Well it is official. My washer has gone the way of all the washers...hopefully to appliance heaven. Cause of death was an irreparable hole in the basket/basin/tub/WHATEVER it's called. The thing that holds the water.
So now I move forward to the decision making process of what to buy. I have never before purchased a washer and/or dryer, so this is a very new thing for me. I spent about two hours online tonight reading reviews of different brands and I am not officially more confused than EVER.
I'm not getting some super-de-duper get-the-clothes-out-of-your-closet-and-fold-them-when-it's-done sort of laundry system. Just the basics. I'm open to any opinions, good and bad.
56 minutes ago
10 comments:
I tried leaving a comment earlier and it wouldn't let me...stupid... Anyway, we have an LG brand washer & dryer. Frog budgets and comparison shops and reads product reviews like crazy, so I know they were a good deal! I think the model is called Tromm. Ok, hope this works this time...
I checked Consumer Reports (go to the library if you or your friends don't subscribe) and ended up with Amana. Haven't had any problems.
A stainless steel drum (the "basket" with all the little holes) is better than porcelain, because over time, the porcelain will wear away around the holes and you'll start getting rust spots on your clothes.
I have a top-loader and my mom has a front-loader. She loves it, but it takes twice as long for a normal wash cycle (54 min.) as mine does (25 min.).
I really hate the trend toward front-loaders because it's one more water-saving thing being shoved down our throats by the environmentalists (like the 1.5 gallon toilets that don't flush worth a darn), and that brings out the stubborn renegade in me, so I don't recommend you get one of those unless you REALLY like it for its features.
/rant
Happy hunting!
Jenna - LG is one I'd not looked at but I did read one review bashing all brands...and whoever wrote it said LG was their next choice.
Skyepuppy - This is very good to know about the stainless steel/porcelain, because the lowes guy told me porcelain was the best thing on the market. He failed to mention rust.
My friend Kari warned me against front loaders because she heard water can pool around the seal and create some interesting aromas after a while. I dont' think a front loader will work in my space anyway...the washer is too close to other things to accomodate the ease into a front door.
Because Greensburg (where my sister lives) is rebuilding green, I've become much more aware of these environmental products. I might get them...if they didn't cost twice as stinking much as everything else!
Amy and I have always bought used from Appliance Center right near Anderson Dodge.
We bought a Washer and Dryer set for $300 back in 2000 and it was just this Spring we had to buy another washer for $150.
Hmmm...it's so much better than spending money on a new one.
We have hand-me-downs. I saw the LGs and they are pretty sweet. If you buy a Whirlpool, you'll get an appliance that was designed by a friend of mine named Andrea. She designs the colors for Whirlpool washer & Dryers. You can even find plaid & polka dotted ones designed by her!
I'm one who has always admired pioneer women...
Perhaps you could beat your laundry against a large rock near a stream. You would merit the acclaim of environmentalists everwhere...
I hope this helps.
Chris R. - I hadn't even thought about that store! I will have to check it out - thanks for the tip!
Sarah - plaid and polka dot appliances?? never heard of them!! But they sound oh so cute!
Chris M. - Funny you should say that. In a moment of exasperation the other day, I told Mom I was going to just pack my clothes and head to the river because this shopping was for the birds. :)
As long as you don't use soap in the stream, you'll be fine with the environmentalists.
With the front loading machine that we have, we just leave the washer door open for about a day and it dries out inside so it doesn't smell funky. Then it's closed till the next laundry day!
It does take longer to was a load, but it takes LESS time to dry it. The washing machine spins SO fast, it's like the clothes are almost dry when it's done. So altogether it's about the same amount of time to do one load in the regular machines, since washing is longer and drying is faster. Our clothes also stay in better shape longer now, since front loaders don't have agitators to eat up your clothes. :) I like it! I'm actually doing laundry right now!
Bek, If you get too confused, I know a guy at Best Buy who can offer advice.
Also, you never know what you might find by using the IWU advertising system.
I'd give you the set we only used for 2 years that's just sitting unused in my Iowa basement if I had the time to go get it.
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