Wife literally does a load of laundry everyday.
That is with just me, her, and 2 pups.

I'm looking to buy a new front load washer and electric dryer.
Want it quiet, dependable, and trouble free.

Don't want Samsung or Bosch.
Our Bosch washer had 4 torn door boots, I got pretty good at replacing them.
Bought a Frigidaire washer 7 years ago and it is getting noisy and does clean very well.
Still have the Bosch dryer and it is getting noisy.

I'd like to get her another matching set, she is big on stuff matching..
What ever I get needs to have somewhat basic controls, the wife gets frustrated with electronic if it is too complicated.

Looking at Maytag and Electrolux.
Maytag reviews say they are noisy but dependable.
Electrolux seems a tad expensive, but better reviews.
Considering GE and LG, but their reviews are lacking as well.

I'd like to keep it under $2K including the over priced bases.

What say you?

Thanks..

I spent $2,500 on matching GE Profile HE washer & dryer 6 years ago. Total junk.

We just purchased a Whirlpool set of front loaders. I didn't do much homework, I just asked what they had that was made in USA.

I've been toying with the idea of buying a Speed Queen set, but I was going to ask Brad's opinion before doing so.

They known more commercial models than residential, and they have a good warranty.

It used to be, 30 years ago or more, that you could buy a Maytag and know that you would not need another washer or dryer for 20 plus years.

Since then, we have switched to front loading models. Although we like the front loading type and do not plan to switch back to top loading, I have been very unhappy with the cost and failure rates of the various models (mostly whirlpool). They seem to start failing within 5 years. The latest one we have is leaking.

I think it is ridiculous to have to spend $1,000 every 5-6 years.

Our plan when we replace our current one (which will be soon, due to the leaks) is to get a Speed-Queen front load with mechanical controls. It doesn't have near as many fancy cycles as the electronic whirlpools, and it costs about 50% more (starts around $1,500), but I am thinking it will last a lot longer.

I went with the Samsung direct drive top loader with the wash basket and matching dryer. I've had them over 2 years and they do well. The steam feature is great in the dryer as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Delmag Tech:
I've been toying with the idea of buying a Speed Queen set, but I was going to ask Brad's opinion before doing so.

They known more commercial models than residential, and they have a good warranty.

I, too, would be interested in ApplianceBrad's opinion of the SpeedQueens.

FWIW, we had a front-load washer and didn't like it. We bought a set of Whirlpool with a HE top load. Seems to be pretty good after a year of use

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
FWIW, we had a front-load washer and didn't like it. We bought a set of Whirlpool with a HE top load. Seems to be pretty good after a year of use

You had a Speed Queen front loader that you didn't like, or do you mean that front loaders in general are not for you?

This a great article about Speed Queen, it's the only washer and dryer I will ever buy. I did the high efficiency front loader thing and it was nothing but disappointing. Clothes didn't come clean and I always had soap residue on my clothes no matter which detergent I used.


http://time.com/money/4688676/...chine-american-made/

quote:

Originally posted by Delmag Tech:

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
FWIW, we had a front-load washer and didn't like it. We bought a set of Whirlpool with a HE top load. Seems to be pretty good after a year of use

You had a Speed Queen front loader that you didn't like, or do you mean that front loaders in general are not for you?

The front-load was a Kenmore set. Hard to say whether or not there are ANY front-loaders we would like. The Kenmore left gray marks on our clothing (not permanent, but..) and didn't seem to get our clothes clean. Not much further you can say about a durable goods purchase like a washer/dryer set--not worth it to try again, we sold the set rather than bring it to our new house.

ETA: There were a couple other things we didn't care for as well. The pedestal set was pretty expensive, so we did without. I know dryers have always been front-load, but it seemed like a PIA to bend over to peel clothes out of the washer after they spun out. Perhaps it was the result of reading a thread about front-loaders here in SigForum, but we felt it necessary to leave the washer door open when not in use, so that it dried around the seal. Potential mold problem otherwise. Didn't like that either.

Wife made the decision on going back to top load. She's happy with the Whirlpool set.

I bought a Speed Queen set when I moved into my house 27 years ago, and just replaced the washer last month. The dryer had to have the heating element controller replaced a couple years ago but otherwise it's still going strong. If I was looking for a long-term solution, that's the way I'd go.

That said, other brands offer commercial-grade machines too. I wound up getting a Maytag commercial washer because money was tight and it was $480 at Home Depot compared to $850 for the Speed Queen at the regular appliance store.

Other than being top load, Speed Queen meets all of your criteria. On top of that, in regards to longevity, nothing else will come close.

Hated our front loader. It smells and their fix is to run a monthly cleaning procedure. Um, nope. Got rid of ours even though it was fully operational. Went back to a top loader, albeit a spindle (?) less agitator and the world is right again.

When it is time to replace our current Bosch machines, Speed Queen is what we will go with based on the feedback and recommendations here.

Yep, Speed Queen analog set.

You can't go wrong.

I ended up with a GE toploader washer because it was the only one I could find with a real centerline agitator and you could override the energy efficiency crap with a deep fill setting. All the other top loaders have flat bottoms with little bumps to "supposedly" agitate the clothes. Sorry, but those little bumps don't compare to beating the hell out of the clothes with a real agitator. I want my clothes clean, I don't care if the clothes last forever. I hate the side loaders..

I replaced a brand new Whirlpool Duet set (that died) with another brand new Whirlpool Duet set. Both are junk and continue to have the same problems (blows fuses and control boards). The Washer had a bearing go out and it was cheaper to replace the set than repair the machine.

We have Kenmore front loaders, probably the last big purchase from Sears, I'd bet at least 15 if not close to 20 years ago, work great, a few little maintenance issues, just this last year replaced the heating element, more so our fault as the exhaust wasn't evacuating as well as it should due to location and distance, fixed that, heats up really nice.

Door seal on the washer has a pin hole leak, most likely something we've drug in or out not a defect, so far so good.

Other than that they have been good units and parts are pretty inexpensive and available online.

We've had a kenmore front loader (HE5T Steam) since 2007. It never stinks, it gets clothes clean, but it has put small holes in some of our clothes over the years so it's not perfect. But 10 years was a pretty good run. Label says that it was made in Germany - that surprised me. Didn't expect that.