Moving to apartment with full-size washer/dryer hookup

[ryner1988]

Hello all,

I am new to this site, ran across it in my search on what would be the right washing machine for me when I move to my new apartment, and figured you all might be able to help.

At the end of this month, my wife and I will be relocating from our current apartment to one that comes with a washer/dryer hookup. I am quite looking forward to this, as shared laundry facilities are a pain. However, I have never had to buy such a major appliance before. I've always been either at my parents' or lived with other people who already had them, or had to share laundry facilities so don't know the first thing about buying these types of appliances.

My constraints are that I am on a fixed income, so could not get anything too expensive as I'll probably have to seek parental help with the purchase. Also, I am totally blind, and my wife is physically disabled so laundry is completely up to me. Therefore can't use anything too complicated. Electronic controls are not a no-go, but they have to be fairly straightforward, nothing that changes on a menu or anything like that that you absolutely have to do visually. Knob controls are probably better in my situation, butI know those are on their way out.

At my parents', we had one, not sure of the brand but it was bought around 2001. Whirlpool I believe it was, with the round dial and although there was no tactile pointer to set cycles, we marked the clear dial by making a notch in it with a knife so I could feel what I was doing as I set cycles, then put pieces of tape on the cycles I would use most frequently. that should give you an idea of what is easiest for me non-visually.

Thanks for any help that can be given.

Ryne

 

[passatdoc]

Let's start with your budget, that will help narrow the choices.

I have an Electrolux series 60 set. The control dial is large, it pops out for cycle selection, and the first cycle displayed is the one to the far left. You advance through the cycle selection by rotating the dial clockwise, and it beeps each time you move the dial to a new cycle. I think it could be operated by a blind person. I have not noted whether there are braille markings but I don't think so. I will examine the machine and report back. However, the cost before rebates was about $2000 for the pair, which may price it out of your budget. Also, a deal breaker could be that some of the manual buttons have two functions (press once for first function, hold button 3 seconds for second function) and you have to be able to see the LCD status panel to confirm which cycle you selected.

Looking at the Whirlpool website, there is a model WFW72HEDW with what appears to be all-manual controls. I don't know if it beeps each time a selection is made (my old Frigidaire did so) but it looks like it has very basic controls. A local discounter in our area is selling it for $720 (MSRP $850):

http://www.howards.com/laundry/washers/front-load-washers/WFW72HEDW/

My parents' washer broke down and they wanted to replace it with another top loader. They do not want to learn to operate a FL in their 80s. I bought them this model at Home Depot

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Whirlpoo...in-White-WTW4800BQ/204307117?N=5yc1vZc3ocZ4l4

and they are delighted with it. Washes very well and decent capacity. We got it for $399 on special sale in January, but the price has crept up. Manual controls very easy to use. CR gave its highest rating to the WP model one up the rung from this one (this particular model was NOT tested, but the WP that got the highest rating was mechanically this machine with a few cycles added), the higher end model sells for $600 or so. I did not know anything about the efficacy of Cabrio washers, so we did not consider them. They wanted a traditional top loader.

 

[ryner1988]

Thanks for the suggestions

I really like the look of that Whirlpool top loader. Thinking any front loader would probably be way out of our price range. Wonder what anyone here thinks of going to a used appliance store, there's one about 20 minutes from me, and trying to land a good deal with a used set like my parents' old 2001 machines. Those were extremely easy for me to use. I've also heard good things about the Bravos machines, as the cycle knob is quite tactile and clicks as you move it from cycle to cycle, and the buttons to control other features are also pretty easy to perceive by touch.

 

[appnut]

Rune, it might be worthwhile to investigate that used appliance store you mentioned.  See if you can find something online that would have a rating as to how reputable they are.  Also, if your parents are in the area, would they be able to go with you and find something very similar to what they have that you are used to?  Sometimes appliance repair places recondition and resell too.  And welcome.

 

[jamiel]

I believe that Whirlpool makes Braille overlays for their appliances--you'd be well served to call them and inquire. They probably have them for some of their older designs too.

 

[ryner1988]

I think the one my parents had is what you all refer to as "direct drive." It has a rhythmic thumping sound during wash. If I found one of them at the used appliance store, could I be relatively confident it would service me for a couple years until I was able to procure the funds to buy a new one?

 

[goatfarmer]

Whirlpool direct drive machines are a good all around washer, one in good shape should last a long time.

 

BTW, my aunt is blind, and did a similar thing to a Maytag 606 set, she marked the dial to the setting she used most often.

 

[70series]

Yes, I believe Whirlpool did make braille overlays. As I recall, I think GE did too.

Ryne, good luck in your search,

James

 

[tomturbomatic]

Ryner, Every state in the nation has a library for the blind. It is supported by the Library of Congress. If you use them for reading materials, you probably already know about them and the services they offer. Your state library could probably put you in contact with some low vision support group locally or an office at the American Foundation for the Blind that might be able to help you with Braille markings. They would also know about their availability from manufacturers. The Maryland low vision support group had some little raised dots on a peel off backing that we used to mark the controls on my mom's microwave. Maybe that would be sufficient for you to mark the dials on your washer.

 

[yogitunes]

I would recommend something like the Neptunes.....only because you don't have to reset the controls over and over....

once you run a cycle, all you have to do is load, and press 'start', it will repeat the same cycle, over and over....

Cotton/Sturdy....warm/warm....normal soil....max extract

and the dryer is the same way....load clothes, close door, press 'start'....

Autodry.....normal dryness....medium heat....

end of cycle chimes would be a big help for both machines.....

there are other machines that offer a 'favorite cycle' too....something to consider...

 

[ryner1988]

Clear plastic covers on direct drive whirlpools

So this is a strange question, but the direct drive whirlpools seem like the direction I might try to go if I can find one. However, the one at my parents' house, while usable, had this really annoying clear plastic cover over the dial, the indicator that you point to the selected cycle was beneath the plastic cover. The cover slips around, like spins, when you touch it too much. Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about and if so, is there a way to remove the cover without wrecking the dial? Would make marking the indicator much easier.

 

[yogitunes]

most times you can remove the knob, and pop that clear cover off its tabs, and replace the knob.....

that's only there to protect the machine from someone reaching in there with their fingers and moving the dial while the machine is running, that could destroy several parts if that were to happen....

the idea for that was to make sure the knob is pushed in to shut off the machine, turn to make your new selection, and pull out to resume....

safety for the user and the machine.....

some knobs are little harder to get off than others......

and some newer machines allowed the timer to be turned in both directions...

 

[ryner1988]

Interesting. I've always wondered why that was there, seemed incredibly pointless to me. Guess you learn something new every day. LOL

So to pull off the knob do you just unscrew it or can you just pul on it and it'll come off?

 

[passatdoc]

I visited my parents this weekend and checked out their new TL WP. There were no braille dots (but then again, maybe they make stick-on dots as others have posted) and there is no beep each time a control knob is moved, to confirm advancement to the next setting. I bet if you call WP they can help you re: low visibility adaptations to the machine. I can say it's washing well and it is marked back down to $400 this weekend at Home Depot.