Help! New Washer/Dryer purchase by Sunday

[sarahperdue]

Hey Y'all,

My friend Elizabeth is planning to buy a new

GE White High-Efficiency 4.1 cu. ft. Top-Load King Size Capacity Washing Machine (WHRE5550K) ENERGY STAR® and its matching dryer on sale at Sears Sunday.

She wants:
top loading
non agitator washing system
large capacity
a lower spin speed or the ability to adjust it, in a fast spin (I think she has front loader now, and those spin really fast), she says it's impossible to line dry and get all the wrinkles out.

She doesn't need a whole lot of fancy settings, she typically only uses one. Basic hot, warm, cold, gentle, medium, heavy should probably do her.

Does this machine have electronic parts? I think she needs a machine without a brain.
I also think a sensor to bring the water up to a minimum temperature would be good.

She thinks she wants a stainless steel drum because she's heard they get less "gunked up." I told her if she used good detergent and didn't overload, gunked up shouldn't be an issue.

She uses liquid detergent. Many of y'all have suggested dry is better--remind me why.

She doesn't want an agitator because her bras and children's clothes with drawstrings always get tangled up in the space between the bottom of the machine and the agitator. She isn't going to put stuff in lingerie bags. Is there an agitator machine that won't do this?

She's planning to pay $950 for the set at Sears on Sunday, but she's willing to pay a bit more if she can be convinced that it's a better performing, lasting or easier to repair machine. I think this one's got more stuff than she needs. She's newly divorced, and I'm hoping you all can recommend a cheaper better pair.

Thanks to all,
Sarah

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02637791000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=#reviewsWrap

 

[whirlcool]

I'd tell her to look at a front loading machine. They perform well in the areas she is interested in and most have stainless steel drums.

The reason powder is preferred over liquid detergents is that liquid detergents leave a residue behind in the washer. Over time this can gunk up the washer and lead to the growth of mold inside the machine if one is not careful and runs hot washes now and then.

I saw a washer the other day one of our friends had. She always uses liquid detergents and cold water. I filled the machine up with hot water, no clothes, and let it agitate.
The washer foamed up like someone had dumped in a cup of detergent in it.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Powder detergents can leave as much or more residue as liquids. Some with a lot of fillers are known for that. Using the proper amount is the key on either liquid or powder.

As to a machine, I think some of your friend's rationale, though nicely outlined, is mis-conceived. There have been far too many agitator washers made for her issues with them to be prevalent. I'd wonder about user error there?

Based on what you say she wants, your friend sounds like a perfect canditate for the new 5000 series Cabrio washers by Whirlpool. They have lower price points in the $450-something range, are less complicated to use than some of the fancier and pricier Cabrios, and seem to be well regarded on this site by the professional servicers when they were trained on them. They are apparently getting a good reception by the buying public since they were introduced.

What I like about these machines is that they're made in the U.S. of largely U.S. parts, by a U.S. corporation and our money stays here in our economy (I don't know where some GE stuff is made but some of it is imported).

Unless your friend buys an agitator washer from GE, Frigidaire, Whirlpool, etc., it's going to have an electronic "brain". Only some of the lower-end top loader washers with agitators still have electro-mechanical timers.

I think if your friend does her homework, she can get a new Whirpool Cabrio set with the matching dryers for the same price, maybe a little less, than the GE. If she'll go to an agitator washer, she can spend far less.

Gordon

 

[davek]

GE's main line top loaders are built in Canada.

 

[pierreandreply4]

if i where your friend aspeacly with children i would get a fronloading washer like the whirlpool duet its gentler on clothe and have the advantage of being quiet as well like the following model and are truly engergy star efficiant as they use lest water and have a larger capacety when it comes to washing large items.they may cost a bit more but the advantage is she gains more space for clothe *edit: i know because every 2 weeks i have to wash my nices clothe and there clothe needs a low temp drying and the duet set offers that option as well as a delicate cycle on the dryer very low heat for gentler items.

http://www.whirlpool.com/catalog/product.jsp?src=WASHERS&cat=115&prod=1938

 

[sarahperdue]

not, not, not a front loader

Thanks y'all,

She's not getting a front loader. Period.

Regarding the liquid versus powder detergent discussion--are the detergents with "too much filler" the cheaper brands?

Can someone give a good mechanical explanation for why a new agitator washer isn't going to tangle up her bras and drawstring, beribboned clothes? (she's not, not, not putting them in lingerie bags)

Thanks,
Sarah

 

[foraloysius]

So this is what she is considering?

I'm not impressed, wouldn't want my clothes to be treated like that.

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[rll70sman]

Stick with Whirlpool or one of its many brands

Well said, Gordon! If I were going out to buy a brand new washer and dryer today, it would have to be Whirlpool product. Tell your friend to stay away from Frigidaire or Haier. I've never seen such poorly designed and manufactured junk and, furthermore, both those brands are foreign owned. Buy American and keep the money here where it belongs!

Rob

 

[sarahperdue]

Whirlpool

Whirlpool was the first thing I told her--simple, reliable, easy to fix. The last one we bought was two steps down from the top of the line, had all the features we wanted, basically all of the features of the TOL except the circuit board and was higher capacity. When my three year old son killed it with the bead chain from a light that was his current favorite toy--beloved snake, all the parts we could salvage fit my grandmother's 1980 Kenmore. Keep it simple folks.

Kenmore and what other brands are made by Whirlpool?

Thanks,
Sarah

 

[pierreandreply4]

there is inglis sold by best buy and the cost is 330.00 but the only prob is it has an agitator or there is the maytag bravo washer that is like the ge but the capacety is larger 5.0 and its made by whirlpool

*Edit: or you could advise your friend to try and find an older model washer like ge or hotpoint that have a mini basket for items that are more delicate and they would not get tangle in the agitator.
[this post was last edited: 7/14/2010-18:46]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Inglis+-+3.2+Cu.+Ft.+8-Cycle+Super+Capacity+Washer+-+White/7822216.p;jsessionid=B9286786AEC6A66BD087D5725EFEFE54.bbolsp-app04-21?id=1142294688435&skuId=7822216

 

[rll70sman]

Whirlpool brands

Whirlpool makes Inglis, Roper, Estate, Kenmore (though not all--ask questions), Admiral, Amana, Maytag, Kirkland (Costco), and, of course, its own brand. Hope this helps!

Rob

 

[appnut]

Sarah, I reread your posts and I still cannot figure out why she doesn't want a front loader? I"m gonna be very blunt and not a nice guy. If she's too darn lazy to tie draw strings that are on her kids clothess and properly deal with her foundation garments, then she gets what she desrves. I always tie drawstrings, top or front load. Even our European friends can tell you it's stupid and washer suicide to wash those types of foundation garments not zipped up in a pillow case or zippered laundry bag. Again, ya deserve what ya get from the results and being too lazy. And trust me, one of these "agitatorless" HE machines won't treat the concerned garments much better--physics are physics. and why does she line dry? Is it because she's afraid of the kids' clothes shrinking? I had a friend of mine's 13 y/o son stay with me in the early 1990s for two months. His mom told me she didn't put his t-shirts in the dryer because they got ruined and shrunk. Guess what, I did, he pitched a fit on the first load, but when he saw no damage occurred (because I took the time to be respectful of the garments), he didn't mind me drying his clothes from then on. Now I'll get off my soap box.

 

[mixfinder]

Owns a Front Loader

The woman currently owns a front loader. CShe currently owns a front loading washer. Front loading washer is what she doesn't like. It is an established fact that regardless of it's merit the woman in question does NOT WANT a FRONT LOADER. So throwing out our soap box speeches about front loading washing machines does not answer which TOP LOADING washer you recommend and why. It shouldn't be so hard to sort out the question. I may get crucified but if it were me I would buy LG and get an extended service contract. I know GE is not the best choice and Sears and Whirlpool both have a multitude of negative feedback for performance and service for wash plate top loaders. In the end the cheapest and most servicable would be a DD Whirlpool but the loose fins on the agitator are death on straps.

 

[DADoES]

 
I was thinking the same thing as Bob.  If she refuses to modify her laundry habits/methods to accommodate how the machine, any machine, works, she'll never be happy with any of them.  For example, the frontloader she has now surely has cycles and/or options for reducing the spin speed.  I don't think I've seen any that don't.  But she has to push the buttons, choose the cycle, make the appropriate selections ... not just blindly toss the clothes in, hit Normal and Start, and expect it to do what she wants.

The kind of material of which the basket/drum is made has no bearing on whether or not it gets gunked-up.  Gunkiness is related to usage habits and care/maintenance of the machine.

 

[pierreandreply4]

and i would also like to add that a washer is also chosen base on the cycles you use like for exemple (base on the washer inglis superb 2 i had from 1993 to 2005) i use the cycles normal witch had a high agitation at the start of the wash with a gentle agitation at the last 6 minutes washtime and it was the same for the perm press cycle and the gentle cycle was very gentle on clothe and like any washer fl or tl clothe may get tangle up during the washe.

 

[sarahperdue]

blunt

Thanks Everyone,

I appreciate your input. I understand the suggested changes in laundry habits. I discussed it with her, but given her life right now--divorce, custody battle...etc--laundry habits are at the bottom of her list of things to deal with.

Looks like she's going for a Kenmore top loader with agitator with no electronic parts. I think for her needs, it's probably an improvement over her first choice.

The video clips of the impeller washers dragging the clothes through that tiny bit of water just seems rough on the fabrics, and hard for me to believe that it's going to get them clean with so little water circulation.

Best,
Sarah

 

[frigilux]

Sarah---Please remind your friend that one of the most common user complaints about the infusor/wash-plate top-load designs is tangling/wrinkling of clothing.

She can save a lot of money by checking her washer's manual for ways to select a slower final spin speed.

Edit:
Whoops----looks like a decision has already been made. Disregard the above.

 

[DADoES]

Depending on exactly which machine is the selection, it may have an electronic board for ATC. Full avoidance of electronics isn't as straight-forward as simply choosing a unit with mechanical-dial controls. There may still be a PC board involved for particular functions.

 

[sarahperdue]

Agitated Brains

Hi Frigilux,

Is the infusor-wash plate top load design what I mistakenly called impeller? The one without the agitator? I didn't know a top loader without an agitator existed until she told me what she was looking for this morning.

DADoES,

She said the sales critter said the machine (Kenmore that is her choice for the moment) has no circuit board, no brains. Me, I'd double check the specs to make sure. My girlfriend wants to make her decision and be done with it.

If I come up with better idea and evidence to support it, she might change her mind...

Thanks and best to all,
Sarah