Thread Number: 58649
/ Tag: Wanted to Buy Items
Moving to apartment with full-size washer/dryer hookup |
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Post# 812121   3/3/2015 at 08:04 (3,313 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)   |   | |
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Hello all,
I am new to this site, ran across it in my search on what would be the right washing machine for me when I move to my new apartment, and figured you all might be able to help. At the end of this month, my wife and I will be relocating from our current apartment to one that comes with a washer/dryer hookup. I am quite looking forward to this, as shared laundry facilities are a pain. However, I have never had to buy such a major appliance before. I've always been either at my parents' or lived with other people who already had them, or had to share laundry facilities so don't know the first thing about buying these types of appliances. My constraints are that I am on a fixed income, so could not get anything too expensive as I'll probably have to seek parental help with the purchase. Also, I am totally blind, and my wife is physically disabled so laundry is completely up to me. Therefore can't use anything too complicated. Electronic controls are not a no-go, but they have to be fairly straightforward, nothing that changes on a menu or anything like that that you absolutely have to do visually. Knob controls are probably better in my situation, butI know those are on their way out. At my parents', we had one, not sure of the brand but it was bought around 2001. Whirlpool I believe it was, with the round dial and although there was no tactile pointer to set cycles, we marked the clear dial by making a notch in it with a knife so I could feel what I was doing as I set cycles, then put pieces of tape on the cycles I would use most frequently. that should give you an idea of what is easiest for me non-visually. Thanks for any help that can be given. Ryne |
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Post# 812159 , Reply# 2   3/3/2015 at 13:09 (3,313 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)   |   | |
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I really like the look of that Whirlpool top loader. Thinking any front loader would probably be way out of our price range. Wonder what anyone here thinks of going to a used appliance store, there's one about 20 minutes from me, and trying to land a good deal with a used set like my parents' old 2001 machines. Those were extremely easy for me to use. I've also heard good things about the Bravos machines, as the cycle knob is quite tactile and clicks as you move it from cycle to cycle, and the buttons to control other features are also pretty easy to perceive by touch.
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Post# 812197 , Reply# 3   3/3/2015 at 19:27 (3,313 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Rune, it might be worthwhile to investigate that used appliance store you mentioned. See if you can find something online that would have a rating as to how reputable they are. Also, if your parents are in the area, would they be able to go with you and find something very similar to what they have that you are used to? Sometimes appliance repair places recondition and resell too. And welcome. |
Post# 812201 , Reply# 4   3/3/2015 at 19:42 (3,313 days old) by jamiel (Detroit, Michigan and Palm Springs, CA)   |   | |
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Post# 812254 , Reply# 5   3/4/2015 at 07:05 (3,312 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)   |   | |
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Post# 812312 , Reply# 6   3/4/2015 at 17:10 (3,312 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)   |   | |
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Post# 812366 , Reply# 7   3/4/2015 at 22:09 (3,312 days old) by 70series ( Connecticut.)   |   | |
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Yes, I believe Whirlpool did make braille overlays. As I recall, I think GE did too. Ryne, good luck in your search, James |
Post# 812490 , Reply# 9   3/5/2015 at 20:34 (3,311 days old) by YoGiTuNeS (New Jersey)   |   | |
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I would recommend something like the Neptunes.....only because you don't have to reset the controls over and over....
once you run a cycle, all you have to do is load, and press 'start', it will repeat the same cycle, over and over.... Cotton/Sturdy....warm/warm....normal soil....max extract and the dryer is the same way....load clothes, close door, press 'start'.... Autodry.....normal dryness....medium heat.... end of cycle chimes would be a big help for both machines..... there are other machines that offer a 'favorite cycle' too....something to consider... |
Post# 812629 , Reply# 10   3/6/2015 at 18:53 (3,310 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)   |   | |
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So this is a strange question, but the direct drive whirlpools seem like the direction I might try to go if I can find one. However, the one at my parents' house, while usable, had this really annoying clear plastic cover over the dial, the indicator that you point to the selected cycle was beneath the plastic cover. The cover slips around, like spins, when you touch it too much. Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about and if so, is there a way to remove the cover without wrecking the dial? Would make marking the indicator much easier.
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Post# 812633 , Reply# 11   3/6/2015 at 19:20 (3,310 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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most times you can remove the knob, and pop that clear cover off its tabs, and replace the knob.....
that's only there to protect the machine from someone reaching in there with their fingers and moving the dial while the machine is running, that could destroy several parts if that were to happen.... the idea for that was to make sure the knob is pushed in to shut off the machine, turn to make your new selection, and pull out to resume.... safety for the user and the machine..... some knobs are little harder to get off than others...... and some newer machines allowed the timer to be turned in both directions... |
Post# 812642 , Reply# 12   3/6/2015 at 19:57 (3,310 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)   |   | |
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