Worst washing machines

[washingpowder]

Oh European Whirlpool

Good old times with a drain fault code weekly at my aunt's. Taking the back off and pulling the sump hose off the outer drum only to find underwear, napkins, IIRC there was a pillowcase once.
It was a fairly expensive machine, one of the Sixth Sense kind.

Fun story, just like they did Maytag and KitchenAid dirty here, they acquired an excellent Polish brand, Polar. Their machines were considered the best and toughest. Fairly certain they are still churning loads out in many households. The pic below is their very first, Polish made Superautomat.

Now, they don't even bother to make them look different than Whirlpool.

 

[foraloysius]

The Polar machine is a Zanussi design. Built in license by Polar and Gorenje IIRC.

 

[maytag85]

Reason why Whirlpool machines got a bad wrap in other countries is those machines there aren’t actually manufactured or even designed by Whirlpool and are merely a different machine with the Whirlpool name slapped on and the reason why Whirlpool got a very good reputation in North America and Brazil is the machines made here are genuine Whirlpool designs and not another design from a different manufacturer. If Whirlpool sold its genuine US designs and appliances in other countries the reputation would be very good since many people were happy with Whirlpool built appliances many decades ago in the 60’s 70’s 80’s and 90’s.

 

[foraloysius]

Are you talking about European Whirlpool machines Sean?

 

[maytag85]

Reply #63

US made Whirlpool machines and designs

 

[derrick352]

One of the worst front loaders

Electrolux EFLS617SIW. Horrible rinsing, no spin between rinses. Never heated water at beginning of cycle except sanitary, only last few minutes for other cycles. Clean washer cycle does not clean recirculation areas so a hot wash with bleach is needed to keep gunk free. Washing sheets/bedding horrible...makes the load into a roll. Beginning of wash cycle while detergent mixes the drum only turns in one direction for 5 minutes, adds wear to your clothing etc. Tier 3 washer too, very stingy on water. Later models may be tier 2 I think.

 

[user 12105]

How does it wear clothing turning one way ? As long as there is lift and drop or does it just roll the clothes ?

 

[foraloysius]

I'm still confused.

Whirlpool's design overhere in Europe is designed by Whirlpool engineers, it may have happened in Italy, but they were Whirlpool employees working in a Whirlpool factory.

And then there is the Whirlpool Duet. Designed and manufactured in Germany and mainly sold in North America. The first generation is considered a good machine.

Original Whirlpool machines designed and manufactured in the USA wouldn't sell here much because they are just too big for most households.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Ignis machines were actually really good.

So were the first whirlpool that were nothing but the same machines but with the new brand.

 

Italy in general was good at making machines also built lots of parts or whole machines for Electrolux and AEG.

You had some cheap brands such as candy...but many were very good.

So sure Italians are not to blame if this is what you meant.

Guess they just tried to adapt to things here but without a good knowledge they ended up doing not so well perhaps relying on people they should not have relied upon...

Projecting and manufacturing wise.

All the knowledge gathered in the American continent and Australia was of little use here.

As said building same machines here would have been a problem as things are different here sizes aside.

Say for instance all the concept of water heating from cold or water softeners in DW's, or DW's that in USA dries with the vent instead of condensing (wish they had the steam vent here).

Etc.

Plus they had to compete with lots of brands 

Either they entered as excellent meaning that they would become a niche brand or had to point on fame and numbers reachable with making affordable stuff.

I am old enough to remember the massive advertising they made here as they entered Europe's market.

And again they did well initially as they just kept making stuff Just like they inherited it, I remember lots of whirlpool badged Ignis top loaders but when it was time to go ahead on their own problems started to raise.

Eventually they ended up buying the others.

That's been Whirlpool's tactic every where.

Buy the brand and keep the brand, meaning that if it is worth keeping the brand that was not garbage  after all. They indirectly own a huge slice of the market.

Like for Maytag, to this day few Maytag purchasers are aware they are actually getting a whirlpool.

[this post was last edited: 5/31/2021-18:04]

 

[user 12105]

Electrolux and Whirlpool are the 2 largest makers of appliances today. Just from this site alone I would never had known that Whirlpool was expanding into central and south America as far back as the 1950's. There are some collectors with Brastemp washers from 1959. They all seem to be the 24" variety.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Frigidaire

Whatever happened to the frigidaire brand of washers and dryers?

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

I know they made fridges

Under the General Motors brand

 

[user 12105]

That is kind of weird about not seeing Frigidaire washers anymore. My new home came with Frigidaire kitchen appliances. So far they perform well enough.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

maybe

they discontinued the frigidaire laundry line to make way for the electrolux line as a substitute.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Patrick, all southern America had machines made with whirlpool parts.

Manufacturers such Centales in Colombia/Venezuela as well.

But that happened also with other manufacturers, such as Westinghouse for the Lavinia machines, Westinghouse itself was a brand down there.

Also general electric produced various brands for Latin America.

The Join venture Whirlpool Philips later also brought many Philips branded machines that were nothing but whirlpool agi top loaders in Latin America.

In Australia Malleys Whirlpool machines were nothing but wig wag Whirlpool and assume 90% of components came from US factories.





 

 

[foraloysius]

Ignis

Ignis machines were hardly sold here. But one day I discovered an Ignis toploader with push buttons that was dumped somewhere in an industrial area. This must have been in the late 80's, I think the machine was from the 60's. I loved that machine instantly! It felt very sturdy. Alas indeed Ignis went down the drain when it became nothing more than a cheap Whirlpool brand. And with it all the other great brands like Philips, Erres and Ruton went. Such great diversity in machines turned into a white on white light weight rubbish brand. But then again Whirlpool was not the only brand that killed some great white goods labels.

 

[DADoES]

 
Frigidaire's website currently shows one topload HE agitator model washer, one dryer, and one unitary stacked toploader laundry center.

 

[user 12105]

I think the stacked washer would be a better bet.These are Electrolux made then ? The top loader looks like Midea or Haier. Would run far from that.

 

[vacerator]

re stacked;

Those are ok, but still not the best. Our hairderesser went through two in the shop in 8 years just doing towels. She recently got Samsung 4 cu. ft. front loaders and stacked the dryer on top.

 

[panasonicvac]

I think my worst experience with a washing machine would be this Electrolux EFLW317TIW. It didn't clean as well as I thought it would, uses less water, some clothes would get stuck in the drum seal, and it was VERY NOISY during the spin cycles. It's also the front load washer that got ranked last from Consumer Reports as of April of this year. Interesting though, this one got ranked last but some of their other models had higher ratings. Even the top of the line EFLS627UTT is listed as one of CR's recommended models. I was thinking that all of them would be the same performance wise but some with fancier options.

 

[user 12105]

I hate to admit but LG seems to be the only manufacturer in the mainstream innovating and everyone seems to love their front load machines.

Whirlpool seems stagnant other than offering that stupid 2 in 1 agitator which is a joke to begin with. Though they did come out with their new dishwasher line with that new filtration system.

Whirlpool also hasn't updated their front load line. Same models they had back when I got my WFW6620HW in 2019.

With the few top loaders with a true DAA they offer I would hope they update then to be more flexible and with a better spray rinse.

 

[derrick352]

@panasonicvac

I also do not get the ratings being better on other models. I had the original 617 model and it received awards LOL. Noisy, horrible rinsing, not enough water, terrible at washing bedding, heater terrible. JUNK!

 

[gelaundry4ever]

whirlpool stagnant

Why are they still stagnant when it comes to washers and dryers? Slightly off topic, but what is Whirlpool calling their new filtration on their own dishwashers?

 

[retro-man]

I have the stacked unit from Frigidaire in my condo. Have had it for 2 years now, but have only used it for a less than a year. It has been sitting alone with the water shut off since haven't been down there for over a year because of the pandemic. Will start going back later this month since we both now have completed out vaccines. Also have a new Maytag dishwasher sitting there and only have maybe run it 6 times before we left. I guess will have to put very hot water in both of them and let them sit for awhile to make sure the gaskets don't leak. The washer and dryer do an adequate job for what they are. Great agitation in the washer and dryer is a little slower to keep up, but I am in no rush while doing laundry.

Jon

 

[iej]

@agiflow & Sean

They had a good reputation in Europe, having entered through a joint venture with Philips that was at the upper middle end of the market, even top of the market in some cases. It was originally called Philips-Whirlpool. They then bought out Philips, who wanted to abandon the white goods market anyway, and it seems to have gone down hill from there.

They make the odd good appliance, but they've so much junk with their name on it that it's just not a brand I would buy.

At a middle-of-the-line level, I'd be looking at Bosch, Electrolux, Samsung, etc. Whirlpool in my books would rank low/mid market.

I don't think you can really blame their buying up other manufacturers on their quality. They design all their own stuff in Europe and clearly are happy with the low end slot they occupy. Maybe that is their strategy.

 

[henene4]

Low end slot

They sure as hell are happy with that slot.

After acquiring Hotpoint/Indesit they own most of the entry level market I would say.
Main competition is Beko in the price range, Vestel at the lower end of the range.

They weren't happy themselves with what they were building washer wise though.
They took Hotpoints Aquarius line and spun that off, replacing both their own designs with that new design.
Though I guess that Hotpoint delivered same durability targets with cheaper cost.

Dryer wise they took some elements from their dryers (drums, motors) and redid some other stuff (airflow design and apparently their heat pump design) and did a revision of that.
Controls seem more in line with what Hotpoint had before.
Our Whirlpool dryer is decent enough and has been running for a good few years now.
And I would say that after that dryer recall Desaster they didn't take chances and just used their design instead.

 

[user 12105]

Whirlpool I guess was about upper middle here ? They made good appliances across the board.Their lion's share of washer sales here was no doubt through Sears. They built some of the most beloved machines the US has produced. They have way too much baggage now it seems. They are quickly becoming or have become the WCI of appliance manufacturers.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

I guess we can say that

Maytag is the new Frigidaire.

 

[rapunzel]

40 years ago Malleys Whirlpool made excellent products. Our first Australian fridge was of that brand and it remained in the family for more than 30 years before we gave it away. The interior tub was fully enamel lined and the door liner was of the highest quality plastic, which showed absolutely no cracks or wear in all the years. It was auto defrost, came with a butter conditioner and It never missed a beat. The door handles were soft to the touch and had the appearance of leather. It was a beautiful appliance.

My first washer, when I moved to my own place, was a used Malleys Whirlpool machine, one of the best washers I’ve ever owned. It came loaded with features and had suds save function.

When Whirlpool products were based on US designs and made in Oz they were top of the crop. Now Whirlpool imports cheap junk from Europe, which does not compare in any way with original Whirlpool quality and performance of yore.

 

[foraloysius]

cheap junk from Europe

The toploaders on the Australian Whirlpool website certainly don't come from Europe. More like China or Korea or so.