Thought you guys might like to see my Duet washer in action

[mark_wpduet]

I figured since I had asked others to make videos it was only appropriate that I do the same; not that anyone asked me to, but here they are. This is heavy duty cycle with mixed load without extra rinse. The model is a GHW9300 and is about six years old.

Part 1

 

[mark_wpduet]

Part 2

 

[mark_wpduet]

Part 3

 

[frigilux]

Mark--- Lighting is always an issue when making these videos, isn't it? Is there a "lens" in the door as well as the glass? I'm curious to try slowing down a section of the video by about 500% and adding a peaceful, static, ambient soundtrack to it. It would make an interesting "art" film! OK, now back to washers. I think the Duets are excellent washers. My nephew and his wife have had a pair for years and experienced no problems. They have 4 kids, so the machine is used daily. Weren't they the first US-branded machines to offer very large capacity and a steam option, among other things? Glad yours has also given you years of good service.

 

[appnut]

very large capacity and a steam option, among other things?

Not a steam option or feature. Just the supplemental heaterr to boost temps for Sanitary wash. I believe it was LG who brought steam to the market here in the U.S.

 

[jerrod6]

Mark:

I really enjoyed your videos. Interesting to see that the washer spins counterclock wise.

Two questions. I think in the first vid the washer slowed the spin then sprayed water over the articles for a bit. Is the washer retaining this water or is this like a spray rinse that wets everything while pumping the suds down the drain?

How many rinses did this cycle do?

Again nice vids.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Frigilux......Yes lighting is an issue. After I made the video I had to go to windows movie maker and brighten it up some. I must have forgotten to brighten a few frames as they show in a few seconds of the video clip. You notice my washer doesn't have a recirculation pump but I think it uses a lot more water that yours. I still think that recirculation spray on your machine is cool! I've never seen anything like that.

Jerrod.......That's one of my fav things about this washer. When it finishes the first spin and goes to rinse, that water that is spraying on the clothes while the drum is spinning slowly (for 2 minutes I think) is being retained, it's not draining out. I really think this helps rinse. Though, I guess it it were being sprayed on the clothes, then being drained as well would help also. The 2nd rinse does this but not as long, then final rinse doesn't do this at all. But they all fill with equally as much water. I Don't know if it's just me, but the rinses seemed to use a bit more water. I don't know

 

[whirlcool]

I liked the fact that it kept adding more water as the jeans absorbed it. But it still looked and sounded like it didn't have enough. Even after all those water fills the jeans sounded like they were in a dryer more than a washer. I didn't hear any water sloshing around during the wash cycle.

 

[frigilux]

Allen--- And I was thinking, "Wow, that washer actually has water in it!" Mark's Duet is a swimming pool compared to my Frigidaire.

 

[mark_wpduet]

U thought it sounded like it didn't add enough water during the wash? Really? Trust me, there is a LOT of sloshing in the wash, even more in the rinse. If I use the normal cycle it adds a little more that that, I don't know why but it does..........I can't believe I never noticed it spins counter clockwise until it was just brought to my attention, but it does. LOL

 

[amyswasher]

My Lg, I can pause the wash and can open the door it uses so little water. Your looks great.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I can pause my duet and open the door. It doesn't use THAT much.....Now on the delicate cycle, NO. But I hate that cycle

 

[animasinsulinpu]

My Duet

Hi, Mark. Loved your videos. I bought my Duet from Lowes in 2005. On mine, the normal wash does 3 rinses, on the Heavy cycle does 4 rinses, and the Whitest White cycle does 5 rinses. I don't see why yours is so different than mine. Also, I took a butter knife and popped out that god damn plastic window. I LOVE mine and had no problems at all. Bill

 

[mark_wpduet]

5 rinses??????? HUH??

You popped out the plastic window? Why?

 

[animasinsulinpu]

Duet

Hi, Mark. I did that to see inside better. I have no idea why they put that there in the first place. And I NEVER use pre-treaters, no need. Everthing comes out spottles

 

[logixx]

Love the fact that is does continue to distribute while filling for the rinse. Not only does it help to quickly soak the load but the sloshing water also flushes the outer tub.

FWIT, here's the cycle overview for the GHW9200. Interesting to see that it does not heat on Heavy Duty if you select Less Soil.

Service manual

 

[mark_wpduet]

Typically, when I do a load of mixed I used heavy duty cycle with the default soil setting and extra rinse (one hour). I do whites/ sheets on whites whites with "MORE" soil and extra rinse and that's (1:10).....This Duet says Made in Germany and it does NOT have the tinted plastic cover. It says on the door that it was built October 2004. This is the Duet with the pink and green buttons. This must have been built before they made those crazy long cycle times and it used more water, although still, not enough for some. But I can say this, when it is using the whitest whites cycle it gets HOT! The best way I can explain it is if you touch the outside of the machine, it feels like a dryer running on high. The sanitary cycle actually heats up the laundry room. I use LCB and white vinegar.....Leave the door cracked and I have never had issues with smell at all

The board went out after the first year of owning it and once it was replaced with a new board, I have kept it plugged into a surge protector (not sure if this helps) but it's been years later with no issues. I do recall the repair man that was here replacing the board commented that my machine didn't stink inside at all. He was almost shocked. I do wish mine had a clean washer cycle though.........About once every six months a little bit of built up lint and residue gets under the cracks in the boot and I get coffeemaker HOT water/gloves/ and a rag and clean it........I also have to leave the detergent dispenser completely pulled out and left on top of the machine (because I noticed some pink (not sure if it's mold) that develops in those holes where the water enters (I guess where it stays wet and the detergent drawer sort of prevents it from drying. That said, it never had an odor at all so I'm not sure if it was mold. But that issue is gone since leaving it pulled out.

 

[strongenough78]

Hey Mark, what's the spin speed on that?

 

[mark_wpduet]

1000 RPM is the max

 

[jerrod6]

Pink and green buttons? Umm.. What buttons are green? If your washer was made in 2004 this would be before the current Energy Star water specs so the machine probably uses more water in the default settings than most washers sold today. It seemed like it filled for ever! I like that.

Not sure, but does it use more water in the rinses than the wash?

 

[re563]

Mark:

Thanks for the vid. I have the cousin to your machine the Kenmore HE3. I bought mine on Oct 15, 2003. 7yrs old this year and not one repair. Mine only spins at 900rpms. What detergent did you use/are using?

 

[mark_wpduet]

Jerrod.......I don't know if it uses more in the rinse, but it seems like it uses a little more. It was made in 2004, but even then, there were still energy star ratings. At first I wasn't happy with the amount of water it uses but when the cycle is over and I can't smell a single bit of detergent that's pretty crazy to me. It has to be rinsing well. And stains (particularly oil) came off that never came off in the Top Load washer.

The start button is green or aqua (not sure), it looks green to me (sort of)

Tide HE (touch of downy) powder.

Here is a pic of the outside of it

 

[mattl]

Interesting, I think I bought your Duet's twin today, can't wait to get it home. Same color buttons. Thanks for the videos....

 

[mark_wpduet]

Good luck with it! I'm take care of my stuff, so I hope whoever you bought your Duet from did the same. I know the handle (to open the door) is very cheaply made as opposed to the rest of the machine from what I can see. I'm sure the internal components are cheap but otherwise the machine feels pretty solid. I hope it lasts another six years. I was lucky when I bought it.........Sister works for Whirlpool in Greenville OH and got a discount on the pair. The washer (at the time was 1099 dollars but I got it for 770 (if I remember correctly).....I'm not so sure I would get the pedestals again........Speaking of pedestals, does anyone know if new Duet washers will fit these pedestals? I'm pretty sure these are the first generation pedestals. I've always wondered that in case something ever happened to this washer, will these pedestals be useless?

 

[mrb627]

Pedestals

I sure wish they would design a single pedastal for both the washer and dryer. Like Maytag did for the Neptune. I think they would add to the stability of the machines. The pedestal would be installed, leveled and secured in position. The washer and dryer feet would be replaced with tapered metal posts that would rest in rubber grommet lined slots in the stand. The stand could have duel drawers in it, a detergent feed system, or perhaps contain a suds saver module to make the machines even more efficient then they are today!

Whirlpool, if you're reading this, get busy!

Malcolm

 

[mrb627]

Machine Width

Furthermore, perhaps building the machines in a 30" or 36" width might allow them to increase stability and capacity to beat the competition. A 36" wide machine might also allow for a decent sized combo machine to be made!

Jeez, do I have to think of everything?

Malcolm

 

[mrb627]

And FINALLY!

Enough of the tinted glass, already! Instead, the door should have an embedded LCD layer. If the user doesn't want to see in the machine, the LCD layer can be energized to hide tub contents. And instead of a single LED interior light, use rope lighting around the inner side of the door.

We have already seen the introduction of interior lighting that can be left on through the complete cycle, thumbs up! We have also seen the birth of reverse cylinder tumbling in Whirlpool dryers in the States, again THUMBS UP! Not to mention, stainless dryer interiors. So, I think Whirlpool is heading in the right direction...

Malcolm

 

[mark_wpduet]

Yes. Those are all great ideas. I had no idea the plastic piece could be popped out. I'm trying to imagine in my mind what that would look like. Mine isn't tinted though. I actually scratched it really bad once trying to clean something from the stickers off of it and it looked horrible. I got some scratch remover and it completely came off.