Appliance variations --Differences mechanical or operator?

[mattl]

Reading the thread where Terry replaced his GE TT dishwasher with a classic KA, and the tread about the worst washing machine and all the references to Shredmores got me wondering about the variables.

Terry and I have basically the same GE dishwasher, his is stainless, mine is not. I love mine and have no issues. It cleans very well and quickly. If the dishes are only lightly soiled I can us the quick cycle that run 38 minutes. and regular cycle run 58 minutes, if I add heat it's up to 82 minutes. Now I expect Terry, like all of us here know how to load and tweak a machine, so why the vast difference in performance? Mechanical/computer issues?

Same with the "Shredmoores". Since 1972 we've had 2 Kenmore washers, the piano key Lady Kenmore with the drop down door that lasted till '96 and the TOL electronic 90 series since. I've noticed no abnormal wear, I have towels that are 15+ years old and are still in great condition. I have no issues what so ever with these machines, yet others swear at them. Xraytech was complaining about fraying and having to do frequent repairs to his clothes. What is the variable here? I rarely overload, I might actually underload, use only Tide and Downey, little if any chlorine bleach.

So what is your take on our vastly different experiences? We all have brands we like and dislike, how much does that aspect influence our perception?

 

[moonvalleycacti]

In my current condo i had issues with the GE TT that was installed.. Never washed anything, was just a crappy unit... I had mixed feelings about my GE Profile TT in my prior home.. It usualy washed ok when i used Cascade and the longest cycle..
I now have a Whirlpool Gold.. It works well and seems to clean ok, although i live with Mr. Prewash everything...But i hate the Stainless steel whirlpool uses and it seems a tad flimsy.. EVen the in the door silverware rack doesnt seem to be held on as good as prior Whirlpools i've used..The best dishwasher i ever used and had was a 98 Kenmore (made by whirlpool)..Given i find one again like it in stainless or black, it might get stuck in there to use...
Washers and Dryers are another ball of wax... My Kenmore HE2 is a nice washer, but it takes for freakin ever to do a load on anything but quick (which is all my room mate uses btw) and its rather noisy.. The prior washer was a Kenmore (by frigidaire) Front Loader and it was nice and simple and i liked it.. But it leaked.. Prior to that was a GE top loader that was just awful..And prior to that was a Shredmore, which was ok, but clothes seemed to wear faster...I have a Bosch Dryer i got on clearance at lowes and its OK, but i want something better, faster and with more controls, like my prior whirlpool.. I am actually putting them up for sale tonight.. I want either the LG or the Re-badged LG/Kenmore with rear controls.. Or at least that washer and similar dryer..Unless i can find a whirlpool/kenmore with stainless drum
Stoves/Fridges/Microwaves all seem to be about the same, just variances between models and such..Fridges are as follows Ge's last 5-7 years, Frigidaires about 7-9, Kenmore/Whirlpool about 10-12, Maytag (before whirlpool) either last a long time or die within 5 years.. Stoves on average live 15 years give or take and a modern microwave is about 3-5 give or take.. Mind you this is just my observation, but still... I have a Samsung Fridge/Stove/Micro Hood and love the fridge and micro hood, and like the stove for the most part, but the smooth glass top is horrible and hard to clean... Just like my last stove (a colored glass top is bad period).. Black speckled tops are the best.. Every micro hood i have used has been the same and i've never noticed a single differance, except one is more stylish than another...

 

[jeffg]

A lot of variables exist.. overloading, using hot water or the maximum wash time all the time, regardless of actual soil levels, overuse of detergents and/or bleaches, nicks or scratches on the agitator, not properly adjusting Variflex's. Among other possibile causes.

But my experience matches yours Matt: not a single frayed shirt or snagged towel in 40+ years of using Kenmores.

 

[toggleswitch2]

WATER generally helps when washing something.

I too had GE DW-ers and they were fabulous water-hogs that worked well. The first-run of tall-tubs also got rave reviews. The latest ones however.............

I'd say Terry's is a lemon; I've seen that boi in the kitchen. He's QUITE talented and knows exactly what he is doing.

My first GE Triton DW was great. Another similar, but a bit more BOL, model that I purhcased afterwards was nothing but problems. Eventually GE scrapped it and gave me a new one. But beleive me, I was put through the wringer forward and then backwards for good measure.

Those who don't bend, break. A good user/operator learns the quirks of their machine, adjusts their habits, and works around them to achieve the desired results. Of course, this philosophy works best when said appliance is actually EFFECTIVE. Sometimes you just have to push the thing out the door into the trash heap. (Right behind a nasty ex.)

 

[jamiel]

I wonder if there isn't mold flashing left on some of the plastique parts causing the variability in performance...it wouldn't take much internal blockage to reduce a spray to a piddle...

 

[tlee618]

Hey Matt, I tried many different detergents, increased the water temp, tried different loading patterns, etc. By the way mine does not have a quick cycle, that was another thing that I didn't care for. One other problem was that so often all of the detergent wouldn't be rinsed out of the dispenser. I always made sure nothing was blocking it. I think Steve is right, it was just a lemon, it happens. I mentioned before that back in Danville I had a GE 1200 Pot-Scrubber for 20 years and it was a great machine. Terry

 

[panthera]

You needn't be

an animist to believe that some machines are just plain evil.

Others will do their best for you.

My honey did not find it at all funny that his Fleetwood Brougham d'elegance (in other words, ridiculously expensive car) would beg, give paw, roll over, purr and just plain do anything I asked of her, including, starting, stopping and holding the A/C at the preset temperature. For him, she was a service, parts and constant breakdown nightmare.

And yet, I can think of at least 10 other machines in his home which love him but snarl at me if I even walk by them...

But there is no question, even Consumer Reports has commented on it often, production tolerances for American products are quite often far looser than for European products. Sony for years had two standards, one for Europe, one for the 'States. So do BMW and many firms.

I routinely use two Tritons when I am in the 'States. One, my darlin's, cleans everything very well. The other, belonging to a close friend, requires that everything be pre-scraped, pre-washed, pre-rinsed and stacked just so, else things come out dirtier than they went in. Same detergents, water, water temp., programs, maintenance, types of cooking and dishware...