In Defence of Front-Loading Washers (The Whirlpool Duet)
I found this board because I was looking for information about the water frugality of the Whirlpool Duet washer. Many of the postings here seem to be centred on complaints about front-loading washers~ in particular, long cycle times and requirements for special detergents.
I bought a Whirlpool Duet in 2002, and I have been ecstactic about it ever since. It's true that the cycle times are a bit longer than on my 18-year-old machine (a Kenmore top-loader). But... on the old machine, I had to reset the machine to get the second rinse; otherwise, the fabric softener would be wasted in the first rinse. I also had to reset the timer to extend the wash time. I could not leave the machine unattended because it frequently got out of balance on the spin. On the Duet, I can get an extended wash, a soak cycle, and a second rinse, all without returning to the machine. It's much easier than having to turn the timer back on the Kenmore to extend the wash time. Moreover, the Duet never gets unbalanced whilst spinning.
As far as detergent goes, I use regular Tide powder, not the HE kind. I just use less of it. The same thing goes for bleach and fabric softener.
The washer is extremely frugal with water, perhaps too frugal. Maybe I just want to see a bit more water in there, but at least the clothes are clean-- cleaner, in fact, than from my old machine. The extra high spin speed means that clothes emerge practically dry already, and that means less time in the dryer, and less electricity used. The cost of electricity is the largest factor relating to energy costs, after all, with gas being second.
With the front load design, I can wash things in it that I could not wash in the old machine-- or anywhere else. The handwash cycle is extremely delicate. I have washed pillows, electric blankets, caps, suits, and even certain leather items in it without any damage, whereas these items would most certainly have been damaged or destroyed in a top-loading washer. The no-spin setting is handy for items that must be drip-dried.
Even though cycle times are long, don't forget that you can wash twice the amount of clothes in one load that you can wash in a top-loader. So instead of doing two ten-pound loads, just do one twenty-pound load. Go ahead and fill it full! It saves water, detergent, energy, AND time. I can wash all of my clothes for one week in one load.
I have not once had a problem with my Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer in over two years. But... knock on wood. I have read about a lot of problems with Neptune washers. I vacillated about whether to buy one of those. I was swayed toward the Whirlpool by recommendation. I am not sorry that I bought this machine and would gladly buy it again if I had to do it over.
