Our dryer died and we need new laundry stuff anyway- help!

[SnuggleBuggles]

I got some good advice in my recent renovation thread- thank you! But, I am looking to get the current scoop on washers and dryers because our poor dryer isn't making any heat and it isn't worth fixing (it was already super slow and we planned to get new later in this renovation process). But, we need laundry ASAP and I hadn't started really researching.

Dh and I aren't on the same page regarding top load vs front load washers. He wants a front load so they can install a counter over tad. He's a tad delusional about how it'd be used because if you give me a flat surface, it'll quickly be filled with crap. ;) It won't be a pristine surface available for folding... But, I don't care that much about top vs front load though I lean towards top load. It looks like top loads are coming back "in" and I wondered why. The space will be big enough that we can leave the door open for mildew issues though.

My dream is to have units that finish at the same time approximately. Right now my washer takes 25 minutes and dryer takes 80 minutes. I would love to do back to back laundry.

I'd prefer to keep the purchase under $3000 for the pair but we have budget wiggle room. I see plenty in that range though so you'd have to sell me hard to spend more. ;)

We are replacing ancient, simple appliances (Kenmore) that have been workhorses for 20+ years. I hate the idea of buying practically disposable appliances, as they so often seem to be nowadays. If you bought something that's been more trouble than it's worth, please let me know so I can avoid. I was all set on a fridge until I read some comments here about the exact one I'd been planning. I changed course and bought one that's been really good. What not to buy is just as helpful as what to buy so I appreciate any advice! Thanks!!

eta- I am short so nothing stacked.

[LD92599]

Speedqueen Speedqueen,

Apparently if you buy before 12/31, it's a 10 year warranty!

[SnuggleBuggles]

That's what I remembered from past threads- Speedqueen. Does it matter top load vs front load or are they all good?

[gymnbomb]

That's what I remembered from past threads- Speedqueen. Does it matter top load vs front load or are they all good?

Love my Speedqueen!! Got it 2-3 years ago after bad experiences with my 2 previous washers. I don't have their dryer because only my washer needed replacing when I got it, but if it's anywhere near as good I'd love to have it. Mine is a top loader because I really didn't want a front loader.

[chlobo]

What model did you get?

[SnuggleBuggles]

Dh’s co-worker warned him off Speed Queen. I remember that they changed designs a while back. Are the new ones really that much worse?


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[marymoo86]

Dh’s co-worker warned him off Speed Queen. I remember that they changed designs a while back. Are the new ones really that much worse?


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The issue primarily centered around the move to He - so new units use a lot less water than the older more loved counterparts.

[AnnieW625]

The front loader Speed Queens are super expensive, like $2k for a washer.

Our SQ washer is 6 years old and we haven’t had an issue with it. We had an appliance repair guy out to fix something else in our house and he noticed the SQ and said that the old models are on the verge of being collectors items because a lot of people are unhappy with the newer HE models.

I read this interesting article about the new SQ washers on Wirecutter a few months ago.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/thewirecutter.com/blog/speed-queen-washer/amp/


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[Mommy_Mea]

We bought Electrolux 5 years ago, and have been very happy. U can't remember what we paid, but it was under $3k for the pair. Front load, we leave it open and wipe down occasionally. Put a counter top from IKEA on top, it doesn't accumulate too much because I dear it getting pushed behind and having to dig behind the machines [emoji16]

Cycles are very similar, wash is usually a bit shorter, but that is because I typically do a 20 minute cycle for the kids clothes (that aren't super dirty).

[SnuggleBuggles]

The front loader Speed Queens are super expensive, like $2k for a washer.

Our SQ washer is 6 years old and we haven’t had an issue with it. We had an appliance repair guy out to fix something else in our house and he noticed the SQ and said that the old models are on the verge of being collectors items because a lot of people are unhappy with the newer HE models.

I read this interesting article about the new SQ washers on Wirecutter a few months ago.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/thewirecutter.com/blog/speed-queen-washer/amp/


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Yeah, dh sent me that article. Thanks!


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[AnnieW625]

Yeah, dh sent me that article. Thanks!


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Just want to add that they aren’t fancy but my parents, Grandma, and sister all have GE top loafers from Home Depot that they are happy with. My grandma was Maytag loyal prior to her current unit though, but that was old school Maytag of course. They also don’t regularly do laundry for a family of 4 though. Like I said in your other post if I have to buy another front loader I would go with the base model Electrolux washer.


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[twowhat?]

We have the Wirecutter "best washing machine" (and matching dryer). We paid $799 for each of them, so well under your budget.

https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-washer-and-dryer/

I went into the local appliance shop looking to get a Speed Queen top loader or front loader but ruled both out IMMEDIATELY upon seeing them, LOL. They are smaller capacity machines. Fine if you don't do your own King comforters and dog beds and giant Squishmallows and furniture slipcovers. But I prefer to wash all of our own stuff, including bulky items, and there was no way the Speed Queen would make that work based on size.

I've been very happy with the LG set. The Turbowash feature lets me finish a load of normal laundry in 38 minutes, and I definitely feel like the clothes come out just as clean. (Dirty muddy sneakers come out IMPRESSIVELY clean!) Clothes go straight into the dryer and I dry on the delicates/low heat setting (the dryer seems to run hot) which is 28 minutes long, which is plenty for a load of regular laundry (kids clothes, adult clothes, usually a mix of cotton and synthetics). I can power through a lot of laundry quickly, especially if I fold stuff fresh out of the dryer in the 10 min it takes for the washer to finish the next load. The only things that take longer to dry on the delicates cycle is our King comforter, towels and bathmats, and if I want to speed it up, I just bump it up to medium heat and everything is dry in 40-45 min. I do like to use the sanitary cycle for our white towels and sheets and dog bedding though, and I also like to add 2 extra rinses so those things take nearly 2 hours in the washer, but it's not a big deal - I just time it so that those are the last things to be washed for the day so it's not holding up anything else. There's also a speed wash setting which we rarely use but it's something like 20 min and fine for quick loads that aren't too dirty.

[AnnieW625]

I have noticed that Wirecutter is very pro LG and Samsung brands. There is usually one of either one of those brands in every appliance review so much so imho it sounds kind of fishy. Even the author of the Speed Queen article said he would’ve never reviewed a Speed Queen. It makes me wonder just how independent the reviews really are.


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[chlobo]

We have an LG front loader and it's awful. We put socks in and they come out not only as dirty as when they went in but also in the exact same shape. It's almost like they didn't move at all in the washer.

I want to move to a top loader and was assuming a Speed Queen but it now sounds like that may not work out.

What is everyone's favorite top loader?

[SnuggleBuggles]

We were thinking LG too but enough bad reviews around online and IRL that now we have a Samsung picked out as well as a Maytag. The Maytag has awesome reviews. We are going with a top loader.

[AnnieW625]

We have an LG front loader and it's awful. We put socks in and they come out not only as dirty as when they went in but also in the exact same shape. It's almost like they didn't move at all in the washer.

I want to move to a top loader and was assuming a Speed Queen but it now sounds like that may not work out.

What is everyone's favorite top loader?

I will be following the Maytag Commercial Washer highlighter in the article I posted above. If that isn’t an option then I might look at the GE brands (based on my family’s experience) or whatever brand still has an agitator at the time when we have to replace. My hope is that Speed Queen will rethink this whole HE business with their current machines and go back to the old ones. Our washer is 6/1/2 years old so we should still have another 10 years of life left on our current machine.


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