Celebrating my Frigemore

[washabear]

My Frigemore front loader (Kenmore brand) passed the dreaded 5-year mark this past spring, and it's still going strong. I hope I'm not jinxing it by saying that, but I love this machine. It washes really well, uses a sufficient amount of water, always spins when it's supposed to, and doesn't take a long time to complete a cycle. I have to say that it's my favorite washing machine I've ever used. I haven't looked around lately to see if it's still made, but I should probably look into getting a backup for the time when this one conks out, although I hope to have many more years of service from this one.

Just thought I'd share. Thanks!

 

[whirlcool]

My sister has a Kenmore version of this machine and it's going on 8 years old now.
She washes/rinses in cold water only uses only liquid Tide in massive doses and keeps the door always shut and she has never had a mold problem. The machine has also never had a need for service. She's also a Downy fiend, 2 cups per load.

I do have a question. This machine has a feature called "Quick Wash" on it. She uses it all the time. The salesman at Sears told her not to use it because "the machine will be damaged if you use it." This was the same guy who told her if she uses any other detergent than liquid Tide HE her warranty would be voided.

So what does this Quick Wash cycle do that can be so damaging to the machine as the salesman said? I asked her why would they put a cycle on a machine that could damage it and all she could say was "Well, the salesman should know, he sells the things."

 

[pierreandreply4]

quick wash cycle its a much shorter wash cycle as its 1 wash 1 spin and 1 rinse and final spin if i had that cycle on my duet washer i would only use the quick wash cycle and its not damaging for the washer i know for my mom summer cottage i chose for my mom a maytag neptune that has the quick wash cycle witch is 29 minutes and its not damaging for the washer

 

[frigilux]

Allen-- Concerning the Downy fiend: Please tell me you mean she uses two capsful and not two cupsful per load. You've mentioned your sister's eccentric approach to laundry before, so nothing would surprise me, LOL.

 

[whirlcool]

Nope 2 cups, she also uses 2 cups of Tide HE too. What won't fit in the dispenser gets dumped on top of the clothing. I once sent her a large bottle of Persil liquid and that was gone in just one washday. As she says "I really love my Downy."

But remember she is the type that is going to do things HER way regardless if it's right or wrong. She has a Miele dishwasher that wasn't used for 4 years. Why? Because her realtor friend told her "If you never use your dishwasher you can add $5,000 to the price of your house because of that." So she never used it. One night her daughter had a boyfriend that thought he would be helpful one night and loaded the Miele up and started a load in it. I think my sister nearly decapatated him for "loosing her $5,000". I am sure he ran out of that house with his tail between his legs.

And don't get me started on the water heater that is permanently left on the "Vacation" setting.

So you see what I am dealing with. A control freak that thinks she's never wrong.I have suspected for some time that she's probably bi-polar but never diagnosed. Karen and I have not visited her in 6 years because of her outrageous behavior. Her husband learned long ago just do what she says and life will be OK.

Have you ever seen the movie "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?" well my sister would give Virginia Wolf a run for her money, even before the drinking starts. [this post was last edited: 9/14/2013-23:10]

 

[washdaddy]

two cups each!!!!!

and in a FL machine no less....talk about your April Freshness.

 

[frigilux]

Bruce-- I've always had good luck with Frigidaire front-loaders.  Is yours the old-school 3.0 cu. ft. model with a round door?  Had a 2002 model that was just beginning to exhibit a bit of bearing growl when I replaced it with a redesigned 2010 model.  Many more trouble-free loads to you!

 

[combo52]

Frigidaire Built Front Load Washers

Frigidaire had among the best assembly quality of any washer EVER made with these washers.

 

They did have a few weak spots in the design department however, the spider on the small door machines were too thin and if you mistreated the machine by using the wrong combinations of cold water washing and lack of good detergents and bleach you could suffer an early failure.

 

But overall these were great performing machines and I have no dough that we will still be repairing these when they are 30 years old,they made MILLIONS of them.

 

The sad thing is the newer machines have grown in height and depth so they will no longer fit under a kitchen counter top and no longer will bolt to their dryers [ so they have lost all the replacement business for the millions they sold ]. They also removed the removable lower panel so you have to access the clogged trap and pump problems only from the rear, this coupled with the loss of Sears and GEs business I would guess that Frigidaire lost 3/4 of their sales in FL washers. Frigidaire also lost Sears and GE as clients with their silly new Immersion Care stack washer-dryers.

 

[thor]

Two cups of softner

Allen, does your sister's washer have a drawer with a two cup capacity for the softner? If it doesn't, most probably the two cups of softner are running right into the wash cycle, emptying by an "overrun" syphon. That would explain the two cups of detergent not oversudsing. And all of this mixed together in a short-wash with cold water!

I sure wouldn't want to use any kind of clothes washed by your sister, sorry I'll pass the chance!

 

[nmassman44]

I was going to say in my GE Frigidaire built washer, the softener dispenser holds a capful of softener and that's about it. I love my machine, I have two of them, one that was given to us that threw the spider, which by the way is noisy as hell when it happens. I plan on replacing the drum and take the SQ washer out of service or sell it on. The new GE Frigidaire built washer, I found on clearance at Lowes for $300. GE didn't change the design of the control panels at all and it's identical from the 2001 built washer, yet the new one was built in 2010.
I use the front loader more than the SQ washer because of less water usage, better washing, clothes last longer, superior water extraction, and better rinsing. There I said it. That's my opinion and your entitled to it! Lol

 

[mark_wpduet]

That's crazy reading about your sis!

With all those chemicals and cold water and the washer is still working! I'm still trying to get past the 2 cups of Downy.....

 

[retropia]

I loved our circa-2000 Kenmore/Frigidaire/Electrolux, and we had 13 years of solid service out of it before the spider finally went. I'd guess we washed 7-10 loads a week in it.

The pump had to be replaced during our ownership, but it was a relatively minor expense to replace it.

I fear I will never find another front-loader that I like as well.

 

[whirlcool]

I don't know how she gets all the Downy in that machine. The machine has a black "shade" like thing covering the window. You can see clothes moving, but not much else. I have never seen her use it though. I once told her to take a T-Shirt and plunge it in a sink filled with water to see if she gets any suds but she refused.
She said her family is happy with the way she does laundry and why am I so interested in the way she does it?

I'm just amazed that it is still working with no mold or anything else. I was impressed that she went through a 1.5L of Persil in just one wash day.

 

[yogitunes]

those round door models were some of the best ones out there.....prefer the newer versions with the solenoid operated dispensers.....can change the water level easily with a screwdriver in minutes....I liked the Kenmore version dryers with the stainless drum....and seemed to have more options than the Frigidaire sisters...wished they still made them.....I too would grab a set for a spare....

 

[retropia]

Kenmore 2718 coin-operated

While doing some internet browsing, I came across this interesting variant. Apparently there are five new examples for sale at Sears Outlet stores.

In reading the reviews, the coin box isn't the most robust, and the machine isn't different structurally than the residential model. Thus, perhaps it does not make the best choice for a laundromat.

Shop: Appliances, Tools, Clothing, Mattresses & More

Shop Sears for appliances, tools, clothing, mattresses & more. Great name brands like Kenmore, Craftsman Tools, Serta, Diehard and many others.

www.searsoutlet.com

 

[arbilab]

I have that machine. Trouble free in 15 years. Still smells vaguely of neoprene, "new washer smell".

Frigidaire however was just another badge. The origin is Electrolux.

Don't get me started on Downy, otherwise known as mildew food.

 

[passatdoc]

my Frig 2140 just hit seven years of perfect service

This is the 3.5 cu ft square door model. I have a 1442 gas dryer stacked on top of it. No problems whatsoever, never been serviced and never needed it. I descale with citric acid once per quarter and of course keep the gasket seal crease wiped dry at the end of the wash day. And of course leave the door ajar at all times it's not in use.

My only regret was not having spent $100 more for the 2940, which has Auto Temp Control and a variable delay time. My 2140 has an eight hour delay, and I use that feature more than I anticipated---and wish I had more flexibility with a 2-12 hour variable delay. Not having ATC is not the end of world, except that in winter I doubt if I am really washing in "Warm" water given the drop in the cold water line temperature. I can only wash on "Cold" during August-September, our two hottest months of the year when cold water line temps are 70-72 F.

 

[combo52]

Commercial Frigidaire Built FL Washer

Hi Doug and thanks for posting this washer, I am very familiar with this machine, we maintain about a dozen of them in light commercial user installations. Interestingly in commercial use I dough that we will ever see a broken spider and maybe not even bad bearings because you do not tend to get the harmful build-ups of crap in commercial applications do to so many different people using the washer with different detergents , water temperatures, bleach etc. We had one of these last 5 years at the local vet hospital doing 10+ loads per day and when we hauled the poor thing away the bearings and spider were just fine, but the machine was beat to hell and the motor wore out and the hospital bought a new SQ TL washer, they now have two of these.

 

The coin box on these machines are actually VERY strong, it is just that are mounted on the flimsy top, LOL.

 

 

Note to all FL washer owners, in addition to leaving the main door open or ajar you should also leave the dispenser drawer open as far as possible.

 

 

[mark_wpduet]

So then I guess

user's washing habits determined whether or not the spider will go!

I've kind of suspected that but wasn't really sure.