2002 Kenmore Elite Color Scheme options?

[blockeight88]

Hello again everyone! Merry Christmas. I have a 2002 Kenmore Elite direct drive washer. I am curious if there were different variations of the gray knobs. Some appear light gray and some dark gray and others in between. The same can be said for the shaded gray area behind the control knobs on the panel (exclusive to Kenmore Elite models). I have two washers pictured below. Was the first one originally bisque, or did it fade? I keep thinking, if it faded, why is it not a light gray (see second picture).

It is noted that the washer in the firsts picture recently had the blue plastic taken off. I'm not sure if it sat outside and due to the plastic being on caused it to turn yellowish gray, or if that's just the color it's suppose to be?

Thanks

 

[maytaga806]

They are faded. And I don’t get why those corner frames get so yellow over the years because that also happens to the knobs, I’ve seen it hundreds of times on these Kenmores with this same control panel yellowing was notorious, and I’m unsure why they yellow over the years but the actual knobs themselves are just faded, the dark gray you see on some models are because they were well taken care of and the color didn’t fade, these panels and frames were always white. On my 1996 Whirlpool ultimate care, the two control panels frames on each side has yellowed so I repainted them white. Very common issue for white panels. No idea why the control section was more heavily colored than the second photo, doesn’t make much sense to me as to why these get so incredibly discolored overtime my best guess is climate.

 

[blockeight88]

Yellowing

Yeah that's weird. But the washer in the first picture had it's original blue plastic cover on it until I removed it this summer. I think this washer was stored outside.

 

[DADoES]

 
That plastic shipping film should have been removed immediately upon putting the machine into original use.  Unlikely it's protective against UV exposure.  The knobs on the 1999 almond Kenmore 90 I have are deteriored both physically and color-wise.  The console endcaps and trim pieces are also discolored (darkened).  It has been garaged or in an enclosed room for the duration of my possession of it.

 

[circlew]

I don't know what kind of plastic Whirlpool used, but nearly every example I've seen has turned yellow. As I've mentioned before, the white plastic knobs on my 1953 Westinghouse range are still as white as freshly fallen snow. I'm pretty sure they some type of phenolic plastic.

 

[blockeight88]

Plastic film

I'm not sure, but I have seen quite a few washers for sale that still have the original blue plastic film intact. Obviously mine wasn't removed until 20 years later. I just find it odd that the gray underneath still faded with this over it. So there were no variations of the gray they used? When new, it was just dark?

 

[panasonicvac]

I'd agree that it's just faded. For the knobs, I've seen a grey Kenmore vacuum before where the hood used to be lighter just like everywhere else but it changed more darker. And as for everywhere else, same thing. I've also seen some white Kenmore vacuums and other vacuum brands before where they'd get yellow as well. This is one of the reasons why white is one of my least favorite colors on appliances, some of them can get faded over the years and they just looks hideous in my opinion. Luckily my Kenmore 90 Series hasn't really faded which thank goodness. But I wished my grandparents would've went with one that had at least a black control panel, otherwise fully black is what I would've preferred like this Elite version. Unfortunately that wouldn't stop the knobs but honestly, I could live with that.

 

[blockeight88]

black

The black versions are really nice looking. You really don't see many of those. I just wish there was a safe way to restore the faded gray.

 

[Chetlaham]

I have to say this is my favorite control panel of any washer ever made.

I love the speed knob, it reminds me of a Maytag A407 cycle selection push-buttons and what they do

 

[panasonicvac]

I'd also agree that I love these Kenmore control panels as well, that's why they're my personal favorite washing machines ever.

 

[Chetlaham]

You Have Great Taste

Over-all, I think these were the best washing machines ever created. They had it all, and did it all to perfection. Whirlpool and Sears knew what they were doing, I'll give them credit where its due, its earned!

 

[panasonicvac]

I think when it comes to performance, I think those Kenmores were the best. At least for top loaders that is because the Whirlpool Duet front loader we've had before I think did clean better than my Kenmore. But I do like that it does wash faster and I feel like it does rinse better as well. Plus it sounds like it's doing something as I prefer old school sounding washers. I wished they were still being made today, at least though we have the Maytag Commercial that is as close as we could get for a old school Whirlpool top loader. Though I still question it's reliability and I hate the noise that it makes as it washes, that's one of the reasons why I would buy a Speed Queen TC5 over it. In fact, I would use a Speed Queen (preferably the AWN432SP113TW04 model) over my Kenmore because as a consumer, I would trust that the Speed Queen would outlast my Kenmore.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Yellowed plastic on appliance parts is not just limited to Kenmore/Whirlpool. The parts don't even have to be white.

It seems like every metal sided Electrolux Ultralux from the 80s/early 90s I see these days has CERTAIN plastic parts that have turned a weird color, often yellowed.
It looks so obviously wrong. On the Ultralux it's often the top base that holds the handle, metal insert, on/off switch, etc.

I've seen plastic Kenmore canister vacuums from the 70s/early 80s that the body has turned. And they were colors like avocado or beige and now they have an obvious yellow to them.

I recently noticed that my Magic Chef 2016 chest freezer has got yellowing on some of the plastic trim pieces.

It's really obvious when you find a white on white refrig from the 90s or 00s with the (original) white handles that have turned. The frig is white yet the handles are almost almond.

One could probably remove these parts, prime them, and paint them.

 

[DADoES]

 
The buttons on Maytag 906 dryers are known for discoloration.

 

[blockeight88]

SO there is no way to restore the gray behind the control knobs to the factory look?

 

[panasonicvac]

I think you could just repaint them to a lighter grey color.

 

[qsd-dan]

The buttons on Maytag 906 dryers are known for discoloration

All of the ivory buttons from 1966-1983 turned yellow overtime, especially when exposed to sunlight or florescent lighting. Maytag had it right in the mid 50's through the mid 60's using black and gray buttons, then again from 1984-1993 using dark brown/black buttons. Most of the white era of appliances from the 90's-mid to late 2000's had the same problem, regardless of the manufacture.