The Great Washing Machine Scam

[launderess]

Interesting if not amusing read.

The Great Washing Machine Scam | Craftsmanship Magazine

Why is it so hard to repair today's appliances? As consumer technology improves, household mainstays like the basic washing machine keep sprouting new, unnecessary functions—all while prices and quality plummet. W

craftsmanship.net

 

[rp2813]

I hope millions of people read that article and reject flimsy machines that are loaded with failure-prone electronics, particularly the ridiculous wi-fi/bluetooth so-called "smart" models.  Basic, built-to-last machines with knobs and dials are all anyone really needs.

 

[combo52]

Interesting read

But the author is more interested in being sensational and solving any problems and paints a rather dire picture about home laundry appliances in the US.

Fact is they are less expensive than ever and even though some are not lasting as long as once did in the past new machines are very repairable and very easy to fix in most cases. It’s easy to go online and figure out solutions to common problems. New laundry appliances we only about half as much as machines 40 years ago, so even if they only lasted half as long, they are still better for the environment when you consider the massive water and electricity savings, and there’s no lead or mercury in them to pollute the environment. Over 90% of washers and dryers are recycled. They are not put in landfills.

This article barely touches on the solutions anybody in the country if they want Oldschool easy to repair durability can go and buy Speed Queen‘s. They are more expensive but you will have them for 25 to 40 years.

This article also makes a lot of the usual incorrect assumptions such as overloading causes most problems when it’s actually the reverse people washing small loads cause far more washing machines and dryers to wear out, than the few people that wash too much in them.

But overall, it’s an interesting read, mostly sensationalized, and offering a few answers or solutions I do hope right to repair laws are past to make it easier to get parts longer, but other than that, I would say the laundry situation in the United States is pretty darn good, I don’t see people walking around and filthy tattered clothing and more people than ever own washers and dryers in their homes condos and apartments laundromats practically gone out of business in cities like Washington DC.

John

 

[gelaundry4ever]

my 2 cents here

This cycle never ends. We have washers that don't wash properly, so most consumers are using super scented laundry detergent and fabric softener to attempt to overcome their smelly laundry problems. Bigger machines that only fill with watter with cups instead of gallons so you have to wash multiple times. And don't get me started with the cheap parts. Long cycle times.
Am I missing something?

 

[DADoES]

 
You're missing that there's both some truth and some overblown alarmism.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

wash action

Oh, I forgot to mention that the wash action is weak, even on the allegedly heavy duty cycle. No way will it be able to wash out tough dirt and stains unlike older models when dealing with extra heavy cottons.

 

[william8]

Am I missing something?

Yes. You really have no idea how "most" consumers do their laundry. How would you?

And most washers do a very good job, even if they aren't as durable as they used to be.

You are right about on thing regrading your posts - This cycle never ends.

 

[me]

Recycling E-waste appliances African style

I don't know if any of your US appliances end up in places like this:-



Some of ours have. Some shady companies were prosecuted for exploiting a loophole in the e-waste regs. that allows appliances that are working, or deemed repairable to be exported to third world countries where they are repaired and get a second use. They'd win the contract to collect scrapped appliances from a local council by offering the lowest tender, which the council was obliged to accept, so they'd get paid a fee by the council to recycle them responsibly, but they'd certify a vast number as working/repairable no matter what condition they were in. Pack as many as possible per container and ship them to places like that to be scrapped, making a healthy profit for them, but poisoning the recipient country's environment and population.

Some councils brought in a mobile shredding machine so none of their appliances can go to places like that, although sadly it also means none get re-used.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

consumer complaints

The thing is, I can post links of many consumer complaints about new machines but I'm probably wasting my time. I'm sure chetlaham would agree. Speed Queen Classic is the only way to get laundry done. No exceptions. You can't wash clothes with just 2 cups of water. Today's wash action on most models is so weak that it appears that you're massaging all the dirt throughout the load instead of "beating it out". GE's hydro wave is an example, along with Maytag bravo etc. etc. No wonder why there are consumers who prefer classic style of washing that fills completely with water for maximum cleanliness and rinsing. As a Speed Queen user, I can attest to this. It washes and rinses like it should and it is durable. Hands down. And yes, clothes go under the water and through it like they should. All these new ones just dampen them.[this post was last edited: 9/16/2024-10:46]

 

[combo52]

New washing machine performance

Hi Jerome , I know you can read, but you never seem to learn anything of the couple dozen people on this site. Who either have Speed Queen front loaders LG front loaders Miele etc and other modern front loaders virtually everybody agrees they work far better than any washer they ever had in the past and especially regular top loaders that use a lot of water

Does this just go in one ear and out the other? It’s human to be able to learn from others but that seems to be missing here. Can’t quite figure it out why you can’t ever learn anything. You should make an effort to get together with some of the members from this site and use their machines experience something other than your one commercial Speed Queen top loader before you spew out so much Information based on only one experience.

John

 

[launderess]

Have a vintage Maytag WW (toploader) nabbed for purpose of doing large bulky things that give my front loaders issues. Heavy blankets, quilts, those sort of things.

Any laundry that is badly or even moderately soiled however goes in either the AEG or Miele H-axis washing machines.

Because one knows how and can it's possible to achieve decent to similar results using top loading washers of any sort. That would require pre-washing, pre-soaking, spot treatment, etc.. and one doesn't always have that kind of time.

Have said this before and am doing so again; there are strong reasons why commercial/industrial laundries from the start went with H-axis washers and never looked back. It started with machines with tubs made from wood and driven by belts and pulleys then progressed onto metal tubs and electric motors.

H-axis washers give a cleaner, better rinsed wash with less wear on textiles than any top loader with central beater. They do this using far less energy and other resources.

Here's another thing....

Top loading washing machines from wringer washers-semi to fully automatic dominated American domestic and laundromat market largely due to American housewives (and anyone else doing laundry) copious use of chlorine bleach. That substance hides or answers for a multitude of wash day sins.

[this post was last edited: 9/16/2024-11:05]

 

[gelaundry4ever]

going in one ear and out the other

No it doesn't. I will say that Speed Queen is the only front loader that uses a reasonable amount of water. All I really need is a single pod to get the job done. You need water to clean anything and to dilute the detergent into a solution. These energy regs need to go. I'm sorry, but I'm VERY particular about how I want my laundry done, and I want it done right the first time.

 

[cleanteamofny]

 

 

 

 

A few weeks ago, I looked at an LG TL on YouTube with a full-sized pot holder that floated around the tub for the entire wash cycle and had a spot that did not come out. That stain would have come out in one wash if that same pot holder were in my Electrolux FL 600 Series washer.

 

Jerome, remember that low water usage equates to concentrated detergent power. Getting the same cleaning with a TL requires pre-treatments, soaking, prewashing, and washing to get the same results in specific machines.

 

I'm about to wash a bleach-stained grey tea towel covered with silicone grease. I will not pretreat it; I will clean it later this week when I can accumulate a load of towels. This will be a set-in stain. It resulted from wiping the rubber mat from the rear of my SUV last night because that Silicone can roll around, spraying the contents on the plastic mat. After the wash, I will machine dry it and take a photo.

 

My Jennaire W2000 that I nolonger own due to timer issues would have stuggle to remove that same stain, but with better results than that LG.

 

 I will never get used to these Agi-Plates or the sounds that they make.

 

 

[hoover1100]

Water levels

I know this has been discussed here and nauseum, but generally in a front loader, the lower the water level in the wash, the better the results.

All you really need is enough to saturate the clothes.

Many years ago, some European front loaders would fill to a level which was up the door glass a bit on the wash portion of the cycle. The problem with this is it reduces the washing action as the clothes tend to just roll through the water, rather than being picked up to the top of the drum and dropped into the water.

Yes more water is better on the rinses, to an extent, but 3 rinses with a moderate amount of water will rinse clothes completely clear providing the interim spins are fast and the speed is maintained for a decent period of time.

I love vintage machines for the nostalgia and all their different quirks, but honestly I have to concede that modern machines perform better. I don't think reliability has really changed that much either, plenty of machines years ago failed prematurely, and plenty of much more modern machines work flawlessly for many years.

Matt

 

[launderess]

" I will say that Speed Queen is the only front loader that uses a reasonable amount of water."

To their credit SQ is trying desperately to keep top loading washers with central beaters alive. This even as various edicts from federal government and elsewhere make it nearly impossible to have top loaders of old.

For top loading automatic washers to do their job requires quite a bit of water. There's no getting around that, period, end of discussion.

SQ is nearing limits of what can be done with technology to get around reduction of energy requirements for top loading washing machines.

There are two ways of doing laundry, moving textiles through water and moving water through textiles. Top loaders largely are part of former while h-axis usually are latter.

SQ washers over years..

 

[panasonicvac]

It seems that this website has simply turned into "The washer world according to Jerome" nowadays. Thank goodness I'm no longer a part of it by simply blocking him. Unless he changes his posting habits and apologizes to me after I personally emailed him to not use the German slang word here anymore (which unfortunately he chose to say it again), he's gonna remain on my hidden members list.

 

[petek]

Jerome

I'm interested because you say you are blind or blind to some degree how are you able to see whether your clothes are clean, or more clean using one machine versus another? I have great vision knock on wood, and can see variations sometimes. Consumer Reports uses color spectrometers to gauge cleaning effectiveness to a minute degree and so I trust what they claim as being fatual. It's a valid question and not intended to be disrespectful

 

[ragnboneman]

I'm an electrician and I am fascinated by all things electro mechanical.

Whats wrong with this thing is two fold
The power output of the motor is not enough to really stir the laundry and second there is not enough water.

Not a solution for everyone but but this Inglis drops dead I'm going to tinker with its innards and see if I can truly fix it...

I do think the hung tub suspension is ok.
Its just need better dampers real, oil filled dampers..
The motor and trany under slung from the plastic tub is not that bad.
There was a time when you needed a transmission now with motors and drive technology you can direct drive and do this without all the moving parts.
Washers should be more efficient today and simpler.

This could have been a great machine with a bit more effort on the part of the manufacturer.
I remember when a car lasted 10 years.
Now a good car from the right company lasts longer and uses less energy so should appliances...

 

[gelaundry4ever]

front load washers

I could see if front loaders have water recirculation for effective saturation as well as a fresh water rinse jet for faster rinsing like my Kenmore Elite back at home does. At least the clothes get saturated when water recirculation pumps and fresh water jets are added. The LG with turbo wash is an example. I've used the Kenmore Elite version.