Years ago I had an Equator wsher/dryer combo (3600, IIRC). My first few loads left a lot to be desired. What did I do? I re-read the manual and consulted more than a few user review boards online. Yup, nearly all the user reviews were negative. armed with that info, I made some changes in how I used the machine. Voila! All the problems disappeared. I appear to be one of the few people who had a positive experience with that machine.
Fast forward to 2012. I took the same approach when the GE HE Hydro-Wave Super-something or other failed to clean clothes. I changed how I loaded the machine. I read reviews. I read and re-read the manual. I downloaded the service manual and made adjustments servicemen were advised to make in response to customer complaints.
What happened? Nothing. Not one thing I did had any effect at all. Zilch. Zero. Zip. Nada. Clothes went in dirty and came out slightly less dirty but hardly clean. A member of AW.org tried and failed to get clean clothes out of that machine. However, I will admit that I never had clothes actually fail to get wet.
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However, the fact remains that the vast majority of consumers who buy HE TL's will not even read the user's guide, much less do any research into whatever problems they're having. Why? Most people will never think, "Gee, maybe *I* am doing something wrong."
"... anybody who knows HE TLs know they do not work well with comforters, pillows and such." I agree. However, most people need their washer to handle those items. Since most of them would have had previous experience with machines that CAN wash those, it's unlikely that it'd even occur to them to ask about it.
I'm sorry, but most people in this country DO believe digital controls, flashing lights, etc. will change the physics of laundry. They DO believe they can turn down the temperature of their hot water "to save energy", wash their clothes the exact same way, and get the same results.
This is not limted to laundry. Most people DO believe that AWD, ABS, and stability control will let them drive whatever speed they want in any and all winter conditions without problems. Most people in this country DO believe they can take out their "ugly" 4 foot long radiator, replace it with 4 feet of baseboard and have the room be equally warm. Further, most people DO believe that if they simply argue with you enough, or get sufficiently impassioned, 4 feet of baseboard WILL start producing the same heat the 4 feet of radiator did. THIS is where my "SM&G" comment comes from.
I don't notice this kind of thinking here on the boards, so it never ocurred to me that any members would see themselves in my remarks. Obviously, I failed to make that clear. I apologize for that. However, if you ARE getting great results from these machines, I submit it's because you looked at the machine, realized it works differently, and made appropriate changes to your laundry habits. I wouldn't be surprised if you did it all without any conscious awareness. Clearly, you've done a better job of it than I did, despite all my efforts.
I'm the same. When I was in Poland years ago I got into my cousin's ancient Fiat one cold morning. I looked for the choke, found it, pulled it out, and started the car. Once the engine had warmed up I pushed it in. My cousin later said, "So you found the choke, I take it." I looked at him blankly, "Choke?"
Jim