New! Speed Queen v. LG: nagging questions

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dreamclean

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Hi guys! I'm shopping for a washer & dryer and I've been reading lots of anecdotal stories and reviews so yep I'm pretty confused about things.

On the one hand I'm drawn to SQ's reliability and warranty. On the other I did see one user noticed their clothes were getting beat up with their new SQ. Is an old school washer too much for modern clothing that tends to be thinner and more delicate? This is my worst fear. I am really picky shopper, I try to buy the best quality, get attached and treat it with care to last..
I've read SQ gets the stuff CLEAN, but no one really talks about how gentle it is on garments. I saw about the hose test (over the agitator, if it snags that's bad).Does it make a difference with garment wear and tear if I get a TL or FL by SQ? Is the SQ delicate cycle easy on clothes?

I'm also considering LG, but I know it's not going to last for 20 years like SQ. My friend in the apparel industry said LG was the best, and that the FL without an agitator was really gentle on clothes. I'm also not a fan of P & G and other companies that make HE detergent, with asthma and allergies I avoid petrochemicals but also take issue with their record of animal cruelty. I prefer to use natural low sudsing liquid detergents-- Ms. Meyers, The Laundress, so if I'd be forced to use that junk with an HE washer it would be a deal-breaker. I did read only powders are best for the HE washers to clean effectively so maybe I wouldn't have the option of natural liquids.
Thank-you for any advice, my head is spinning...so to speak.
 
The SQ TL is sure not as gentle as a FL. How it affects you clothing depends. If you are allergy problematic, you will run more rinses, thus, the effect will be bigger. If there is a lot of thin clothing, lot of "feeling fragile" stuff in you wardrobe, stuff that looses shape etc. your problem of gentleness is bigger then if your the jeans and sweater type.

You will most likely yield simmilar results with your all natural detergents. You'd have to experiment, but you most likely will be ok.
However, especially with the LG, you will have one big advantage: Multiple rinses at respectable cost. You see, a top of the line TL made by SQ can offer you up to 3 rinses plus a prewash in one cycle. However, such a cycle would use close to 100 gallons.
The LG can offer you 5 rinses plus a prewash or 4 rinses with 4 spray rinses on the TurboWash cycles, both using only about half that of a TL. Even with normal detergents, anything in you clothing will be gone.
Further, a FL can wash your pillows thouroughly and you have the choice of a heater, really cutting down on dustmite related problems.

So, while the TL might not be a bad choice in your situation, a LG FL with TurboWash and heater would be the better choice in my opinion.
 
There are those members who will tell you the ONLY choice is a speed queen set whether it be front loader or top loader. I am not among them. IF you were only considering a top loader, I would say that speed queen probably is the only logical choice of new machines, it actually washes and rinses clothes properly. But it ONLY rinses properly if set on deep rinse or fabric softener setting. Otherwise it gives a spray rinse. Now, top loaders are much harder on clothing than front loaders are. And there are many many many good choices for front loading machines. LG made machines operate well and do an excellent job of cleaning your clothing with virtually NO wear and tear to them. Not only that, but they have virtually NO linting either. They rinse very well too and can be set to rinse up to 3 extra times. They use very little water in comparison to traditional top load washers and do an excellent job. LG and many of the other front loaders have a "steam treat" setting which allows the washer to wash in very hot water for extra grimy things or to sanitize things. Speed Queen front loaders do not have this feature and are smaller in capacity than the larger front load machines that are available now. They also cost quite a bit more than many of the others too. I personally think that the ONLY choice in this day and age is a front load machine. With the exception of speed queen top loading washers, none of the rest operate like the traditional top loading machines of the past. I bought an LG made machine that is badged as Kenmore. I have been very pleased with my set since my purchase 2 years ago. The machines are huge in size, the washer washes and rinses very well and extracts the water from the clothes to the point that they are practically dry when they come out of the machine. It takes very little time to dry the clothes. The washer does take much longer than my old Maytag top loader, but it holds about double the load too, which is very nice too. My clothes NEVER see any wear from being washed now and have no lint of any kind on them either. I Never have linted up wool socks anymore, something I used to experience before with my old Maytag. I think I made the perfect choice in my case. Hope this will help you.
 
I have to agree with the rest. Although I use a Whirlpool VMW top loader, it is due to budget reasons. If you want a truly old school wash, the Speed Queens are the only ones that do it right. The rest compromise for a lower price. However, I think you'd to be dead set on a top loader to buy a SQ. It would be sentimental reasons for me.

Reason being, front loaders have so many advantages. They save water, rinse well, are gentle on clothing, and even offer specialty cycles with steam and recirculation jets. Rinsing is great. You can fit a lot more in them than a standard top load machine, and it all comes out practically dry. We've had an older Kenmore HE3T for a couple years, and it's great. I can only imagine how much I'd like a new LG. I also think that FL machines are the only real option today. Those HE machines struggle to do their job right. I know there's a lot of people out there that would love to tell you that the LG front loaders are jeeeeeeunk, but I beg to differ.
 
After having my LG washer and dryer a year now, I will have to say that they are absolutely the best in washing and drying. I have the 3570's and they were rated quite well in Consumer Reports. I also have a Speed Queen top loader that I kicked to the curb, and I have not looked back. The SQ washer does well washing, but its a water hog, doesn't extract much water from the load, and oh yeah linting can be tad much. Its also not gentle on fabrics and they tend to wear out faster, in my experience,and the wash system is rather primitive. Not to mention the fact that the washer just loves to eat belts.
The LG's have been trouble free and very reliable as well. Rinsing has been superb with all loads. The final 2 minute spin spray in the final spin, and this is no slow spin either, high speed spin is used. This washer will amaze in the fact that with a good detergent, it will remove stains that you thought would never come out. I use the TurboWash feature for every load since I like to have the detergent recirculate and that every bit of it is used properly. The washer also extracts quite well and saves a tremendous amount of water compared to the SQ washer. I think you would be quite happy with them. I know I am.
 
Speed Queen.................

is the only way to go! Either front or top loading washer. My top loader is seven years old, and have never had an issue with clothing damage. The previous post about a SQ top loader being kicked to the curb was a one speed washer with no delicate cycle, and a tenant was using the machine as well. In seven years I have had NO mechanical issues with my Speed Queen.
They have the longest warranty in the industry and are built in the USA.

The LG washer I bought before my divorce has needed several repairs, takes a long time to ramp up to full spin speed and is made in Korea. It's not my issue any longer so I don't care, however there were better choices to make at the time.

Yes many on this site will recommend SQ because they do what they are supposed to do. Wash clothes and are built to last.
Mike

PS I would also google SQ user reviews and see what actual consumers think of their machines.
 
Clothing damage

You see, it's often not about damage like holes, rips, tears...

If somebody mentions they are spending extra money on high quality clothing, a load made up of 20 T-Shirts can verry well be more expensive then the washer it self. In a FL, these Ts have a usual life span of 50-100 wash cycles in my experience. If a washer puts this lifespan towards the 50 cycle end rather then the 100 cycle range, you won't notice it. You will just buy new Shirts.
However, at the end of a year, you might have some money in your account left over, and having a nice dinner with that.
What you don't realise is that this money wasn't spend on clothing, probably due to a gentle washing technique.
It's something so suttle, it's hard to even recognize.

Further, heater is like the knock-out pro argument for a FL if you are suffering from asthma. You won't kill dustmites without it. No matter how hot the water is.
 
I've washed everything from Michael Kors Dress Shirts to expensive T-shirts in my Top Load SQ without any issues.
I use slow agitation and spin speeds.
Never ever an issue.
Mike
 
A well-rounded group here-- I was actually leaning towards LG and I feel a lot more confident about it. I think if my clothes were basic and easily replaceable I might consider SQ. But...I have some really unique designer items and it would make life so much easier if I could use a hand-wash cycle or steam. I try to avoid the dry cleaners and do as much as I can myself (within reason, no viscose or wool) so a gentle machine is a must. Also I appreciate the need for the heat and Turbo wash to minimize allergens. I feel you've given me the peace of mind I need to move forward with my decision. If I bought the wrong one I would be miserable. It was like that for a year until our apartment's Hotpoint gave out. Filthy clothes, ruined clothes. It's an actual quality of life issue. And I love doing laundry too. Thanks for sharing! And caring!

I'll follow up after it's in my hands...
Christi
 
God Bless America

The great thing about being an AMERICAN is we have choice. Good luck with your new washer! I prefer to keep AMERICANS working and buy products, especially good, quality made products that are American made by Americans like us!
I choose not to purchase Korean or Chinese made products where ever possible, but that is getting harder and harder to do these days.
Sorry, I dislike LG products immensely from personal experience. If you were looking at a Whirlpool / Maytag / Amana front loader made in America I would be a little more enthusiastic.
Best of luck with your purchase.
Mike
 
Just remember, that no matter what machine you read online reviews on, there are likely hundreds of happy users for every bad review. It is human nature to spend more time writing reviews when there is a grudge, then when a person is satisfied with something. The paralysis by analysis aided by the 'information' superhighway is a double edged sword.

I'd likely err towards the SQ myself even though I find their machines to be a bit crude. I'd never buy another top load machine so that decision is the easy one...

Odds are that either LG or SQ you will be happy with what you buy. The SQ will probably be around longer though
 
I'm with Phil on this one: A front-loader is the way to go. Both LG and Speed Queen were on my short list back in August when I purchased a new laundry pair. Wound up going with Maytag Maxima 8100's and am very satisfied with them. They're built in the US and the parent company is American which is a bonus.

I had a top-load Speed Queen as a second washer and it was fun to use an old-school, traditional top-loader with a spin-drain...but a front-loader has been the daily driver in my laundry room since the mid-1980s. The SQ went to a family who really wanted to stick with a traditional top-loader.

I think HE front-loaders excel in many areas: Cleaning, spinning, capacity, water and energy efficiency.
 
I have owned and used an LG WM3170CW and matching electric dryer for a yr now. I have been very happy with these machines. but there was a learning curve. The new FL washers are very different from the FL's of 10 + yrs. ago. The capacity of the newer FL's is larger, so if you wash smaller loads of heavy items there is more of a possibility of loads that don't want to balance and spin. Also, the new FL's use less water than they used 10+ yrs ago.

I have found that the Bulky cycle on my LG uses the most water. And because the max spin speed is limited to med. on the Bulky cycle there is never a problem with smaller loads that don't want to balance and spin readily. So I programmed my LG favorite cycle to the Bulky cycle. hot wash, normal soil level and Water Plus option. I get a fill up to the lip of the tub, every load comes out spotless and rinsed completely. I have never had any linting, tearing or unusual wear. On extra soiled white loads I add a pre wash option and I can't believe how clean even very soiled items come out. For example, we use old white tee shirts to dry the car after we wash it. These white shirts get filthy with black brake dust, which I've never before been successful in getting out . Not anymore, these wash up sparkling white. The only down side of the Bulky cycle is the med spin leaves the cloths more damp. To get around this I run a separate ex. high spin cycle at the end of the Bulky cycle to decrease the drying time.

The matching dryer is the best I've ever used. There is one unusual quirk with the Normal Auto dry cycle. It automatically selects Energy Saving mode that reduces the temp. And you can't manually select high heat on the normal cycle. But there is a way around this that isn't explained in the owners manual. Just select the Anti-Bacterial option and voila you get high heat on the normal auto dry cycle for faster drying. I've also programmed this as my favorite dry cycle. Most loads are dry in about 35 mins., or less. And there is never any linting.

The large capacity of these machines allows me to launder kingsize comforters and bedspreads, blankets and pillows with out needing to go to the laudromat.

I like that there is an easliy accessable clean out for the pump filter. I make sure to dry off the inside of the door and the tub gasket after every load, have never had a problem with mold or a sour smell.

And after a yr of an average of 5 loads a week there have been no problems with either the washer or the dryer. No unusal sounds, no rough seams in the tub, no polishing compound to clean out of the tub, no chewed up drive belts, no leaking, just dependable service. I did need to install water hammer arrestors on the inlet valves because our water pressure is high, but this was easily done and only cost an extra $20.00.

I too prefer to buy American made products when possible. I couldn't justify the almost $2,000.00 for a SQ FL, and I needed a FL because of our extreme drought here in California. I did buy the set from my local Lowes, so those $ did help provide employment for persons in my community. All in all I would have to say that I have been happy with my choice to buy this LG set. Our power bill has decreased by about $8.00 to $10.00 a month due to less hot water usage and shorter dry times. whichis an added bonus.
Eddie
 
It seems to me that "green" detergents SHOULD work just fine in a front load machine, as long as it's a HE detergent, of course. No experience with front load machines, but it is not lost on me that the same people in favor of green detergents (both users and the companies that make the products) are also often very much in favor of front load machines. Thus it seems likely the detergents will work just fine.

As for powder detergent, there are those who argue it's a better choice. But there are people here who appear to seem to use nothing but liquids, although they more likely use Tide and the like.

A front load machine with a heater might help a green detergent work better on difficult loads.
 
The Speed Queen has flexible vanes and does not inflict noticeable wear on clothes at all. However, it is still important to sort clothes and choose an appropriate cycle. Following the manufacturer's user guide and instructions helps get the best results as well.

Yes, the Speed Queen only has two speed settings for spin and wash, though that is plenty and caters to all my laundry needs. I can wash everything in it from sneakers to fine synthetics, silks, wool, leather, feather-down blankets, pillows etc., and it all comes out clean and without the 'dreaded' wear and tear. The SQ is simple to use, practical, durable and functional.

I recommend the SQ top loader to anyone who wants a straight forward agitator washing machine and without hesitation.[this post was last edited: 5/18/2016-22:05]
 

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