Thread Number: 649
Whirlpool compact f/l washer & dryer
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Post# 50345   12/2/2004 at 15:38 (7,074 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)        

Went to a service seminar on the Whirlpool F/L compact washer & dryer. They are manufactured by Merloni, and Italian mfg of appliances. I know someone else on here has said that as well. 2.5 cu ft drum , about 6 spin speeds, detergent * fabric softener dispenser, but no bleach dispenser. It does have an internal heater and servicing is from the top and back. Like the frigidaire f/l, main front panel does not come off. I think they are kind of lesser quality and I'm surprised at Whirlpool, especially for the $$$ I think msrp is $699 for washer and $499 for dryer???




Post# 50351 , Reply# 1   12/2/2004 at 16:43 (7,074 days old) by arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)        

Yes there has been much horror posted on this board about Whirlpools abominable new front loader.

Whirlpool, a main player in the European market with good yet affordable machines, has rebadged the worst product from a competitor for the US market.

I know Ford in the US sells the European Focus which is an affordable but good car with huge European market share. Imagine if ford decided to replace it with a Yugo! This is the senario we are looking at with Whirlpool and I for one am hugely dissappointed.


Post# 50352 , Reply# 2   12/2/2004 at 16:43 (7,074 days old) by arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)        

Any news on when Whirlpool is going to bring its REAL euro sized front loader to the US market?

Post# 50388 , Reply# 3   12/3/2004 at 03:01 (7,073 days old) by hoovermatic (UK)        

This is the rebadged Eurotech abomination to be avoided at all costs.

Post# 50392 , Reply# 4   12/3/2004 at 08:53 (7,073 days old) by veg-o-matic (Baltimore, Hon!)        

veg-o-matic's profile picture
No bleach dispenser? Wonder how they expect you to add the Clorox. Dilute in water then add when the timing is right, being careful not to spill?

Riiiiiiiight.


Post# 50393 , Reply# 5   12/3/2004 at 09:03 (7,073 days old) by Jeff_adelphi (Adelphi, Maryland, USA)        

jeff_adelphi's profile picture
Whirlpool said it would be less then a year till they brought their own washer and dryer. I wish they had just waited.

Post# 50398 , Reply# 6   12/3/2004 at 10:23 (7,073 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)        

The Whirlpool rep claims that Lowe's approached them about a compact f/l W&D. I agree they should have waited til they had a better product, but since retail stores rule the roost, they prolly didn't want to pass up the request.

Because the washer has a heater that heats wash water to 140 they claim there is no need for chlorine bleach.

Also, the dryer has a seperate blower motor, much like the Harmony/LG dryer, so it can vent 70 feet. With 1200 rpm spin, clothes should dry in no time!


Post# 51915 , Reply# 7   12/28/2004 at 06:34 (7,048 days old) by kenmore1978 ()        
bleach dispenser

What Dumbo said hot water temp is a substitute for bleach? When I want maximum cleaning for my whites, I want 140 degree water AND bleach. What a lame excuse.

Post# 51920 , Reply# 8   12/28/2004 at 07:31 (7,048 days old) by CleanteamofNY ((Monroe, New York)        

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I have to agree with KM1978, my hot water temp is set at 150* and bleach is need for WHITES in a FL'er! I don't have the TOL of FL'er's but it is necessary to add some LCB to remove stains that normal washing will not budge! Powder bleach just suds up too much!!!

Someone will not get it unless you deal with a senior citizen who put apple, orange or pear peelings inside white hand towel and the stains set in after a day or two and the best detergents just lightens the stains without totally removing it, only LCB gets it out all the time!


Post# 54402 , Reply# 9   1/23/2005 at 22:54 (7,022 days old) by Cybrvanr ()        
a response to Home Depot's

I imagine the compact FL Whirlpool that Lowe's is selling at their stores exclusivley is due to their direct competitor, Home Depot now selling a compact washer by a company called Danby. From what I can tell, the little washer is made by a reputable European builder, and sells at Home Depot for $399. It's got a slightly smaller washtub at 2.1 cu/ft, but seems to be overall, a much better designed machine...and it has a bleach dispenser!

I believe the Danby brand is a Home Depot house brand, because I have never seen it anywhere else. The Danby line of appliances also have some other unique stuff, like a beer keg cooler, a full size gas refrigerator, a neat air conditioner that uses a dryer hose to duct the waste heat outside among many other things. Home depot stocks some of this stuff on their floor, but some of it is a special order.

I broke down and bought one of the Danby FL washers, and I have found it to be an excellent little machine. From what you guys are saying, it's light years ahead of the Whirlpool FL machine!. It spins at any speed desired between 0 and 1200 RPM. The clothes come out practically dry. I line dry a lot, so this is really useful! Running, the machine sounds like a precision piece of robotics more than it does a washing machine. The water heater in the Danby will get the water temprature up to a whopping 200 degrees!!! Definitely hot enough to kill germs....bring on the diapers! I've never measured it to see how hot it actually gets though I imagine it's getting pretty close to that


Post# 54418 , Reply# 10   1/24/2005 at 00:24 (7,022 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        

launderess's profile picture
Danby appliances are NOT a Home Depot house brand, but rather a separate company.

Danby Appliances markets rebadged washer, dryers, dishwashers and other appliances from various sources.

The washers and dryers are made by Gorenje, in Slovenia. Dishwashers appear to be made by Haier in China, (Haier's model looks exactly like the Danby), not sure about the rest of the product line.

There are other sources for Danby laundry appliances as well as for their other offerings. Several local appliance stores in our area carry Danby's dishwasher and have it on display. These same stores will order the washer and dryer even if they do not have them on display.

Recently Thor has begun selling rebadged washers and dryers that are from the same vendor as the Danby units, under their own name.

While it is true Gorenje, makes great laundry appliances, the jury is still out on long term use of these units. Many people feel even if the appliances only last 3-4 years, for the price they cannot be beat. Gorenje appliances sold in other countries seem to enjoy a good reputation, but again we shall have to see what we shall see.

Launderess


Post# 54723 , Reply# 11   1/26/2005 at 09:35 (7,019 days old) by designgeek ()        

Danby's HQ is in Canada and they have an office in the USA.

They have two compact washers in the product line, both made in China but *not* by Haier as far as I can tell (Haier is competing under their own brand name). I just got the twin-tub, the other is a compact automatic. Typical price for each of these is around $250 on the internet. Apparently well designed and well made despite the use of plastic washtubs and chassis, and somewhat thin steel in the cabinets.

Unlike most of the Asian-made compact washers, both of these use conventional agitators (rather than impeller/pulsators), so you don't get a tangling problem. Drive system is motor to belt to agitator, as I've described in another topic.

From what I can tell, Danby is doing a pretty good job picking & choosing OEMs, and making design modifications to suit the North American market.


Post# 54745 , Reply# 12   1/26/2005 at 13:01 (7,019 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
I Said

launderess's profile picture
Not washing machines. Danby's front loading washers cleary state they are made in Solvenia, have never seen a Danby top loader so cannot comment.

Post# 54779 , Reply# 13   1/26/2005 at 16:00 (7,019 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA)        

peterh770's profile picture
What Dumbo said bleach is needed at all? Europe has been doing just fine with hot water and no LCB for many years and you can't say that they have dingy whites. Having a Euro machine (Miele), I agree 100%, even with using American detergents. Sparkling whites without bleach AND using only a couple tablespoons no less!

Post# 54796 , Reply# 14   1/26/2005 at 18:12 (7,019 days old) by kenmore1978 ()        
LCB

Sometimes nothing works but LCB, especially certain stains

Post# 54801 , Reply# 15   1/26/2005 at 18:34 (7,019 days old) by agiflow ()        

That's all right if your machine has a heater in it,but many people still use toploaders and front loaders with no supplemental heater to bring the water temperature high enough to exclude the use of bleach.
Until frontload washers become the standard here like they are in europe...the need for LCB will continue.


Post# 54920 , Reply# 16   1/27/2005 at 07:41 (7,018 days old) by designgeek ()        

Launderess: Yes, Slovenia; I was just being sloppy in my writing.

Kenmore1978: Certain stains such as..?


Post# 55206 , Reply# 17   1/29/2005 at 06:37 (7,016 days old) by kenmore1978 ()        
stains removed by LCB

grass, protein stains that have been accidentally set by washing in hot water, ground-in dirt, lipstick,variois other stains I can't remember at the time, Clorox used to list them on label, and stain removal charts would recommend it.


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