The Right Clothes Washer

[TASE]

Hey! I'm mostly a vacuumland user, but I know that this is a great place for opinions on washing machines so I thought I'd post here!

So here's the thing, right now we have a broken Kenmore Oasis He washer that we bought from sears. It is a terrible washer. Not going to lie to you. My Dad's Maytag(?) from 1990 out cleans this hunk of junk every time.

Anyway, we are going to be receiving a gift card of sorts through Sears for having a broken washer since we have a warranty on it and since they don't have any Oasis He's left. (Gift card will be anywhere from $800 to $1100 I assume)

My grandmother wants to purchase a Kenmore Elite 5.2 Top Loader Washer (This! http://www.sears.com/kenmore-elite-5.2-cu-ft-top-load-washer/p-02631622000P )

Seeming that our current washer is a POS and is part of the Kenmore Series, I thought that it might not be the best idea to go with a Kenmore washer.

Here's the list of requirements:

It needs to be a large washer as 6 people live in this household. (4.5+ ?)

It needs to be from Sears.

It needs to be around the $800 to $1000 price range.

It needs to be easy for an 81 year old man to use it.

It needs to be a top loader.

And (I can't believe this actually has to be a requirement) it has to be white [Grandma won't buy a non-white appliance.)

Searing for a while on Sears led me to think that these washers would be the best:

http://www.sears.com/lg-4.5-cu-ft-h...2635572000P?prdNo=17&blockNo=17&blockType=G17

http://www.sears.com/whirlpool-4.6-...2632462000P?prdNo=18&blockNo=68&blockType=G68

And that's really it. A lot of washers seem to have really bad reviews or are Samsung washers.

 

[jeffg]

I'd splurge on the most expensive dryer Sears has, then buy a Speed Queen washer to pair it with.

Seriously, at least from the graphic panels the SQ is much simpler to operate.

 

[mich]

Why not just get...

A traditional top loader, instead of a HE Machine?

 

http://www.sears.com/ge-3.9-cu-ft-top-load-washer-white/p-02624222000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

 

[TASE]

Too bad our current dryer is fine...

It's unfortunate that we can't buy a Speed Queen. I've actually been looking at them for a while but we really don't have the money to spend and they don't have the size for home use that we need for the requirements we have.

 

[yogitunes]

I have had 10 kids+...and then add adults

don't kid yourself....Speed Queen is way more than enough for the size of loads you will wash...TL or FL

 

[murando531]

Although they are both under the same name, the 5.2 cu.ft. you linked, and your Oasis, are completely different machines because Kenmore doesn't make a single appliance. Their machines are all contracts through different manufacturers, and simply given name changes or slightly different features to set them apart. Your current Oasis is a Whirlpool Cabrio with a KM name badge. The 5.2 you posted is an LG. Just take a look at lg.com in the top loaders, and you'll see they're exactly the same, down to the wash plate. The Cabrio/Oasis platform is probably the most horrendous design in the history of washing machines, so steer clear of anything resembling it. The LG model, however, actually looks to be a great washer from what I've seen. It fills up to the top with water, and has very good wash action compared to any other agitator-less machine. I posted a video below (it's actually a child that recorded it, but he's actually a decent cameraman. He definitely fits in with all of us here). Around 4:00 mins, the machine starts swirling and rolling the clothes, which is more action than I've seen from an HE washer thus far.

 

[logixx]

I'd get the most expensive washer Sears offers you, leave it in the box, sell it for as much as you can and get a SQ.

 

[logixx]

These LGs seem to have issues sensing the right amount of water. Here's another video by the same YouTuber using the same cycle. This is where the water level should be.


In comparison, this is a Whirlpool on a high-level cycle. This bedspread is also moving around.

 

[washman]

Interesting

you stated you can spend $800-1000 but then go on to say you cannot afford a Speed Queen.

Truth be told, a Speed Queen is right in that price range for a TL machine.

You stated an 81 year old man has to be able to use it. Then why invest in a techno laden HE machine from Sears? And why does the machine have to come from Sears?

Bottom line, a SQ will meet all your criteria and then some. Don't be fooled into thinking you need a gigantic tub to handle a 6 person family. For decades, families got by on TL machines whose tubs were 3 cu ft max. And no one went around with dirty clothes if I recall.

While a 4.5 cu ft tub might sound impressive it is moot if the machine does not FILL with enough water to wash properly. Just ask look at HE machine reviews and you'll see.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[ken]

I believe he stated he will be getting a gift card from Sears for between $800-$1100. Meaning the new machine will have to be a purchase from Sears using the card. No real out-of-pocket expense to buy the new machine. If he had the actual money to spend he stated he would maybe consider a SQ.

 

[yogitunes]

not sure in your area......

but there are places that will cash in any gift card, for a small nominal fee

around here CheckCashing, ShopRite, ACME, and a few other retailers have a simple machine, you slide in a card, and out comes your cash......

works real well with Xmas gift cards from various places...

I got one from Lowes, for $1000.00.....cost me 35.00 to get the cash back, to spend where I wanted, granted this was about 5 years ago...

just a thought....

 

[warmsecondrinse]

I feel your pain. I know EXACTLY what you went through with that non-washing washer. If I were to buy a top-loader my #1 criterion would be that it had a manual water level/load size setting. Period. Non-negotiable. I cannot emphasize the importance of this. My experience is and that of countless people here on aw.org and on countless websites is that so-called 'auto-sensing' machines do not add nearly enough water.

#2 would be that it had an agitator, not a wash plate. However, I don't have experience with wash plate washers that do use enough water. Nonetheless, I want an agitator.

From a brief glance at Sears' website I'd pick the same one Mich in NC did. This one:

http://www.sears.com/ge-3.9-cu-ft-t...p-02624222000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

I agree with Washman. However, If you're stuck with Sears, I'd go with the one above and leave it set to Power Rinse at all times.

Jim

 

[washman]

ooops my bad

Did not see the piece about the gift card from sears.

Sorry, it was a looooong day at work.

 

[jeffg]

"The Cabrio/Oasis platform is probably the most horrendous design in the history of washing machines, so steer clear of anything resembling it."

Absolutely imo. Ours lasted in the house less than a week. The only washer we ever had that successfully repelled all attempts at producing sanitary hot water, and results were predictably horrendous. Speaking of which, especially for an elderly person, make sure whatever washer you buy can produce undoctored hot water. E.g. the ad blurb for your LG is a bit concerning imo:

"ColdWash™ technology uses cold water and enhanced washing motions to penetrate deep into fabrics, giving you cold water savings with warm water performance"

Since the last part of that is pure nonsense, I'm assuming the first is as well. Did you know it takes 30-40 minutes longer to dry cottons rinsed in cold water vs. warm? So much for any energy savings, and thensome.[this post was last edited: 5/17/2014-00:15]

 

[murando531]

True hot water for elderly family

I had a big clash with an appliance retailer about 5 years ago. My grandfather was all about "American Made!", so of course he had nothing but GE appliances and a Ford automobile. They went through three GE FilterFlo models (one was an RCA brand) and one White-Westinghouse with the indexing tub. I loved those GE's, but the last one had a pump failure, and with his age he was just tired of trying to fix them, so he called Fredrickson's, who specialized with GE's, and told them to bring him a new washer. Of course, the cheapest they had. They brought a new style top-loader, surprisingly with a dual-action agitator, and complete with the choppy agitation where the entire tub violently twists back and forth. There was one GIANT flaw, however, when on a visit I noticed the washer would drain after the wash, but not spin. It got worse when the pump turned off, water came on for about 3 minutes, enough to bring it about an inch up the paddles, and violent agitation for 30 seconds. Mind you, this wasn't enough water to even soak the clothes, even worse for the agitator to be ripping back and forth dry like that. It then drained and spun and was done. Unlike most machines now, there was no "Fabric Softener" or "Deep Rinse" option. That was the rinse, no matter what. I called and they told me it was designed that way. We argued back and forth for over a week before they finally agreed to return it (they had already had it a year before I noticed what was happening) and bring us one with a rinse option. I was furious though, because my grandmother was in a Hospice bed at the time, and Papaw wasn't doing any better. We needed a machine to properly clean the soiled sheets and clothing and towels to keep a sanitary household, and this thing was literally leaving the bacteria and dirt in to be dried.

Moral of the story/rant: regardless of who lives in your house, there will always be times when you need unpleasant soil to be washed and sanitized out of your clothing. You HAVE to have hot water, good agitation, and a real rinse in those situations, if not in every day laundry. Don't fall for the "Cold water technology" bullcrap.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

That's why I love my Maytag. If I want I can rig the hoses to do the whole cycle with hot water. The only thing missing is the auto second rinse option.

With new machines you're stuck with cold except for what, SQ FL with a warm rinse option and that's it, right?

Jim

 

[DigAPony]

you slide in a card, and out comes your cash......

Wow, sounds too good to be true. However, there are internet sites where you mail in the card and they send back a check.

I was going to suggest selling the Sears card at a discount, then use the proceeds towards a Speed Queen washer.

 

[dustin92]

I'd go Basic Kenmore/whirlpool, friends of mine have a Whirlpool (Not quite BOL, but nothing fancy), and it DOES have the fabric softener and extra rinse options. It seems to wash very well, and has done mountains of laundry for 7 people for about 2 years now without a single issue. Pretty sure it was right around $500. It is not a high efficiency machine, and can fill to the top (I think it has 4 selectable water levels), and 4 temps- Tap cold, cool, warm, and tap hot. It seems to take a while to run a cycle, but I haven't timed it, I'm guessing 45 minutes to an hour. It is very simple to operate, especially for an older person- select the cycle and options (load size, temp, extra rinse), with traditional knobs, then press start. Very much like a traditional Top load washer. Has cycle status lights to let you know what it's doing and when it's done.

 

[henene4]

First of all: Don't be sure you get the refund until you have it! Minds change faster than you may think!
Next: SpeedQueen will definetivley suit you! It is easy to use, cleans briliantly, will last a good amount of time, is pretty good price/value and if you can (anyhow) get the money from your gift card cash, you should definetivley go with it. OK, its size will be not giantic big, but see it this way: A HE TL takes 1h or more on a full load. Now you SQ may fit only half of the load, but will finsh in less than the half time (about 30min). So, these 2 factors compensate.
Now, if you do absolutley not want a SQ, the Kenmore you posted first should be just fine. It has an internal heater, NiagaraWash (a cycle designed to use more water as far as the manual states) and being LG sourced, it should give you relativley good cleaning results.
Another thing I wanted to ask: Why does it have to be a TL? I mean, your dryer is frontloading either, so why a TL where you have to bend down into the tub to reach your clothing and where the display is far back? FL do good jobs on cleaning, are really efficent and fit a whole lot more!