Monday, November 30, 2009
Good No Great washer
I have had this washer before. and am now buying a new one. I have just loved this machine. I have had all good luck with it. Like someone said you do half to leave the door open when not in use to dry out. They are air tight. Duh. I would tell my friends to get this one.
Friday, November 20, 2009
6 loads in a day, no problem!
When we replaced our washer and dryer units I had to work hard get what I wanted. Exceeding my husband expectations of cost was the difficult part but it turns out the Whirlpool Duet front loader washer (GHW9150) and matching dryer (GEW9250) was a great investment. Without being a slave to the laundry room, I can get six large loads done in a day. Being Energy Star certified, the Duet units are extremely efficiently even with large loads. And, the washer conserves water by automatically adjusting how much is needed for each load.
But the decision was not an easy one as some reviews about front loaders discussed concerns of mildew and extreme entanglement of clothing. By actually read the manuals since our purchase (April 2005) we haven't had a single problem or complaint.
every day reasons to love them
- quiet
- quick
- easily cleans/dries large loads
- from delicate to heavy duty, you are in control
green reasons to love them
- uses half the water needed by top loaders
- uses half the energy of traditional units
But the decision was not an easy one as some reviews about front loaders discussed concerns of mildew and extreme entanglement of clothing. By actually read the manuals since our purchase (April 2005) we haven't had a single problem or complaint.
every day reasons to love them
- quiet
- quick
- easily cleans/dries large loads
- from delicate to heavy duty, you are in control
green reasons to love them
- uses half the water needed by top loaders
- uses half the energy of traditional units
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
No more top load washers for me!!
Whirlpool Duet Series WFW9400SW 27" Duet Front-Load Washer with 4.0 cu. ft. Capacity, 14 Wash Cycles & 1200 RPM Speed: White
I have had my new Whirlpool Duet pair for about 1 1/2 weeks now. I am completely in love. I had a Kenmore top load washer and dryer for almost 10 years. I was happy with how my clothes came out and I never really understood when people had complaints about their washers not cleaning clothes well or wearing out their clothes so quickly. I now understand. I washed a load of whites in the front loader. Not doing anything different than what the washer's manual suggests doing (I also followed manufacturer's suggestion on old machine) and I can not believe the difference. I took a white sock from the load out of the new machine and one out of my drawer that had been washed using the old machine. My 12 yr old, 9 yr old, and 4 yr old all noticed the difference without me telling them which came from the new machine. My husband even noticed. They all thought that the old machine sock was actually dirty. Needless to say, I have been slowly rewashing all of the clothes that supposedly were already clean from my old machine.
Now, I read a lot of reviews about the Whirlpool front loads. Some were very discouraging. I was a little nervous making the purchase with some of the information that is out there, however, I am glad to report I have not had any of the issues. One thing that I did read about in the manual is that you have to use HE laundry detergent or your front load machine will suds too much. This will lead to mildew smell or mold inside the drum. Our sales guy told us it would be the equivalent to putting hand dish soap in your dishwasher. The manual also says that you need to leave the door open after you complete laundry so that the washer drum can fully dry. The reason is that the front loads have an airtight seal that will not let air in to dry, thus causing mildew and mold. There were also complaints about the vibration when the unit is spinning. We had the machine installed by the store we bought the units from. Unfortunately, when my husband came home and I told him that they did not seem as sturdy as I would like, he found that they did not tighten the locking bolts after they "leveled" it. However, it was not leveled properly either. Becuase of this, as the machine spun the clothes, it wiggled even more unlevel which made a horrible vibration noise. Now that my husband leveled it and locked the locking bolts, we have had no problems.
I think the best part of the machine is that it sprays water into the soap, softner, bleach trays to completely get out the soap. It makes it nice not having to clean out the tray each time so build up doesn't happen! I feel that if anyone gets the unit you will not regret it! Good luck shopping!
I have had my new Whirlpool Duet pair for about 1 1/2 weeks now. I am completely in love. I had a Kenmore top load washer and dryer for almost 10 years. I was happy with how my clothes came out and I never really understood when people had complaints about their washers not cleaning clothes well or wearing out their clothes so quickly. I now understand. I washed a load of whites in the front loader. Not doing anything different than what the washer's manual suggests doing (I also followed manufacturer's suggestion on old machine) and I can not believe the difference. I took a white sock from the load out of the new machine and one out of my drawer that had been washed using the old machine. My 12 yr old, 9 yr old, and 4 yr old all noticed the difference without me telling them which came from the new machine. My husband even noticed. They all thought that the old machine sock was actually dirty. Needless to say, I have been slowly rewashing all of the clothes that supposedly were already clean from my old machine.
Now, I read a lot of reviews about the Whirlpool front loads. Some were very discouraging. I was a little nervous making the purchase with some of the information that is out there, however, I am glad to report I have not had any of the issues. One thing that I did read about in the manual is that you have to use HE laundry detergent or your front load machine will suds too much. This will lead to mildew smell or mold inside the drum. Our sales guy told us it would be the equivalent to putting hand dish soap in your dishwasher. The manual also says that you need to leave the door open after you complete laundry so that the washer drum can fully dry. The reason is that the front loads have an airtight seal that will not let air in to dry, thus causing mildew and mold. There were also complaints about the vibration when the unit is spinning. We had the machine installed by the store we bought the units from. Unfortunately, when my husband came home and I told him that they did not seem as sturdy as I would like, he found that they did not tighten the locking bolts after they "leveled" it. However, it was not leveled properly either. Becuase of this, as the machine spun the clothes, it wiggled even more unlevel which made a horrible vibration noise. Now that my husband leveled it and locked the locking bolts, we have had no problems.
I think the best part of the machine is that it sprays water into the soap, softner, bleach trays to completely get out the soap. It makes it nice not having to clean out the tray each time so build up doesn't happen! I feel that if anyone gets the unit you will not regret it! Good luck shopping!
Friday, October 30, 2009
As advertised.
Washer works great. It gets clothes clean, is easy to use, does NOT smell, and is energy efficient. Add the 15" pedestal stands and you have a washer/dryer combo that is tough to beat.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Love It or Hate It
Wow....had my Duet washer/dryer for two weeks and just thought I'd check further on reviews and came across these at Amazon. (I bought mine at Lowes).
I have been quite impressed with the quality and quietness of both units....both have performed flawlessly. Washer is Energy Saver ranked and what is amazing is that the price for each was around $690.00....I was not about to spend $1400 each for Samsungs.
Pros: Price-performer, quiet, energy efficient, well-done controls, timer, fun to use; dryer huge; one of the smallest units (depth and width) out there
Cons: Washer is somewhat smallish (3.4 cu ft) but works for family of four; a little less flexibility in terms of settings (but works for us); need to buy pedestals (at $220 ea) as with all front loaders (if you don't want to kill your back)
Bottom line.....for about $2000 I got two units that rival the $3000 ones.
I have been quite impressed with the quality and quietness of both units....both have performed flawlessly. Washer is Energy Saver ranked and what is amazing is that the price for each was around $690.00....I was not about to spend $1400 each for Samsungs.
Pros: Price-performer, quiet, energy efficient, well-done controls, timer, fun to use; dryer huge; one of the smallest units (depth and width) out there
Cons: Washer is somewhat smallish (3.4 cu ft) but works for family of four; a little less flexibility in terms of settings (but works for us); need to buy pedestals (at $220 ea) as with all front loaders (if you don't want to kill your back)
Bottom line.....for about $2000 I got two units that rival the $3000 ones.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Does the job just fine!
I love this set! I've had mine for 3 years now. Washing time may be longer but I can really do much more laundry in 1 load so in all reality, I'm doing 2 loads at one time. The spin cycle really gets A LOT of the moisture out so that drying time is significantly less (have the dryer that has a "moisture" sensing feature, so it cuts down on drying time if the items in the dryer are dry before the timed cycle, then it shuts off instead of continuing to run). When I first bought it, I was concerned about it not getting my clothes clean enough. This washer exceeded my expectations and gets everything superclean. I use less water, less detergent (definitely get HE, I made the beginner's mistake of using regular Tide...waaay too sudsy, had to do a second rinse!), and savings on both water bill and electric bill. My unit is very quiet, I kept checking on it when I first got it because I thought it stopped. My only complaint is that I didn't get the version with a soak feature, which I like to use with whites. I've found that I really don't need to soak as long as I use the Whitest Whites cycle with a little bleach or Mule Team.
As far as the complaints of mold....that's because those people didn't read their instruction manual which specifically states to leave the door open so that the inside can dry out to PREVENT the moldy smell since the drum is absolutely sealed with the door closed. The manual also states that you should run a Clean Washer cycle once a month which keeps it clean and mold/germ free. The manuals aren't just fluff...they're actually there for a reason, people!
I wish I could have gotten the bigger set but my laundry room is small and this fit perfectly into the space. I also recommend getting the pedestals. At $100 a piece you may think to skip them but you really should get them. Saves the back plus you get nice little compartments to keep the detergent and other things handy.
As far as the complaints of mold....that's because those people didn't read their instruction manual which specifically states to leave the door open so that the inside can dry out to PREVENT the moldy smell since the drum is absolutely sealed with the door closed. The manual also states that you should run a Clean Washer cycle once a month which keeps it clean and mold/germ free. The manuals aren't just fluff...they're actually there for a reason, people!
I wish I could have gotten the bigger set but my laundry room is small and this fit perfectly into the space. I also recommend getting the pedestals. At $100 a piece you may think to skip them but you really should get them. Saves the back plus you get nice little compartments to keep the detergent and other things handy.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Best Washer I've owned
I love my Whirlpool Duet Sport WFW8300SW (3.4 capacity) Front Loading washer and I'd recommend it to everyone I know. After several major brands turned into duds, Whirlpool and Kenmore are the only brands I trust for major appliances.
Features I love:
I don't have to guess the amount of water to use for the size of my load. This machine has an auto water level that adjusts to the size of the load. Since there is no agitator, my washer has increased in capacity. I can put more clothes in ...... up to 10 pairs of jeans! This model will let me add a garment during the 1st 7 minutes of a cycle before the door remains locked. I can choose from 3 spin speeds, 3 water temps, and I can add an extra rinse. The 7 preset cycles seem good enough to me but I'm happy I can make adjustments if needed. I love the quietness of this washer. I actually enjoy the sound of the gentle tumbling in and out of the water. My laundry feels softer and smells better despite that I'm using just 1/3 the recommended amount of fabric softener. An added bonus is that I will get a $100 rebate from my water company for buying this water-saving machine. I wish I could justify buying the matching dryer but my old dryer runs perfectly. Maybe in the future............
Some things to consider if you're torn between top loading and front loading washers:
Top Load Washer Advantages:
They're cheaper.
Wash cycles are shorter.
You don't have to bend down to get your clothes out of the washer.
You can add an article of clothing at any time.
Top Load Disadvantages:
They use a lot of water, more energy to operate, and are hard on your clothes. The agitator is a brutal device that basically "beats" your clothes while drowning them. This is very hard on fabrics, particularly dark clothes, delicates and sweaters (I did see one top loader without an agitator but read that these machines do not achieve the greatest wash results).
They are LOUD and can become unbalanced fairly easily.
No ENERGY STAR models.
They house a lot more machinery, which can mean more repairs.
Front Load washer advantages:
Much less water used - 14 to 20 gallons vs. up to 44 gallons in top load machines. Front loading machine drums are on a horizontal axis. They only use enough water to cover approximately the lower third of the tub while your clothes are tumbled up and around, in and out of the water.
They use 67% less electricity and gas. They have less mechanical gear so they don't have to work as hard.
Gentler on your clothes. The drum has no agitator so your clothes will not get whipped around and stretched.
Cleans better. The clothes are drawn through the water, not the water through the clothes.
The spin cycle is twice as fast as top loaders, which leads to less time in the dryer. So far I've noticed this results in 10-15 minutes less dryer time which equals more savings in energy. Also, there is now considerably less lint in the lint trap after each load.
Less water = less detergent, less softener, less bleach.
Not having an agitator gives 25-30% more space for larger loads.
Disadvantages:
Longer wash cycles.
Excessive soap suds can create problems for the machine. I am supposed to buy a special soap labeled HE - High efficiency. Apparently many major brands sell this detergent but I haven't purchased it yet. I have tons of regular detergent and simply use 2/3 less.
I have to bend down to put in and remove laundry. (Whirlpool makes a matching pedestal with a drawer. Pricey, but it's an option.)
I can't soak laundry overnight since the water doesn't cover the clothes. I suppose I could soak in a bucket if needed.
I have to run the "clean" cycle with chlorine bleach once a month. It is important to do because mildew can occur due to the air-tight seal on the front door. I should leave the door ajar after each load but this could be dangerous with cats around.
Now it's up to you to decide.
Features I love:
I don't have to guess the amount of water to use for the size of my load. This machine has an auto water level that adjusts to the size of the load. Since there is no agitator, my washer has increased in capacity. I can put more clothes in ...... up to 10 pairs of jeans! This model will let me add a garment during the 1st 7 minutes of a cycle before the door remains locked. I can choose from 3 spin speeds, 3 water temps, and I can add an extra rinse. The 7 preset cycles seem good enough to me but I'm happy I can make adjustments if needed. I love the quietness of this washer. I actually enjoy the sound of the gentle tumbling in and out of the water. My laundry feels softer and smells better despite that I'm using just 1/3 the recommended amount of fabric softener. An added bonus is that I will get a $100 rebate from my water company for buying this water-saving machine. I wish I could justify buying the matching dryer but my old dryer runs perfectly. Maybe in the future............
Some things to consider if you're torn between top loading and front loading washers:
Top Load Washer Advantages:
They're cheaper.
Wash cycles are shorter.
You don't have to bend down to get your clothes out of the washer.
You can add an article of clothing at any time.
Top Load Disadvantages:
They use a lot of water, more energy to operate, and are hard on your clothes. The agitator is a brutal device that basically "beats" your clothes while drowning them. This is very hard on fabrics, particularly dark clothes, delicates and sweaters (I did see one top loader without an agitator but read that these machines do not achieve the greatest wash results).
They are LOUD and can become unbalanced fairly easily.
No ENERGY STAR models.
They house a lot more machinery, which can mean more repairs.
Front Load washer advantages:
Much less water used - 14 to 20 gallons vs. up to 44 gallons in top load machines. Front loading machine drums are on a horizontal axis. They only use enough water to cover approximately the lower third of the tub while your clothes are tumbled up and around, in and out of the water.
They use 67% less electricity and gas. They have less mechanical gear so they don't have to work as hard.
Gentler on your clothes. The drum has no agitator so your clothes will not get whipped around and stretched.
Cleans better. The clothes are drawn through the water, not the water through the clothes.
The spin cycle is twice as fast as top loaders, which leads to less time in the dryer. So far I've noticed this results in 10-15 minutes less dryer time which equals more savings in energy. Also, there is now considerably less lint in the lint trap after each load.
Less water = less detergent, less softener, less bleach.
Not having an agitator gives 25-30% more space for larger loads.
Disadvantages:
Longer wash cycles.
Excessive soap suds can create problems for the machine. I am supposed to buy a special soap labeled HE - High efficiency. Apparently many major brands sell this detergent but I haven't purchased it yet. I have tons of regular detergent and simply use 2/3 less.
I have to bend down to put in and remove laundry. (Whirlpool makes a matching pedestal with a drawer. Pricey, but it's an option.)
I can't soak laundry overnight since the water doesn't cover the clothes. I suppose I could soak in a bucket if needed.
I have to run the "clean" cycle with chlorine bleach once a month. It is important to do because mildew can occur due to the air-tight seal on the front door. I should leave the door ajar after each load but this could be dangerous with cats around.
Now it's up to you to decide.
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