What would you recommend for BEST INEXPENSIVE washer & dryer

I was going to suggest a good, older, traditional washer that is fixed up and used. But then saw you said no agitator. Why is that?

I was talking to a salesman this past weekend and he said they are going to stop making the washers that don't have the agitator because they don't clean.

I have a Samsung drier that I love. I really love that thing. It is electric though and it has a steam function. I love it!

I prefer top loading, I like being able to start the water when I add soap and there's plenty of times I find something after I've started laundry, so I like being able to open the lid and throw something else in. Mine are Whirlpool and I think I was able to get them on sale for about $1000 at Best Buy several years ago.

I'm not a bells and whistles sort so I've always gone with the cheapest at Lowes - which is usually a Roper or Whirlpool or Maytag toploader. I've been happy with them over the years.

www.lowes.com/pd/Roper-3-5-cu-ft-High-Efficiency-Top-Load-Washer-White/1000074111 I think this is what we have now and have had for some years (or at least is the newer version thereof)

DH does appliance repair and will be the first to tell you that no matter what brand you get these days, any appliance will eventually need repair. They just don't make them like they used to.



A couple things to keep in mind are the price and availability of parts for when it does need repair, customer service for whatever you end up buying, and that warranty that comes with your purchase- how long is it good for and what does it cover (and what does it not cover- you'd be surprised at what some companies try to get out of repairing under warranty!). Keep in mind that the more bells and whistles an appliance has, the more parts will need repair eventually.
And the more electronics it has, the more expensive those electronic repairs will be.


I do know that more expensive doesn't always get you a better product or service. There's one well-known expensive brand that he hates to repair b/c the only way to get parts is through the manufacturer, and their customer service is terrible.



DH suggests anything in Whirlpool family (except Kenmore). That would include- Whirlpool, Kitchenaid, Maytag, Amana, Jenn-Air. Those brands are easier and less expensive (well, not Jenn-Air, they're more expensive) to repair and the parts are easier to find. There's still no guarantee that those appliances will last forever with no repairs, but that was his suggestion. On a previous thread, someone mentioned Speed Queen and I've only heard good things about them.


I wouldn't go with a front-load washer, since they all have issues with a moldy door boot eventually (unless you clean it carefully each time you use it). We have a 12-year old Fisher Paykel top-load washer with an agitator- it spins a lot of water out like front-loads do, but they don't have the mold issues. (We bought it before he was in appliance repair.) I forget what brand our dryer is, but it's not F-P. We've never had to repair either one. We used to have Maytag washer and dryer bought in 1991 that worked perfectly, but we had to leave them with our house when we sold it in 2005. Maytag isn't made the same as it used to be, but is still a much better brand than Samsung or LG.



If you get a high-efficiency washer that uses less water, there are sometimes issues with it not using enough water to get the clothes clean (and sometimes the clothes don't even all get wet), so do your research before getting one of those. There are ways to trick the washer into putting more water in, but if you're paying that much for a washer, you shouldn't have to.

Samsung makes great electronics, but not great appliances. We have a Samsung tv and laptop, but there are reports of some Samsung washers nearly exploding apart while in use. DH wouldn't suggest LG either, but I forget why- I think they just aren't made as well as other brands.

Peamac-I didn't go back to my thread the other day (it's been a crazy hectic week) but I want to thank you profusely for answering these threads. I finally found a reasonably local dealer (50 miles away) who sells both F&P and Speed Queen and they recommended a repairman for our F&P. We are going to start there, then if we have another issue will replace with F&P or SQ.

peace and Kerri W- I'm glad the information is helpful! It amazes me how often appliances are replaced when they can be easily repaired (but I do understand that there are times for replacing). DH's guide for replacing an appliance is when the repair costs will be about 2/3 the price of a new appliance. Many warranty companies use that number as well. Some say that if an appliance needs repairs 4 times within one calendar year it will be replaced, but that's not always a good guide b/c some parts cost a lot more to replace than others. Control boards and control panels are obviously a lot more expensive than door switches and pumps.

We got our washer and dryer from Best Buy, our chest freezer from Sears, and our microwave, stove, and dishwasher from a local appliance store. The microwave was new, but the stove and dishwasher were gently used and thoroughly gone over by the tech at the store before being put out to sell. Best Buy will often price match, even if it's an online price, so there are definitely ways to get the costs down (be sure to bring in the ad or show them the online price on your phone- we did that when we had to buy a new printer).

Have you checked Craigslist or Facebook for sale sites in your area? When we needed a second washer and dryer, I started looking there, and after about a week I found almost exactly what I was looking for. The people we bought it from were remodeling, and had gotten all new appliances and or selling their old ones very cheap. Good luck!