Sister wants a new machine, recommendations please!

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Is the SQ stacked unit a nightmare to move? My sis is a renter and likes the idea of having her machines stacked due to the potential of ending up in a rental that only has space for stacked machines at some point. She’s childless, and likely always will be, currently not living with anyone but has a girlfriend so that might change but I can’t see two adults doing that much laundry. She has a very nice wardrobe with silk blouses and wool sweaters that she is very tired of manually washing herself, though I do think that a delicate cycle with no spin in a front loader with items placed in a lingerie bag would probably be fine in place of a hand wash cycle. She’s really liking the Miele set but repairs would be a major issue potentially, the closest technicians are in Salt Lake City. We have a local dealer for SQ and the durability appeals to her.
 
About LG

I had an Lg front load that lasted ten years before the bearings went out. I could adjust the water level by turning a screw. Had internal heater. Purchased a stacking kit. Took two people to lift dryer off, but dryer wasn't that heavy. Still have dryer going on 11 years old now. For the difference in cost, I could buy another LG front load.

Only real negative is my local repair people prefer SQ and Maytag. I live in rural area.

With top loads, the SQ and MT stand out for more reasons.
 
So this is maybe a tangential question, but apparently sis’s girlfriend is a more serious relationship than I was originally aware of (they’re talking about moving in together YAAAY!) and her girlfriend is a nurse. She currently washes her scrubs in a Samsung front loader that came standard in her apartment on the sanitize cycle, with the SQ what would be her best option for washing scrubs? They’re navy blue and they have to be so chlorine bleach wouldn’t work. And we’re talking serious pathogens like C-Diff, MRSA, and VRE, she’s an ICU nurse.
 
Well, given the SQ doesn't have an internal heater, high temps are not really attainable.  The water heater could be set as high as possible and cold metal components and fabric temp being room temp, initial fill will be far from ideal.  A warm prewash would help followed by the subsequent as hot as possible wash fill.  But without a heater, maintaining temp will be impossible.  Just my opinion.  
 
No Home Washer Will Sterilize Clothing

The closest you can get is chlorine bleach, if things are that contaminated they should be washed at the hospitals laundry and not brought into the house where they can contaminate your home and washer.

You can get a very good hot wash in a SQ FL machine by doing a Hot prewash followed by a hot wash. If you have to wash contaminated items like this at home without LCB they should be placed in a large pressure cooker [ outside the house ] then the PC can be brought in the house and put on the range for the specified amount of time and then the items can be safely washed in your washer.

John L.
 
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer? Plus a Few Thoughts

Is the only reason your sister prefers a front load is because of her experience with an LG top load? When it comes to top load washers, the SQ TC5 model stands out as the overall choice. It can be found for around $1,000. I would say that is about 25% higher than the next washer that would meet my requirements and worth the difference. I don't know that I could justify double the price which is what the SQ front load would be versus another brand front load that would work for us. I know it was stated that money was not an issue, but that is a larger difference for me. No top load I know of now has an internal heater, so that was not a factor in my decision. However, this top load uses plenty of water and has shorter wash times. They are also easier for me to fix. I just feel like the clothes get cleaner with a good agitator and plenty of water. I am not so sure the forgotten bobby pin or forgotten necklace in the drain pump would be covered under a warranty issue since the damage was caused by user error (failing to empty pockets). True SQ is built to last twenty-five years. My concern is are the control boards going to be available 15 or 20 years later. Many forget the older tried and true models did not have these, and they are less likely to be a generic part like a drain pump that may be used in several models! The fact is lasts longer may not be relevant if you cannot get parts for it. This is more of a concern given the larger price difference in the SQ FL versus other front load that would work for us but no so much given the price difference in top loads. SQ top load does have the overall edge when it comes to durability with its transmission, suspension, and more options for wash cycles over any top load period and worth the difference in cost even if it only last ten or fifteen years due to parts not being available. It was not available when I needed a new washer.

I have the Maytag mvwp575gw which is the second overall best washer. it has worked well for over a year now. It does have an edge over the SQ for cleaning performance due to its dual agitator, but the SQ still cleans well and better than any other top load I can think of.

For full-size top loads, I think you have to buy them as either stacked or unstacked (there are a few portable models that offer the option of a rack or not) and this is also the only way they can be used.

I think my experience with the Maytag washer, would be applicable to the SQ top load here and might work for scrubs?

I could use bleach, but I prefer not to. Instead, I use Lysol Laundry sanitizer in the rinse cycle. Be aware this is a hands on process. The rinse cycle is short, so I have to set a timer on my watch to go back to when it is on the rinse cycle, add the sanitizer, and pause the wash cycle (sanitizer needs 16 minutes to work). Only a few of my loads require this. Seriously, the stuff works without damaging effects. I have had great results when used with laundry that smelled like mildew because it had been left wet too long, pet accidents, laundry that smells like pet odors, white clothes, etc. When I had my LG front load, its sani-cycle would accomplish the same thing. Either way, I have not noticed the odor returning to the clothes.

If top loads are out, would Lysol laundry sanitizer work for the SQ FL's WASH cycle the same way bleach does? I don't know of any way to pause the rinse cycle on these plus the clothes would need a longer period of time to tumble since they are not fully immersed in water when using a front load.

I prefer not to set my water heater up to a higher temp for laundry only. The short time I tried it, my gas bill went up noticeably. Also, it increases the risks of scalds (this is more of a concern where there may be disabled adults or children in the home).

When it comes to front loads and the difference in price, I am more conflicted.

SQ has the quality, but parts later (especially the control boards) is a concern after the warranty expires.

I liked that my LG could be used stacked or unstacked. Repairs during the first ten years may be a concern is they are user error and may not be covered by warranty. After your ten years are up, the stacked only may become a bigger concern when it comes to repairs. Again, think about the forgotten bobby pin or necklace that gets left in a pocket. Although I can fix many parts of the washer myself, I could not because it was stacked. In order to access the washer for repair, the dryer had to be removed. My son and his friend helped me the first time--bobby pin in drain pump. After the first repair, I left it unstacked. That would have been a $300 repair bill that I fixed for the cost of a new pump, $25. It would have cost more for a repair because it tied up two technicians since the unit had to be unstacked.

Summary:

I like the shorter wash times, plenty of water, and easier repairs to a top load. In the beginning, I did not like that there was no true sani-cycle. However, the Lysol sanitizer seems to work OK when used per the directions. However, they are not the best option when it comes to washing comforters or odd-sized loads like pet beds that can get out-of-balance in top loads. The front loads seem to have a lot longer wash times.

Are there any other tradeoffs to using a stacked versus unstacked or front load versus top load? Will the front load open comfortably in the space it is to be installed now. Is she tall enough to reach into the stacked dryer comfortably? I would not want to buy something that might work well for later if it was really difficult for me to use now in the situation I have. Hmmm. If the stacked SQ cannot be used separate, does it mean the whole unit has to be replaced if one part goes out and the matching washer/dryer is no longer available? SQ quit selling their front load residential for a short period of time.

With the new HE regulations, I am really concerned if they will stay in the market when the whole reason they thrive is in part because they were able to offer not only a better quality product but washers that were not auto temp controlled, water limited, etc.

This has been an interesting thread with lots of good view points to consider.
 
I watched video- delicate wash cycle on SQ FL. Sadly it's too intense for silk, cashmere and wool. My choice of new fl washer is going to depend on hand wash cycle. Many brands are eliminating hand wash cycle, so my choice is going to be very limited when time comes to choose new washer.
My current 7 years old LG fl washes is doing great job washing my delicate cashmere and wool sweaters. I hope my washer is going to last many more years.
 
 
They're no longer available but just to say, one of the gentlest Hand Wash agitator machines I've run across are Fisher & Paykel's Intuitive Eco models.

Westinghouse and Hotpoint/JCPenney had models with an additional Hand Wash agitator with lower-profile fins under the removable main agitator.  Westinghouse had a print ad touting theirs as suitable for a Pucci scarf.



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So when she went shopping the salesman at the appliance dealer was really pushing GE. I don’t have a high opinion of GE appliances in general, but especially not their laundry appliances. I worked at a hospital that had a GE front loader that we used for the specialized pediatric equipment that we couldn’t send to the laundry service used by the main hospital and it had nothing but problems. Finally, the actual GE engineer employed by the hospital told us to buy something else and we got a Whirlpool. Her girlfriend looked at the LG front loaders at Lowe’s, they don’t have a handwash cycle either unless you get the pedestal with the little mini washer. That seems to be a possibility for them but I don’t know anything about the mini washers and you also can’t stack the machines if you’re using a pedestal.
 
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