Need to Decide on a washer

[msmaiden]

Just relaying my own experience.....

Our 50 year old turquoise Maytag A606 finally gave out on us before Halloween. I immediately began searching the internet for info and reviews. I also came to this forum and sought repair guidance.
Well it turned out to be a pretty much impossible fix having to with the transmission and parts are no longer available.

After so many years with the same "old school" washer I was shocked at what is now considered a "washing" machine. I even considered buying used off craigslist if I could find something older, to my surprise they have been making crappy direct drive machines for many years.

Then I heard about Speed Queen. Ok, some may call them overrated but as soon as we saw that it is belt driven, metal gears, adjustable water level, mechanical dial and made in Wisconsin we ordered one from our local appliance dealer (and we supported a small business)

Picked it up three weeks ago and I cannot believe how happy I am. I spent many sleepless nights, literally, worried about this decision. Just like the appliance man said, this as close to my 50 year old Maytag as I will find nowadays.

I can report that it indeed washes the clothes well, I can adjust the water to the level *I* want, it is a simple to use dial, the cycles are fast and the water spins out excellent. The lid does not lock so I can add clothes mid cycle.

I DONT use what I sarcastically call the "gov't mandated" cycle, the "Normal/Eco" cycle. And this machine gives me that choice.

And when I compared the price to those advertised at Best Buy, Sears and Home Depot etc it really wasn't that much more. Well unless you are comparing it to the models they sell for three hundred bucks.

Best purchase I have made in years, absolutely no regrets. I still miss the old Maytag but she hasn't gone far. She's still in the basement.

 

[washman]

msmaiden, you made a wise choice that will serve you for years to come.

FYI......I sold dad's AWN542 to the dear friends who helped me with the house for shall I say.....ahem......a very good price. No I did not gouge them! But they got the deal of the century believe me.

They took it out over the weekend. Replaced a worn out something or another TL machine with a rather small tub.

Guess what? I receive a call today not from wayne, nor Jason, but Sharon, the wife.

She wondered "where has a machine like this been hiding all these years?" I said well Sharon, it was at xxxxxxx port St Lucie FL for the last 5 or so years. She laughed and said, hells bells, had I known that I would have tried to get it sooner!

Yet another satisfied SQ user......ok Alliance, where's my finders/keepers fee?

 

[askolover]

air flow

I know some of the newer FL models have a vent fan built into them, but I came across a universal retrofit fan online a few days ago. Anybody used one here? We don't need it since we always leave the door open but it might help some. One is velcro, the other is magnetic. A person doesn't have to spend a lot of money on their product, a small computer fan would work if one is a little handy.

http://https//washerfan.com/

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Smart Lady:

My SQ set came home last April (Front Loaders) see pic,  and I couldn't be happier.  There is NOTHING on the market toady to compare with SQ.  Enjoy the SQ it will serve you well for years.  Let's see some pics, here's one of my set

WK78

 

[corgigrrl]

Msmaiden,
Which model did you choose? I actually AM losing a lot of sleep over this!
I did find the receipt of my Maytag Maxima X pair last night. They were purchased in May of 2013. I have a lot of guilt over the idea of replacing a fairly new machine as the pair was expensive.
We do have mold & mildew problems in our basement, no airflow & we've needed a dehumidifier for years but Hubby insists it's not necessary even after cleaning & repainting the bathroom down there because of it. He says it only appears because the kids take long, hot showers. So idk.
2 years ago we got ductless AC installed & I was hoping that would help the problem. Previously we had no permanent heat source or any ac at all down there, except baseboard in the bathroom.
All that just makes new wonder if I stick with it, am I always going to be struggling with this issue. Also, I have been told in the past that LCB was not good to use in septic systems because it can kill some sort of beneficial microorganisms.
I think coming here might have made my decision more difficult because of the directly opposing viewpoints.

Keep it, clean it, take better care of it & follow the rules to keep it clean
Or
Just get a Speed Queen for $1,000. Keep the lid up, move on & find something else to worry about. But it's my understanding that I better get one before the 2017 models come out if do.

 

[spinmon]

SQ me too

Our SQ AWN542 and matching elec dryer are 4yrs,4 mos old and we're very pleased. I'm 62 and love the classic sounds,good/quick cleaning,simplicity and ability to change any part of cycles any time.

Having to rinse towels at least twice most times to get the 'bubbles' gone is a negative,but the smoothest spin of any washer I've seen is impressive.

I'd buy these again NO question.

 

[spinmon]

uh oh

Looks like I need to update my 'background'! '55-'96 Whirlpool,yes. Current,no way.

 

[mrboilwash]

I`d keep it. Tossing such a nice and expensive washer after not even 4 years would be a "sin".

First of all you need to clean it thoroughly. Run the longest possible cycle empty with at least 2 cups of bleach. Do you have a sanitize or clean washer cycle? Those would be just perfect. Don`t forget to wipe down the rubber boot and the detergent drawer with bleach then rinse well.
Next I would run another hot long cycle with dishwasher detergent. Put 3-4 dishwasher tabs into an old sock and place it directly into the drum. This way you keep the tabs from being caught in the door seal before they dissolve.

Now that your washer is clean and free of mold you can keep it this way by following a few simple rules. No special pampering is required.

#1 Detergent
Don`t skimp on the quantity of a good detergent. Respect dosing instuctions. While it is true that FLs use less water and so the detergent gets less diluted you also have to consider the fact that the amount of soil the detergent has to deal with will still be the same. If there is any kind of nasty build up in a washer it is always the result of constant underdosing.
A build up from using too much detergent is a total myth in my opinion.
Go easy on the fabric softener, though.

#2 Length of cycle
If you dose correcty and still find your clothes aren`t as clean as you`d like them you might have used the wrong cycle.
Front loades are very gentle on clothing compared to toploades but they require a longer washtime to get great results. Don`t be afraid of using long cycles intended for heavy soiled clothes even when washing daily loads. Your clothes will still last much longer than in any toploader.

#3 Temperature
Go easy on the number of cold wash cycles. If you cannot or don`t want to use chorine bleach on a regular basis you could use the sanitize cycle at least sometimes for sturdy things like towels or sheets.
Don`t take the care labels too seriously use common sense instead.

#4 Ventilation
Leave at least the door and when possible the detergent drawer open when the washer is not in use. There shouldn`t be any need to wipe dry anything, just let it airdry and leave open.
Doesn`t look good but it is essential for a happy front loader.

If you follow a few simple rules you`re gonna love your FL. Promise!

 

[joeypete]

My advice is go look at a ton of machines and pick the one you like. Everything is so subjective these days, you won't get a unbiased opinion here. LOL

 

[corgigrrl]

Thank you askolover-the fan sounds like a great idea for me even though $100 is pretty salty, but they are OUT OF STOCK!! not expected to be restocked for 3 to 4 months. Just my luck

mrboilwash,
You're quite right that it's almost a sin to toss such an expensive machine. I'm going out later & will pick up some Persil. As I said, pods are not dissolving so I'm done with those. I have never been a fan of fabric softener. I don't use scented laundry products either. If I want to smell pretty, I'll wear perfume. I don't need the scents of my laundry competing with the other personal products I use like shampoo, curl creme, etc. One of my pet peeves. I just don't use it.
It's funny that I don't actually have "whites" to bleach. Hubby doesn't wear white T shirts or tighty whities & neither does my son. So that leaves socks! My daughter wears head to toe black for her job. I have 2 very hairy dogs (Corgi & Sheltie) & would NEVER buy white towels.

So,at least for now, I'm going to keep, clean & care for my Maytag. Hopefully I will be able to get a fan too, & that should help.
I thank everyone for their input. Perhaps, when this machine bites the dust, there will be better options.

 

[petek]

Have you had your water properly tested by a lab. From the sounds of it sounds to me like you have a high iron content if you're getting that light reddish (coral colored?) residue.  Many people try or are told to solve the iron issue with a water softener which helps somewhat but doesn't work anywhere near as good as a dedicated whole house iron filter (which looks somewhat like a water softener) . Plus with an iron filter there's no  salt to add etc..   

 

[combo52]

Keeping An Automatic Washer Clean

Hi Stefan, [ mrboilwash ] Your advice is 100% on the money, I should print it out and give it out to our customers.

 

Hi Lisa, you are correct that you should not use a lot of bleach if your waste water goes into a septic tank, but using a little is going to be less harmful than going back to a TL washer where you a dumping 50 gallons of water into the ST every load instead of 15 gallons. A FL washer like yours only needs a 1/4 cup of bleach to do its work compared to over 1 cup in a TL washer and it is OK to bleach dark clothing and certainly the dogs towels etc.

 

Yesterday I was working on 1990 Maytag TL washer on Capital Hill and it was a stinky-slimy-moldy mess we were scraping mold and gunk from under the tub cover and top of the wash tub with a putty knife, that was gross.

 

The problem with going back to a TL washer is you have to use a lot more detergent and about 6 times as much hot water to get close to the cleaning efficiency of a FL washer, none of witch is good for the septic tank or your budget.

 

[msmaiden]

corgigrrl...

Sorry to reply late. The model I chose was the only top load with the mechanical dial, AWN432SP113TW04.
It is also the cheapest however that is not why I bought it.

I was actually tempted by the mid model AWNE82SP113TW01 with the touch pad. It was $50 more. As we looked over each unit in the appliance store and I kept "playing" with the pad and dials (another good reason NOT to buy floor models in stores LOL)hubby pointed out what I already knew: The mechanical dial just felt *right*, for me. Now that it is home and I am using almost daily I am absolutely in love.

I do not like touch pads. I even bought a wall oven three years ago that still had dials. I just discovered dials are no longer an option. Cannot buy one anymore. So glad I bought it when I did.

When I talk about the price I know over $800 is alot of $ but I am looking right now in the Sears ad and one of their "better" top loaders are advertised at $500 on sale (regular $800 but we know how these stores manipulate prices). They also have one for $300.
Personally I wouldn't give them $100 for either one. I'd rather put the money towards something better made right here in the US. And being an "old school" washer my husband can fix problems if they crop up.

And yes, I did hear that new, more stringent water "saving" measures are coming for dishwashers and washers, thanks to our meddling gov't. I'm thinking it was a blessing in disguise that my old one finally bit the proverbial dust when it did.

Just my opinion.

 

[msmaiden]

One more thing...

As instructed by the appliance dealer Glenn I only use about 2 tablespoons of detergent.

I copied this from a question answered at the SQ website on water usage:

"A mini cycle is 16.3 gal, small is 18 gal, medium is 19.7 gal, and X-large is 21.5 gallons"

According to Glenn my old Maytag averaged 50 gallons. I have been mainly using the small and medium water levels but did an X-large when it first came home as I had weeks worth of laundry.

IF I need more water there is a "reset" on the dial, turn to it and more water is added to the tub.

 

[kb0nes]

When running cycles to clean the machine don't run the machine empty, wash a full load of absorbant rags or old towels. Without any laundry to hold water to spin out, you will have minimal incidental splash in the top of the drum. A full load will spin out water all over the drum.

Another helpful hint is to switch detergents frequently, different formulations work better against different deposits.

With proper usage a front load machine will never get smelly. Any you get to enjoy the improved performance a front load machine offers in cleaning ability, capacity, efficiency and increased garment life. No doubt the Speed Queen top loaders are solid machines, but I'd never choose one, especially on a septic system.

 

[DADoES]

Your Maytag used the quoted amount of water for a full cycle ... two fills, one for wash & one for rinse, so only half the total is for the wash water.

My guess is that the quoted SQ water use is for the Normal Eco cycle which does not run a full-fill rinse, so you're closer with it on a single fill to the Maytag amount than you think in regards to detergent dosing requirements.

 

[johnb300m]

thoughts...

I really must disagree here with the claim of putting articles into a Clean Washer cycle.
Especially if you use the designated "basket clean" or "clean washer" cycle.

My Maxima spins the basket very quickly in both directions to wash water up around the boot and around the whole tub.
Washers today will often SENSE whether there are clothing in this cycle. If it senses articles in the clean washer cycle, it will stop and error out.
RUN THIS CYCLE EMPTY with designated machine cleaner, dishwaher tabs or just pure chlorine bleach.

For front loaders, I highly recommend (from experience) if you're using Tide or OxiClean machine cleaners, use less than the recommended dosage. These suds up far more than Whirlpool's "Affresh." And I had suds pouring out the back of my machine through the vents.
You've been warned.

Good luck.

 

[frigilux]

I was going to mention the same thing, John. And thanks for the tip about not using Tide Washing Machine Cleaner in the Maytag Maxima. Since procuring one about a year-and-a-half ago, I switched from the Tide product to Affresh, as per machine instructions. The manual also states the machine will abort the cycle if it senses anything in the tub.

The 'clean' cycle on my 2010 Frigidaire was very anemic. Not enough water; not enough action to scrub the boot or outer tub. Phil's advice about filling the tub with rags would have worked perfectly with that machine.

The Maxima, on the other hand is definitely a hurricane in a box! There's no doubt scrubbing water action is reaching the top of the outer tub. I've only run the 'clean' cycle three times in a year-and-a-half, primarily to watch the dramatic water action, LOL. I use chlorine bleach and boosted hot water temps frequently, so doubt there's much build-up. No tell-tale funky smells, at any rate.

 

[msmaiden]

I am not on a well but on town water. I want a machine that will actually fill up.
I realize others have to consider how much they use ie my own mother has a well.

The eco cycle is an option for those who need it.

 

[mark_wpduet]

@ Jonn

I didn't realize you had a Maxima - Anyway - My duet is before FL machines started having designated clean washer cycles - I later found out mine has one built in but you have to enter a sequence to get it to work - I only use LCB when using the clean washer cycle. It fills with a LOT of water and rotates the drum really FAST, almost literally spinning with a tub full of water (both directions) - the ONLY problem with mine is it doesn't use HOT water, only warm....so it doesn't do as good of a job as later machines with some built in ones. I don't even think the heater is even active in mine during the clean washer cycle.....I hardly ever use it anyway, but I have used it a few times. It's pretty wild to watch. Good to know about the machine cleaners and not using too much.