Help with a new washer/dryer recommendation

April 11, 2022 7:24 AM

Last Friday my 15-year old washer - a Whirlpool Duet - decided it was no longer interested in participating in the drain cycle. I realize this is likely just a elderly drain pump that gave up the ghost and, assuming this is part is still available, I could probably fix it myself, but I've decided after 15 years it's time for a new washer and dryer. Help me pick out a new one.

My problem is that its been 15 years since I've bought a washer and they are a lot different now. My wife picked out the last one but now shes not here. I spent the weekend researching new ones, but for every good review there was a corresponding bad review. I watched Youtube videos with titles like "Top 10 washers of 2022," but they seemed like paid ads, not honest reviews.

I was wondering if any of you guys who have bought washers/dryers in the last several years have recommendations for washers that clean well and are reliable. I'm open to front-load or top-load, American, Korean or German - whatever would work well and be reliable for a long time.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

posted by codex99 to Home & Garden (12 answers total)

This is what I was able to gather from my research about 3 years ago - not sure if it holds today but it may be helpful.

First of all, Speed Queen washers are apparently the gold standard - they are a "commercial" brand (used in some laundromats) so they are efficienct and reliable. They seem to have a cult following and people swear by them; I didn't find any knock on them online other than they are on the pricier side and may not have all the fancy bells and whistles (more to break IMO) that other washers do.

I went a different route and talked to my appliance repair ex-BIL and he said the only washers that he and his co-workers buy are top-load belt driven Whirlpool/Amana. Apparently they are pretty indestructible and even if things stop working, they are super repairable. They are cheap as can be on top of that, so if it does somehow really go kaput, it isn't wallet breaking. I ended up buying a topload Amana and the matching dryer for less than $1000 and they served us well (nearly daily use) for years before we moved. Downside is loading/unloading a top-load washer isn't super fun, but otherwise it was a good cost/benefit investment.
posted by _DB_ at 8:18 AM on April 11, 2022 [4 favorites]

-> I looked at reviews for every used appliance seller in my area, and finally found one that had excellent reviews and serviced the appliances (well) after they were sold. I did this after realizing that NO modern washer that costs less than $1200 was build even halfway decently.

Unfortunately, I was overridden, and we got a brand new washer/dryer set.

-> I tested this new washer by checking after one wash cycle to see if all the soap had been rinsed out (sink full of water, dip/swish a knit shirt, lift shirt out of water so it drips in, observe lots and lots of bubbles). I checked after a second cycle - there was still soap in the shirt. Now I wash things that have to have no soap left in them (underwear, socks, anything that might irritate skin) three times.

Thanks, eco-friendly wash cycles! Ugh.

-> One thing I wish I'd considered: the tops of these appliances are attractively curved, which means you CANNOT rest a laundry basket, or anything, on top of the dryer. Or the washer. So bad.
posted by amtho at 8:19 AM on April 11, 2022

What kind of space do you have - are there any space constraints? Gas or electric dryer? How much power savings do you want? What's your budget?
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 8:20 AM on April 11, 2022

I decided some years ago to greatly simplify my life and just make all my major purchases from Costco.

Pros:
significantly reduce your number of options
the options you do have are generally pretty good
the delivery/install is easy and professional
the return policy is excellent
if you have a Costco credit card it extends your warranty

Cons:
I have yet to discover any

I bought this Samsung set in November when it was on sale for about $800 less than sticker. The old and mismatched machines that were in my house when I bought it had started doing strange noises, and a bunch of laundry machines were on sale, so I just went ahead and made the upgrade. Granted it's only been a few months now but every load of laundry I've done since the day they've arrived has been totally easy and come out perfect.
posted by phunniemee at 8:48 AM on April 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

I recently got a "GE" (I think they're actually made by Haier) unitized (that means stacked as a single unit not two stacked pieces) washer/dryer combo.

It's perfectly reasonable, works well, doesn't take up much space, and is entirely electro-mechanical so it's easily repaired. No touchscreens, no motherboards, no networking, just timers, dials and switches.
posted by aramaic at 8:56 AM on April 11, 2022

Those of us who live in the Chicago area have had a longstanding secret way of picking the right appliance: go to Abt and talk to their floor personnel, then follow their recommendations. It sounds loopy, but their sales folks are paid salary, get all sorts of training from manufacturers, and definitely know what they're talking about. In recent years, they have greatly expanded their online presence and IME the people you talk to on the phone are just as good as the ones circulating the sales floor. They may actually be the same people.
posted by DrGail at 9:20 AM on April 11, 2022 [2 favorites]

I am looking for a new washer - IMO speed queens are entirely too small (assuming you have a family of course). Unless you have all day to wash your blankets there are bigger and better options.

If you have space for a cabinet countertop or folding table, a lot of people buy front loaders over top loader washers specifically for that. So they can have a countertop over the top of both machines.


Also do you pile clean clothes on top of the machines or a put stuff away immediately? If you are a piler, then buttons on the very front is way better than knocking over your piles.

Newer dryers also tend to have options for 'steam dry' which requires buying a washer water line splitter to provide the steam. I have used that feature twice in 2 years.... If you don't want that, then dodging ones with that will bring the price down.

If you don't care about a countertop over the top or about button placement, front load washers have a lot of problems that are kind of glossed over (they don't drain well and can start to smell bad, and have internal filters that are not that easy to clean) vs a top load that you have to do nothing to.

I do have a newish Whirlpool dryer with buttons on the front and steam: I like it ok, other than the slow 3-2-1 countdown before it will start. Also the end of cycle signal is far too quiet and the 'time remaining' countdown can spend 30 minutes saying '1 minute to dry', which makes it useless.

I think it dries fine, but it doesn't dry to 'old-school dry' to protect your clothes and my wife hates that - she wants clothes to be bone-about-to-start-a-fire dry (like an older machine) and constantly time-dries everything.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:37 AM on April 11, 2022

We had to get a new washer last year when our 35 year old (!) Kenmore (Whirlpool made) finally gave up. Went to our local appliance store and only had three to choose from due to supply issues. A Speed Queen, a GE, and one they didn't recommend. We choose the GE based on the amount of laundry we do (2 adults) and haven't looked back. Top loader with an agitator, white was the only choice. I appreciated that we didn't spend too much time comparing models and being overwhelmed with reviews. It has been a perfect choice and was about $800.

We didn't get the matching dryer since the one we have seems fine.
posted by XtineHutch at 9:50 AM on April 11, 2022

Recently got a Speed Queen TC5. I love it- it's like a vintage Maytag. After 13 years in high efficiency washer hell, I'm pretty much walking up to strangers in the street to tell them that it's awesome. Cycle times are HALF of what our old washer was. It uses a lot of water, but at some point you've got to choose between a machine that's fit for purpose or saving water. Quirks: it's kind of loud. If you want quieter, buy the tr7 series. In eco normal mode, it more or less ignores your water temp setting and uses cold. Use "heavy-duty" mode and it behaves as expected.
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 11:23 AM on April 11, 2022

Whatever brand you buy, it's worth seeing if the local appliance dealer has a "scratch and dent" selection. When I got my washer, I checked and found a floor model with a huge scratch on the side. They sold it for 40% off, as-new warrenty, and threw in a service contract for free. It was going in the basement, so who cares how it looks?
posted by Marky at 11:40 AM on April 11, 2022

Seconding @drgrail. We have bought many appliances from ABT. Salespeople will really give you good information. I have not felt pushed toward any particular product. To your question: I bought a Speed Queen washer and drier from ABT. Solid stuff. Simple controls. Top load washer. Front load drier. Just works.

Final point on ABT: if you purchase something from them, they have a database of your product purchases. I needed to recalibrate my oven and was given directions, over the phone, on how to do so. Pretty great.
posted by zerobyproxy at 12:28 PM on April 11, 2022

Finding a good appliance repair person, and fixing your washer, replacing your hoses, $200. No reason not to. $1600 reasons not to buy new.
posted by Oyéah at 5:27 PM on April 11, 2022