Washing machine update
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@Bernard interesting! I’m glad you found a solution that works.
The whole thing about consumer electronics and other household products that don’t last is incredibly frustrating. And so unnecessary, given the technological capability humans have acquired over the last 150 years. Today nothing of the environmental impact of all these broken products that get thrown away because they quickly become useless.
My biggest household concern is our HVAC. It is working fine right now, but it’s 15 years old. When it goes, we’ll have to choose from whatever models are available. Besides the expense of replacing an hvac, what guarantee is there that we’ll get something that will last another 15 or more years?
@ShiroKuro Planned obsolescence was part of the reason I decided to go small. That, and wanting to put things in proportion to my needs. If this little washer doesn't pan out it won't be that big a loss. But I have a good feeling about it.
The industrial revolution cheapened everything.
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Yeah, WTG, our laundry is in the basement too. We just remodeled it and it’s very spiffy but no way to install an elevator or dumb waiter. I’m ok with it now but I don’t like to see her have to. One day it won’t be ok.
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@ShiroKuro Planned obsolescence was part of the reason I decided to go small. That, and wanting to put things in proportion to my needs. If this little washer doesn't pan out it won't be that big a loss. But I have a good feeling about it.
@ShiroKuro Planned obsolescence
I feel like a lot of what we see with the shittiness of consumer products isn’t even “planned” though, it’s just slipshod work, a complete lack of commitment to quality, and zero sense of responsibility to consumers.
If a cost can be cut, it will be, regardless of the consequences.
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Yeap, I knew that @steve-miller would say Speed Queen.
Just looked it up. A new SQ washer costs about 3x the price of the typical new, non-SQ washer that I would buy for my own use.
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And that’s the problem. Domestic appliances just don’t cost enough. Manufacturers cut corners to stay competitive then add “features” to make up for it.
Maytag just introduced a new commercial machine that is set to cost only 2X the price of a regular domestic machine. Initial reviews are good and the design looks solid.
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@steve-miller - got a link to the Maytag units? I'm seeing a "commercial grade" and also a "commercial". People are grousing about the circuit board going on the home commercial grade models. Five year warranty (I think parts only, and maybe just a subset of parts). Repairs/parts availability complaints.
I wonder if the "commercial grade" is more of a marketing pitch.
Also wondering about Maytag in general. Wasn't it bought out by Whirlpool?
Our Maytag gas dryer is going on 30 years and has never needed a repair. That's never gonna happen again...
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Don’t get an an Asko. Good stuff but not that good, impossible to find service and parts in the US.
Speed Queen is the answer. They are always the answer.
Don’t get an an Asko. Good stuff but not that good, impossible to find service and parts in the US.
Speed Queen is the answer. They are always the answer.
Agree again. The all mechanical old school washers are the best.
My parents would buy Maytags and run them over 20 yrs.
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I’ve watched several of this guy’s videos and he seems to be a straight shooter.
Note that it’s not yet available and price has yet to be announced. The design appears to be similar to SQ
Link to video -
This guy is good too.
Link to video -
So @steve-miller ... Have to admit I prefer front loading washers to top loaders, though it's been a long time since I've owned a top loader. Yea, there can be issues with the stinky washer problem with front loaders but they are so much gentler on clothes than the top loading models. SQ makes a front loader but of course it has electronic rather than mechanical controls.
eta: The clothes spin out better in front loaders, too. Dries faster.
Thoughts?
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I’m sure SQ front loaders are terrific but they’re nearly double the price of their top loader, which is already very expensive, and I don’t trust the electronics.
We currently have an 8 YO LG front loader and have no complaints so far. No repairs, no smell problem. Big enough for comforters, easier to load/unload than that top loader we had before. Dunno how much longer it will last but being as I can buy 3 of them for the cost of a front loading SQ I’ll probably buy another when the time comes.
And do I really need a washer that lasts 30 years? At my age I hesitate to buy green bananas!
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We bought our Whirlpool washer and dryer in 1995 when we moved into this house. They still run like champs. Had to replace a belt once, but that’s it. I’m not buying a new washer and dryer until these plotz. I don’t want electronic circuit boards and bells and whistles. I just want clean clothes.
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I’m sure SQ front loaders are terrific but they’re nearly double the price of their top loader, which is already very expensive, and I don’t trust the electronics.
We currently have an 8 YO LG front loader and have no complaints so far. No repairs, no smell problem. Big enough for comforters, easier to load/unload than that top loader we had before. Dunno how much longer it will last but being as I can buy 3 of them for the cost of a front loading SQ I’ll probably buy another when the time comes.
And do I really need a washer that lasts 30 years? At my age I hesitate to buy green bananas!
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We bought our Whirlpool washer and dryer in 1995 when we moved into this house. They still run like champs. Had to replace a belt once, but that’s it. I’m not buying a new washer and dryer until these plotz. I don’t want electronic circuit boards and bells and whistles. I just want clean clothes.
Those would be Whirlpool “direct drive” machines, AKA “Design 2000”. Among the most reliable residential machines ever made and Whirlpool sold millions of them under the Whirlpool and Kenmore name.
My daughter has a set that came with her house. She thinks they’re kind of old fashioned but I convinced her to keep them until they die. Given their relative simplicity and the availability of parts I suspect she’ll have them for a very long time.
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Those would be Whirlpool “direct drive” machines, AKA “Design 2000”. Among the most reliable residential machines ever made and Whirlpool sold millions of them under the Whirlpool and Kenmore name.
My daughter has a set that came with her house. She thinks they’re kind of old fashioned but I convinced her to keep them until they die. Given their relative simplicity and the availability of parts I suspect she’ll have them for a very long time.
@Steve-Miller Exactly right! Very reliable.
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This guy is good too.
Link to videoThis guy is good too.
Link to videoI watched this quickly, I'm going to watch it again, and I'm going to think on it.
Link to video -
Link to video
I guess this Maytag doesn't check out after all.
Btw the Amana in this video was my exact washer that broke new to me but only 2 yr old.
It was the worst washer I've used in my life and I'm not exaggerating.
It didn't wash, then rinse, then spin, exactly.
No matter the knob you turned, it always filled with only 2 ft of water.
It didn't finish filling, then start washing, etc. It It groaned for several minutes before it changed to the next thing it has to do, right down to pausing before the final spin and then again before you could lift the lid.
It ran for what seemed like about an hour. It used electricity like there was no tomorrow.
Man, I hated that machine. Good riddance.
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I've decided no two ways about it. I want a new mechanical Speed Queen.
$600 every 2 years for the electronic panel to flip out, then to buy a new one, then to hire them to remove the old one and install the new one (not my skill set) is ridiculous.
I'm enjoying doing laundry by hand in the kitchen sink, wringing it out, hanging on chairs on the enclosed glass patio for a day with the ceiling fan on, and then drying in the dryer.
I don't mind at all. I've been doing laundry by hand for 2 years.
I want to have my ceiling leak fixed first.
Also, the underside of the floor that I know could reach 7k.
$$$$ in my world.
The car I bought didn't cost 10k. (25k miles, small, pristine, live it, more later).
The tiles give some when you walk on them and I know why. It's disconcerting and needs the right contractor asap.
I've wanted an Asko for a long time but couldn't swing and can't today.
I am kind of two minds, but having the kind of washer my parents had in our house would be the best. How wonderful in this fast changing world would that be.
The nail in the Asko coffin for me is it has electronics.
Why take that risk when you can get a new old school mechanical washer?
I mean I can think of reasons but on balance I crossed it off my list.
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