My top load washer is showing signs, more like giving out handouts, that it is seeking retirement.
My top priority is getting the seriously dirty clothes clean. My husband is a mechanic by hobby, he gets seriously greasy coveralls and jeans.
I like to wash my horse clothes.
Topload or Frontload, what do you use for really dirty clothes?
I had a frontload for 8 yrs in my old home. The biggest issue is needing to leave the door open so it does not get moldy/funky inside. Now, I have heard that you don’t have to do this anymore, but old habits die hard and my DH insists on leaving our topload washer lid open becuase of the bad experience/habit created having a front load.
My current washer is a top load, without an agitator. Its ok, I would not buy one if it did not come with the current house.
I personally would get an agitator machine due to his mechanic hobby endeavors. Apparently they clean a bit better. I also find that the agitator-less machines tend to twist my clothes all up and I find clumps of laundry powder in folds sometimes.
My GF just got a top load massive capacity (whirlpool?)? it can fit a king sized comforter in it. She loves it.
I just went through this when the time came to finally replace my 1985 Maytag. So I have recently done a bunch of research.
Both front load and top loaders without agitators use the clothes rubbing across each other as the main cleaning mechanism.
So if your concern is really grimy, dirty clothes go old school and get a top loader with an agitator.
I have a new top of the line, top load without an agitator.
All I can say is, I can not wait for it to die!!!
I despise that thing.
Yes! I’m using it correctly & have the settings set correctly for each load of wash.
It still sucks a$$.
I miss my front load washer so dang much!!
I do not normally think it is good to condemn an entire brand because of isolated experiences …
But as a PSA I feel compelled to share that Whirlpool is a brand of w/d to stay away from. It turned out that major flaws in one of the washing machine models were (are) well-known to the company and the internet, but Whirlpool wasn’t touching it with a 10 foot pole. They sold a new washer, that was the last they wanted to hear about it. The problems were long-standing and intractable, and the company actually acknowledged them but would do nothing about them. It would take too long to explain every problem.
Whatever brand and model interest you, do your due diligence research on quality by searching Youtube. These days there are disgruntled customers & even repair professionals who not only explain it there, but demonstrate the issues. And discuss what the brand company was willing to do about any problems with a new machine.
I wish I had known about checking for youtube reviews by customers before buying the Whirlpool. Every problem I had with it was there, and had been there in multiple complaint videos for years. As was the information that the company knew and was totally nonresponsive.
Strongly suggest getting a Speed Queen, either front or top load. I personally prefer top loaders, which allow me to add a piece to a load if found after the load has started. I got the medium priced top loader, heavy duty model, because it has the 5yr warranty over the lower-priced washer with the 3yr warranty. Their front loaders are what you find in laundromats, hard workers and get things clean. Best Warrenty in the business, covers everything!! Spin cycle is very fast, gets more water out, which cuts drying time.
We do a LOT of laundry! I love my Speed Queens!! I do wear them out, but it takes me quite a while. My Mom got over 30+ years out of her Speed Queen washer, longer from the dryer.
Something I don’t buy into are the washer commercials showing a load of a dozen bath towels or other big quantities of clothes. I would NEVER put that much stuff into my washer!! Plus I would bet those items are not really “that” dirty, like farm or other physical workers actually get their clothing.
My husband gets pretty dirty, though not always greasy, most days. I do Spray and Wash on bad stains, let sit overnight, then wash the next AM. I also do smaller quantities in a load, 3pr of Levi jeans on a medium size load. Maybe 2 Carhartt winter jackets at a time. Again, pretreated. Dry clothes are only halfway up the agitator, not packed down, that is enough for a load and expect it to come out clean. Heavy fabrics may need a full setting of water, while lighter fabrics can be fine with the medium setting.
Water needs to swish thru the fabric to move dirt there. Very full loads of fabric may not allow that water flow during agitation, even using the full water setting. So perhaps smaller loads, pretreating stains, could help clean your loads better. Some folks suggest other pre-treatment cleaners, Dawn Dishsoap, Simple Green, are grease recommends I got from friends, along with doing a double wash/rinse cycle to get all the cleaner out before drying or hanging to dry.
Hope these are helpful ideas to get cleaner work clothes. You do feel good when these things come out nice!!
We got a top load commercial Speed Queen a year ago and we are HARD on washing machines but happy with it. DH works for a road dept and I’m not afraid to throw in dog blankets, horse blankets, rugs, all the things. This thing thus far has taken it all on the chin and kept going. Before this I had an avocado green top load and I wish I had it back; I really think it was tougher and I could hear when the rinse cycle was happening. But if I were buying new again, SQ. We got a Maytag at the time we moved a year ago and it didn’t clean well at all and we returned it quickly to get the SQ.
I actually have an old wringer/washer type and in the summer we wash the things that really need to get clean with that; we hang the things on the line and run it with the hose (carefully)… It will agitate things as long as we let it go and it’s a great way to clean heavy stuff.
when we moved we bought a new front load high efficency save water fancy washer and it’s bloody slow and useless - anything with pet hair or real grime still has it when it’s done. My hubby uses it for his office clothes and bought me a old skool top loader with an agitator that fills to the top with water for my dirty barn clothes.
Top load kenmore(Sears), with agitator. I researched before buying and made sure to get a MANUAL, not digital control set. That means turn dials for load size, for length/type cycle and for hot and cold.
Apparently it’s the digital displays that fail often.
It’s been 15 years and it’s going strong.
My new (last July) GE topload came with instructions that suggest leaving the lid open after use.
Ive always had topload washers, never did that with the old ones, but have started, closing it when the dryer cycle is done.
In this order, for me personally:
Front load.
Top load with agitator.
and waaaay waaaaaayyyyyy down - top load without agitator. My mother has one, and that thing is a piece of junk. Can’t even get normal day-worn scurff off, let alone heavy duty stuff. I won’t own one.
My Speed Queen is one of my Favorite Things. It’s a simple top loader, no computers or digital anything- just a beast. I load it up pretty heavily from time to time (because clothes need friction to scrub clean a bit) and everything comes out clean as a whistle.
I got mine because you loved yours!
I got a Maytag Pet Pro about a month ago and I’m very happy with it so far. I replaced an aged came-with-the-house model and asked the independent repairman who pronounced the old machine a lost cause what he thought of the Pet Pro.
His response was threefold:
“Maytags are good”
“I’ve heard good things about that model” and finally
“I haven’t worked on one yet”.
That last one sealed the deal for me, since the Pet Pros have been around for at least a couple of years now.
Hair is more of an issue for me than dirt (we’re currently a 2 corgi household) but I do occasionally get my clothes pretty grubby and so far so good with the Pet Pro.
Front-load every time. My Miele died last year after 21 years - it was repairable but you can’t get the parts for it anymore. And it got everything, including my saddle pads, sparkling clean.
I now have an LG front-load and it’s almost as good. DOesn’t get rid of hair quite as well, but has a very large capacity and cycles are much shorter than the Miele.
I have an LG front load. I like it a lot, but I must confess, I don’t work it very hard.
Rebecca
Just went through consumer reports and the LGs scored the highest of any brand. I was looking for one I bought a few years back that I loved, but I could not find it (moved and left in old house). So I ordered a new LG. We will see how it goes. Front loader 5.2 cf with steam.
My W/D both have the steam feature and I guess I’m a nincompoop because I haven’t found a use for it yet.
Love my LG 5.2 front load! I have had two big capacity top loads and the largest non commercial Miele front load. New LG is the best by far. Huge capacity - great for horse blankets, saddle pads, dog bedding. Mix and match temp/spin speed/duration. Man’s filthy summer work clothes come out clean. If you can afford the matching mini washer, it is really nice for small not too dirty loads. If I haven’t used either washer for a few days (rare!) I do run a rinse cycle with a glug of vinegar in the tub. The water in the drain lines gets stinky. A big investment but worth every penny!
When I was shopping for a new washer last summer the salesman at the appliance store straight up told me that unless I work in a office and never get dirty the top loader without agitator is useless. Since I work in an industrial setting in addition to the barn I went with the Amana top load with agitator. It’s not bad, but nothing like the old avacado green one I had at my old house. What I don’t like is that I can’t select different water levels (small load, medium load, etc) and everyone I have talked to has said the automated water level sensing cycle doesn’t use enough water to get clothes clean. So I do every load - even small ones - on the full water level setting. Seems like a waste, but that’s “progress.” Sigh…
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