Guest guest Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 I've generally had good luck with washing machines. The last two (both still running) were the bottom of the line Kenmore front loaders. They are more gentle, auto-balance the load, and get things more dry than the top loaders. They also use much less water, which is a boon if you live in a desert. Neither have given any trouble at all. My son uses the one next door with the dryer stacked on top and we use the newest one which is the same machines side by side. Modern electronics has fixed most of the ills of the earlier front loaders. The repair men like the top loaders because they are into belt and bearing replacement which is good business. No problems so far and the oldest is movint toward 10 years. I don't see any signs of problems either. That said, there is a funny story about Jan and washing machines. When she lived in CT and occasionally came home for an extended stay with her parents in nearby NY, she would do her laundry in our top loader. Well one day she loaded everything she had into the top loader. It went through its cycle, but every time it tried to spin it was so off-balance that it stopped that cycle. So, at the end of the cycle, the clothes were soaking wet. Jan put them into the dryer and turned it on. The wet load was so heavy that it blew out the motor on the dryer. That is why we replaced that 20 year old machine. Jan learns through experience. She has been allowed (call that expected) to do her own laundry for years. Right now she brings a lot home to our place because she doesn't have to use quarters here, like at her apartment. OK, she also mowed the lawn with the power mower and did the dishes. After all isn't that what family inclusion is about? Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 Group, My hubby and I went looking at Washing machines yesterday, at front loaders. Found a deal on a GE brand one, I'd have to buy the pedistal later, but wondered since some of you have them, what brand you liked, and if they are worth the extra cost given our backs. Colorado Springs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 , Is it going to be a side by side set up? Will you need 2 pedestals? We just replaced with the simplest Whirlpool stackable and like it very much. It had very good reviews on consumer reports We didnt want to pay for any of the extra gadgets...since they are all electronic/circuit board driven...thats what tends to break down. We can stop it after its started, but it takes a second for the door to unlatch. We were replacing a Fridgidaire and are amazed at how even much faster the clothes are drying (thats where you really save the $$....the fact that you will not run your dryer so much...and also water usage if you pay for city water). Cant use the pedestal in that set up so while I can easily do the loading, I either wait for someone else to do the transfer up to the dryer or I get on my knees to do it. Sigh. Be sure to do the same research on your appliance that you would on your spine! Take Care, Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 , We have the Bosch front loading washer & dryer & I think they’re fantastic. I will never go back to a top-loader. The savings on water usage has actually been reflected in a lower water bill. You can stop my washer to add something. They have a lot of different features- some of which I’ll never use (because I’m too lazy to figure them out) & some I can’t live without. Cloths are spun so dry that drying doesn’t take as long. The difference between the cleaning action of a front-loader vs a top-loader with an agitator is that the front loader’s tumbling action is supposed to be gentler for your clothes. My very favorite feature of the pair is the steam function of the dryer, which has saved me a lot of touch-up ironing & dry-cleaning bills. (I know you’re not asking about the dryer but I’m passing this along anyway.) As far as function for we special people, ours are up on pedestals so that I can easily reach to do the laundry. The pedestals come in 8” & 15” & we got 8”, because that’s what I found the best EBay deal for. My hubby was going to just build a platform to raise them but when I found the great EBay deal we went that way. The 15” would probably be even handier. We store things in the pedestals that I don’t need to use very often. I spent a lot of time researching different brands & functions. The best resource I found were the Appliance and Laundry forums on the Garden Web’s “That Home Site”, which is my go-to site for most everything. The posts are from real people, not reviews. Kinda like those of us on this forum! Sorry to be so windy! Hope this helps. DorcasSt. Louis From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2011 6:54 AM Subject: [ ] Washing machines Group, My hubby and I went looking at Washing machines yesterday, at front loaders. Found a deal on a GE brand one, I'd have to buy the pedistal later, but wondered since some of you have them, what brand you liked, and if they are worth the extra cost given our backs. Colorado Springs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Cam, Dorcas, and Diane B, You all gave me great tips on my search. I'll look to make sure I can open it to add things. Pedestals seem like a must have. No frills seems to be my mode of operation in life, except for our older Caddy, which has proven to be expensive to fix, and who wants to repeat a mistake( tons of electronics on that, UGH). I wouldn't mind a stackable, but getting on my knees that much doesn't appeal to me, since I still have two kids at home while in college. I was trying to count pennies, and not spend as much, but it seems worth the extra cost if my utilities would go down, water isn't cheap here, nor is electricity, and my 15 year old Kenmore set runs non stop most days, and are falling apart. Cam I'm guessing the washer has to be on the bottom, UGH, would work better spine wise for you reversed hunh! Anywho, a must this month, washer one month, dryer the next, then pedestals. Thanks as always, you guys are the best! Colorado Springs On Sun, Jan 2, 2011 at 9:06 AM, cammaltby <cammaltby@...> wrote: ,Is it going to be a side by side set up? Will you need 2 pedestals?We just replaced with the simplest Whirlpool stackable and like it very much. It had very good reviews on consumer reports We didnt want to pay for any of the extra gadgets...since they are all electronic/circuit board driven...thats what tends to break down. We can stop it after its started, but it takes a second for the door to unlatch. We were replacing a Fridgidaire and are amazed at how even much faster the clothes are drying (thats where you really save the $$....the fact that you will not run your dryer so much...and also water usage if you pay for city water). Cant use the pedestal in that set up so while I can easily do the loading, I either wait for someone else to do the transfer up to the dryer or I get on my knees to do it. Sigh.Be sure to do the same research on your appliance that you would on your spine! Take Care, Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 , I dont think you can put a pedestal under a stack unit....but, remember that the wash unit is in the same place it is without a pedestal, stacked or not. Make sense? The advantage is that the dryer is nice and high...so unloading that is easy. I should say that it is possible for me to get most of the wash out without getting on my knees if I am patient...I just kind of spin the drum which brings the laundry up to me...but usually its easier to wait for my DH to do it...he loves to do laundry!!!! Good luck in your quest. Take Care, Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Carol, When looking at them at Home Depot, the front loaders on pedestals seemed very doable, in fact optimum, in comparison to top loaders. Took me a good year or so to be able to get at stuff in the bottom of the washer I currently have after revision, without the use of a grabber. I still use a grabber to get socks at the back of the dryer, yo all these years later, or I get on my knees. Personally, the cost is huge for us given we have two kids in College, but it's spend 350 on a top loader, or around 500 to 700 for a front loader( lots of good deals out there) , and get the pedestals when i have a extra buck or two. I'm leaning that way given the cost of water and energy put into the mix, since with kids, they go and go and go. Oh to win Mega Millions or Powerball, then I could have a home set up perfectly to fit my fused self, till then, or if then( ha ha), I'll make do as best I can! Colorado Springs On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 1:32 PM, carolmarie20041957 <dcvaughan@...> wrote: I have noticed some of the posts from group members about washing machines. I have a Maytag top-loader that is more than 20 yrs. old. I also have a Crosley dryer that is older than 15 yrs. old. I would hate to replace my washer & dryer at this point because the prices are so high now-a-days! (I sympathize with you !) But, the way my washer & dryer are set up, I can't have a stackable unit in my laundry room. They would have to be side-by-side models. I have often wondered how people get their wash out of a front-loader? I would have to look for another top-loader. I was in a local appliance dealer, and they still manufacture top-loaders! So, I would have to look at another top-loader...for my back. Carol V. > > Group,> > My hubby and I went looking at Washing machines yesterday, at front loaders.> Found a deal on a GE brand one, I'd have to buy the pedistal later, but> wondered since some of you have them, what brand you liked, and if they are > worth the extra cost given our backs.> > > Colorado Springs> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 We have a front loading washer and dryer and the only way I can do it is by having a chair that is a permanent fixture right there. Even then, sometimes the bending inside is a pain, literally and figuratively! They are making energy efficient top loader washers now, don't know anything about them though. I would opt for that the when we need a new one. BestDebbie (LI)On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 3:32 PM, carolmarie20041957 <dcvaughan@...> wrote: I have noticed some of the posts from group members about washing machines. I have a Maytag top-loader that is more than 20 yrs. old. I also have a Crosley dryer that is older than 15 yrs. old. I would hate to replace my washer & dryer at this point because the prices are so high now-a-days! (I sympathize with you !) But, the way my washer & dryer are set up, I can't have a stackable unit in my laundry room. They would have to be side-by-side models. I have often wondered how people get their wash out of a front-loader? I would have to look for another top-loader. I was in a local appliance dealer, and they still manufacture top-loaders! So, I would have to look at another top-loader...for my back. Carol V. > > Group, > > My hubby and I went looking at Washing machines yesterday, at front loaders. > Found a deal on a GE brand one, I'd have to buy the pedistal later, but > wondered since some of you have them, what brand you liked, and if they are > worth the extra cost given our backs. > > > Colorado Springs > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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