OT-Washer & Dryer purchase advice needed

[MartiesMom2B]

I've never had to purchase a washer & dryer before and will need to buy them before we move in October. I'd like to get something in the mid-range. What should I look for in a washer and dryer? All I know is that I want a dryer that will actually dry our clothes after one cycle and I'd like the pair to last for a good while too. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Any brands I should look for/avoid?

TIA!!

Sonia
Proud Mommy to Martie 4/6/03

[mama2be]

Sonia if I could do it over agin I would avoid the bells and whistles...and search hard and research a lot...a broken down washer and dryer is crippling and I have had my share...

My parents have an ugly cheapo avocado green washer and dryer and I have never seen a service man over at their home fixing it...I I highly suspect some neighbors think I am having an affair with the Sears guy he is here so much :)...

[emmiem]

After doing extensive research, I decided on the Maytag Neptune washer and dryer. They are not in the midrange, however, but I would not get anything else! I had my first Maytag for 10 years and replaced it because I wanted a front loader. It saves water and washes the clothes better. The Neptunes are now 3 years old and survived one move and have never had to be repaired.

[mharling]

We also have the Neptune washer and dryer. They are a little pricier, but are awesome!! We plan on having them a LONG time and taking them with us whenever we move. I wonder if you'd be able to find an older model or floor model that would bring the price down???

My next research project is determining if a front-loading washer can be used for a diaper pail. I only mention this because this could be a factor for you as well.

Mary & Lane 4/6/03
http://www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=67b0de21b3237413c427 - New 6/18

[KMommie]

I wanted a Neptune, but couldn't afford it. I got a midrange Maytag. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but it does have a large capacity (not as large as the Neptune, but large enough to fit my King Sized comforter). We've had it for 3 years and moved twice. No problems so far. Knock on wood!

Jeannie
mommy to Kiki 4/18/03

[divabell]

We have a Maytag W/D that we got at Sears three years ago. We've had no problems with them. They weren't the absolute top of the line but not the bottom either... I guess that makes them mid-range. :-) But I don't remember what we paid. I like the variable settings for different cycles, and the dryer always dries the clothes in one cycle.

HTH,
Lori R.
EDD 12/2/03

[sugarsnappea]

I have a Maytag, mid-range washer and dryer. I have had them since 96' and had no problems whatsoever. I used my washer as a diaper pail when my laundry room was on the first floor and it was great. I think Maytag generally is a good quality brand. I have also heard good things about Whirlpool, who also makes W/Ds for Sears under the Kenmore label. Good Luck!

[LD92599]

Here's another vote for Maytag (mid range)! We've had our pair for 4 years and no problems yet!

Laura
mom to William 3.5.2003

[mom2kandj]

Sonia-

PM me with your email address and I can send you info to General Electric's (GE) friends and family page. DH works for GE and whenever anyone asks about appliances, I "refer" them to the page so that they can get a discount. We don't get any kickbacks, etc and none of the ordering has anything to do with us personally! :) It is kind of like using a coupon code, but the coupon code would actually be the site.

The friends and family who have used the site usually go down to their local Sears and write down the model #s that they like and then look up the same models on the GE F&F site. My parents bought a SBS fridge that would have cost $2100 at Sears, but got it for $1100 including S&H because the model was being discontinued. We just bought a new stove and we saved about $300(F&F would only save $200) Most of our F&F who have ordered appliances save about 25% on MSRP. If you like GE products and their reviews, this is a great site for window shopping(and purchasing, too! :) )! HTH!


Rose
mom 2 Katie (32 months)
& Jack (16 months)

[hjdong]

We bought our washer and dryer 11 years ago now - the cheapest set we could find since we had no money at all. They are by Roper - I hap never even heard of them before. They have never had to been repaired - and I wish to God they would break because I go look longingly at the Neptune washer and dryer but certainly couldn't justify an expense like that when there's nothing wrong with what I have. I never thought I would get washer and dryer envy.

[marie]

if you are interested in doing more research, i would like to recommend "That Home Site"'s Laundry Room forum:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/laundry/

there is a search feature at the bottom of the page. . .

when we recently purchased a new set, we went with the kenmore front loader and stacking dryer. we have been happy with it so far and i like how it uses much less water than a top loader. since the washer spins faster, the clothes are already drier before they even go in the dryer.

good luck!

[egoldber]

When our washer broke a year or so ago, we went to buy a Maytag and came home with a Fisher&Paykel washer instead!

http://usa.fisherpaykel.com/

They are a New Zealand brand and are relatively new in the US, but I have seen them in a number of appliance stores since then. I ADORE mine. It does not have a lot of fancy features, but I don't really care.

The thing I especially like are its water efficiency and the spin cycle. It is a top loading machine, but is as water efficient as almost all the fancier front loaders for about half the price. And it has an amazingly fast spin cycle. I also have a no frills dryer that is getting pretty old, but I have no trouble getting my cloth diapers dry because the spin cycle is so amazing.

I would buy them again in a heartbeat and I think they are worth looking around for.

HTH,

[Karenn]

When the repair man was here fixing our Kenmore Washer for the FOURTH time (it's only a couple of years old), he tactfully suggested that we would have been better off with a good solid, baseline Maytag, rather than our fancy front loading Kenmore. It's fixed for now, but if it breaks one more time, I'm getting the maytag! :)

[MelissaTC]

We purchased a Kenmore washer and dryer 4 years ago (from the Sears at Northgate Mall :)). I swear they have been great. No problems whatsoever, everything gets clean and dry. I did a lot of reading and found these to be great for our needs. We paid around $1000 for the both of them and it was well worth it.

[kransden]

I used to work at Emerson in the motor division. They supply motors to several manufacturers. My office was next to the washing machine test area. A maytag may have the same motor as a whirlpool. What makes a difference who lost the contract that year and where they got motors from instead. My strong advice is to get Consumer Reports and see what they recommend in your price range for this year. It will be the best money you have ever spent. I have the best Kennmore made 1993 that had knobs. It has never had a problem. Consumer Reports gave it the thumbs up that year. Karen had hers fixed 4 times! Was that just a fluke, or did that year it get rated unacceptable? I have never bought a product CR liked that I didn't like too. I hate things breaking down.

Karin
Katie 10/24/02

[luvmypeanut]

I bought a top-loading washer/dryer from Sears and have had no problems. I seem to remember the salesman advising to choose a washer with a steel or ceramic drum rather than plastic otherwise your clothes will snag on the holes. We've had lots of Kenmore products over the past 25 years and have rarely had problems. I seem to remember my parents replacing the GE fridge quite often. Here in Tokyo our landlord installed Hauknecht W/D and they are awful. The cottons cycle without prewash takes 1.5 hours!! It takes the entire morning to just wash diapers.

HTH

[nohomama]

I highly recommend getting a front loading machine. We have a Fridgedaire and I love it. I've had the opportunity to realize just how much I love it this past week while vacationing at my inlaws lake house and using their top loader. Front loaders use significantly less water (in addition to requiring much less soap, meaning that a bottle of laundry detergent lasts virtually forever), are much gentler on clothes, and, in my opinion, get clothes cleaner.

Most of the midrange American made front loaders (around $600-$700) are manufactured by the same company and sold under different brand names. We chose the Fridgedaire because the small Mom and Pop shop in our area gave us a deal. Newer models of the machine we purchased have a few more bells and whistles (two spin speeds and more temperature setting options) but are basically the same.

If you're interested in a front loader but are put-off by the price tag, check out stores that have outlets for scratched, dented, and discontinued models or see if a retailer will give you a good price on a floor model. It also worth seeing if GE makes a front loader and taking Rose up on her offer of a friend's and family discount.

I've been dreaming lately of an LGR washer and drier but it's a little out of our price range (to say the least) and our current washer and dryer are less than 5 years old, have required no service so far, and show no signs of kicking the bucket. A girl can certainly dream though.

[SeekerMage]

I have to go with the Maytag or Kenmore as well. My parents had theirs for over 25 years without fail and just recently had to buy new ones. They got Kenmore though because price wise they were a little more reasonable. They just had to get a new dryer (the kenmore ended up being a lemon, which the repair guy said was rare)and ended up getting a Maytag, though they do like the Kenmore but were able to get the maytag on sale. Anyhow, they paid about 500 or so for the dryer, I dont know which model but lets just say that a very full load of towels will dry in the time it takes to wash your next load, its awesome!!! and quiet too. Soooo either Maytag or KEnmore as they are supposedly comparible. Just dont get the pull start knob, get the push start type. Just my two cents :)

[spu]

Hi Sonia,

We've had our washer and dryer for 7 years. They're both Kenmore from Sears. Buy an decent name brand from a reputable place.

As for bells + whistles, the only thing you need is large capacity and the quietest insulation. I never change the size load setting, and keep the water the same too. I've never used any of the other settings for speed or type of laundry... A repair man told me to keep everything set on normal and fast/fast spin (unless there's lots of delicates) because the fast spin cycle taxes the motor the least.


susan

twin girls 7.20.02
charlotte & else

[CherylT]

My mom has these too - and their drawer dishwasher. They are amazing appliances as you said!!

Cheryl
SAHM to Lilli 9/20/00 & Alec 10/21/02

[CherylT]

Another vote for Kenmore. We just replaced the 20 yo Kenmores in our house within the last 2 years with new Kenmores. No problems with them at all. I believe most washers/dryers are made by just a few companies - they just have different names on them. When we had to replace ours I made a mental note of what features I actually used on the old washer/dryer which were the top of the line and just bought the features I actually used on the new ones. Good luck to you...

Cheryl
SAHM to Lilli 9/20/00 & Alec 10/21/02