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What do y’all know about washing machines?
#212040 06/18/08 04:28 PM
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As of last night, I have found myself out of my element and in a clueless, what the heck to buy situation. I need to buy a new cloths washer and dryer set and figured what the heck, I might as well ask the Axiom board members for non A/V advice again (it’s always been helpful so far).

I fixed the dryer a month ago to where is ‘should’ hold out for a while yet, but then the washer crapped out yesterday afternoon. I tore it apart yesterday, and the parts needed to fix the stupid thing cost more than half the cost of what it was new. If I’m buying one, I might as well pony up and buy a set.

When the girlfriend moved in a couple years ago and I continued to do what I always did with the pile of cloths that would accumulate, she firmly told me to leave the cloths washing / drying to her. I don’t know what the big deal was, I always separated them into two piles (one pile of whites and sorta whites and one pile of not so whites) and then used hot for one pile and cold for the other. Well, she didn’t like that and fired me. I didn’t complain about the termination too much.

So now I have to buy a new set and fifteen minutes later on Sears.com, I have a raging headache.

Has anyone suffered through the misery of picking out a washing machine and dryer lately and can recommend a set to me?? This is simply too agonizing for me….. Why in the world would anyone ever want or need 16 friggin presets?? And what’s up with these steam washers/dryers?? They claim to be efficient, but how can a washing machine with an electric boiler be ‘efficient’?? I can’t think of a more in-efficient use of electrical power than a steam boiler.

All I know is that I need front loaders. I built an 18” shelf with drawers for them to sit on when I built the house. There’s cabinets above the machines and not enough room for top loaders.

.....errrrrr... so much for upgrading my projector this fall... dangit.

Re: What do y’all know about washing machines?
michael_d #212042 06/18/08 04:43 PM
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Kenmore Elite and LG are a couple highly rated washers. I have the Maytag Neptune that I've been very satisfied with, but I believe they are not rated as high.


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Re: What do y’all know about washing machines?
HomeDad #212056 06/18/08 05:25 PM
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Mike, my wife and I were in your boat just a couple of weeks ago. Our washer started leaking, and a technician told us that the new transmission to fix it would cost almost as much as a new washer, so we went to Sears, Lowes, and Costco to compare.

We ended up going with one from Sears, I'm pretty sure it was this one. Sucker is huge, the wife likes how she can wash a whole comforter in it PLUS a few towels.

Working like a champ so far.

Good luck!


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Re: What do y’all know about washing machines?
medic8r #212060 06/18/08 05:50 PM
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I would check Consumer Reports, I have liked Bosch and Miele for washing items, dish or clothes.


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Re: What do y’all know about washing machines?
jakewash #212080 06/18/08 08:11 PM
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Thanks guys. I heard Whirlpool bought Maytag. Actually, I think Whirlpool makes most of these things. Friggin consumer reports wants twenty bucks to register. I just can't be bothered with that....

I supose I'll just have to go kick some tires...gee, that sounds sooooooo fun....Can't wait. Oh, look at this one, it's red!!! YE-HA!!

OK Doc, your avitators are starting to get me to wonder about you.... Is that premeditated?

Re: What do y’all know about washing machines?
michael_d #212082 06/18/08 08:48 PM
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We went through this about 5 years ago when our old <whatever> finally died. I did a lot of wandering around with my wife as she tried to decide what to buy. We didn't want a front loader because all of the ones we looked at were either too small or too expensive. Spent hours at Sears, Best Buy, and other shops. Looked at Consumer Reports, etc.

We ended up finding a Fisher & Paykel at a local appliance store. They sold us on it's combination of extreme efficiency, very few moving parts, and interesting features. There's no belt or transmission to ever wear out and they are designed to be extremely efficient.

My wife is the primary laundry-doer, but she absolutely loves it. Hands down the best washing machine she's ever used, so she says. Seems to be gentler on clothes as well, as things seem to last longer now. Actually made a difference in our monthly water & electricity bills. It uses a minimal amount of water necessary and dries the clothes so well with it's super fast spin cycle (like 1000RPM or something absurd like that - sounds like a jet taking off) that we barely have to use the dryer. We did not, however, buy their matching dryer as it seemed really overpriced for, well, just a dryer.

From a 'manly-man' perspective, it's got a lot of buttons and LED displays. It is also mildly entertaining to watch it run through a cycle as it figures out how much water to use, properly washes things, re-balances the load, etc, etc. For a washing machine, anyway.

So if you've got a local store that sells them, take a look. It was a little bit more expensive than a 'regular' top-loader, but significantly less than most of the front loaders we looked at.

Edit: I didn't read your last sentence about needing a front loader. Nevermind! Oops.


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Re: What do y&#8217;all know about washing machines?
PeterChenoweth #212086 06/18/08 10:09 PM
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If you're single... The LG washer dryer combo machines can't be beat. Put in a load in the morning and fold it when you get home. We got my mom a Miele and it is very nice as well. My sis is an interior designer so she got a REALLY good deal on it. Supposedly like $2000 new. Oh ya, the combo machines are much less expensive over seas...(stupid USA) I could have gotten a top of the line LG in the UAE for about $600 while a similar machine here is $1800.


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Re: What do y&#8217;all know about washing machines?
prototype3a #212087 06/18/08 10:16 PM
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I buy the cheapest piece of crap I can get away with. I think we are on our second set in over 25 years so it seems to have paid off so far.


Rick


"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud

Re: What do y&#8217;all know about washing machines?
Wid #212088 06/18/08 10:51 PM
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 Originally Posted By: wid

I buy the cheapest piece of crap I can get away with. I think we are on our second set in over 25 years so it seems to have paid off so far.

Wid's laundry room...





Rick
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Re: What do y&#8217;all know about washing machines?
Wid #212089 06/18/08 10:56 PM
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The philosophy of my friend who has sold Maytag ("Not the same machine anymore", He says.) for 35 years says buy the top model without the electronics.

We've only bought 2 washers in 31 years.

Last edited by bugbitten; 06/18/08 10:57 PM.
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