New! Speed Queen v. LG: nagging questions

[brucelucenta]

Well, it's good to know that there are many more rational and logical members of this group than I had thought. It is just a fact that a front load washer is going to wash and rinse your clothing very well with a minimum amount of water and virtually no wear or linting of your clothes. It is very gentle, yet cleans everything well and extracts the water better than ANY top loader does. Commercial laundries have used this type of machine dating back to the 40's or 50's to wash large loads of laundry. It is just in resent years that we have been able to buy them for consumer use. I loved some of the top loading washers I have had in the past, but compared to my LG set they were ALL pieces of shit! It's just that simple.
I enjoyed the way in which some of them washed clothing, but they were pretty abrasive on the clothes too.
My Frigidaire sets I loved, but lots of linting and wear, also my Kelvinator and even my Maytag, Philco, Norge, GE & speed queen sets. I have had just about every kind of top loading washer ever made and there is just no comparison to a top loader vs. a new style front loader. The front loader will win every time hands down! Especially the new ones of today! They can do things that even the top load speed queen cannot do and do it using far less of everything and do a better job of it. For those that refuse to join the 21st century, I guess a speed queen top loader is the way to go. But you are settling for much less when you do. It is much like comparing 8 track cartridges to compact discs. [this post was last edited: 5/19/2016-04:48]

 

[glomain]

I thought

8-tracks had better sound

 

[brucelucenta]

LOL

 

[henene4]

Do some of you even listen to them selfes?

Some of you are turning into Apple fanboys. Just with SQ and washers.

You even get close to producr racism. It's Korean, it's bad. Only American is good enough. Nothing else will ever be as good! WTF? That is not what this here is supppsed to be.

I mean, seriously, why on earth am I lesser human because I know what it means to suffer from asthma?
I would agree with all of you that a SQ FL would be just as good of a choice, if not a better, compared to LG or anything else. The SQ will probably have a longer lifespan, I know that.
However a SQ could, and you CAN'T say that I'm wrong if you know the littlest about allergies, never kill dustmites in pillows. It just can't safely maintain 140 degress fahrenheit over a timespan of 30 minutes or more, which is required as a minimum. There is no way, not with a hot prewash, prewarming the tub, a soak. It is just not capable of it.

So, give me one reason, ONE reason despite it's long lifecycle, why it is a better machine for an allergic and asthma sufferer?

 

[stricklybojack]

.
It isn't, you're right henene4.

 

[rapunzel]

I have a family member who suffers from multiple allergies and hay fever. My washer does not maintain 140 degrees over 30 minutes, however, my dryer does. We are managing just fine.

 

[henene4]

Allergies is not asthma. I have a hard time with my allergies, but asthma is like another level.

If you ever saw somebody having an asthma attack, you know why you are carefull with such stuff.

And again, no bad word about SQ, just that it is not the best option in this situation.

 

[rapunzel]

It's also not the worst option and it works just fine. Ask yourself how did people manage in the past without allergen cycles?

 

[henene4]

How do people manage with their constantly broken washers? Aka how do the live without SQ?

They do.
Thing is: Allergies are growing more and more common. Thus asthma has become a bigger problem.
And, fun fact, over here, every washer ever had a cycle the acts as an Allergene cycle: A boilwash.

And you're right, it is not the worst option. But, in this case, slightly worse.

 

[rapunzel]

Dreamclean asked if there was a noticeable difference with wear and tear between the SQ top and front loaders. I felt that I could answer that concern, because I own and use a top loading SQ washer.

BTW, ever so often I receive visitors from, or I go and visit family in Germany, who own German made front loading washers. I've never noticed a difference in the standard of clean or wear between my clothes and theirs.

It is my understanding that many modern front loaders don't perform a true boil wash anymore and most modern fabrics can't even handle being washed at such high temperatures.

 

[mrboilwash]

LG vs SQ Front Loaders.

The German consumer magazin performs reliability tests when testing washing machines. That means 3 models of each type of washer tested have to go through a certain number of cycles (with laundry) to simulate a typical life span. So if 2 of 3 washers break down, explode or whatever in a narrow time frame, it`s certainly no coicidence, these washers are c**p.
While we don`t have SQ on the market and the LG models differ from the ones sold in the States I think to recall that LG frequently had problems in the reliability test.

The SQ FL might be built like a tank and will probably work for a long time but it lacks an internal heater. The small amount of hot water used in a modern FL just isn`t enough to provide a real hot wash. Cold clothes, a huge solid stainless steel drum, the door glass and so on consume most of the heat immediately so you end up with a very warm wash at best. Not so good if allergies are of concern.
The SQ FL can be programmed to a whooping numer of 5 rinses, but it lacks any kind of suds lock control. So again I would be leery about the SQ if I suffered from allergies.

I think to recall Samsung has been much more reliable than LG if you consider a Korean washer.

On a side note, while Europeans still talk about a boilwash the actual temperature dropped to about 90° C - 194° F or even less since FLs have moved to plastic detergent drawers, because the excessive steam would deform most plastics. That was long before the energy crisis. The term boilwash is still valid and alive.
That temperature is still more than hot enough to kill e.coli typically found in skidmarks, dustmites and so on without the need for bleaching agents and it`s still safe for a lot of modern sturdy cotton and poyester fabrics. Even lycra in white sport socks can take it to some extent.
Of course you have a lot more wear and tear compared to cold water and low quality items might bleed or shrink, but from personal experience and a learning curve I can tell most care tags today are underlabeled.

 

[nmassman44]

Honestly I am not surprised by the ones that hold the SQ flag up high and how dare anyone criticize it. Its always the same ones that clutch the pearls and gasp in shock. I have to say that I do love to beat the hornets nest from time to time, its just too much fun! That said, its my opinion, my experience with my one speed wonder of a washer that happens to be a SQ top loader. And for your info, the Delicates cycle on the SQ washer is much like the Maytag Fabric Matic, where it will agitate briefly, then soak, the agitate again. One doesn't need 2 speeds with that set up. Plus I don't have "delicate" things in my wardrobe.
So, sure my LG washer won't last 10 to 20 years like maybe an SQ washer. That issue doesn't bother me at all. When it dies, I will get another and recycle the old washer. I am enjoying the lower water/sewage bills, lower electric bill and gas bill. When my water bill dropped by close to $100 a quarter and the power bill dropped from $60 a month down to $28, that makes me happy. Not everyone wants to have frottage with their SQ washer, I know I don't.

 

[gusherb]

Wow, this thread has attracted a lot of posts in just one day! So many passionate responses.
This may have been said already and may not have seen it as I was skimming across posts, but if OP can pay a little more, why not get the best of both worlds and get a SQ FL? I thought it was mentioned that the price for those has been coming down. I have a TL SQ now, but if I had to do it again and had the extra money I would go with the SQ FL machine. In a pinch I might consider the LG, but for me reliability is higher up on the priority list.

I find it interesting how many have the opinion that the old school top load washers system is "primitive" indicating that it's somehow not fit for these modern times. I guess I don't understand because I've never really needed any features beyond what a TOL TL machine offers, and the FL I used to live with was probably very primitive for a front loader.

 

[glomain]

o come on nmassman44

heres my energy guide @ 6 loads a week,thats for my couple month old TL SQ, my electric bill has gone down since I got rid of those ENERGY STAR POS DUETS !oh & I have a well and it takes power for the pump too.

 

[nmassman44]

In my case I have a SQ AWN311 that we bought in 2009. So my EnergyGuide is a tad higher in cost. The new SQ top loaders may use less, but the cycle that was used to get that is the Normal Eco cycle where there is a spray rinse and quite possibly dumbed down wash water temps. My electric bill reflects the dryer usage and the fact that the LG washer extracts much more water from the load compared to the SQ washer, thus the dryer runs less and dries faster.
Nice try though.

 

[appnut]

I love my front loader (Duet) with the heater and the multitude of cycles & options for all sorts of fabrics and soils.  I get bored with appliances so if I have to replace in 7-10 years it won't bother me.  I cannot imagine living with a washer for 30 years or a dishwasher for 30 years.  I be bored. 

 

[rapunzel]

I agree, my washer is primitive, because it doesn't play tunes, have flashing lights, doesn't sense anything, doesn't communicate with my I-phone, doesn't give me error codes, doesn't have an on-board heater and doesn't come with umpteen dozen specialty cycles that I have no use for. It doesn't come with the indulgence of redeeming my conspicuous consumption via colorful stickers and environmental statements.

However, it does wash and rinse any kind of washable fabric well. It almost never goes out of balance. I can control every aspect of any wash cycle anytime and without wasting time. When I press a button or turn a dial I get an immediate response. I can wash one item, fill it to the brim or wash any size load in-between. It doesn't waste time 'sensing' and I know that a cycle will finish without a problem 99.999% of the time. My last SQ lasted 20 years and I've had this one for more than 10 without issues. It won't rip itself apart, burn down my house or collect data on my behalf and send it to some data collection agency. All parts are fully recyclable and if it should ever catch fire it won't produce toxic smoke that will kill any living thing by the third breath.

I have no idea how I've managed to survive with such a primitive washing machine.

 

[washer111]

Ugh...

These "Which Machine?" threads make me question why I bother reading here on AW anymore. Too many personal attacks and bickering; yeah I've 'bit' a few times, but I'm over it now.

My opinion has been cast a 'few' times. They're still around if you want to read them.

 

[gusherb]

Regarding Energy usage

Now that I've had my SQ for over a year I can finally make a safe conclusion on how it's impacted the utility usage here. Many months have been skewed due to extra people living here and or extended visits plus the entire family in town at times but everything has been back to normal since about January.

Water wise the usage has gone up a little but not as much as I had calculated when I first got the thing. I think I came up with around 1300 extra gallons a month. Instead we're looking at 800 gallons extra, and that additional usage is including one of the toilets having since been switched to a 1960s water guzzler. The price difference in the overall water bill is negligent.

Electricity wise, our utility usage for March and May have hit record lows... April was very low too. Funny thing is I've since taken a few back steps with the lighting, having changed a few frequently used fixtures back to incandescent. One of them got converted to LED's though.

Sometimes I wonder if all this concern over energy use is wrongly being blamed on the lighting and appliances we use when we really should be looking at ourselves, at our usage habits.
Everything in my grandmothers home was terribly inefficient by todays standards, but her utility bills were always reasonable. It wasn't like she never turned lights on or blasted the 60% efficient furnace all winter either. Let alone the lack of insulation in the house. When we modernized everything the utility bills actually went up quite a bit, much to my surprise, and were next to impossible to keep down to where they used to be.

 

[brucelucenta]

Pretty ridiculous the way in which some "stuck in the past" folks are. It is a new day for home laundry now and front load machines with the heat boost are here to stay. They are just better machines all around for your clothing and saving energy in water and in drying costs. The proof is there to see. How long something lasts is largely due to how it is used and taken care of. To buy something simply because you perceive it to be "USA made" is kind of ridiculous too. I know for certain that Toyota and Honda vehicles are MUCH better than ANY American made vehicle. Many of the "American made" vehicles are actually made somewhere else anyway. I would NEVER buy another new American made vehicle again. LG seems to have the same good track record for front load washers too. It only makes good sense to anyone who looks at the facts. As a side note, if speed queen would step it up and make a larger capacity front loader with heat boost, I would probably have at least considered them if they were priced somewhat the same as others. The whole reason I bought a new washer/dryer was so I could wash king size comforters and not have to go to the coin laundry. Otherwise I would have kept my old Maytag top loader set that still worked perfectly.