Washer and Dryer - opinions

[TimSJ]

we bought a top load kennmore elite Oasis HE Canyon Capacity top load from sears.. Huge capacity and seems to work great and i think does everything a front load would do.

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

thanks for the calculation. That's the kind of info I was looking for; just to dumb to figure it out on my own.

Seems to jive with info here : http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/laundry.html

looks like the savings on my utility bills will be minimal - 10-20 cents per load; $5-10 per year

So I guess it comes down to the quality of the wash, and wear/tear on my clothes - is that worth the extra 800 bucks.

thanks to every one for their opinion

no problem, I'm gonna say yes to your next question because after figuring that out I have to justify my spending somehow

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

thanks for the calculation. That's the kind of info I was looking for; just to dumb to figure it out on my own.

Seems to jive with info here : http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/laundry.html

looks like the savings on my utility bills will be minimal - 10-20 cents per load; $5-10 per year

So I guess it comes down to the quality of the wash, and wear/tear on my clothes - is that worth the extra 800 bucks.

thanks to every one for their opinion

reading over that site, don't forget the extra costs associated with heating and disposing of the extra water which wasn't included in my calculations

[corporatejay]

Also, keep in mind that you can stack a front loading washer which helps for main floor laundry.

we've decided to stack ours and then have a folding table in our laundry room, saves a lot of space.

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Also, keep in mind that you can stack a front loading washer which helps for main floor laundry.

we've decided to stack ours and then have a folding table in our laundry room, saves a lot of space.

we did the same, I can't believe Sears wants $160 to "stack" the washer and dryer

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by return to the red

we did the same, I can't believe Sears wants $160 to "stack" the washer and dryer

they wanted 160 bucks to put one on top of the other?


dont you just "stack" them.....why does it cost more money to do that?

[Barnes]

We will have front loaders in our new house. We were told by the salesperson to not use any soap for the first 2 or 3 times we wash a garment because the top loaders leave so much soap in them. He also said not to worry about special soap. You can use the regular stuff but to inly use like a tablespoon. Not sure if that's true.

[redforever]

If you have that much soap residue left in your clothing, you have been using way too much soap to begin with, it is as simple as that. With either type of washer, use the appropriate amount of soap for the dirt in the load. Hence, if you have been out for the weekend on your quad at Maclean creek, I would suggest using more soap than for your teatowels or bedding.

And all the larger size means is you can put more in for washing. That does not mean that you should load it up and cram as much in as possible because if you do, the machine will not be able to wash at its best. As someone else mentioned, you need the agitation of clothes against clothes to remove dirt too. But the larger capacity now means that you can put your queen or king sized bedding in and no longer would have to take those articles to a dry cleaner. Keep in mind too that all clothes should not be washed together unless you want a drab color of grey to permeate all your clothes. Colors and fabrics have to be separated, or at least I would suggest that they should be if you wish them to remain looking their best. So yeah, it might take you a bit longer to do all your clothes by sorting, but then you will use smaller amounts of water too. However, your electricity bill might be higher as you are now running a few more cycles.

Keep in mind too that what really will cause your clothes to discolor or turn drab over time is the use of too much fabric softener. I myself never use it, there are allergy problems in our house. Keep that in mind if you have new babies, their skins are particularily sensitive to both detergents and softeners. What you can use and will get equally as good results are those dryer balls, plastic thingeys with sort of spikes or spines on them. So save yourself some money that way.

[Flames_Gimp]

i bought refurb top loading washer and a regular dryer.. paid about $400 for the pair..works fine. i actually have a set downstairs as well..don't really have a high water bill. personally, I like to save money on upfront costs.

[metal_geek]

Our frontloading washer is leaps and bounds quieter then our older top loading.. That alone is worth the swich..
________
Roll Blunts

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

they wanted 160 bucks to put one on top of the other?


dont you just "stack" them.....why does it cost more money to do that?

I have no idea that's what the sales guy told us...and I told him something in return

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by metal_geek

Our frontloading washer is leaps and bounds quieter then our older top loading.. That alone is worth the swich..

Thats true. The front load washers are a lot quieter.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by redforever

Hence, if you have been out for the weekend on your quad at Maclean creek, I would suggest using more soap than for your teatowels or bedding.

Who will get to it first? Ken or Fotze?

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by return to the red

we did the same, I can't believe Sears wants $160 to "stack" the washer and dryer

Is that for those pedestals for a drawer under each of them, but not actually dryer on top of washer? Whirlpool has a sticking kit, but it's really a couple of latches to secure the to the washer. Salesman "threw it in" for me, so it can't be that much.

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Is that for those pedestals for a drawer under each of them, but not actually dryer on top of washer? Whirlpool has a sticking kit, but it's really a couple of latches to secure the to the washer. Salesman "threw it in" for me, so it can't be that much.

nope we didn't buy those things My wife actually called so who really knows but she said just to lift and put one on top of the other

[ken0042]

I'll be buying a front load washer as soon as I can. I've used both front and top, and the big thing is the wear and tear (or lack thereof) of your clothes. A couple of things to keep in mind from when I used to sell appliances:

- What is the dollar value of what you are putting in the washer? Jeans @ $50/pair, sweatshirts at around the same price, jerseys worth $100 each. Heck, a load of t-shirts, shorts and socks represents $300-400 worth of clothes for me. Spend the money up front and save your autographed McCarty jersey.

- Detergent. Use the HE stuff. yes, you can sometimes get away with using less of the regular stuff, but the last time I priced it out the HE stuff was the same price per load. Smaller bottle, yes. But you use less of it. Also, for tose with top loaders, keep in mind you usually only need the lowest level on the measuring cup for full loads. 1/2 loads need even less.

To me the water/energy savings are secondary. I lived in a condo that had a Maytag Neptune front loader in the laundry room- it was 50¢ more to use that one. So even costing me more per load, I found the front loader a better deal.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by redforever

If you have that much soap residue left in your clothing, you have been using way too much soap to begin with, it is as simple as that.

I know what you are getting here, but I don't think its that simple. The front load washers spin much, much faster than a top load. So when the rinse cycle comes along much more water (and the soap with it) is removed from the laundry.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by Barnes

We will have front loaders in our new house. We were told by the salesperson to not use any soap for the first 2 or 3 times we wash a garment because the top loaders leave so much soap in them. He also said not to worry about special soap. You can use the regular stuff but to inly use like a tablespoon. Not sure if that's true.

You really should be using the HE detergent. Some front loaders will use between 6-10 gallons of water, compared to 45-50 gallons with a top loader. The other detergent just doesn't cut it.

The fabric care on most front loading machines is what should seal the deal for people. Clothing will last so much longer and keep its appearance so much nicer.

[cral12]

Looks like we're in the market for a new washer. We have a frontload (stacked) Frigidaire Galaxy washer that sounds like a jet engine gone wrong in the spin cycle.

Looking for stackable washer and dryer.

Anyone recently have to purchase?

Recommendations on where and what to buy?

[jayswin]

I ain't no thread Nazi, but good lord, a 6 year bump for advice on washing machines?