Thread Number: 4709
Help- Need new washer- front or top?? recommendations? |
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Post# 105103 , Reply# 3   1/22/2006 at 20:17 (6,640 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Post# 105141 , Reply# 7   1/23/2006 at 05:07 (6,640 days old) by vivalalavatrice ()   |   | |
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Here you can find some information about another HE TL washer... CLICK HERE TO GO TO vivalalavatrice's LINK |
Post# 105274 , Reply# 11   1/23/2006 at 19:44 (6,639 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN)   |   | |
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Look into Fisher and Paykel. They wash like a normal top loader but they spin at 1010rpm, giving more water extraction. They also run on a DC motor so it uses less electricity than a WP top loader. |
Post# 105332 , Reply# 13   1/23/2006 at 22:29 (6,639 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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I've been using front-loaders for years. I now own a 2003 FL Frigidaire, and while it uses less water, I have no problems with clothing odors or washing bed comforters or very small loads. I regularly wash rubber-backed rugs and bathmats and I find the backing lasts longer than it used to when I used top-loaders. I like FL machines because of the water/energy savings, the excellent cleaning results and the fast spin speed, which cuts down on dryer time. However, they are more expensive. In the end, either a TL or FL washer will get your laundry clean. If you're more comfortable with a TL, go for it. If you go with a Frigidaire TL, go for their top-of-the-line machine with the 'dual-action' agitator. Better cleaning results than their lower models with a plain agitator. Since we're a curious bunch, let us know what you wind up getting. Happy shopping! |
Post# 105361 , Reply# 16   1/24/2006 at 02:05 (6,639 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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"Frontloadfan, where have you seen a front loader with "high level washes and rinses" as you stated? I have yet to see one in the American market. All of them are "energy star," which defeats the purpose of washing clothes. My shirts always smell of underarm unless pretreated." Miele in particular offers higher water levels for certain cycles (like delicates). The original Maytag Neptune series offers considerably higher water levels than later engineered brands. "I disagree about the comforters also. They will easily fit into a FL, but a gallon or 2 of water per fill is not going to clean an entire thick comforter. " You misunderstand how a FL uses water. A FL will add more water as the load absorbs it. It is not a fixed amount, however, on average, about 5 gallons is used for the wash part of the cycle. "A gallon or two" is not at all even close to the truth. "How can a comforter be washed when it's rolling around inside with dry patches?" It doesn't do that. As I have already stated, the washer will add more water as the load absorbs it. One can usually choose a longer cycle with a difficult to wet item so that it gets thoroughly soaked. "The cycle times are indeed very long. What FL washer is this that you are talking about with all these great features -- because I want one! " There are many on the market today. "Someone else mentioned the Maytags and the Calypsos. I recommend you stay far, far away from those, with all their problems and class-action lawsuits! " I have a Neptune 7500. It had several major repairs under extended warranty, but since then it's been peforming very well and very reliably. It gets king size comforters spotless. "Again, TL's are the safest bet in my opinion, if you want your clothes clean and odor-free. I'd rather wear something with stains than something that smells." My Neptune gets my clothes very clean, cleaner than most people seem to get their clothes with their top loaders. It gets rid of stains and odors. While I treasure vintage top loader washers, it is simply not true that front loaders in general perform less well than top loaders in general. A real laundry fan appreciates the strengths of each design. |
Post# 105368 , Reply# 18   1/24/2006 at 04:13 (6,639 days old) by mistervain ()   |   | |
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Someone has a lot of time on their hands to identify and disagree with every single line I wrote. To each one his or her own opinion -- LIGHTEN UP. |
Post# 105434 , Reply# 24   1/24/2006 at 17:16 (6,638 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)   |   | |
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Don't believe everything the clerk at a store will tell you, washing bathmats in your Maytag top-loader had nothing to do with it's premature failure. Maytag has been plagued by these water problems for some time now and it simply boils down to poor quality construction on their part. As long as you don't load more than a couple in a top-loader, you should be just fine. It's best to dry these over the shower rod or on a line as the heat in a dryer will speed up the disintegration of the rubber backing much faster. When you notice pieces of the rubber backing starting to flake off, it's time for a new bathmat. As far as what new washer to buy, decide what you can afford to spend and buy the best you can get for the money. You really can't go horribly wrong with most of the new Whirlpool products. |
Post# 105445 , Reply# 26   1/24/2006 at 19:02 (6,638 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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I love all washing machines--without exception, especially the relatively new Chinese washers, the Haiers. Unfortunately, they all seem to arrive in America dented, or busted in some manner. I think our brothers in shipping and trucking resent the influx of Chinese goods, fearing that someday we will be their slaves, carting them around in ricshaws. HA HA--wonder how you spell ricshaw! The other day I stuffed my giant comforter in the agitatorless Haier portable. It did not move around too much. Normaly the same comforter gets washed in my Whirlpoo Top-loader (TL) where it does move around. Both machines get the thing clean. But the Haier cheats . It soaks for 20 minutes, washes for 15, and rinses twice, and spins at hurling speeds like the front loaders. The Whirlpool washes for nine minutes, rinses once, and doesn't extract as much water. Look, I digress. Sorry. Here's the point. In the In TL-FL Sweepstakes which Consumer Reports runs annually, they never tell the whole truth. TL's use a more powerful HE detergent. They can soak and wash forever; they can heat the water; they rinse three times or four on the extra rinse option; and they can spin like hell. And with all of that they barely beat out most of the TL's. So imagine if we play fairly and equalize the playing field. Turn up your hot water tank, use the HE Tide, leave the lid open so that your load will soak after the wash for an hour, select extra rinse, and your clothes will be on their way to God, creaming any front loader. The only thing the front loader can do better is extract water. Without special detergent and long washes, soaks, multiltle rinsing, it could not equal the performance of TL. Now, the retroactive proof: For years and years, I have sent out my shirts to a commercail front loading launday, maybe a half dozen times each year, just because I like the starch and the professional ironing, or because I'm lazy and in a hurry. THE COLLARS NEVER EVER EVER COME BACK TOTALLY CLEAN--NEVER EVER ONCE !!! I SWEAR TO GOD. BUT.... When the EasySpin or the GE or the Whirlpools, BD or DD, or the Maytag does the shirts , the collars NEVER EVER EVER ONCE COME OUT DIRTY-- N O T O N E T I M E D I R T Y !!! I SWEAR TO GOD I'm telling the truth. And the truth often hurts. The tests are all rigged to favor the FL's. Think about it long and hard. It will never work. Most Americans hate to stoop to wash; hence all the pedestals for the TL's. It's nor going to happen here. Top loaders are here to stay. |
Post# 105464 , Reply# 28   1/24/2006 at 20:28 (6,638 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Post# 105479 , Reply# 29   1/24/2006 at 21:22 (6,638 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Hey Mister Swimfan Such a subtle know-it-all like yourself should know that High Efficiency Detergents are more powerful than their humbler counterparts. Do some experimenting. What will you do when the Chinese government tells you what to do? Having stooped so long downloading your frontloader, you'll be a prime candidate for ricshawing the authoritarians you so clearly worship. ' |
Post# 105526 , Reply# 32   1/25/2006 at 03:51 (6,638 days old) by mistervain ()   |   | |
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Norgeman I couldn't agree more. |
Post# 106089 , Reply# 36   1/27/2006 at 06:58 (6,636 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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norgeman-- I certainly understand your reluctance to use cold water. I've said several times that I never, EVER thought I would, either. The thought of washing a load of whites in cold water just didn't make sense to me. But Tide CW is the best-cleaning detergent I've ever used. Period. No contest. It gets out stains in 65-degree water that Tide HE liquid and 145-degree water did not. Again, I'll only use the powdered version of Tide CW. The liquid is very good, but the powder trumps it for stain removal. I remember Cold Power, too. But it didn't clean well, which is why it flopped. Plus, I think people were even less inclined to use cold water back in the 60's-early 70's. Many washers didn't even rinse in cold water back then. |
Post# 106090 , Reply# 37   1/27/2006 at 07:04 (6,636 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Post# 106155 , Reply# 40   1/27/2006 at 16:15 (6,635 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)   |   | |
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It's interesting that you mention these, I've seen a couple of them, one in action and it's a fairly impressive machine but they have had their share of troubles. It uses approx. 5 gallons of water per fill, one wash and 2 rinses for a total of around 15 gallons. The sounds the machine makes with the hexagon shaped basket surging through the water pool in the bottom of the tub is incredible, you can hear the clothes slamming around in the water. The cycle is relatively short, a plus if you tend to do washing all on one day. On the downside, the washer is rather noisy - especially during spin, not just a little bit loud either, this was a 'run for the hills' sort of loud. The capacity could be better, other machines surpass the Staber by a long shot and the door/opening in the actual clothes basket is a bit clunky and small. They are indeed intended to be serviced by the customer/owner but this would probably be a rather daunting task for many people, especially if you needed to replace a set of tub bearings.
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Post# 106186 , Reply# 43   1/27/2006 at 20:59 (6,635 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)   |   | |
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Post# 106194 , Reply# 44   1/27/2006 at 21:07 (6,635 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)   |   | |
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Post# 106318 , Reply# 46   1/28/2006 at 09:53 (6,634 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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Hmm, That dryer doesn't quite match the washer. And it's quite a price for a dryer, but I guess you get a sturdy machine for it. A bit of an overkill I guess. The new washer models in color have sound insulation, but the extra money they want for it is quite a bit. $500.- for the color and sound insulation is too much I think. I still find these machines fascinating. I too love H-axis toploaders. Diomede, I never had problems with laundry being twisted in a frontloader. The laundry never reaches the door, it stays in the drum, no problems here. I think you can only achieve that by severely overloading. |
Post# 108797 , Reply# 51   2/10/2006 at 04:38 (6,622 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Here is a good tip to clean front loaders: set the washer for normal/hot or warm water (tap temp is fine), and as the machine is filling pour about one quart of white vinegar into the machine and let it complete the cycle. Vinegar is a mild acid and will not only deodorize and kill mould/fungus, but rid the machine of detergent residue as well. As an alternative one can use those professional strength products sold for cleaning insides of automatic dishwasher/washing machines. One brand is called "Dishwasher Magic/Washing Machine Magic". A Miele tech also suggested using baking soda in the same cycle as the vinegar, but am too chicken to test this. Will ask the Miele tech when he comes to install our washer this weekend about it. For the record, do use baking soda and white vinegar to "clean" drains, but it does make quite allot of foam. Congrats on your new baby, we're waiting for some snaps! Launderess |
Post# 108874 , Reply# 53   2/10/2006 at 14:45 (6,621 days old) by the7 ()   |   | |
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Photo of LTZ85 with heater. |
Post# 108875 , Reply# 54   2/10/2006 at 14:47 (6,621 days old) by the7 ()   |   | |
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Electro-Mechanical Timer |
Post# 108876 , Reply# 55   2/10/2006 at 14:50 (6,621 days old) by the7 ()   |   | |
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There are 4 shocks (damper with spring) suspending tub onto the base. |
Post# 108877 , Reply# 56   2/10/2006 at 14:52 (6,621 days old) by the7 ()   |   | |
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The counter-balanced weight is of cast iron. |
Post# 108878 , Reply# 57   2/10/2006 at 14:54 (6,621 days old) by the7 ()   |   | |
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This is my first wash on LTZ85. |
Post# 108879 , Reply# 58   2/10/2006 at 15:05 (6,621 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)   |   | |
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Post# 108881 , Reply# 59   2/10/2006 at 15:17 (6,621 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Post# 109629 , Reply# 62   2/13/2006 at 21:37 (6,618 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida)   |   | |
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