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Post by eebud on Jan 1, 2015 19:08:37 GMT
I know this has been asked before but I would like up-to-date recommendations. It looks like my washer just died. It is at least 10 years old, probably a few years older than that so I am not going to call out a repair person. It is time to replace. At this time, I will probably only buy the washer but eventually will get a dryer to go with it.
I know that I don't want a front loading. I want a top loader. I am thinking about one of the top loaders that does not have an agitator in the middle. Any recommendations for or against these and what brand do you have that you like or that you have and wish you could get rid of it?
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purplebee
Drama Llama

Posts: 6,955
Jun 27, 2014 20:37:34 GMT
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Post by purplebee on Jan 1, 2015 19:30:24 GMT
My VERY expensive Kenmore front loader died after about 6 years of normal, non-abusive use. Nothing too heavy duty, there's just 3 of us. Too $$ to repair, and repairman told us point blank that appliance manufacturers now make washers with about a 4 year lifespan.....wtw???!!!! Anyway, we bought a Maytag Centennial HE top loader (w/o an agitator) at Lowe's about 2 years ago during their BF sale. I think we gave around $350 for it. It's a plain Jane, dial control washer with limited bells and whistles, and seems to clean our clothes (DS farms, DS always has his head under a hood mechanic-ing) just fine.
BTW, the matching Kenmore front loader dryer seems to still be in great shape.
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Post by gale w on Jan 1, 2015 19:32:40 GMT
I love my Speed Queen but it does have an agitator. It's not a high efficiency machine.
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Post by eebud on Jan 1, 2015 19:36:40 GMT
I think the main reason I would like one without the agitator is I wash our comforter frequently. Our dogs sleep with us so it gets washed probably at least once every 2 weeks. I would like to have something that can handle the king size comforter easier and the ones with an agitator are hard to use. I don't feel like I get the comforter as clean as I would like because there isn't room for it.
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Post by worrywart on Jan 1, 2015 20:33:03 GMT
I have a maytag HE top loader (no agitator) which I love but in hindsight,I kind of wish I would have gone with the front loader...
Love - large washing tub can wash a king size quilt, uses barely any water, makes all the decisions for you (load size etc.)
Don't love - no agitator for me has meant that this washer gets off balance sometimes..sheets, jeans, anything heavy and large. Now, it does attempt to correct the off balance by itself, sometimes successfully but I still hate that it does that and I have to sometimes go and straighten out HEAVY jeans just to have it get off balance again.
Just like a front loader, has a tendency to get mildew and it reminds me to run a cleaning cycle every month or so to bleach away any mildew so haven't had a problem with that.
Get clothes out fast. They spin so dry that they will get mildew smell quick especially in the warmer weather.
Overall, love the washer and LOVE no agitator except for the off balance thing..not sure if other washers like this have the same problem!
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Post by eebud on Jan 1, 2015 21:09:50 GMT
Thanks Worrywart for that review. I hope I won't be disappointed. I had to buy quickly because I have dirty clothes, my washer died, and I don't want to go to the laundry mat. I found a website with rankings of washers. I decided to take that to Lowe's and buy the highest ranked, reasonably priced, washer from the list. I bought the Maytag Bravos XL. It is ranked #2 on this list. They had one in the store that had been returned due to the footings being uneven and I guess they couldn't fix that. It is now fixed. I saved $200 buying this one. It has the same warranty as one out of the box. I used some of the savings to buy another 5 years of extended warranty. There are so many electronic parts on the washers now, there is so much more to go wrong. I bought the extended warranty on my refrigerator for the same reason and it has already saved me about $700ish over the price of the warranty. It will be delivered and set up tomorrow. As for the balance issue, that is a pain but I had to deal with the same thing on my current machine so I guess it won't be any different. It's a pain but I guess a pain I have already learned to live with.
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Post by worrywart on Jan 2, 2015 5:07:07 GMT
I doubt you will be disappointed  - mine is a bravos as well, just went and looked. Maytags are great, this is my second one and I would definitely buy another. I don't know how old your other washer is but my old one I had to tell it the load size etc...well the new washers, I guess weigh or judge somehow how much water to use, it is pretty neat. Plus it has a nice cleaning cycle to do every month or so.. Anyway, I am sure you will love it too!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:52:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2015 11:00:24 GMT
Hope you like yours better than I like mine. I sent dh to buy new washer and dryer. Washer has a feature that causes the lid to lock when the cycle starts. You can not open it untill it is finished. The dryer features are so complicated that I would have to study the directions to be able to use it. I have been doing laundry too many years to read directions! So far, dh has been home to help or I keep pushing buttons until something works.
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
Jun 25, 2014 19:18:36 GMT
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Post by ginacivey on Jan 2, 2015 13:40:54 GMT
Santa brought me a whirlpool cabrio set - top loader - no agitator Cabriomy old set was the whirlpool duet front loaders - 12 years old - a few repairs - the door hinge was broken - so it was a pain in the ass to baby the door - we just didn't want to put any more money in it (gave the set away - i am crossing my fingers the new owners get a couple years out of it)
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