Washer Machine (Recommendation)

Opps, I have to correct myself, according to this propaganda, I mean public relations brochure, by the American Cleaning Institute (whatever that is), it says you should use the same amount of detergent, but I think the directions have me using less than the directions on the non-HE bottles. Anyhow, here is the link for ACI's booklet all about HE machines: http://www.cleaninginstitute.org/assets/1/Page/HE.pdf I wouldn't necessary trust the industry's PR, I would do what you are doing, check with people who have the machines and see what their experience has been. I'd trust that more than anything I read on the internet.

Love my LG front loader (leave the door open too).

Robin, thanks for all your info!

I don't mind clothes coming out of the washer wrinkled, to me it just means there was a strong spin cycle. But the no-agitator machine really tied the sleeves and legs in big tangles that had to be worked apart. Also, that particular machine left lint from a shedding towel on clothes for several washes. And for all their virtues, I'm resisting a front loader because I like to be able to drop in clothes or laundry products in mid-cycle when needed.

Guess I'm just spoiled by my faithful old top-load washer, but it's right around 20 years old, so the day is coming....

I actually had to go down to the basement to see what brand of washing machine I have. It is a Whirlpool, the model was chosen based on Consumer Reports. I love it, have had it well over a year and have had no issues with it.

One complaint I saw online about the model I have is that small things like baby socks get stuck in the gasket. That IS true, but when I read the instruction manual it actually says to put small items like that in a lingerie bag. I have never had anything other than the occasional baby sock get stuck in the gasket.

I use less detergent than with my old top loading machine, in part because since it is no longer filling completely with water the detergent doesn't get diluted so I just don't need as much. In our house we use Tide, Woolite, and Woolite Dark depending on what we are washing or how dirty it is. Between using less and buying it on sale at Costco it doesn't take a huge bite out of our budget. I can't even remember how long it has been since I purchased laundry detergent.

mjc said:

I don't mind clothes coming out of the washer wrinkled, to me it just means there was a strong spin cycle. But the no-agitator machine really tied the sleeves and legs in big tangles that had to be worked apart. Also, that particular machine left lint from a shedding towel on clothes for several washes.

I have one of the new HE toploaders. it took a few tries to get the loading right. The secret is in how you put the clothes into the machine. You 'clump' them. In the agitator machines, we were taught to spread the clothes around the center post. In the new machines, you dump them into clumps. For longer items, like pants, I even will fold them in half so they don't go more than 1/4 way around. Knits get gently wadded and plopped down. NEVER LET ANYTHING COVER THE CENTER BUMP!

They come out a bit more wrinkled, but they hang out or smooth out in the dryer.

Being a top loader, I have not any of the smell issues. The toploaders are a bit more rugged than the front loaders, and the fewer features, the longer the machine lasts. I have this Kenmore: http://www.kenmore.com/kenmore-3.4-cubic-foot-top-load-washing-machine/p-02621102000P?vName=Laundry&cName=Washers&sName=Top-load+Washers&prdNo=4

any more recent thoughts on kinds of washing machines and dryers?
how about best place to buy them? I'm thinking of Home Depot due to convenience. thanks!

norman said:

We always leave the washer door open after use. Never had a smell issue.

Ditto. And I LOVE my Maytag front loader. And, crazy quilter, I personally never buy any appliances at Home Depot or Lowe's. I was told by people that work there that they only sell discontinued models -- which is why they're relatively inexpensive. I've always bought my appliances at PC Richards and have never been disappointed in the prices or the service.

Check on the ventless dryer thread ... I posted a link to designerappliances.com and the Speed Queen section.

jayjayp said:

The high efficiency washing machines have no agitator and rely on the abrasion of the clothes to get the clothes clean. So you can't really do a small load and expect the clothes to come out clean. We have also learned that all washing machines today, even the agitator type, do not fill the tank for rinsing. They spray water to rinse. So nothing gets really thoroughly rinsed. As for front loaders, avoid at all costs. The seals get moldy if you don't keep the door open or fail to wipe it after each load. A real nuisance, and the seals aren't usually under warranty.

So if I were you, I would seek out the agitator type. It will at least get your clothes clean and no seal/mold to worry about. And you won't have to use HE detergent. You can buy whatever is on sale.

I have not had this experience at all regarding small(er) loads. My delicates come out just as clean as my full load of whites. And, almost 2 years now, no problem with the seals either. Maybe it depends on the brand?

spontaneous said:

pmartinezv said:

We leave the door open and have no issues. However I have forgotten to remove the clothes and left them overnight and had to clean it.

This. The only times I have had any issue with smell is if I left it closed by accident. I do use washing machine cleaner, but very rarely. I purchased a box about 3 months ago and still haven't even opened it.

I had to correct this. Up until June the machine had an occasional odor if I forgot to leave the door open. However, this about a month ago (the second wettest June on record I am told) ours developed a disgusting smell. Not a mild odor, but a nasty strong smell. It also didn't help that our dehumidified crapped out, though we were able to fix that. I think it was a combination of extreme humidity and soap build up. We rarely (may a few times a year) use liquid fabric softener, so I don't believe that played a part in the smell.

I wiped down the seal and was disgusted to find blackish gunk growing inside the flap. Using the washing machine cleaner stuff didn't do much, the result was a mixture of perfume and mildew, so I then set it on self wash and just dumped a couple of cups of bleach into it. With just bleach I was amazed at the amount of suds it produced, so I ran it through a second time. I now use even less detergent so I won't have a buildup of soap again, though before I was already using much less than the bottle called for. My clothing still come out clean.

About bleach and mold/mildew. People say that bleach doesn't kill mold/mildew. My understanding is that it does but only on hard non-porous surfaces, like the insides of a washing machine. Where bleach is useless against mold on porous materials like drywall or wood.

The smell is now gone. I don't want to use bleach too often since I am worried about the seal breaking down, so I now run it on self wash about 1x a week but use vinegar instead of bleach. I'm told it helps break down the soap residue left in the washing machine, and it is cheaper than the washing machine cleaning packets. I buy vinegar in large bottles at Costco, but they also sell it at regular supermarkets.

Oh, and totally unrelated, but vinegar is great for cleaning the microwave. Put a cup of vinegar in a bowl and microwave for 2 or 3 minutes (or less if you don't have a weak ass microwave like mine). Then wait for it to cool enough to be taken out without burning yourself. Then use a wet sponge to wipe down the insides. The vinegar smell disappears once dry, along with any food smells left over from normal use. They sell microwave cleaning packets that do the same thing, but a cup of vinegar is much cheaper and there isn't a packet left over to throw away every time you clean it.

@RobinM - our Maytag washer died a very similar spectacular death earlier today. Smoke alarm went off, I ran down there with a fire extinguisher. I did not get the FD involved. I simply unplugged the washer. There's a "burned out electrical component" smell throughout the basement.