Best Washer -Non Front Loader

[ron350]

The main thing is to stay away from washers with circuit boards and all those trouble codes.
First choice: 2017 or older Speed Queen.

Second choice: 2008 or older direct drive Whirlpool, easy to find parts and easy to work on. Some time around 2008 Whirlpool changed over to a new design that breaks down easy.

 

[Jarlaxle]

If it must be a top loader, Speed Queen.

Front loaders are much better in most respects...SQ makes those, too.

 

[StevieC]

We had an old 20 year Kenmore and a 6 year old Amana in previous places we lived prior to buying our Samsung Direct Drive Front-loader we have now in this current house. I know you said you don't want front-load / Samsung but I just thought I would mention the other 2 brands we had previously that were reliable.

 

[Mr Nice]

Originally Posted by MParr
Large appliances is something I have had a good deal of experience with. For a washing machine, I recommend GE top loader with an agitator. These things will get your clothes clean and are very reliable. They are belt driven for a cheap and easy repair. I can't recommend any Whirlpool Corp. washers (Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, Roper, Estate), they are "Direct drive" and repair prone. GE: https://products.geappliances.com/a...price&Type=Top+Load&Agitator=Yes
For dishwashers, Whirlpool brands or GE.


Basic GE washers are fine, no need to buy a top of the line GE washer to get quality.

I only buy top load washers.

 

[dishdude]

The top load HE Whirlpools do a great job.

 

[john_pifer]

Originally Posted by dishdude
The top load HE Whirlpools do a great job.


I have a top-load HE Whirlpool that I bought 5 years ago. No complaints except that it's a bit noisy. I like the little tray that you add the detergent/oxi clean/fabric softener to. Adds everything at the right time. The timer is also nice. Set it before you go to bed so that you don't have wet clothes sitting in there.

It has also never become unbalanced.

I leave the lid open all the time to let it air out.

I've visited family members who are in the habit of leaving wet clothes/towels in the washer for hours. It's a very specific, noticeable, characteristic smell that develops, and it permeates all the towels. Nothing like going to towel off after a shower and you grab what you think is a clean towel only to have a nasty, musty, funky smell from what is supposed to be a clean towel, and you have no option but to use it. I mentioned the problem to said family member, and told her how she could correct it (sanitize washer and all towels with Clorox). She got mad at me for mentioning it, and still leaves wet clothes in the washer. Needless to say, all the towels in the house still stink!

 

[Revving2Redline]

Best Washer/non front loader? She's asleep.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted by Marco620
Best Washer/non front loader? She's asleep.


Hahahahaha!!

 

[Wagonmaster261]

I have a Speed Queen TR7. So far I like it. It does spin faster than my old washer, so the clothes have less moisture and dry quicker. The circuit boards are essentially what they use in the commercial units, so I'm not worried about it. I looked at some other washers at Menards, and they looked and felt flimsy compared to the Speed Queen.

Speed Queen front loaders are now only available as part of a combination stacked washer-dryer pair.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I bought the absolute cheapest bottom of the line Inglis top loader at Best Buy maybe 15 years ago. It's been flawless and gets the holy heck used out of it.

 

[Mr Nice]

Originally Posted by aquariuscsm
I bought the absolute cheapest bottom of the line Inglis top loader at Best Buy maybe 15 years ago. It's been flawless and gets the holy heck used out of it.

You don't have to spend an arm and leg to get quality.

 

[PandaBear]

We had a whirlpool commercial for our apartment building of 4 units (2 bedrooms each), and with repairs and replacing parts they lasted 23 years.

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted by PandaBear
We had a whirlpool commercial for our apartment building of 4 units (2 bedrooms each), and with repairs and replacing parts they lasted 23 years.

Speed Queens are the choice for apartment buildings with laundry nowadays.

Dexter is now the de facto choice of laundromats.

 

[Wylie6G72]

Bought a fully electronic GE Top loader a couple years ago (GTW485ASJWS) and hate it with a passion. Finally determined that we just have to wash everything on the 'Bulky Items' setting in order for it to use a decent amount of water. Otherwise, it just stirs the clothes around in a puddle and gets itself off balance. And the "Drain & Spin" setting?? It does nothing. Pause the cycle, change it to Drain & Spin, re-start, and it just keeps washing. POS.

If I wash bedding, I let the machine fill first, put the bedding in, and then pour a 5-gallon bucket of water in on top of it. Ridiculous.

We gave away our last top-loader, and really wish we hadn't. We could get it to fill as full as we wanted, and it always did what we told it to do.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted by WylieCoyote
Bought a fully electronic GE Top loader a couple years ago (GTW485ASJWS) and hate it with a passion. Finally determined that we just have to wash everything on the 'Bulky Items' setting in order for it to use a decent amount of water. Otherwise, it just stirs the clothes around in a puddle and gets itself off balance. And the "Drain & Spin" setting?? It does nothing. Pause the cycle, change it to Drain & Spin, re-start, and it just keeps washing. POS.

If I wash bedding, I let the machine fill first, put the bedding in, and then pour a 5-gallon bucket of water in on top of it. Ridiculous.

We gave away our last top-loader, and really wish we hadn't. We could get it to fill as full as we wanted, and it always did what we told it to do.

If I use the normal cycle on my Samsung front load I find there isn't enough water as well. I think this is the new "modern" energy (hot water) / resource (water) conserving B.S. I always put it on heavy duty load with the extra rinse / spin setting so it uses more water otherwise the towels or my shirts come out smelling musty instead of fresh and clean. The Amana top-load we had before that did the same thing. I had to put it on a the full load or whatever even though it was a 1/2 load.

Do these manufacturers actually test them outside the lab?

 

[4WD]

Originally Posted by diyjake
I personally like Maytag for appliances, I've heard from small appliance stores that maytag is more reliable over the other brands.

Long user of Maytag … currently running a glass lid XL top loader … with matching gas dryer