Washer Recommendations

[Skippy722]

Has anyone mentioned a top loading speed queen yet?

But for real, ours does a phenomenal job cleaning even my work clothes. Our previous LG front loader would still leave my clothes smelling like machine coolant.

 

[NibbanaBanana]

I spent a day watching YT videos learning how to read Whirlpool error codes and troubleshoot. Narrowed the problem down to a bad actuator. The part that engages the drive motor to the basket and agitator. Has a small servo motor that moves a plastic arm. There are a lot of good/helpful videos out there. A bit of a learning curve but washing machines are a lot less complicated than cars. That I can say.

I can particularly recommend the excellent Parts Dr YT channel.

Bought the $50 chinese OE part on partsdr.com. Very easy to replace and appears to have solved the problem.

I guess Whirlpool is "made" in USA with chinese parts. Speed Queen is made in USA also. Not sure of the parts but has a 7 year warranty vs the 2 year on our Whirlpool. Also 3x the price.

Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[nickaluch]

Top loader speed queen with the dials 8 years no issues built like a tank find one used to save some coin

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

2nd to Speed Queen would be a Maytag commercial washer (MVWP586G). I was in a pinch when our Samsung front loader broke it's spider gear and wound up getting a Maytag MVW5430MW top loader (which was my 3rd choice) on sale at Lowe's last year.

 

[UncleDave]

2nd to Speed Queen would be a Maytag commercial washer (MVWP586G). I was in a pinch when our Samsung front loader broke it's spider gear and wound up getting a Maytag MVW5430MW top loader (which was my 3rd choice) on sale at Lowe's last year.

The spider attachments in LG and Samsungs washer are die cast pot metal with a mystery % of aluminum.

Mix aluminum and stainless steel and you get accelerated galvanic corrosion.

This is why you see lots of spider damage in these cheap Korean machines all over the web - get a few years in, the spider gets filled with scrud starts rotting, and the occasional badly out of balance load and pop goes the drum off the spider.

The speed queen is also aluminum but a bit more robust, but still a weak spot compared to Miele.

Miele uses a SS spider on the SS drum.

 

[Dborch41]

AVOID THE SIX LEDS!!!!

Like oil filters and cordless tools, there is a lot of commonality among the many brands of clothes washers and dryers. One feature you'll see on a lot of washers, especially the brands sold at home centers, is a row of six LEDs. The first one is labeled "sensing fill" and the last one is "lid locked". My son had one of these and it started acting wonky shortly after the warranty expired. I'm usually pretty good at home appliance repair but this one fought me in every way. He replaced it with a different brand (but the same six LEDs) but it crapped out in a matter of months but at least it was still covered. That's a good thing because the repair guy said the control boards on these machines are like $400 and he could make a living on just replacing those. "Known good" used ones sold online are plentiful and usually bad, probably why I had so much trouble trying to fix the first washer (three different boards gave three different problems). That row of LEDs is the giveaway and something worth avoiding regardless of who made the machine.

I recently bought an Electrolux washer and dryer and so far I'm pretty happy. They replaced a 15 year old Whirlpool washer and Kenmore dryer, fully analog and bulletproof. They both worked fine but were rusting out, I would have gladly paid the same amount for new versions of those.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I have 2 Speede Queens between family.

The hot / cold mixer valve went bad on one 4 years into the 5 year warranty. It was dripping water into the tub when not operating. Apparently a bad solenoid. Warranty tech replaced it for free, it was a $20 part anyway, not so bad.

The lid lock on our other unit started malfunctioning and wouldn't run. The issue was MiL getting detergent into it. Kind of a bad design but it was an easy fix, I think $30 for the part.

Besides that, they have been reliable and are easy and cheap to fix, so not bad compared to today's supposed junk tier appliances.

 

[Sumboodie]

One I have washes and dries all in the same unit. Super handy.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

I suggest BUY the Speed Queen!

I hope my suggestions can help as my quest for a "Good" washer was a bumpy road but you live and learn and this is what I had to learn the hard way!
I had to learn to stay far away for anything sold in BiG Box Home centers. With the new EPA limitations you can't even get a full tub of water to wash your cloths. You must now use "He" washing soap that won't suds.

Need to open the top or the front of that washer to throw some socks in or bleach, forget it as you are now locked out!
Did you buy a Samsung? Ha Ha, open it up and look around, The washers of the 90's looked like a Snapper Lawnmower with huge belts and pulleys, the new ones look like a toy, lots of plastic!

Did you buy a Samsung? Ha ha, try and get a part or someone willing to service it!
Whirlpool washers were great in the 70's to 90's but we purchased a new set and sold it on Craigs List a year later as it took forever to wash a load!

Does you new washer struggle with bedding ? Overload?

Do you own a front load and live in a humid area? look around the seal and inspect the Mold you now have in your house!

Then I found Speed Queen! Made in the USA Speed Queen is ONLY sold at mom and pop shops that actually offer service IF you ever have a problem!
You can get fancy Speed Queens but I suggest the more classic model with the knobs like your moms 70's washer had.

My Speed Queen has a button to allow you to fill it to the TOP with water no more EPA water limit!
With that in mind NO need to use expensive "He" soap, I buy that big bag of old school washing powder ( bottom shelf Walmart )for almost nothing and get perfect clean and when I open the top I now see suds! Lots and lots of None "He" Suds!!!!!

Need to add a sock or bleach mid cycle, just open the top during a wash and throw it in.
I can't overload my washer, I have tried but if it fits in the top it will come out clean and the washer has the power to get that bedding clean!

The catch? Speed Queen is a commercial grade washer ( and Dryer ) has a great warranty and is designed to last 25 years! Its priced 1-3 times the price of a BiG BoX washer! Trust me, its worth it, I expect my Speed Queen to out last ME!

If something does stop working just call the mom and shop you purchased it from and that part will be replaced and you keep washing years into the future!

Don't be fooled with fancy buttons and features as I have one goal, CLEAN Clothing! I get that 100% with Speed Queen!

 

[walterjay]

I think Speed Queen is a great product. If I were not on a 28 year old septic system I would consider one.

Wanting to keep water usage down I chose a front loader. I have a Maytag front loader and it has performed flawlessly for 7 years now. Knocking on wood.

 

[Wylie6G72]

We have a $200.00 Speed Queen we bought 30 years ago.
Still washes the clothes.
Simple top loader is the way to go, although it does use at least forty gallons of water for a wash cycle.

Fine by me, better than trying to wash a full load of clothes in a puddle.

 

[UncleDave]

I suggest BUY the Speed Queen!

I hope my suggestions can help as my quest for a "Good" washer was a bumpy road but you live and learn and this is what I had to learn the hard way!
I had to learn to stay far away for anything sold in BiG Box Home centers. With the new EPA limitations you can't even get a full tub of water to wash your cloths. You must now use "He" washing soap that won't suds.

Need to open the top or the front of that washer to throw some socks in or bleach, forget it as you are now locked out!
Did you buy a Samsung? Ha Ha, open it up and look around, The washers of the 90's looked like a Snapper Lawnmower with huge belts and pulleys, the new ones look like a toy, lots of plastic!

Did you buy a Samsung? Ha ha, try and get a part or someone willing to service it!
Whirlpool washers were great in the 70's to 90's but we purchased a new set and sold it on Craigs List a year later as it took forever to wash a load!

Does you new washer struggle with bedding ? Overload?

Do you own a front load and live in a humid area? look around the seal and inspect the Mold you now have in your house!

Then I found Speed Queen! Made in the USA Speed Queen is ONLY sold at mom and pop shops that actually offer service IF you ever have a problem!
You can get fancy Speed Queens but I suggest the more classic model with the knobs like your moms 70's washer had.

My Speed Queen has a button to allow you to fill it to the TOP with water no more EPA water limit!
With that in mind NO need to use expensive "He" soap, I buy that big bag of old school washing powder ( bottom shelf Walmart )for almost nothing and get perfect clean and when I open the top I now see suds! Lots and lots of None "He" Suds!!!!!

Need to add a sock or bleach mid cycle, just open the top during a wash and throw it in.
I can't overload my washer, I have tried but if it fits in the top it will come out clean and the washer has the power to get that bedding clean!

The catch? Speed Queen is a commercial grade washer ( and Dryer ) has a great warranty and is designed to last 25 years! Its priced 1-3 times the price of a BiG BoX washer! Trust me, its worth it, I expect my Speed Queen to out last ME!

If something does stop working just call the mom and shop you purchased it from and that part will be replaced and you keep washing years into the future!

Don't be fooled with fancy buttons and features as I have one goal, CLEAN Clothing! I get that 100% with Speed Queen!

You can have mold problem with speed queens like any other washer.

Front loaders with internal heaters never have mold problems (because the heat kills the mold) unless you dont run the heater.

No need for bleach with an internal heater.

 

[GSCJR]

I thought it was bleach, that also helps keep the machine clean, when doing the laundry.

Our LG FL (2021?) machines have been problem free.

 

[Pew]

I've got the cheapest Amana washer and dryer from best buy ten years ago, spent $800 It's loud as heck but I just close the mud room door. The dryer very recently has started to sound like it needs a new felt liner or bearing but it's still holding. There's still new parts available for it.

 

[Sumboodie]

I suggest BUY the Speed Queen!

I hope my suggestions can help as my quest for a "Good" washer was a bumpy road but you live and learn and this is what I had to learn the hard way!
I had to learn to stay far away for anything sold in BiG Box Home centers. With the new EPA limitations you can't even get a full tub of water to wash your cloths. You must now use "He" washing soap that won't suds.

Need to open the top or the front of that washer to throw some socks in or bleach, forget it as you are now locked out!
Did you buy a Samsung? Ha Ha, open it up and look around, The washers of the 90's looked like a Snapper Lawnmower with huge belts and pulleys, the new ones look like a toy, lots of plastic!

Did you buy a Samsung? Ha ha, try and get a part or someone willing to service it!
Whirlpool washers were great in the 70's to 90's but we purchased a new set and sold it on Craigs List a year later as it took forever to wash a load!

Does you new washer struggle with bedding ? Overload?

Do you own a front load and live in a humid area? look around the seal and inspect the Mold you now have in your house!

Then I found Speed Queen! Made in the USA Speed Queen is ONLY sold at mom and pop shops that actually offer service IF you ever have a problem!
You can get fancy Speed Queens but I suggest the more classic model with the knobs like your moms 70's washer had.

My Speed Queen has a button to allow you to fill it to the TOP with water no more EPA water limit!
With that in mind NO need to use expensive "He" soap, I buy that big bag of old school washing powder ( bottom shelf Walmart )for almost nothing and get perfect clean and when I open the top I now see suds! Lots and lots of None "He" Suds!!!!!

Need to add a sock or bleach mid cycle, just open the top during a wash and throw it in.
I can't overload my washer, I have tried but if it fits in the top it will come out clean and the washer has the power to get that bedding clean!

The catch? Speed Queen is a commercial grade washer ( and Dryer ) has a great warranty and is designed to last 25 years! Its priced 1-3 times the price of a BiG BoX washer! Trust me, its worth it, I expect my Speed Queen to out last ME!

If something does stop working just call the mom and shop you purchased it from and that part will be replaced and you keep washing years into the future!

Don't be fooled with fancy buttons and features as I have one goal, CLEAN Clothing! I get that 100% with Speed Queen!

Suds doesn't equal clean. Suds means far too much soap.

 

[GSCJR]

Suds doesn't equal clean. Suds means far too much soap.

In Italy, we used Ariel powdered detergent back in the 80's; little to no suds and the whitest whites. My mother brought the detergent to Canada when we shipped our belongings back, it was that good!

As an FYI, our FL washer was also a dryer, I still remember it was made by a company called Candy. Mom would still hang the clothes on the balcony because the drying part of the cycle "wasn't very good". I can only assume now, that it was probably a condensing unit similar to the Bosch units which are vent less, but ours was an all-in-one appliance.

 

[Sumboodie]

In Italy, we used Ariel powdered detergent back in the 80's; little to no suds and the whitest whites. My mother brought the detergent to Canada when we shipped our belongings back, it was so good.

As an FYI, our FL washer was also a dryer, I still remember it was made by a company called Candy. Mom used to hang the clothes on the balcony because the drying part of the cycle "wasn't very good". I can only assume now, that it was probably a condensing unit similar to the Bosch units which are vent less, but ours was an all-in-one appliance.

Mine takes 3-4 hrs to dry, but just set it to go and it's done.
Vs moving to a dryer and I forget there's clothes in the washer till sometimes a day or two later.

 

[GSCJR]

@Sumboodie, if yours works the same as the Bosch vent less, that thing gets HOT! I wouldn't leave that beast running while I'm not home though, you can't even touch the clothes when you reach in to check if they're done after about 2 hrs. I don't even know anyone that has a 2-in-1, everyone I know has a washer AND a dryer.

But, I get your point, set it a forget it; convenient.

 

[UncleDave]

I thought it was bleach, that also helps keep the machine clean, when doing the laundry.

Our LG FL (2021?) machines have been problem free.

On top of whitening (damaging fabric) , bleach will kill mold and cut through scrud.
But so does 60C or greater water.

You probably run a good amount of warm to hot loads.

Too many cold loads without machine cleaning will result in buildup.

 

[JHZR2]

Bosch