Worst washing machines

[user 12105]

I can attest not all new machines are terrible. I have many videos of my Amana NTW4516FW3 washing all kinds of loads with 4 different agitators.

Hey they might be computer controlled and the unreliable vmw design but mine has been going on for a year now with no problems to speak of and they wash as well as any I've owned and used.

In any case if all fails with the Amana I have the 24" Estate washer as a backup.

 

[tolivac]

What kinds of agitators are avalaible for these washers? Would LOVE to find an agitator that doesn't tangle and wrap my things!I so miss the Hotpoint Rimflow I used to have-it was so much BETTER than these VMW junkpiles!

 

[kenmoreguy89]

There are many today that would fit in the "worst" category.

One of the worst and ugliest useless machine of all time I think was the Indesit Moon that by the way got recently re-proposed IIRC.

Newer Candy Bianca is another.

But again so many to mention...

[this post was last edited: 5/23/2021-08:41]

 

[user 12105]

Any DD agitator will fit in these as it has the same tubs and spline as the DD washers. I never had the problem of clothes getting wrapped around any of the agitators I have used.

It does tend to pull the strings out of sweats or shorts though so I keep those tied.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Honestly Patrick, it doesn't look like it is a great turnover though.

 

DD machines gave more turnover and beating even having that short (fast) stroke vs the machine you show though.

Some shredded stuff, yup that is also why gearbox speaking I like a million times more the wig wag system. 

Am recently experiencing the joy of owning a wig wag WP.

Plus the tub that moves along with each stroke that I'm seeing vanify much of the action, that is another common issue I see with some modern TL's for some reasons looks like they can't build a proper tub brake system.

 

Said that, there are some modern machines that I do not despise  all that much agitation wise.

Like Commercial Maytags, but the biggest issue for me with modern units is not even <span style="font-size: 12pt;">about agitation only but the dubbed temperatures and or partial deep rinses.</span>

Hot water is essential for some loads, whites for istance 

I would never want to own or rely on one, I would rather use a plunger and boiler, that is why as I alsways say if I had to be obliged to pick a modern machine my eyes would go towards a FL with built in heater and a +140F  sanitize cycle that IMO would outperform a dubbed temp. top loaders.

Again, I will never understand why Asia keep making deep rinses and non dubbed hot fill machines without probs (pulsator TL's but  water used is same of an agitator TL)  India even got TL models with a back up heater that increase or keep hot water hot and claims to offer sanitize cycles. 

 

 

 

[this post was last edited: 5/23/2021-08:52]

 

[kenmoreguy89]

It doesn't look all that bad, does it?

 

[user 12105]

Roll over is fine and I have many videos to prove it.The DD is/was a great washer. I now also own my 3rd DD in a period going back as far as 1988.

The Amana did better on 7 pairs of jeans than the Estate did on 5 and the Estate wasn't overloaded.

My new home came with these Amana machines installed and so far like I said they wash as well as any washer I have owned. Listen to what some of the people on this site who own the equivalent Roper or Admiral machines say about them.

The rollover isn't a DD but there is also more flex like an older belt drive. I did a full towel load on delicate with one of the straight vanes I have and turnover was fine with a big load like that.

I also had a front loader I gave to a member last year because I was moving and also my Speed Queen.

Let someone else have fun with them.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Jeans or whatever thick and rigid such as a rag never went along well with short fast strokes.

Especially if no dual actiotn spiral was present.

That was so even with later Maytags  and even GE's.

I remember having to "underload" my Maytag commercial and put jeans very loosely to get proper action, that is something you do not experience with fluid smooth longer strokes and I never did with the Filter flo, SQ and by all means am not experiencing at all with the wig wag "84 whirlpool. 

I did experience this issue also with the DD whirlool especially after being fed of dealing with the spiral thingy dogs wearing out every so often I switched to a commercial black straight vane.

The '84 whirlpool is virtually perfect.

I like it just as much I liked the filter flo.

 

[this post was last edited: 5/23/2021-09:34]

 

[DADoES]

 
Rapid-fire rollover in an agitator toploader is overrated and unnecessary.  Cleaning occurs moreso via the clothes getting sloshed and flexed by the lower fins than from swimming through the water in circles top-to-bottom.  Roll the load 3 or 4 or 8 or 10 times through the wash period so everything gets sufficient time at the bottom and all is good.  Rolling 500 or 5,000 times isn't necessary.  Longer wash time and slower rollover gives better results IMO, with enzyme detergents involved.

 

[DADoES]

 
The action looks very aggressive for Delicate (silks), Woolens, and Saris (said to be delicate items) in the video linked in Reply #35.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

I agree with what you said on rollover and washing. 

But a decent rollover is important to assure everything goes down evenly where the action happens 

And yes, I had same thought, though it says it relies on longer soak times and very short wash time so same technique  older 1 speed machines relied upon.

 

Got to say my commercial maytag featuring this technique did not give out a bad job, but for how obvious it sounds I'd take a 2-3 Speed machine any day over a 1 speed with this system.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Also

I liked very much the double agitator feature given by some in the past.

By the way it is being copied by some manufacturers today but in my opinion only as a marketing gimmick.

 

[tolivac]

DD agitator-will have to go to the swap shop where I bought the VMW "Thing" and seewhat agitators they have in their agitator bin.When the things wrap-its around the bottom of the auger.Its smooth and clean.Would like an agitator with NO DA and see if that works.

 

[user 12105]

Rex see if you could get either one of these ? The both work very well in these machines.

 

[tolivac]

The two agitators shown were the ones I would like to try.Will have to check the swap shops agitator bin.

 

[user 12105]

I don't think you will be disappointed. They work quite well in this design.

 

[user 12105]

Rex here is one of the loads I did the other day with the agitator that was out of the tub. Sorry for the sideways filming. I had my phone upside down accidently...oops.

 

[user 12105]

Redid a load using the DD Surgilator earlier tonight. Took down the other one . Didn't come out right.

 

[tolivac]

After seeing the video-impressed.Think the Surgilator is BETTER than the DA agitator.Anxious to try it.Figure a swap shop visit is in the books for tomorrow or Thurs.Usually they have a bin of agitators pulled from scrapped machines.

 

[user 12105]

I don't know if you noticed, but the agitation at the slower speed seems to cause more pull down of the clothes. I've observed this time and again with this machine. It actually seems to pull the jeans down faster than at the high speed agitation...pretty cool...in the nearly year I have had it it has not disappointed yet and since they came with my home I won't lose anything if they quit on me tomorrow.

 

[ea56]

Patrick I have to agree with you about these much maligned washers.  My sister ship Roper RTW4516FW2 is 2 years old and I’ve had zero problems or drama with it.  Plus it washes every load perfectly using minimal water on the Normal/Regular cycle with Auto Sense, I estimate approx 15 to 20 gals, or less depending on the load size.

 

Looking at the reviews on Lowes website out of 5884 reviewers 93% of the reviewers recommend this machine.   I didn’t buy it because it was the least expensive washing machine at the time.  I can afford any washing machine out there if I wanted one of them.  I bought this machine because I wanted simplicity, while still using less water than a traditional TL.  Also, the dedicated closet for the washer and dryer in my home isn’t deep enough for almost all of the full sized FL’s out there today.  

 

I say to those naysayers, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.  Do I expect it to last forever?  No, I’m not stupid, the quality of almost everything these days is not what it once was, but I’m gonna enjoy it while it lasts.

 

Eddie

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Amana-3-5-cu-ft-Top-Load-Washer-with-Dual-Action-Agitator-White/1003201568

 

[user 12105]

There you are then.I hope they don't replace these with the one piece auger and SS/plastic hybrid tubs. I still have an Estae 24" DD i picked up refurbed for $200. It sits in my shed now. The Amana has the bigger 3.5 cu ft tub. I believe the Estate was manufactured 2003 if i read the serial code correctly.

MOD:
TAWB600JQ0

SER:
CP1728951

 

[tolivac]

The hunt for the DD Surgilator went BUST!BOTH swap shops now closed-one from owner having poor health,other from old age.Tried asking the appliance parts place here-they needed a part# for the DD Surgilator agitator.The appliance store no longer carries parts like agitators.So--right now stuck with what I have.Guess in the future when the VMW I have dies-will have to get a new Speed Queen.

 

[iej]

The worst machine I’ve ever used was a cheap “landlord special” washer dryer in an apartment I rented in Ireland when I was in university.

Whirlpool badged and made by Antonio Merloni. The machine didn’t really have paddles at all. The drum had moulded in “bumps”. Laundry bounced up down in the water. The rinsing was so poor I got skin allergies and what it lacked in performance and was made up for in noise.

Absolutely useless machine. It also didn’t dry anything.

It was so bad I avoid Whirlpool and have never bought one of their appliances. It probably also underlines why you shouldn’t put your brand on ‘landlord specials’

I never understood Whirlpool’s strategy in Europe. At one stage they portrayed themselves as a high quality brand, pushing their Sixth Sense branding and then they just seemed to start producing a lot of cheap and nasty BOL machines. While they have the odd high end model, it’s a brand that makes no sense to me.

 

[DADoES]

 
There are various agitators for sale on eBay ... among the various other items caught by a search.

Also at parts vendors, although a specific part number may be needed for searching.

eBay:  Whirlpool washer agitator

 

[user 12105]

That's a shame James. A shame Whirlpool is getting a bad rep abroad. They used to be a manufacturer of quality appliances across the board. Seems those days are done.

I would still buy a dishwasher or fridge from them. They have some fiasco going on about their "aqua-lift" self cleaning ovens on another site. The thing is Whirlpool is still offering them?

I remember seeing something about interviews with employees about "changing the culture" at Whirlpool. I liked the "culture" the way it was. Leave a good thing alone.

 

[littlegreeny]

Whirlpool

Whirlpool no longer appears to manufacture quality washers. Their new front load washers are a joke with the plastic inner door and terrible suspension. The washer tries a few times to spin and then gives up. And that recirculation pump is miserable.

I'm also unimpressed with their top load washers. They sound terrible and the motors sound so cheaply built.

It's a real shame because they used to make excellent products.

 

[user 12105]

Littlegreeny I had the WFW6620HW and in the year I had it it performed very well. I've never seen it abort a spin..mind you sometimes it took long enough to get there but it managed. As for the plastic door I was fine with it. I would of rather of had glass but it was in no way detrimental to the washer's performance.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Patrick, Whirlpool always kind of had a bad reputation abroad.

As soon as they left the Philips-Ignis line they started to become garbage.

Whirlpool introduction to Europe started with Purchasing Ignis that was partnered with Philips. Decently good stuff, both stuff coming from Netherlands and Italy were not that bad initially, later as they purchased other Italian manufacturers they started to become junk...

As they adapted to the lower standards,  and had lots of design problems too.

 

I have owned several European Whirlpool appliances and among dishwashers that would not even remove sugar from cups or washers that would eat sock after sock as the space between drum and boot was too large they lasted very short too, the dishwasher needed 3 tunnel heating elements in its 4 years life and got rid of it as it would not wash a damn anyway. Night and day difference from same brand dishwashers sold in USA.

Washer had the bearings failing very soon.

As the too large space between drum and boot wasn't enough the boot also started to dry out get rigid and shrink and that enhanced the space, my thumb would pass through 

Only European WP appliance I have been happy with was a timed vented dryer.

 

 

 

 

[foraloysius]

Just for the record, Philips washing machines were made in France and England in the past. Philips never manufactured any washing machines in the NL ever. The NL had some washing machine manufacturers in the past, but those are long gone.