I need a washing machine

Submitted by Exact-Truck-5248 t3_1129lzz in BuyItForLife

I've owned two , a KitchenAid top loader and a Bosch front loader, and they've both sucked. For tshirts, socks, sheets, dress pants and other light stuff, they were ok. Add towels or jeans to the mix and always problems. I'm not talking about overloading the machine. I've been doing laundry since I was a little kid. I know what im doing. With the KitchenAid, every time, a nylon gear (I believe in the clutch) would strip and I'd need a service call to replace it. I'm not mechanically inclined, so I ended up paying more in service than for the machine itself. It's still sitting in my basement.
Then I got a Bosch front loader. Same damn thing, although it just wouldn't spin if there was even one bath towel. And the machine is balanced. Take the towel or jeans out, and it would be ok. (On a tangent, I'd never get another front loader. I do a load of whites with hot water and bleach once a week whether I need to or not or else it starts to stink). So, all these years, I've been taking my jeans and towels to the laundromat, which is getting ridiculously expensive. I'm tired of it and it's time for a new machine. I need advice. Large capacity, top loader, heavy duty machine that will meet my needs. I don't care if it's loud. It's in the basement. It can be expensive as long as I don't have to take out a mortgage on it. I don't trust what the salespeople tell me. Please give me some considered suggestions. Thank you.

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CamelHairy t1_j8iv84w wrote

Go Speed Queen, all metal internal construction no plastic gears. Longest warrantee, same components in their homeowner as the commercial units. Ours are at 10 years and still going strong.

Watch this video. https://youtu.be/cRgbfxJ8MTQ

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theo_the_cat t1_j9dguwn wrote

u/CamelHairy do you find the Speed Queen big enough to wash comforters and towels? The capacity looks to be quite low.

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realmeister t1_ja5spb0 wrote

No problem in our house, whatsoever. We are a family of six. Very rare that my wife has to run more than one load of darks/whites/gentle, etc.

Got ours two years ago and have never looked back. Absolutely stellar!

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Fantastic_Puppeter t1_j8iutcg wrote

AFAIK Miele provides the benchmark for high-quality high-price appliances

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Castrol86 t1_j8oakl7 wrote

Miele is the way to go! They are not cheap, but are great.

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pudgyplacater t1_j8iqk91 wrote

There aren't any buy it for life washing machines, but everyone here recommends speedqueens. I haven't had your issues, my LG's seem to work fine and have for a few years, but I expect them to die in a few more.

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Exact-Truck-5248 OP t1_j8ir03u wrote

Christ, my parents ran their Maytag nearly every day for 40 years.

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CamelHairy t1_j8j275o wrote

Maytag was great when they were Maytag. After Whirlpool purchased them in 2006 their quality dropped The only exception is their commercial line which goes head to head with Speed Queen. About the only 2 brands you will find in most laundromats.

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reddog323 t1_j8rcqeb wrote

Try Amana. A 25 year old GE washer quit on me five years back. Amanas are fairly inexpensive, have simple controls (all knobs, no displays), are American made if you’re in the US, and fairly durable. Aside from off-balance loads with lots of towels or blankets, I haven’t had an issue with mine.

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bad-monkey t1_j8jq452 wrote

I've been waiting for my LG front loader to die so I can buy speedqueens and yet it keeps doin the damn wash every single day for almost 10 years now.

Some LG appliances suck, but not the washing machines (or TV's) in my experience.

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pudgyplacater t1_j8k0d6b wrote

I'm with you on both items. Doesn't mean I'm not waiting for it to happen! I'll happily wait as many years as they will last. For me they've survived cross country moves as well.

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F-21 t1_j8obtqn wrote

If you buy professional washing machines (not homeowner types), designed for laundry services, they'll last a lifetime of home use for sure. But a Miele Professional probably starts at 3-5k.

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KLR650Tagg t1_j8j5cl3 wrote

Front load washers are like convertibles, you have to try it once, and generally never again.

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Kairenne t1_j8k1376 wrote

Speed Queen. Try to get the one with buttons and dials. Not digital. Lasts forever.

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DogKnowsBest t1_j8ipr0m wrote

I'm surprised to hear that about Bosch. About 2 years ago we decided to give Bosch a try, it started with the dishwasher. I think it's the best appliance we've ever owned. We have been happy with our Samsung front loader. We've had it for about 7 years now. We've also got the Samsung dryer as well. They seem to be really solid products.

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FastlyFast t1_j8mjfx6 wrote

Yep, Bosch is one of the best brands out there. "I can't wash jeans in the washing machine so i will buy another washing machine" is the stupidest comment ever. Even the most basic cheapest washing machine should be able to clean those with no problems. The real problem comes with wool and other pretentious materials. But Samsung, LG, AEG, Whirlpool, Miele are more than fine. OP should just check his washing machine IMO. There should be a bigger problem somewhere.

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Biffsbuttcheeks t1_j8j05kp wrote

My Maytag deep fill top loader is awesome. 10 year warranty on drive motor and basket. I've had no issues whatsoever. A lot of people I know have been buying LGs and Samsungs and experiencing issues very quickly. Go Maytag!

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ConfusedNegi t1_j8j269g wrote

I heard for front loaders you need to keep the door slightly open between loads because they seal too tightly.

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5spd4wd t1_j8jmk8m wrote

Look on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist in your area for a used top loader, an older one of a good brand. Buying one that way means you haven't invested a lot of money to see if one does the job well.

True story: I bought a Kenmore Elite 700 set that way, $150 for the set, from an elderly couple going into assisted living. I've been using the washer for several years and for $75 it's performed like a champ.

Haven't needed the dryer yet because the Whirlpool Gold dryer I bought in 2001 is still working perfectly.

New/newer doesn't necessarily mean best, or even good.

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Rawrsomesausage t1_j8jt6q8 wrote

Going to second this. My current combo washer/dryer is a heavy duty White-Westinghouse that came with the apartment. It's from 1999 and (knock on wood), works like a champ. The dryer is noisy at times (needs some lube), but apart from needing a new dryer belt it's been good in the 5 years it's washed my stuff. I think old Maytag is a good brand, and I'm sure there's many more.

My parents had some digital GE front loaders and surprisingly issue free over 10ish years. But I'm wary of all these newer machines. Awesome cycle selection and tailoring but I fear for their longevity in general.

E: I'll add, I haven't overloaded my machine but sometimes too many towels will impede the draining. The few times it's happened I caught it after the cycle ended, meaning it tried to do the spin cycle with all the water still in it. So definitely no nylon parts in there.

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the_journeyman3 t1_j8iwo6l wrote

I had Samsungs for a few years then I moved. Then I've had LGs for about 10 years. Both front loaders. None of the problems you've experienced. I will be replacing the LGs with Miele soon. I've had good experiences with all my other Miele appliances.

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Electronic_Lemon_833 t1_j8ix5k1 wrote

I have the LG 5.2pi3 front load washer. From the searches I did when I bought it, its the best for the bucks under 1000$ cad.

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njkauto t1_j8kb4xf wrote

You want a speed queen

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Muncie4 t1_j8l5qlh wrote

"Large capacity, top loader, heavy duty machine that will meet my needs"

This is not a thing in BIFL. You want it to be. We get that. But it is not a thing.

If you want a small capacity, top loader, heavy duty machine, then any of the Speed Queens or the Maytag 575 will do you. Sadly, many asshats here are giving you blanket advice, I am not. There are no known BIFL large capacity top loaders.

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UghAreWeThereYet t1_j8li719 wrote

We have the Maytag 575 commercial residential set and they are fantastic. I have no complaints. Apparently I was so happy w the set that my SIL bought the same one for their house, she loves it too!

Good luck!

Maytag 575 W/D set

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ConBroMitch t1_j8n48gu wrote

IMO top loads last longer (Speed Queen TC5 has less fancy bits and bobs to fail - more analog)

If you must get a front loader, Miele is the answer.

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CamelHairy t1_j9etu2o wrote

Yes,we have a queen size bed and have no problems. My wife is also a quilt maker, so she is always washimg something large. When purchased 10 years ago we had a family of 5 consisting of myself, my wife, my mother-in-law, a teen age son and a teen age daughter. We filled and ran that unit constantly.

Two things about Speed Queen I found out; 1. They measure their capacity different from the other brands so it looks low., 2. Their washers fill to the top, most, others only half fill.

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Drinkythedrunkguy t1_j8la8rt wrote

If you can’t afford speed queen, top loading LG.

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