they will make the move with us. The are getting worn out so they will be replaced in the next year or so. No complaints.
I do appreciate the experiences in this thread and I am making notes for when we go shopping for the replacements. Any thoughts on frontloaders, or those all in one units? I like the idea of saving space.

When you say "all in one units", I'm not sure which ones you're referring to, but RVs frequently have a front loader that is both washer and dryer. In fact, the one we had in our motorhome could be set to do the washing, then go directly to the drying without human interference. That was the only feature that did not work well. The spin cycle after washing would make clothes stick to the drum, so they'd stay stuck during the drying cycle. However, if you just set it to do the wash, as you would with any other washer, then pull all the clothes loose from the sides of the drum, shut the door again, and set it for the dry cycle, it worked great. One of my brothers still has that type. As you can see here, Camping World sells them for RV and of course you could use them in a house, if you wished.

The other all in one unit I'm familiar with was the Kenmore we had in the fifth-wheel RV. It was a tall unit, top load wash, then move the clothes up to the dryer at the top. As you can see here, Sears has them in both 24" and 27" models.

Both kinds worked very well. The only drawback is the small size and high price. But of course there are other larger "stackable" models, too.

 

[Tig]

Thanks for the info Bird. It's the one where the clothes wash and dry in the same machine that I was interested in. I've heard that they wrinkle the clothes. I've never heard the stick to the drum part but I bet that's why the wrinkles are so bad. Does that make sense from what you have seen?

 

[Bird]

Thanks for the info Bird. It's the one where the clothes wash and dry in the same machine that I was interested in. I've heard that they wrinkle the clothes. I've never heard the stick to the drum part but I bet that's why the wrinkles are so bad. Does that make sense from what you have seen?

That's it exactly. If you take them out and put them back, fluff them up a bit, or simply make sure none are stuck to the drum after washing, they don't wrinkle anymore than in any other washer and dryer.

 

[Tig]

Well Bird you just proved that TBN folks are smarter than the average consumer. I've read dozens of reviews about the wrinkle machines and no one figured out what you just told us. Thanks.

 

[zzvyb6]

The Neptune series is the reason Maytag went out of business. The front loaders had electrical, electronic and mechanical problems all related to using the wrong soap. You MUST use the e-soap type. My tub bearings went bad and I bought new ones from an internet bearing supplier that had them here in 2 days. Maytag says you can't change them but I got it done easily.

I bought a large capacity Whirlpool top loader and its works great for us lazy launderers. Its a set it and forget it with a water saving feature. Because I was using the wrong soap, the rinse sensor ran the Maytag too much and left soapy residue (stinky clothes and the soap got past the bearing seal). Those who bought the stands for the front loaders to save their backs had the machines vibrate off the stands and all around the room. The Whirlpool requires the e-soap, too.

There's a forum filled with Maytag repair ideas. I bought parts from a Maytag supplier on eBay. Belt, wax-motor, and a hose clip. Maytag has a parts list and picture breakdown on their website for all their machines.

 

[GreenWannabe]

I bought my new bride a Maytag washer the first Christmas we were married, 1967. It lasted 27 years, and the dryer we bought 5 years later was still going when we replaced both. When we sold our home in 2001 and moved into our RV, we sold the replacement pair to a friend, who is still running them - now 14 years old. I'm sure I couldn't find anything to last so long now. In the same 27 years, my MIL bought 3 Sears washers - but she told me I was spoiling my wife!! I think I was smart, my total costs were much less than hers.

In the RV, I had a Splendide (Italian job) washer/dryer. My experience with it was that clothes would stick to the drum if I used too much detergent; if I used what the washer instruction book said, I rarely had a problem sticking. The worst was cotton towels. Only problem I ever had with it was the dryer motor gave out.

When I retired this year, I had to sell the RV - couldn't afford to retire and pay the RV payments too - and after my wife died four years ago, I was basically only living in it and not using it for travel as long as I was working. Oh well.

 

[Bird]

The front loaders had electrical, electronic and mechanical problems all related to using the wrong soap. You MUST use the e-soap type.

Well, I don't think the problems were ALL relatd to the wrong soap. We did use nothing but the e-soap, as recommended, and they say a circuit board that cost more than the machine cost new went bad. It wasn't a Neptune, but was a Maytag front loader.

My experience with it was that clothes would stick to the drum if I used too much detergent; if I used what the washer instruction book said, I rarely had a problem sticking. The worst was cotton towels.

My wife swears she used the recommended amount, and you might be right about the towels, but we had it happen with clothes, too. However, after a couple of times, she just quit setting it to run the dryer automatically after washing.

 

[pennwalk]

My 6 year old Kenmore HE3 front loader just quit working last week Sears service ain't what you would call great and it is very expensive. They took one crack at it Tuesday. Unfortunately as soon as I tried to use it to test it out it still wasn't working. I had to call back 3 times to get an appointment Friday. The english wasn't that strong at the service center. I hope it won't turn out to be one of the parts that cost more to replace than the machine is worth. I think the computer is over $700. I found out the local service guys are United Steel Workers which may account for why it cost $150 in labor to install a $50 part that didn't fix the washer. I can't imagine why sears is in trouble. Just in case you were thinking about a Kenmore.

Chris

 

[Bird]

Chris, the Sears service tech who was here said he recommends no one buy any washer/dryer with digital displays unless they either maintain a service contract or have a pile of money handy for frequent replacement.

 

[pennwalk]

Bird,

When we were having trouble with our last washer (Kenmore Calypso nightmare) the Sears service tech told me the same thing. I hope I don't wish I had listened to him.

Chris

 

[zeuspaul]

Several years ago I had troubles with the Neptune. What sticks in my mind is the comment from Maytag customer service after I told them I bought Maytag for its reputation for quality. They said you can't expect washers to last like they used to because of all the electronic control components!

A buddy had the same problems with Neptune, After numerous repairs he finally gave up. He replaced it with a *basic* NON High Tech washing machine. Do you really need computer controls for a washing machine?

I believe he purchased ( I don't work with him now because I retired) a Speed Queen.

Here is part of a review from epinions...

Speed Queen AWS51NW Top Load Washer Reviews. Buying guides & consumer product reviews at Epinions.com

I didn't want a front loader. I wanted to be able to soak clothes if needed, I like the regular agitator and non computerized controls. Simplicity works for me! There is a lot of room in the stainless steel tub, bigger than the old whirlpool we were replacing. Clothes come out nice and clean. The warranty is 3 yrs parts and labor 5 yrs on motor and 10 years on transmission and lifetime on the stainless steel tub. I am very happy with this washer.

 

[Bird]

I didn't want a front loader. I wanted to be able to soak clothes if needed, I like the regular agitator and non computerized controls. Simplicity works for me!

Us, too, and one other feature I wanted; CHEAP! I don't doubt that the Speed Queen is a better machine, but we bought $400 Kenmore washer and a $400 Kenmore dryer, a 5 year service agreement, and my wife's happy as can be.

 

[pennwalk]

My 6 year old Kenmore HE3 front loader just quit working last week Sears service ain't what you would call great and it is very expensive. They took one crack at it Tuesday. Unfortunately as soon as I tried to use it to test it out it still wasn't working. I had to call back 3 times to get an appointment Friday. The english wasn't that strong at the service center. I hope it won't turn out to be one of the parts that cost more to replace than the machine is worth. I think the computer is over $700. I found out the local service guys are United Steel Workers which may account for why it cost $150 in labor to install a $50 part that didn't fix the washer. I can't imagine why sears is in trouble. Just in case you were thinking about a Kenmore.


About the Kenmore, ITS FIXED YAHOO!!! NO CHARGE YAHOO YAHOO. I take back what I was saying about Sears. But I did waste a lot of time. The service guy walked me through the whole repair. He found that the air dome which is a small plastic box was full of washer gunk which is a cross between grease and jello. He pointed out all the parts, what they did and gave me tips about working on the machine. Like putting your trouble light behind the pump so you could see the water flowing through the system. Very cool but very weird. How nice was that? With the help of the online appliance repair forums I'm pretty sure I could do the work myself. Also he said he liked the HE3 washers. He said they were made in Germany and a lot better than the ones made in Mexico.

Chris

 

[Bird]

I guess this is another disadvantage of the front loaders, but absolutely incredible. I copied the following from My Way News just now:

[FONT=Verdana,Sans-serif]Girl, 4, dies in washing machine with button start[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Sans-serif][FONT=Verdana,Sans-Serif]Email this Story[/FONT]

Feb 3, 6:32 PM (ET)

p {margin:12px 0px 0px 0px;}

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (AP) - A 4-year-old girl in Southern California has died after she climbed into a washing machine that began tumbling when her toddler brother hit its simple push-button start.
Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said Kayley Ishii apparently climbed into the front-loading washer Monday afternoon. Her 15-month-old brother either bumped or pushed the button to start the machine.
Amormino said the machine's controls were only 20 inches from the floor and the start switch was a simple push button. The girl was in the water-filled, tumbling machine for at least two minutes before her mother found her. An autopsy Tuesday found Kayley died of blunt force trauma and the death was ruled accidental.
[/FONT]

 

[Scooby074]

I guess this is another disadvantage of the front loaders, but absolutely incredible. I copied the following from My Way News just now:

Tragic. Most front loaders have child locks to prevent this exact thing. Im not sure if the one in question does, however i know my father's Miele does have it.

 

[JESSE1]

Our Whirlpool Duet washer has two buttons that have to be pushed to start. One unlocks the controls and the other has to be pushed for about 5 seconds to start the washer. The door locks when it starts but it sprays water on the door for a few seconds and then unlocks. It does this twice. This is supposed to wake up a sleeping child and give them time to push the door open. Don't know how effective it would be but it's better than nothing.

 

[Bird]

I've never heard of such a thing, Jesse, but it sounds like a good idea. Fortunately, our youngest will be 40 in a couple of weeks and is long gone from living at home with us, so I don't have to worry about it for us, but there's little kids living on both sides of us, and it's hard to imagine a much worse tragedy.

 

[jinjimbob]

Front loaders actually wash the clothes though, use less soap, less water, less electricty, can cram them 100% full. I have had our Frigidaire for 15 years now, nothing wrong with it. My wife wants it to break though, so she can get a bigger one.

I found the top loads just move stuff around, when I moved to the US and saw my first top loader, I thought I was watching The Wonder Years.

 

[dmccarty]

The wifey has the flu so I am doing the laundry and I am getting the kids to help. Well as best little kids can help.

I told them about the little girl in the washing machine.

They got the point.

Later,
Dan