Installed: Maytag 8100 Washer & Dryer

[frigilux]

Well, roughly 20 loads in I'm loving the Maytags.  The Normal cycle is (no surprise) my go-to; very flexible with times ranging from 40-75 minutes.  Bedding cycle is great for cat towels and comforters, as the three rinses (four if you choose extra rinse) really get out the cat hair.  Sanitize or PowerWash for loads of heavily-stained kitchen whites.  Wrinkle Control for dress shirts (excellent early Kenmore-like cooldown).  Delicate for loads of blacks.  While I like the blacks to get gentle wash treatment, I appreciate the option of a relatively fast (guessing 800 rpm) final spin to get the water out of Dockers and socks.

 

Am getting spoiled by the multi-load automatic detergent dispensing---about 10 loads between fills. Haven't tried a pod yet, but will soon. Still have a few to use up. Want to see how they behave compared to the Frigidaire.  The Maytag doesn't tumble until water enters and the tub seems slightly tilted, so hopefully they'll work well.

 

The dryer is wonderfully hushed and moisture sensor is spot-on.  The Steam Refresh cycle does a better job getting out wrinkles than did the Frigidaire. 

 

However...I'm not thrilled with the lint filter.  As with pre-2010 Frigidaires, it's a window screen-like filter that's relatively small considering the machine's capacity.  A fair amount of lint escapes into the vent hose and outside, which means a weekly cleaning of the vent cage (shown below).   The 2010 Frigidaire, with its fine mesh, very large filter, trapped everything.  Months would pass before I'd have to clean the outside cage---greatly appreciated as it's hard to access in the winter when the yard is full of snow drifts.  May just take the cage off for the winter and hope no small woodland creatures decide to use it as an entrance.

 

The 15" pedestals are awesome.  Unloading/transferring to the dryer is absolutely effortless.

[this post was last edited: 9/23/2015-06:26]

 

[logixx]

I wonder if the filter from the Whirlpool heat-pump dryer would fit in your Maytag.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Eugene

this is amazing to me that you brought up that detail about your dryer lint screen letting lint escape vs the Frigidaire lint screen letting nothing escape. I thought ALL dryers had lint escaping from the filter into the duct work. I didn't realize some dryers were better about this than others until you just mentioned that.

A lot of lint escapes my duet dryer into my duct work which runs through the roof and I hate that so bad, so I have this paint strainer on the back that catches any lint that escapes and I clean it every 2 weeks as I have easy access behind my dryer - but it keeps lint out of the entire run. It's either this or clean the vent run every 3 months which is NOT easy.

 

[johnb300m]

screens

The worst screens I've ever used are from Whirlpool.
Coarse, the lint really sticks to them. Hard to clean.
GE's aren't much better.
The best I've used were 'old' Maytag's softer, finer mesh screens.

 

[jerrod6]

No lint from My Miele dryer.  The screen looks like it has holes smaller than panty hose or something. 

 

[frigilux]

The extra detergent cartridges arrived. The auto-dosing system works perfectly. It dispenses just the right amount for any load.

 

[appnut]

Eugene, I'm curious as to whether you can leave the liquid detergent in the cartridges when you remove them from the machine as you switch around to the various detergents to fit the various types of loads you are washing or do they have to be emptied back into the bottles when you want to switch cartridges. 

 

[frigilux]

Bob-- You can leave detergent in the cartridge when moving it.

 

[frigilux]

Bob-- Think I missed the intent of your question. Let me try again: You can leave detergent in the cartridge when it isn't in use. I keep them lined up on the counter by the sink in the laundry room.

 

[appnut]

Eugene thank you.  If I ever find my cartridge, I might ask more questions or may actually even use it.  I've been using N/C for a couple of loads and everything seems to be clean and rinsed.  But have used steam for stains on both the loads making sure water temp doesn't get down to simply cold by the time the metal chills the little amount of water.  Did a load of jersey t-shirts and shorts last night-about 16 pieces in all, was surprised at how much water it kept adding so it would have adequate amount to clean.  The final rinse had the most water added for the entire load. 

 

[frigilux]

I really like using the Precision Dispense system. It's probably a little more stingy with detergent than I had been. Everything has come out clean. No problems with oversudsing even on small loads. Tide Ultra Stain Release is the daily driver, but I change it up once in a while with Persil Proclean 2 in 1.

I'm also fond of the Cold Wash cycle (with its Magic Minute routine) and have been using it for one or two loads every week. I choose the cool rather than cold temp setting.  Will pull out the instant-read thermometer at some point to find out exactly what cool means.  At any rate, have been seeing great results using Tide Coldwater Clean.  I'm absolutely sold on Tide's whole 'Turbo' line.  

There's going to be a huge load of black clothes to wash tomorrow, so I'll find out how it handles dosing the very sudsy Perwoll Intensive Dark. I might have to set the detergent concentration to 3x or 4x for that one even though Perwoll, like the others I use, is actually a 2x formulation.

There seems to be enough detergent for 8-10 loads in each cartridge using the soft water and 2x settings.  I'll make a little chart and keep an accurate count.  Up to this point I've simply waited for the refill light to come on. Precision Dispense is an impressive feature and I'll shamelessly admit it's awesome not even having to toss a pod in the tub.  The dose is automatically regulated to load size and soil level selection, eliminating the one-dose-for-all issue with pods.

 

[pierreandreply4]

do you have a vid of your maytag washer running a full cycle on sanitize? and how is the water level and do it fit a big comforter? 1 queen size bed and 1 double bed?

 

[joe_in_philly]

Other than water hardness and detergent concentration, is the amount of detergent dispensed determined by just the load size, or does the soil setting impact it too?

 

[frigilux]

Joe-- The amount of detergent dispensed depends on several factors including water hardness, load size, cycle selection, and soil level selection. So yes, if you choose light soil, for instance, less detergent is used than if you choose medium or extra heavy soil. It's a fairly smart system and has hit the target correctly for every load I've thrown at it.

Pierre-- Sorry, but I have no plans to make videos of the washer. I wash queen-size comforters in it all the time using the Bedding cycle. The 4.5 cubic foot tub is large enough to allow large comforters room to tumble and flex.

As mentioned, you'd probably be impressed with how the Cold Wash cycle works since you do a lot of loads in cold water. It does a great job and I'm using it more often than I thought I would.

The Sanitize and Cold Wash cycles are available on all four machines in Maytag's Maxima line---model 8100 (which is the one I have), 7100, 5100, and 3100.

 

[pierreandreply4]

thank you for the info

 

[frigilux]

Interesting Discovery:

The Maytag allows the choice of any temperature for Rinse & Spin---including hot and extra hot! I chose hot, let it fill, then pressed power off. The machine drained, then unlocked. Clothes were very warm.

Can choose soil level, as well.

Who knew?

 

[logixx]

Who knew?

A hidden warm rinse feature!

 

[murando531]

I wonder if the temp can be changed on Rinse & Spin on the Bravos XL, since they're from the same generation. I've never thought to try it out haha. That actually would be helpful after running the dog's bedding to help rinse any extra hair down the drain and help keep any residues to a minimum. Not that the machine doesn't keep itself impressively clean on its own.

 

[imperial70]

GE PFWS4600LWW

Has front access panel to pump cleanout.  I check it once/month.  Never find anything in there. Water never smells.  I feel bad for washer manufacturers.  People posting videos and opinions based on their own ignorance.

 

[joe_in_philly]

Thanks for the info. I was able to try out my friend's Whirlpool machine with the automatic dispenser, but my visit wasn't long enough to try out all the features. I thought it did a good job of dosing, and the cone spray pattern evenly wetted the load.