Washing Machine

[Hoover]

Hey, I need to buy a washer and dryer for my new pad, any done any research on these things, what to look for? what to stay away from.

I don't think I need a 1000 dollar washer and 800 dryer. I'm looking for standard crap.

[Iowanian]

Hoover, given your location.....there should be no question, what brand name you purchase.

[Hoover]

Um, yeah I went to the Maytag store, and said "I woul dlike to look at Maytag washers and dryers" She goes off yelling how they are moving jobs to mexico, and I should look at some off brand POS. So being the ass that I am, I said, maybe they wouldn't have to send jobs to mexico, if their authorized dealers would push other brands over theirs.

[jspchief]

I'd look at Kenmore (Sears). They are made by Whirlpool, but have a cheaper price tag. I've had my washer and dryer for 10+ years, and never had a hint of a problem.

[Iowanian]

Just go to lowes. Good selection, pretty fair prices, and you can ususally do the 6month no interest thing if you need to.

[Fat Elvis]

What happened to a washboard and clothesline?

[shakesthecat]

Hoov,
Here's a good place to get some owners opinions.

http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Large_Appliances-All

[Hoover]

cool, thanks

[Rain Man]

I'm very satisfied with mine. They're ... uh ... white. I think they're Kenmore, but I'm not sure. I'm sure they're white, though.

My advice would be to get the washer with the biggest tub possible. Fewer loads that way.

Also, my in-laws got those high-end Neptunes that use less water and less energy. They didn't like them, though, because they said that the washer sucked the water out of the clothes so strongly that it was messing up the clothes.

[Brock]

Buy used. 25 bucks apiece.

[Chest Rockwell]

I'll second, or third, as the case may be, the Kenmores. I've had both the bottom of the line stuff in my first house, and the $1200 washer and $1,000 dryer currently (as well as all my other appliances being Kenmore) and I never had a single issue with anything.

I'm not sure that Whirlpool still builds EVERYTHING for Kenmore (which I thought too) as I just bought a gas range a couple months ago and was told by Sears staff that Whirlpool is no longer building all Kenmores, for whatever that's worth.

[morphius]

I'll second, or third, as the case may be, the Kenmores. I've had both the bottom of the line stuff in my first house, and the $1200 washer and $1,000 dryer currently (as well as all my other appliances being Kenmore) and I never had a single issue with anything.

I'm not sure that Whirlpool still builds EVERYTHING for Kenmore (which I thought too) as I just bought a gas range a couple months ago and was told by Sears staff that Whirlpool is no longer building all Kenmores, for whatever that's worth.
I believe the lower end stuff is made by GE.

[Dartgod]

what to stay away from.
According to Tommykat, the back of the machine.

My advice would be to get the washer with the biggest tub possible. Fewer loads that way.
Good advice. I used the same criteria to pick out a new toilet.

[DeepSouth]

Just go to lowes. Good selection, pretty fair prices, and you can ususally do the 6month no interest thing if you need to.
That's where I got mine after my divorce. Got a full size Washer and Dryer for less that $500 delivered. No extra chrome or buttons (that you don't know what they do) but they work just fine.

[mlyonsd]

I believe the lower end stuff is made by GE.

GE sucks. My dryer only lasted 8 years.

[Rain Man]

I think we got our washer at the Sears "scratch n dent" center, too. We got $100 off or so because the washer had a scratch on the side that's covered up by the dryer anyway.

[go bo]

Just go to lowes. Good selection, pretty fair prices, and you can ususally do the 6month no interest thing if you need to.yeah, lowes has several brand name washers and dryers to pick from...

we just bought a nice basic washer for around $300...

as far as dryers go, we have stayed away from gas dryers because of the rapidly escalating cost of natural gas...

and btw, we looked all around at different stores, and lowes had the best prices here in independence...

[gblowfish]

A washer takes the most abuse. Can't go wrong with Maytag. They last for freakin' EVER. And they're easy to find parts for.

Dryers are pretty simple: heating element, motor with a pulley belt around the tumbler and a timer. Kenmore's are very good and also last a long time.

If you buy used, Dryers are easier to fix than washers if something goes wrong, so you can get by with a used dryer. Don't go cheap on the washer, that will hurt you in the long run.