New, used washer

[ryner1988]

Hello there. so my move-in date to my new apartment with a w/d hookup draws closer, and after a bit of discussion on the shopper forum, I've decided to go with a used, older style washer. We have a used appliance store here in town, and I'm going to go see what they have. My question to you all is, what type of washer should I get?

I'm leaning heavily toward a basic direct drive Whirlpool or Kenmore, but I've heard horror stories about them damaging clothes, the whole "shred more" myth, yada yada. Should I heed these myths and go with something else, or is it really just that, a myth? My parents had one forever and as far as I know, never had any problems.

Thanks for any advice guys.

 

[maytog77]

If you are smart.....

You will go with a set of good, strong, center dial Maytags! They are the absolute best used machine that you will buy, with the least problems..the ones in the pic are my set...also scout your locoal Craigslist and maybe even thrift stores too...Good luck on your quest! I know when I moved in here, and I finally had my own hookups, I wouldnt have ANYTHING LESS then a set of Maytags, and I have not been sorry, or regreted it once!

 

[pierreandreply4]

well if you went to go vintage these model

well if you went to go fully vintage then i recommend you go with the older belt drive surgilator whirlpool washer like these models or the older kenmore with eather dual action agitator or roto swirl model there is also the gm fridgedair 1-18 with up and down agitator that are good as well as the old fashion ge filter flo with mini basket for very small load credit to members of the site who pictures that i am using and saved on my pc

 

[ryner1988]

Center-dial maytags and belt-drive Whirlpools

As I am totally blind, I'm going to need a little more explanation. Which ones are the center-dial Maytags? Are those the ones from like the 80's that have the dryer that opens to the left as a matching counterpart? Also the push-buttons for water temp and load size?

My aunt had a washer that I freakin' loved because it had a pointer on the dial that you used to set cycles, push buttons for water temp selection and a knob that turns, not clicks, for load size. I think it might have been a mid-80's belt-drive but I'm not sure. would love to have that washer and it's matching dryer if I can find it but I'm not sure of the model number.

 

[pierreandreply4]

it might have been a ge filter flo then like this one

 

[lordkenmore]

Center Dial Maytags had the timer dial in the middle of the console. They were made up to about 1980. They had push buttons to control water temperatures and load size.

I have to admit the possibility of clothes damage is a worry about the direct drive machines. It's a concern I have, since I'm about to put a newer Whirlpool into service. In my case, the choice is easy--it is what is provided by my landlady.

However, I had nearly ten years experience with a Kenmore, and I don't recollect clothes seeming to wear out too fast. Then, again, I seldom washed anything delicate.

I think direct drive machines have some advantages. They are newer, which might make it easier to find a machine that will work with zero fuss for the forseeable future. The direct drive machines are also quite common, and because of that, parts support should be good into the future.

 

[bajaespuma]

I think there's a short list of questions you should ask yourself before you decide to pursue any particular brand of vintage washer. Maybe this will help:

 

1. Do I have pets that shed?or do I wash lots of last-minute tiny loads? If yes, then I'd pick a GE Filter-Flo and/or one with a mini-basket.

2. Did I really feel comfortable and happy using Mom and Dad's Whirlpool/Kenmore? If yes, then look no further and look at KitchenAids too.

3. Do I have really dirty clothes? Go for a Norge or a Montgomery Norge.

4. Will the washer be upstairs or near well-populated areas where noise is an issue? Go for an early Maytag.

5. Would I like a really cool vintage machine that spins like a freakin' centrifuge? Go for a Frigidaire Unimatic or Rollermatic.

6. Would I like a really cool vintage machine that does everything very well? Go for a Frigidaire 1-18

7. Do you want to impress Martha Stewart? Go buy a Miele.(you'll have the cleanest and best maintained wardrobe on the block, but nobody will care.) (ducks and runs).

 

Failing all of this, you wouldn't go far wrong if you went to a store and bought a new Front-loading LG; they wash very well. are very easy to use and spin the bejeezus out of the load. Just don't expect anything you buy new today to last much more than 10 years. Also, these front loaders work better installed in a basement or on a solid slab floor. They can rattle a house when installed on upper floors.

 

[vacbear58]

Washer choices

Given that you are blind you really might be better looking at a new machine, preferably with a long warranty date for, it if breaks down, you are not going to be able to repair it easily yourself. If you are not in a ground floor apartment, it may be worth investing in a metal pan for the machine to stand in in case it leaks - which could be difficult for you and your neighbours.

The attached article from the American Foundation For The Blind might be of interest, it deals specifically with the issue of choosing laundry appliances.

Good luck with your search

Al

http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/selecting-home-appliances/washers-and-dryers/1235

 

[vacbear58]

Older Article

The linked article is from 2007 but may be useful if you or your budget decide a used machine is best for you

http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw080303

 

[ryner1988]

My common loads include my jeans and polo shirts, my wife's cotton pants and skirts, cotton blouses, my slacks, every day under garments, nothing too delicate or special but not really super dirty loads either.

 

[DADoES]

 
GE FilterFlo washers use a lot of water due to their mechanical design of the inner basket having to oscillate inside the stationary outer tub during spin.  This requires a very large outer tub for oscillation space, which must all fill with water.  Perhaps not a good choice if water & sewer utility is a concern.

I'd suggest that a Whirlpool-family direct drive machine choice (includes Kenmore, Roper, Estate, KitchenAid, and some Maytags) should be 2-speed to handle the knit Polo shirts and other such stretchy/semi-delicate items to best effect.  There were also a few higher-end models with 3-speed motors under the Whirlpool, Kenmore, and KitchenAid brandings.  Some lower-end models have 1-speed motors that always run on high-speed and provide a "delicate" action cycle via intermittent agitation instead of a slower motor speed.

I've seen many Kenmore 80 and 90 series models with mechanical controls dating from the mid/late 1990s into the 2000s on CraigsList and at resale shops, and equivalent Whirlpool units.  KitchenAids aren't as common but are a good choice if one can be found, they usually are 3-speed with a larger agitator that runs at a slower speed.

 

[ryner1988]

Yep, I think my parents' washer had two speeds. My mom always told me to use the "cottons" setting for most of my stuff. I used 12 minutes and I think it used a lower speed for like the last 4 minutes or something.

 

[lordkenmore]

Assuming the regular use of a slow speed for polo shirts, it might be best to find a machine that has a speed switch that is separate from the timer dial. Most Whirlpool machines over the years integrated speed into the timer dial ("Normal" gives top speed, "Delicate" gives the slow speed, etc). I think Whirlpool did make some machines with a separate speed control.

 

[DADoES]

Whirlpools with speed selector

 
Yes there were some models with a speed selector.  I have a GSQ9669LW1 which has a separate speed selector with six choices (3-speed motor).  The machine needs refurbishment, I've not yet run it.

Cotton/Heavy
High agitate / High spin

Quick Wash
Low agitate / High spin

Casual/P. Press
High agitate / Low spin

Knits/Blends
Low agitate / Low spin

Delicates
Ex Low agitate / Low spin

Handwash/Wool
Intermittent Ex Low agitate / Low spin

The timer cycles advise "Gentle Wash System" which infers the reduced agitation speed part-way through the wash period.