Is there a modern washer worth buying?

[meldew]

Thanks for the heads up on Electrolux... I will consider the 627! Tho I don’t know how long the cycles are...

Also this confirms what I thought about cycle load... I was looking at the giant (5.8?) LG but then that’s a ton of clothes!

 

[jkbff]

What I love, and what mom loves (I bought her the 617 set) is the 527/627 have a recirculating spray that always saturate the clothes/articles and keep them saturated. The 627 has smartboost which premixes the soap (powder, liquid or pods now) and sprays the clothes like a pre-treat then starts to heat the water and break the stains down.

I can run a king size down comforter in my machine and it is thoroughly washed.

I can wash my pillows and they are always wet in the middle.

Most of the cycles are pretty quick. If change the soil level to a higher level and add an extra rinse I get to about an hour and 10 minutes, but most of my cycles run under 35 minutes.

 

[revvinkevin]

Adding to what Askolover said......

 

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">As you have a lot of laundry and the washer took a long time per load, is there any chance you tried to get as much as possible in each load?   My apologies if you're already aware of this, but many FL washers can hold huge loads (5.8 cu ft?!?) and they can be filled right to the top of the drum, as long as it fits loosely, not stuffed or packed in.  Everything needs room to tumble and once it's all completely saturated with water.  When wet the clothes should be between 1/2 way and 2/3 (at most) up the door glass during the pause between rotation.</span>

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Again, my apologies if you already know this.</span>

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Best of luck with the new machines!</span>

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Kevin</span>

 

[good-shepherd]

I am going to measure the laundry closet.

Just knock out a wall or two if you need to make room for the washer...

 

[mark_wpduet]

I use Lemon

ammonia with powdered detergent for all loads that are not white. For whites, I use chlorine bleach. I have been eyeing the LG turbo wash, not ONLY because of turbo wash but because of the LONG spray rinses. To me, low water washing where clothes are just saturated is best, but you need deeper water for rinsing. If I'm getting the exact same amount of water for rising as I do for washing, I would not be happy. Luckily, I think the LG washers and possibly even the duets and maytags use more water for rinsing than they do for washing, though I'm not 100% sure of this. My Duet FL keeps kicking along and I absolutely have loved it all of these years. My clothes are super clean and it doesn't use a huge amount of water, but it uses more than today's washers since it's on its 14th year.

 

[meldew]

Y’all have given me too much to think about! Lol at knocking out a wall... wish I could. I will definitely be trying the ammonia trick. I already use bleach on whites occasionally and it does help.

Filling the washers - no I’ve always run them about 1/3 to 1/2 full on the FL and probably 2/3-3/4 on the TL... a teenage son once overfilled a Cabrio with blue jeans and broke the drum somehow so I’ve been cautious. And I was afraid if I put too much in the LG it wouldn’t all get wet. But I’m slowly understanding the way a FL works and it requires clothes!

So we are without washer and dryer and I went to four stores today... the LG FL seemed flimsy. I didn’t love the other FL except the Maytag... I did like all the top loaders with agitators! The independent store was pushing to sell me another Speed Queen set. I liked the Maytag Commercial TL they had too.

So I came home and looked for SQ front loaders online. There are some but they’re $1500-2000 and they’re small. And I hated the SQ dryer I had.

I’m going to try to decide tomorrow and I guess I’ll just get the LG again... or the Electrolux. I wish they weren’t so plastic. I really like simple.

 

[ea56]

Melissa

I know I’m bucking the trend here, but if you really like simple, go with the Maytag Commercial TL, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. I replaced my LG FL with a Maytag TL, although not the Commerical model, it wasn’t available at the time. I love it. The LG I had didn’t have the Turbo Wash and it just didn’t use enough water,and the cycle times were way too long for me. Sometimes waiting for it to decide to spin was like watching paint dry.

If you go with the Maytag you’ll feel right at home with it from day one, and it will meet all your needs. Bottom line, you want to get a machine that you are going to like and be happy with. Make a list of the things that are important to you and then check those things off next to the machines you are considering, then get the one that ticks the most boxes.

Thats my two cents worth.

Eddie[this post was last edited: 7/24/2018-00:13]

 

[mark_wpduet]

Even though I'm a FL person

I have to agree that the Maytag TL would be the best choice if you're looking for an OLD FASHIONED TL washer. For me though, after having a FL washer all these years it would be so hard for me to go back. I also will say I disagree with packing FL washers full. Usually, 3/4 full dry clothes is perfect so they can tumble around best. When my Duet dies, I'm torn between the Maytag Maxima or the LG with turbowash. But everyone's different. A TL might be just the thing for you and if I had to get a TL, it would definitely be the MAYTAG from what I've seen and heard about them.

 

[askolover]

I've always filled my FL'ers up to a point where I can just fit my open hand on top of the dry clothes.  When they're wet they are perfectly ready to tumble and always come out clean.  It's always irked me to walk into the laundromat to wash rugs or such and see all those FL washers barely even half full.  People wasting their money.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Over the years

I've watched the tumble action of my duet and different load sizes. To me, watching the tumbling action of a load like you describe vs a little bit of a smaller load (which is still a large load, more than a TL can handle)....to me, there's a cut-off point. The clothes will still get clean with a load like you describe, but I think they get a little cleaner with a starting dry load about 75% full instead of 90% full. They just lift and drop better once the load is fully saturated. Not only that, but the dryer can handle a 75% full load better than a 90% full load. Of course, this is just my opinion after having used my FL'r for years now.

AND THEN........you can obviously have loads that are way too small as well.

 

[good-shepherd]

I’m going to try to decide tomorrow

Don't most stores have return or exchange policies if you're not happy with the machine?

If so, that could be a way to "test drive" a washer or two before you commit to one or another.

 

[meldew]

so I'm thinking about the 5.2 and 5.8 LG... should I?

I went from almost deciding on the Maytag Commercial TL, to almost ordering a SQ FL, to seriously considering the gigantic LG front loaders... If they just didn't look so crazy.

So I didn't really explain how many kids will be washing clothing besides my husband and myself.... right now there are 7. So 9 of us total. Though one is away at college during much of the school year. And I have a lot of big dogs. I "mid-woof" for a breeder so I'm washing birth-soiled blankets and towels and then puppy-soiled items a couple times a year... probably four months total of puppy laundry. Then a couple of us ride horses a few times a week... sweaty, dirty, hairy. Horsehair is prickly and doesn't come out of clothing easily.

If any of you are still reading this far, would I be crazy to get a HUGE washer?

Because the few days I have been without a washer and dryer this week, I find myself walking to the washer a half dozen times a day... it's automatic for me to be starting loads, transferring loads, etc. all day long. I can wash 3-6 loads a day. If I miss a few days I can do 10 loads in a day to catch up.

Part of my wants to just buy the cheap Amana washer and dryer and spend very little... but would I regret it? Or I could get the hugest available. So that's why I need quicker cycles. But if I have an enormous washer and dryer I could cut the number of loads by 1/3 maybe.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
You should have a true, bolt down, 30 pound plus, commercial Front Load Washer. Seriously.
Also start buying your detergent and other supplies in bulk. There are various people here who know how that’s done.

 

[meldew]

And how much are those? I don’t even want to know! But yes I’m on my 5th dishwasher in 11 years... the repairman told me I put triple the wear on any appliance.

 

[mark_wpduet]

It sounds like

you have a LOT of dirty laundry - I'm not going to lie. I've fantasized about having one of those bolt down washers in my house, but really?
Anyway, I'm not sure about the store letting you try them out. I'm sure they have return policy's that you can at least return it within a certain time frame. I've read where people have had LG's for years with no trouble... but you just never know. Anway, if you end up getting the LG, just make sure you just never or rarely use cold water, use good detergent, very little fab softener......and leave those doors and the detergent cup open all the time when not in use. Use bleach in whites, don't overload the washer, and I think you'll be fine. I can tell you this, when/if my Duet ever dies, if Whirlpool or Maytag has not introduced new front load models with a recirculation pump like LG has, (which I'm hoping they do), I'm likely going with an LG FL washer with turbo wash and just hope for the best.

 

[meldew]

I just reread this whole thread and I want to say THANK YOU again! I wish I’d had this information 25 years ago. Reading how these machines work has been eye opening. I’d been using more and more detergent trying to get stuff clean. Up to a cup per wash. And usually a cup of liquid fabric softener... and my kids would add those scent beads... and the SQ had a warm wash that was chilly and the hot wash was barely hot (probably more a function of my hot water heater settings and performance - that’s a topic for another day!). And I bought cheaper and cheaper detergents because I was using so much of them.

I also rarely washed with hot in the LG as it seemed to add more time. Essentially I did repeated express washes with too much detergent... plus the additives... no wonder everything smelled lol.

I think the true commercial washers are out of our price range. I’ll research it just to be sure. Much as I hate plastic and led lights I’m going to get a very large FL with a “recirculating” type of spray like the turbo wash or similar. If I’m reading right only Electrolux and LG have that? Not Maytag/Whirlpool? Miele, Bosch, SQ are just too small.

And I remember the whirlpool dryers I had back in the day that someone wrote about, here or on another thread! I loved those! If I had a true laundry room I’d have one for sure but these are essentially in view from half my house (open floor plan) and matching would make me happy.

So excited. But the big box retailers here seem to be out of half of every washer/dryer set I try to put in my online cart. I feel I’ll need their “free” installation. If I order from a national online store don’t they just drop the box in the driveway? Plus weeks for delivery?

I’m traveling this week and I really hope I can get something arranged to install this weekend. One of my teens is working in the kitchen of a Japanese restaurant for a summer job and his work uniform is getting.... well, odiferous lol!

 

[tolivac]

Do those commercial bolt down washers require 3 ph power?If so not good for the average home.The installation would be impossible or just too expensive for the conversion equipment and the wiring.

 

[rolls_rapide]

CAUTION!

DO NOT mix ammonia and bleach!

It may release chloramine gas, which can lead to a chemical induced pneumonia.

From the Washington State Dept. of Health:

http://https//www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/HealthyHome/Contaminants/BleachMixingDangers

 

[revvinkevin]

 

Melissa, 

 

With as much laundry as you do, I still suggest you seriously consider installing TWO front load washer & dryers, stacked in your laundry space, if at all possible.  Yes it will cost more initially, but it will also pay off BIG TIME because it will cut the time you spend doing laundry IN HALF and will give you "that much more" free time every week!   Personally I can do 4 loads at once, but I don't have nearly the volume of laundry you do! 

 

You can buy "Y" connectors for the water connections and you SHOULD be able to fit two drain hoses into the drain without much trouble. 

 

Re: detergent amounts.  With the more concentrated detergents and lower water usage in FL washers, they require less of it.  In my 4.0 cu.ft Kenmore FL, I use a small scoop (about 2 tablespoons) of the powered detergent (Sears or Persil) I'm currently using, per load. 

 

As mentioned in other replies, the "normal" cycle uses the least water for the main wash.  My Kenmore has an "express wash" cycle which has become my default cycle, I always choose heavy soil with an extra rinse.  It uses a bit more water in the main wash and with the options above, works out to 55 minutes for a normal load.

 

Another thing to consider is the location of your water heater in relation to your washer.  As front loaders use little water, you could be washing in cold or cool water even if you select hot, IF your water heater is on the other side the house.  I run the water closest to the washer to get it hot before I start it.

 

My 3 cents...

Kevin

 

[DADoES]

 
Slightly OT -- be aware that those Y-adapters need to be watched for deterioration.  They're not as robust as they may seem, even if metal/brass.  I use a four-tap brass adapter with three Y-adapters attached to connect three machines (with one spare tap).  The four-tap piece corroded and broke off without much force when I tried unscrewing it after approx 6 years.  It had a non-brass sleeve or some such piece in the connection/swivel.