Washers and Dryers at the ranch

[panasonicvac]

Hey everyone. I moved to Washington a few weeks ago. I'm staying at a ranch where I'm working and going to college near Seattle for a semester or two. Anyway I didn't had much to do today so just thought I would share the washers and dryers that I'm using for the next 6-12 months.

Here's one of my favorites, the Whirlpool Duet. We had one quite similar to this one from our last cabin but I remember that it was white instead of gray. I think it's such a fun washer to use and I think it does a good job too. The only thing that I don't like is that it's really small.

 

[panasonicvac]

Speed queen washers - I think it does a decent job but I'm not too familiar with Speed Queens.

 

[rp2813]

There's a first time for everything

Not until now have I ever heard of a full size Duet being considered "really small."

 

[panasonicvac]

And last the dryers.

GE - From what I've heard, this one has been having problems. We just replaced the belt which I've heard it's like either the third or forth time that it had been replaced.

Speed Queen - Again I'm not too familiar with Speed Queens but this one seems to dry really good.

And just to clarify from the first post, it's the height that I was talking about because I'm a really tall person. Overtime it would get annoying for me from bending over to load or get the clothes out from the Duet.

 

[mattl]

Hmmm, I'm 6'4" and never found unloading my Duets an issue...

 

That's an older Duet, glad to see it's still going strong. One of mine is that vintage, no issues.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Cool

it's like my Duet except mine is white. Do you have the same trouble getting things in and out of the dryer? They are low too.

 

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Me thinks those Speed Queen's will still be doing "ranch duty" long after that Whirlpool and GE are part of the local land fill.</span>

 

[Chetlaham]

Nice selection

All the top players, and its refreshing to see Speed Queen

 

[rp2813]

What about the dryer?

Mark, I've made that same point about FL washers to a friend of mine who is about 5' 7" and insists he doesn't want to stoop to load one.

 

Personally, I sprung for pedestals because, yeah, I don't want to stoop that low either, and the drawers provide handy storage for laundry related items.  The trade-off is that the top surfaces of the machines are a little high for most people if you like to use them for folding.

 

[yogitunes]

was always curious what did people do with dryers without pedestals before they were invented....

only one dryer has ever been made top load....so we will count that out of the equation....

but whether side swing or drop down doors, dryers have been front load, low to the floor, for decades since first invented....no one seemed to complain until now...

I see pedestals more for people with disabilities and gaining access....otherwise their handy for storage of chemicals and laundry

 

[foraloysius]

"only one dryer has ever been made top load"

Not so on my side of the pond. We already had them in the sixties and some brands still make them.

 

[yogitunes]

true Louis, but for all main purposes of ones here in the states, a great majority were always front load.......

European washers were FLers, most installed under counters, and never required a pedestal...something like this was never even thought of....

and the pricing for pedestals is outrageous....sometimes 1/3 to 1/2 the price of the machine itself...

 

[appnut]

I just put a small step stool in front of mine for loading and unloading--actually it's more for the purpose of sitting and watching the washer. 

 

[foraloysius]

Martin

I agree except for the washers being installed under a counter. That was/is only custom in the UK. On the European mainland you find them not so often in the kitchen.

 

[panasonicvac]

I've been using these machines again lately. With the Duet, I guess I had forgotten that the height was smaller than I thought it was when I last used our Duets maybe 10 years ago when we sold our cabin but after using it again, I think I can get used to it. I think if I get the Duets, I would definitely get the pedestals to put underneath them.

For the GE, so far it hasn't had any problems lately and I think it dries good.

For the Speed Queens, I think the washers seem to do a more impressive job than I thought it was at first and I think the dryer actually dries better than the GE.