I have a GE top loader, no agitator and I agree its performance is pretty mediocre. Sadly I’ve only had it for a year, so no replacement in sight unless it croaks. 
2 Likes
IF you find one currently that you like you might want to buy two or three now putting the extras in storage as the proposed "efficiency requirements for clothes washers that would lower utility bills for consumers and reduce global warming pollution. " will pretty change your expectations
https://environmentamerica.org/center/articles/efficient-washing-machines/
Might be the time for one use cloths, get them dirty then throw them away
1 Like
My husband and both sons are mechanics by trade and then do all manner of filthy farm projects all weekend .
I suggest top load and get a Speed Queen washer. It really does get the clothes cleaner than any other washer I’ve had.
1 Like
I h ad a top load with out an agitator, it did not clean well at all, then went to a front load, must have got the lemon made at quitting time on a long weekend. It had so many issues I got on first name basis with the repair guy. 
1 Like
I used to have a wringer also, nothing cleans as well. In the summer I also used it to wash my carrots. lol
1 Like
yes, I agree, I think being able to select the water level was a good feature.
Speed Queen seems to be the overall favourite and one I wouldn’t have thought of. Thanks all. 
3 Likes
Oh wow. Sorry to hear that.
I’ve had 2 front load washers over the years & absolutely loved them both. No issues ever. Sold the first set when I moved out of town & into a furnished apartment.
Left the 2nd set behind when we sold our house & moved to another state.
We needed to buy our current washer/dryer during the pandemic & choices were VERY slim.
I kick myself every time I need to do a load of wash, for not holding out for the front load washer I had really wanted.
2 Likes
Do you like your old washer?
Fixing them isn’t that hard. Really. I’ve gotten half-way good at fixing them, between my pair & Mom’s pair. Dryers are easy, washers are a little more challenging, but not terrible. If you can get them in a spot to work on them where you’ve got room, you’ve won most of the battle.
I’ve got a new GE topload in 2020. The only reason I didn’t fix my aging Maytag was I had covid/pneumonia. The last thing I wanted to do was empty out my laundry room and take my washer apart. If I hadn’t been sick, it would probably still be downstairs.
PartSelect.com is a wonderful resource.
3 Likes
I just replaced my 25 year old front load washer with this beast: https://www.maytag.com/washers-and-dryers/washers/top-load-washers/p.3.5-cu.-ft.-commercial-grade-residential-agitator-washer.mvwp575gw.html
It uses more water but the cycles are much faster and it seems to clean well.
As far as brands, I think it’s hit or miss. My 25 year old set was a model that apparently had turned out to be very problematic for most people, but I never had any problems with them. They hadn’t even completely died when I replaced them - the washer just sounded a bit like an airplane taking off and scooted itself across the floor with a bad bearing or something.
3 Likes
I replaced my barn’s top-load Speed Queen pump and belt and it’s good as new. Parts were $50 total on Amazon but you can get them for even less. A very simple job and no special tools. The front cover is a snap to remove and the fix doesn’t involve removing the drum. These commercial washers are easier to repair than you think. Go watch a couple of YouTube videos specific to your make and problem and I’ll bet you can do it.
2 Likes
I tried my best to repair the 1985 Maytag. I accumulated all the parts after weeks searching and having to buy most of what I needed used or NOS from ebay. Almost every part was NLA on the repair parts web sites.
Then I discovered that I needed two special proprietary Maytag tools. I went to appliance repair forums to ask. The response from repairmen was “I used to have one of those, but tossed it out years ago.” Alternative approaches to removing and rebuilding the transmission were “you can probably get it out with a four foot pipe wrench and a 6 foot piece of pipe as a breaker bar.” I finally gave up after that did not work. And I now own a $150 4 foot pipe wrench.
3 Likes
Oh, rats! Good for you for trying, though.
Now to find a dealer for Speed Queen!
Yeah, Speed Queen!
When our GE died we went looking. I did not remember ever seeing Speed Queen until we were in the store, and then I remembered seeing them in laundromats. Figured they must be durable. Bought one a few years ago, no regrets.
1 Like
For future mental note -
For those extolling the virtues of the Speed Queen, do you all have a top load w/ agitator? Or does anyone have one of their front loaders?
Top load with agitator.
2 Likes
Top with agitator. Same for my Mom. Did not want to bother with HE soap or a smelly front loader who is never REALLY Empty of all water, requiring door to be left open. Door would be in my way all the time, though cats would love a new hidey hole!
1 Like
I use the laundry detergent sheets in my front loader. They seem to work fine. I do dislike leaving the door open a bit, but I don’t have cats or small children to worry about.
Reminds me of the one time I had a cat. Irresponsible college kids had a cat that had a litter, and there were two kittens left to be given away. My friend took one, and the owner told me they were going to drown the other one. So of course I took him, intending to find him a home. Never got around to it. Anyway, when he was a tiny kitten (I got him before he was weaned), I was doing laundry and got interrupted by a phone call. I went back to the laundry, finished putting clothes in the dryer and started it. It didn’t even make a full revolution before I heard a screech of indignant kitten. I stopped it and pulled him out. That was a very mad kitten, but at least he wasn’t hurt.
Rebecca
5 Likes
Miele has a horse-specific washer line. Sigh. (It also advertises dishwashers for “the riders’ lounge.” Double sigh.)
5 Likes
