WRAP-UP: I've been using the Immersion Care exclusively for the past three weeks, so it has washed enough loads to reveal its true demeanor. Despite its drawbacks, I could definitely live with this as a daily driver. As mentioned previously, the big selling point is the ability to manually select the water level. When it uses about as much water as a traditional top-loader, the load moves well and cleaning is great (under the ideal conditions of very soft water and a top-rated detergent).
PROS:
1. Very flexible NORMAL cycle: At Extra Light soil setting it's a great quick wash. At Stain Treat, it provides "hot" (115 degree) water and an 89-minute cycle which cleans better than the 60-minute Heavy Duty or Whites cycles. I use the Normal cycle for everything except delicates. Forget the Bedding cycle for sheets. The more aggressive Normal cycle cleans better and I find no more tangling/roping than when the Bedding cycle is used for queen-size sheets.
2. Manual water level selections: The Immersion Care is probably the only impeller-based machine which permits this. I've stopped letting the machine's sensor determine the water level; it's almost always lower than it needs to be for optimal cleaning. I save on total water consumption by using the spray rinse procedure. I don't use fabric softener, so this is no problem. I think it rinses better than one deep rinse. If you use fabric softener (triggering a deep rinse), the machine uses as much water as a traditional top-loader.
3. No unbalanced load issues: Have washed upwards of 20 loads, and each has been very well balanced. As a test, I washed my very heavy bath robe on its own, expecting to find out what happens in an unbalanced situation. It handled the unbalanced load with no problems, reaching what appeared to be a full-speed (and quite dramatic-looking) spin. Consequently, I still don't know if there's an unbalanced load protocol that other impeller machines have. Like its 2006 agitator-based sibling, it is a champ in this department.
CONS:
1. Ridiculously dumbed-down hot water setting. Delivers 115 degree water at Normal or Max water level, 95-110 on Minimum to Low water levels. Absolutely inexcusable. In addition to using liquid chlorine bleach with loads of kitchen and personal whites (standard procedure for me) I also use some in loads of bath linens and sheets (all are white) with this washer to ensure some degree of disinfection. An internal heater wouldn't do much, as this machine uses more water than other impeller washers. It would take forever to heat the water at the Maximum level.
2. Smallish capacity: If you don't often wash loads over 10 lbs. (hello 1960!), this washer will fit your needs in the capacity department. Most of mine are between 5-10 lbs., save for gigantic loads of whites and bath linens. I have to wash 7 large, heavy bath towels and around a dozen large hand towels in two loads. Not a washer for families with several kids.
3. Large, bulky items: Plan to take a hands-on approach in assisting the washer with queen-size comforters and blankets. If you stop the machine and turn the item every few minutes, you can use it for comforters/blankets. Otherwise, plan on taking a trip to the laundromat.
4. Spin speed: Not up to today's 1000 rpm (or more) standards. This one tops out at 800 rpm, and heavy loads of towels are noticeably damp compared to being spun in a front-loader.
5. Gentleness to fabrics: More lint in dryer filter leads me to believe it's harder on fabrics than the front-loader. Probably more gentle than other impeller machines that use less water.
[this post was last edited: 1/24/2013-11:17]
