New SQ vs. Maytag DC vs. Whirlpool DD

[redcarpetdrew]

Martin has quite a few Neppies and I'm fond of them, too. While I am very much pro Maytag Dependable Care, my daily drivers are Newton built Neptunes. My MAH7500, IMHO, is one of the best front loaders out there. The capacity may not be the largest in comparison to the new ones but it washes well, is relatively easy to service and will get down to the business of spinning with minimal fussing over the balance of the load where the new ones will play around with themselves for upto 20 or so minutes before spinning out as they are over sensitive to load balancing.

Maytag Dependable Care laundry are what I call 'generational machines'. Frequently, I'll see a 70's set in the laundry room of a young couple who will tell me that they were Grandma's who gave them to Mom when she bought a new set of them who gave them to her children when she bought her new set as well.

Speed Queens and Kenmores are nice enough but I can't help but notice that there seems to be far more vintage Maytags in current service than the others...

RCD

 

[mrb627]

seems to be far more vintage Maytags in current service than

the others...

I feel the same way. The Newton built Maytag washers, when kept in a climate controlled environment, outlast just about anything else.

Malcolm

 

[yogitunes]

yeah, I admit it, I seem to have a bit obsessive liking for the Neptunes, all I can say, is they are reliable, even when I get some abused ones in, a little care and cleaning, and they run top dollar, with up to ten kids at a time, mine get a workout....

with only a solenoid replacement in one dryer, and cleaning screens of the water valves, outside of bearing replacements, these haven't cost me a cent....

people talk about capacity, I have two king size beds, and will wash the comforter, sheets and pillow cases in one load, how much bigger does someone need?....

as far as the Maytag DC, with a little adaptation of washing techniques, and slight under loading, you will get great results, and a machine to last a lifetime...

to the DirectDrive versions....yeah, they get a bad rap for Shredding clothing, but this is a wash, for everyone who complains, there is one who has never had an issue, I am one of them....and I use the larger KA agitator at full speed!...how many thousand DD machines built and sold, they can't be wrong!....

with anything, you have to account for user error....

plus I just added two more Neptune washers to the collection....

 

[yogitunes]

I picked up these two sets from a staged home that got sold....never plugged in, and only paid roughly 100.00 for each set...

kudos to Drew for the windowed dryer door....

 

[DigAPony]

Maytag DC, with a little adaptation of washing techniques,

What kind of washing techniques??

 

[yogitunes]

not to point out just Maytags, every washer has its own personalities that work best, there are pros and cons to making it work for you.....

for some you have to load by quadrants...sometimes in a Z formation

others work best with a mixed load.....not a load full of jeans at one time, yet others work with items of similar construction, like an all jean load...

because of the motor/belt slippage of a Maytag, you have to underload slightly for best washing results....yet a SQ has a belt tensioner, and it doesn't seem to be an issue....

for a 1-18, we learned by using a lower water level than the load size, gives superb rollover...

interesting thoughts to make any given machine adapt to your situation...

filterflos, uses a bit more water, handles loads with ease, great rinsing....

pre HE detergents could suds lock a machine quickly....presoaking can aide stain removal, and help by using cooler temps....

its not a matter of finding the best machine, its finding what your machine can do/handle to give you the best results...

 

[spinmon]

sounds like...

I look at BD KM/WP vids lovingly for their symphonic sounds. Then comes the spin cycle. So much rattling/squeaking on many.(Our '67 Lady was pretty solid).

POINT being,our 2.5 year old SQ 542 operates quickly,quietly,and with more than a bit of BD washing sound combined with spin sound similar to our past '63 Fridaire Imperial. The SQ is satisfying to operate and washes pretty good too!

We kept our '96 KM DD 90 series pair,but there's no hook-ups in the basement for them.(Washer in VERY good shape btw,dryer got some moving scrapes). I think clothes washed/dried in the SQ's come out SLIGHTLY more linty/wrinkled than the DD's,but overall like SQ's better.