I've enjoyed visiting this site and finally joined! I would really appreciate your thoughts about this dilemma. In 1992 I purchased a washer and dryer set; the washer has rusted around the bleach dispenser and bottom of framework (near floor). Still, laundry comes out clean except for occasional mystery spots that look like watery tomato juice. Surprisingly, my all-knowing repairman doesn't think the rust is causing the stains.
Whatever the cause, I've gone shopping for a new set, but am reluctant in the extreme to finalize a purchase because so many people have expressed their misery over new expensive purchases that break down too quickly. They also miss their old machines. The washers garner the most complaints, such as: "the motor burned out in less than a year", "the metal tub cracked in two - how is that possible?", "the washer is so water-saving it always smells bad", or "I have to wash everything twice to get it all clean."
Just this week, I spoke with a salesman who didn't have anything that met my needs in stock, but he assured me that manufacturers have realized that simpler is better and are starting to design accordingly. Ya think? He urged me to read a certain magazine for the latest ratings, but that was no help at all when, some time ago, I purchased a top-rated refrigerator that peeled so badly so soon after delivery that the manufacturer replaced it without even a whimper, but, alas, the replacement wasn't much better so I switched brands and cancelled the magazine subscription!
So, dear Readers, I would really appreciate your thoughts about what I should look for (and look out for) in selecting a new side by side (not stacking) washer and dryer. I do about 3 medium loads a week; oversize items such as king size bedspreads go to the dry cleaner or into a jumbo machine at the laundromat. I just want something serviceable that will last a million years. Thank you so much.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
I don't have an answer because I started shopping for a new washer and dryer probably 5 years ago I needed to buy before mine went out. Both my washer and dryer are around 20 years old and still working. Like you, I kept researching and most reviews were not good and everyone online was complaining. I finally decided to keep using mine until they go out completely when a salesman suggested I do just that because he said the life of the ones they make now is around 6 years.
Attached is a US News Money 5.5.14 article stating that washers should last 10 years and dryers 13. Many machines last much longer but others start with problems much sooner. There are no set manufacturer's requirements, so, unfortunately, we all purchase machines that may have "recommended years of service" but these are just general estimates (and, I'm sure, self-serving).
money.usnews.com/
Thank you for your input, DCA. After I read your link, I searched and found a few more current articles - the bottom line goes: (i) don't expect appliances to last as long as they used to because manufacturers all over the world are all chasing for cheaper materials and labor. Also (ii) if you take care of your household items they will last longer, eg., don't use mattresses as trampolines; regularly clean filters; the less laundry you do, the longer the washer/dryer should last (average number of loads for a family is 8/per week, more than double what I do, so maybe that's why our machines are still running).
Betty, I feel your pain (and your daughter's!) - if/when my washer and dryer totally give out, I'll probably replace them with a cheapo set and I may not buy an extended warranty because I've heard of washer/dryer companies going out of business and leaving customers in the lurch.
I only just recently learned that 3 widely known brands are all made by the same manufacturer - Whirlpool, Kenmore and Maytag! That doesn't leave much in the way of choice, does it? A few years ago, alarmed about the sky-rocketing cost of replacing our old sheets, I read an article about how often sheets should be washed.
That is great question. One thing to consider is your dryer working fine? One thing I have discovered is that dryers are generally very simple and last longer than washers. So you can save a bundle but not being tied to replacing them both at the same time. We are on our second washer, the previous washer had to be fixed several times in the first 5 years. So plan on getting your money's worth on whatever warranty you get. Our new washer is a Bosch and is now over 3+ years old and is already showing it's age. I would be surprised, even shocked, if we got 10 years out of it.
Dryers often just need to be cleaned out, maybe a new belt. I have had it fixed one time and all they did was clean it out and it cost $60. Washers, especially front loaders, can easily develop clogs and leave small deposits of stagnant water in places like the rubber seal. Even a small amount of bad water can ruin a whole load of laundry. I find I have to smell every load to make sure nothing is building up.
On front loaders: Other than making sure the seal isn't building up water, make sure to run the cleaning function monthly and after you wash really dirty loads (like dog blankets). And don't use too much soap, about a tablespoon is all you need.
The Bosch we bought was the best rated washer in our price range and I wouldn't recommend it. Top loaders tend to not rate as well as front loaders, but my gut tells me a cheaper top loader would be the way to go.
I agree, Lewissan, purchasing a matching pair could result in getting a good machine and a bad one -- better to select machines one by one based on how well they each work rather than going for matched exteriors. I believe you are correct about dryers lasting longer than washers.
My big mistake is waiting too long to call for service, which I finally did when I noticed stains on clean clothes, thinking that rust around the bleach dispenser was causing them; however, the repairman, an old pro, didn't think rust caused the stains. He was way more concerned about the agitator (my washer is so old it has one) and found it had a broken part inside - something I never thought about, though I did notice, a few YEARS ago, that the sound the machine made when agitating had changed from a steady thump-thump to an irregular ca-clunk-ca-thud. The repairman told me that laundry should roll around top to bottom steadily, which couldn't happen until he replaced the broken part. The old machine now works and sounds like it did when it was new. So - a service call has made a big difference in my case. He told me that my machines (old Whirlpools) were meant to last 25 years, but the new ones - maybe 7??
About 5 years ago I got a Bosch dishwasher to replace our ancient noisy Kitchen Aid only because Bosch was considered the quietest model available (because of the all-stainless steel interior, so I was told). I don't know if Bosch washers & dryers are sold hereabouts but would expect they cost more than our budget would allow.
Oh, and, we don't have dogs or dog blankets but whenever something gets really stained or grimy, such as my husband's gardening pants and t-shirts or my cleaning cloths, I either discard them or I wash them by hand before running them through the washer and dryer, or take them to the laundromat.
I vote for the long lasting Speed Queen top loader. They make a front load version also but they are a lot more expensive and i just want a solid basic machine that cleans and doesnt need lots of repairs after 5 years
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
