In what can only be described as a one-two punch of home-ownership havoc, our washer officially died right on the heels of the big plumbing debacle that we detailed for you guys yesterday. Yup, remember when we mentioned that we hoped it would be a simple and inexpensive fix here? Well, the appliance gods must have been softly giggling as we typed that.
The repair guy took one look at the corroded interior of our old machine (rusted bolts, a broken belt, etc) and said “I could attempt to band-aid this for $200, but I don’t think it would run for very long – honestly, I wouldn’t put another dollar into this machine.” And that was coming from the man who would be taking said money… so… not a good sign. But we definitely appreciated his honesty.
And that’s how we suddenly found ourselves digging back into our “emergency fund” just days after writing a plumbing check to go laundry appliance shopping. We briefly considered trying to get something secondhand (from the ReStore, Craigslist, etc) but we decided that to spend once on something for the long haul would be more settling than getting another “in the meantime” fix and hoping it held out. So after checking out a few online appliance outlets, as well as some mainstream big box stores to see what was on the market, we hit the streets to check things out in person.
We had actually been looking forward to the eventual laundry appliance hunt, because we knew someday we’d get to upgrade these guys (the repairman guessed our washer was over twenty years old, so that’s a pretty good run!) but it was certainly nothing we expected to be embarking on so close to our little plumbing snafu.
When we moved in, we’d daydream about getting what I affectionately call “mac daddy appliances” someday (both in the kitchen and the laundry area) all of which would be pretty and sparkly and have all of the features we’d ever wanted (like projecting laser shows on the ceiling and making us waffles). Okay, maybe those last two are a stretch, but this sudden rush to get a working washer while our laundry piled up wasn’t the scenario we originally pictured ourselves shopping under (“what do you mean I can’t wait for a Presidents Day sale???”).
Luckily John’s parents welcomed us into their laundry room to do a couple of loads to tide us over while we researched and price-compared (and you better believe I asked John to do those loads so that if something broke he would be the one answering for it). Thankfully, we were able to catch up to our quickly-growing piles, and nothing broke on our watch.
We have sort of a new appliance mantra in this house, which is essentially that this time around we don’t want to just chase a deal. We want to do more research, be open to spending a bit more than before, and really think about the features we’ll enjoy and use, because we plan to be here for decades.
We got one of the best deals of our life on our last washer/dryer purchase because we selected the most heavily discounted models on the showroom floor (they were the same brand as our first set, which we liked, so it seemed like a no-brainer). But while we don’t regret the savings (nearly 50% off!), or the quality of them (they worked great for us), we did sacrifice some features in those heavily-discounted models that we ended up missing over time – like a digital display that showed the amount of time left in the cycle, for example. A little thing, yes, but something in retrospect that we would’ve paid extra for – especially since we had it in our first home’s washer & dryer, so we knew what we were missing.
After a ton of discussion and research, we narrowed our search criteria to the following:
- A Top-Loading washer. We liked our last two front-loaders a lot, but with our existing set-up we’ve both enjoyed not bending over as much. And we didn’t like having to keep up with mildew maintenance on our two previous front-loaders (we’d take time to wipe it down, leave the door open to air it out, and occasionally run Affresh tablets through it) which we understand is a persistent problem in front loaders. Plus, top-loaders now come in high efficiency versions which minimize front-loaders’ previous advantages of load size, spin speed, and water usage.
- Whirlpool or Maytag. Both brands are made by the same folks who made our last two washers & dryers, which worked really well for us (Whirlpool Corp). We also heard from lots of you that brands like GE and LG can be expensive to repair (and boy did we have repair costs on the brain!) while many of you agreed that Whirlpool/Maytag did you right (like on this comment thread for example). Plus, we liked our last two Whirlpool Duets and the top loading washer in this house that we’re replacing is a Maytag (that thing lasted 20+ years, so it definitely was reassuring).
- The ability to silence the buzzer. Again, it’s a little detail, but our current dryer doesn’t let us disable the crazy loud and annoying buzzer that shouts at us three times as a cycle comes to an end. So we couldn’t run it during Clara’s nap for fear that it would jolt her awake since it’s just down the hall from her door.
- A digital display. Mainly for the cycle time countdown mentioned above. What can I say, we’re divas for the
are-we-there-yethow-much-longer details. - A dryer with steam. We just heard good things about that throughout our research and it sounded like a feature we might actually enjoy and use.
Our search first lead us to this model (here’s the washer & the dryer) because it’s a Whirlpool and actually very similar to what we used at John’s parents house (they’ve had theirs around a year and have really enjoyed them so far). They each earned a 4.5 star review on Home Depot’s website too, so that was reassuring.
We narrowed our shopping zone down to Home Depot and Lowe’s, since we’ve had success there in our previous appliance hunts (prices from other vendors like Best Buy, HH Gregg, and sites like Whirlpool Outlet didn’t get as low as theirs for the same models) and both of our previous laundry sets were from Lowe’s.
The sale prices shown above and below are from both stores who each had them marked down 10% below MSRP and were running a 10%-off-all appliances promotion, which could be stacked. They also both were offering free delivery and haul away, and would honor 5% off if we used our store credit card (the Lowe’s card does it automatically, and if you ask Home Depot to do it at the register they should be able to manually apply that in the interest of “price matching” their competition).
Initially we were torn between the Whirlpool above and this extremely similar model from Maytag (here’s the washer & the dryer).
After hunting for some reason or review that would sway us towards one or the other (they both were very highly rated, had similar capacities, similar Energy Star ratings, and identical price tags), this third option appeared to us at Home Depot (here’s the washer & the dryer). It was just a slight step-down from the ones above (the washer capacity is .3 cubic feet less – oh the sacrifice!) and the front is designed differently (no gray trim, and no window into the dryer). But the price tag promised to save us over $130 between the pair and their online review boasted a nearly 5 star rating – which was better than the other two we had been weighing!
Home Depot carried it in stock (the display price of $724 was before the 10% off promotion was applied) but Lowe’s didn’t. They offered to special order it for us, but they’d only be able to apply one of the 10% discounts. We showed them the printout that Home Depot had given us that showed $651 as the final price (before the additional 5% credit card discount was applied at checkout) and they said they’d price match it. But ultimately we gave our sale to Home Depot, since they were the ones to show us this option first, as well as having it in stock (truth be told, we liked that salesperson better there too, so we wanted him to get the credit).
In case all of those words make your brain hurt and you like images and arrows, here’s a cost breakdown (mostly because John takes great pleasure in making them).
We’re glad that we weren’t forced to pay full price due to being under the gun and needing to replace them rightthissecond instead of waiting for a special holiday sale, but it also felt good to take the time and make a detailed list of what we really wanted this time (and check out a bunch of reviews) instead of jumping on the “this one’s the cheapest” bandwagon. Honestly, even if these were less discounted, the features and reviews probably would have tipped the scales in their favor.
They’re set for delivery a little later today (WAHOOOOOO!) so we should have an update for you next week once they’re here and we’ve taken them for a spin.
We also have some plans for the floor under them in the laundry nook (there are actually small scraps of old carpet hiding under the ones we have now). So just cross your fingers that we don’t peel back those carpet scraps under the old washer and dryer to find a giant hole/huge leak/live animal/other debacle lurking. Don’t they say these things happen in threes? Le yipes.
Psst- None of the links in this post are affiliate links. Also, your hair looks pretty and I like your smile.
Jos says
Thanks for this post. I really appreciated how you stepped through your decision making process. I always feel overwhelmed by big decisions like this, so I am impressed by people who do the research legwork, I usually just pick the “pretty one”. Luckily I have a few best friends who are good researchers. But you made this seem downright manageable.
Thanks again. And P.S. no your hair is the prettiest…
Robyn says
Double check on who is making Maytags now. We had one a few years back that was a nightmare! A big box store employee told me later that Maytag is not what it once was. Good luck! You have lots of washing in your future!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re still made by Whirlpool, which is who made our last two laundry sets (we were really happy with them). Fingers crossed!
xo
s
Christine says
Oh no, hold your hat for the dreaded three. My first of three – the heat stopped working. Ended up being an easy fix; batteries in the fancy smancy thermostat, whew. 2nd, the pipes almost froze. Had only a drip of hot water on one of the coldest days in VA. Blowdryer to the rescue. I gained access to the pipe near the main shut off valve and used the blowdryer for 30 minutes on it. (Since insulated that pipe). My third – just this Tuesday was the washer kicing the bucket as well. So your story was all too familiar. I went with Maytag’s (needed front loaders b/c they are stacked) from Home Depot. Got the same deal you all got!
I will send a note to the house Gods tho about the threes for you – asking for a spare.
YoungHouseLove says
Ahhh!
xo
s
Emily says
I have NOT been happy with the bravos and cloth diapering. So much ammonia build up. But, we have hard water, so I know that contributes. I really miss my old school agitator. That worked best for cloth diapers!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, I hope to update you guys on how that goes for us (we don’t have hard water, so we are crossing our fingers that we have good luck).
xo
s
Jaimee says
For all of those complaining about “stinky” front loaders I wanted to share some advice we received from a repairman many years ago. We were told that the smell comes from leftover soap residue and those most people are using WAY too much soap – he said 1-2 tsp is all you need. So we started using a lot less soap. Clothes still came clean, we saved money on laundry soap and cut down on the yucky smell. Now once a month I run through a bleach only empty cycle and that’s it! Hope it’s helpful!
YoungHouseLove says
Love the tip!
xo
s
Tara Dawes says
I use a ridiculously little amount of soap and no fabric softener – they still get revolting. I would never in a million years recommend them to anyone, especially people who have pets.
Julie says
Best line of this blog post:
“here’s a cost breakdown (mostly because John takes great pleasure in making them).”
haha, I can relate! Tell John I appreciate the time he spent on that chart!
Amanda says
Thanks for the breakdown! I just forked over an uncomfortable amount of money on all new appliances for our kitchen but felt very confident about it because I spent over a week doing research and price matching. I ended up getting Home Depot to take 263 off the total price from a price match. However, I was told they would not give me an additional 5% off from using my Home Depot card on top of the 10% even though Lowes agreed to. You better believe I’m fighting them on this! Thank you thank you thank you for sharing that they honored it for you!
YoungHouseLove says
I hear that’s different from store to store (it’s really the supervisor’s call), but since they want to get the sale, at ours when they said they didn’t know if they could honor it we said “well Lowe’s will automatically do it, so we would love if you guys would too” and they were happy to do it!
xo
s
JJ says
I actually said the last line in my Chris Traeger voice. Which made me laugh out loud… Literally.
But then I got sad because they’re off the show. Now I have to go re-watch some old Parks & Recs episodes on Netflix to feel better… Sherry and John why must you subject me to this emotional roller coaster!!! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha I know! I’m so sad!
xo
s
Courtney says
Hah! My family had that same old washer that you did until about 3 years ago. I guarantee the old washer is at least 20 years old because we’d had it since the 80s!
Julie says
Best line in this blog post:
“here’s a cost breakdown (mostly because John takes great
pleasure in making them).”
Tell John I appreciate the time he spent making that chart!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, will do!
xo
s
Marianne in Mo. says
Good deal you got, hope they work well for you. Last month I called a repairman for my 7 year old GE dryer. Ended up having two different guys on two different days, because the first guy was an airhead. (Long story ) The second guy gave me a repair cost of $225, said he didn’t think it was worth it, and told me about Whirlpool/Maytag being almost bottom feeders, along with LG and others that are priced cheap. Get what you pay for. He said newer models life spans are about 7-10 years, because they’ve gotten so fancy. His advice was Amana. He also said the new “no agitator” ( which we have ) don’t clean as well. We are holding out ’til the dryer completely dies (only heats on one setting ) before purchasing another. Hope I can convince hubs into getting both in one shot, but I doubt it will happen. The dishwasher is also dying a slow death! I want to go back 7 yrs.,when everything was new! Talk about seven year itch! OY! ;-))
marie clare says
Oh lord, how did I miss your forums before. Now i have way too many more blogs to spend / waste my time on LOL
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, I’m so glad! There are so many helpful people and cool projects over there :)
xo
s
Grace says
You will be so happy you bought the pair. Our washer died right before Christmas and because we had some other issues with our car and Christmas gifts, we opted to just buy the washer. (Got the LG top loader, love it). Now my poor old dryer can’t keep up!
I can do giant loads in the washer but the dryer can’t handle it.
A new dryer is now top on my big purchase list!
Cris of Kiss My Tulle says
You are talking to the wrong woman. Our fridge started leaking a few days before we were planning to remodel our kitchen (including installing new hardwood floors). I discovered that there was an AWESOME appliance sale the following weekend so we just moved our fridge out on to the porch, flipped it around so it faced an old front door, and proceeded to open the old front door then the fridge door whenever we wanted to eat.
And yes, we are THAT cheap.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! I love it. It’s called being resourceful ;)
xo
s
Erika says
Very timely post – my washer just died and we’re in the hunt for a new one! Just waiting for my $80 home depot gift card to arrive in the mail (let’s hear it for credit card rewards!) :)
Sally says
If you’re trying to “save your pennies” why did you buy a dryer too? I get wanting a shiny new matching set, but don’t try and play all frugal. You can afford it, fabulous! Own it. Embrace it. You earned it. But don’t plead frugality and then replace a perfectly functioning appliance. (or buy so called “art”. or, or, or…) Step it up and be grown ups. Hopefully this is this start for you.
And $650 to not have dung in my shower? Sounds like a bargain to me.
YoungHouseLove says
Maybe you missed this from the post? “We have sort of a new appliance mantra in this house, which is essentially that this time around we don’t want to just chase a deal. We want to do more research, be open to spending a bit more than before, and really think about the features we’ll enjoy and use, because we plan to be here for decades.” So it really wasn’t about pinching pennies and being as cheap as possible in this case :)
xo
s
LauraM says
We just bought a new toploader and dryer. love the size and the “buzzer” on both is not loud, it plays a little tune.
Beth says
Interested to hear your thoughts on the steam feature. I’ve had no luck with it, still need to iron to remove wrinkles.
Curious as to why you don’t support independent stores instead of the big box places? A family owned appliance store in my town price matches and is often less than the big places. Even if I have to pay a little more (within reason) I will to support local businesses. You have a great platform to encourage the support of the small business owner yet you consistently go the big box route.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a good question! We didn’t know they price match, so that’s nice to know for the future (for example when we get our kitchen appliances). We have a lot of local stores that we love supporting and blogging about regularly (a decorating outlet, small fabric shop, various independent thrift stores, etc) as well as promoting small businesses like a local dry waller or electrician that we love, so a great local appliance place would be awesome if we found one and had a good experience.
xo
s
John says
Would suggest you use metal braided washer hoses and a overflow pan under the washer.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks!
xo
s
Cassie says
I seriously had no idea there were so many things to think of when buying a washer/dryer. I’m so glad I read this and all of the comments! The pair we own we bought from my dad’s co-worker for really cheap because we had about a week to get them and as somewhat newlyweds (and college students), we had no emergency fund. So much great info for whenever we get a new pair. Thanks for the post! And crossing my fingers for you that there’s no third thing!
ps- will Parks & Rec even be the same??? I always get nervous when they kick off the good characters!
YoungHouseLove says
I know! I will LITERALLY miss Chris so much!
xo
s
Carrie says
Congrats on new washer and dryer! May not have been the ideal timing, but still fun! Sheri, I am also pregnant and am dying to paint some trim and doors in my house but am so scared to! Could you comment or even do a post on what mask you wear and what precautions you take? I know you use low VOC paint. I am thinking my husband would have to do the deglosser for me. Do you sand when you are pregnant? I would love any tips you have! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Congrats on the pregnancy! Here’s a post with that info for ya: https://www.younghouselove.com/2013/10/the-411-on-baby-2/
Hope it helps!
xo
s
Cathy A says
I wish I had the chance to tell you about my experience before you bought. Just yesterday bought a replacement for my Maytag Bravos 300 Quiet Series Washer 4.8 capacity. Bought it in November 2010. The bearings are bad in it, $600 repair bill estimate. Google it. Known problem with these brands. And Whirlpool and Maytag are the same company. I called Maytag customer service, and when the girl hung up she said thanks for calling Whirlpool. The repair guy says they call them throw away washers now. Will never buy Whirlpool or Maytag again. Speed Queen is the way to go. Not fancy, just American Made, and solid. I hope you have a different experience than I did, but there are lots of people that have had the same as me.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, that stinks! We has such good experiences with our Whirlpool washers/dryers over the last 8 years that we hope these guys work out for us. Will share everything if they suck though!
xo
s
Carla says
Scroll down a ways and read my comment on our Speed Queen washing machine. :)
Kal says
Good call on a top-loader… After replacing the bearings in 2 different Whirlpool front loaders within the last 6 years, our next machine is definitely going to be something different.
Good news is, I’ve gotten REALLY good at replacing front loader washing machine bearings…
Sarah says
We have the top loading Samsung set – which I think is comparable to the Maytag Bravo series – we LOVE them. I can get our entire King size bed sheets and comforter with room to spare! When I was pregnant I did suddenly become a little short and had to use a step stool to reach all the way in the bottom but that lasted all of 2 months at the end of the pregnancy!
t says
Just curious – why bother replacing the dryer if it is working, especially given the expense of just paying for plumbing repairs. It’s not a big deal to have a different washer and dryer.
YoungHouseLove says
In this case we just wanted a matched set. We went into this house with sort of a new appliance mantra (this is from the post): “we don’t want to just chase a deal. We want to do more research, be open to spending a bit more than before, and really think about the features we’ll enjoy and use, because we plan to be here for decades.” So we figured since we were resisting the urge to just do things cheaply and wanted to invest in things we would love for the long haul, getting them together was the way to go.
xo
s
Renee says
We have the same appliances and got them for a steal at HD too! I told my husband I felt like we robbed them with all the discounts. They are awesome appliances and a year later I still LOVE them over a front loader. Excellent choice!
YoungHouseLove says
So glad!
xo
s
Shelise Mayer says
We’ve had the Maytag Bravos for about 10 months and I could not be happier. I seriously love them!!! I think yours are a step up from ours but either way I’m sure you’ll love them.
YoungHouseLove says
Love that!
xo
s
Sarah M says
We invested in the Bravos 880 for our new house and love them! Coming from nothing but old washers and dryers, these guys are like little energy and water efficent laundry spacecrafts! Best of luck!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo!
xo
s
AP says
We’ve had a front loader for 3 years. Ours smelled and got mildew for the first year no matter how much we cleaned or let it air out. We switched to Country Save powder detergent due to cloth diapers. Now it doesn’t get mildew or smell despite the fact that toddler diapers are getting washed.
Lynn says
Oh, bummer! But yes, yes, YES spend as much as you can feel comfortable with. Appliances are like tattoos: You get what you pay for, and cheap will cost you in the long run.
Jessica @ My Coffee is Cold says
I’m very sad that y’all had plumbing disasters, but this came at the best possible time for me- I practically squealed with delight when I saw the picture of the new washer and dryer in my feed. We bought out last washer/dryer after you guys posted your crazy deal on the whirlpool set. We got the exact same set and got further discounting when we bought a washer with a teeny dent in the side. We’ve sold our last house and are building a new one, so I have been scouring the internet and sales flyers for the best deals. We are Whirlpool/ Maytag people, too, so you’ve really given me a huge, dorky thrill with this post! Thanks for always sharing with us!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so sweet! Congrats on yours! Hope you love them :)
xo
s
Jen says
I read the last little comment and immediately looked in the mirror, smiled, then fixed my hair. I’m certain I’m not the only one. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
HeatherM says
Did you guys check out Sears Outlet? That is the first place we look for appliances now, because I can get an appliance with way more bells and whistles than I can normally afford, just because it has a small scratch or deny on the side or back where I will never see it. For example, we got a $400 top-of-the-line microwave with ALL the bells and whistles for $149 because it had a small dent on the side. We mount our microwave over the stove, so we knew we would never see the dent. They have great prices and great selection, so you really don’t deal with the “Presidents’ Day sale” mentality that is common when shopping elsewhere for appliances. Please at least check them out before you buy any more appliances!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes we checked them out but didn’t find anything that met our criteria (might have been bad timing but they didn’t have many top loaders).
xo
s
KoCa says
Nice new machines. I recently went for a new top-loader and have been very happy with it.
How is Katie Bower doing? I’ve followed her blog for a while after finding her through your referral. Her recent posts have had her on my mind.
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks KoCa! I don’t really think it’s my place to chat about how she’s doing, but I’m sure when she’s ready to talk about it herself you guys will all be in the loop :)
xo
s
Jennie says
Why, thank you! I was going for the tousled and unruly look today :)
Congrats on the new appliances! I used to think I wanted a front loader, but I have been glad that we stuck with a top-loading machine. Ours has an agitator and beats up our diapers a bit, but I still like it.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! Tousled for the win.
xo
s
Christine says
We had the same washer as you and it just died in November! My husband wanted to try to fix it, but I begged him to buy new ones since they were from ’86! We ended up with an LG set for almost 50% off during a Veteran’s day sale. We LOVE them so far, especially the steam setting.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s awesome!
xo
s
qs777 says
Can’t wait to hear how you like the new top loaders.
We currently have front loaders since that was what everyone had. Except for the fact we can put a lot of clothes in them, I hate them. I like to be able to add extra hot water to soak my whites and they don’t allow you to do that. I understand the whole saving water thing, but I am more than happy to spend extra on my water since we save on stuff like not having a/c. Do the new top loaders allow you to add extra water?
YoungHouseLove says
I think there are different cycles we should be able to choose to use more or less water. Can’t wait to try it out!
xo
s
Amy says
If I had to guess, I would have thought you would end up with the gray front loaders from the whirlpool commercial with the gorgeous hallway. They’re just so pretty, right?! But I’m glad you evaluated your needs and chose something practical and functional rather than just pretty. Not that these are bad looking, but you know what I mean!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah those are GORGEOUS! I love that whole hallway!
xo
s
Sarah says
Good choices! My dad worked for Whirlpool Corporation for 20 years and we’ve always had appliances by them. You can’t go wrong with Whirpool or Maytag washers and dryers. We have Maytag right now and love them. They really are the best and I’m not just being biased. ;)
P.S. Love the blog! I just recently found you guys (I’m a little slow) after we moved to Richmond 6 months ago. What a coincidence! We’re remodeling our home too and our houses MUST have been built in the same era. You guys have been great inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Sarah!
xo
s
Cathy says
You probably already know to do this, but keep an eye on the price of those units for the entirety of the return period. If the price drops while you could theoretically return the appliances, often the store can give you the difference back.
YoungHouseLove says
Great idea!
xo
s
Melissa @ HOUSEography says
Although we are still loving our twin front loaders (no mildew issues with our LG models, I would highly recommend putting a tray under your washer to prevent any leaking downstairs. It does not need to empty into your plumbing but can be piped directly outside if you have access (maybe through your garage?). My parents had several leaks when I was growing up until they did that. You never what can cause it – jammed sock or worn out water hose. These things never happen at a convenient time.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Melissa!
xo
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Trisha says
So shiny and fresh. Can’t wait to see them in their new home.
The only thing I don’t like about new washers (I don’t have one, but my mother in law does) is that you can’t open it during the cycle. I cloth diaper and I like to “get in there” when I need to. Oops needs more soap, needs some vinegar in the rinse, etc. I hate being locked out.
YoungHouseLove says
So funny! You’re like a chemist or a baker ;)
xo
s
Colleen says
Please please just get one with a child lock! I am having heart palpitations just seeing Clara up there on the dryer. A child can fall into a washer head first and drown if they have access to a top loading washer. Read about The Hebb’s experience here: http://hebbsters.blogspot.com/p/ollie.html?m=1
And I hate unsolicited advice like this because omg I sound like my mother but just seeing that Clara is easily getting on top of the dryer just made me think of their story! I am about to install a lock on the door to our laundry room!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no, we carry her up there to help sort the clothes with us. So she can’t get up by herself and is only there when we’re right next to her, but safety locks sound really smart. Thanks for the info. We’re always glad to be on the safe side!
xo
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Sarah says
Actually we have this same model in dark grey and the washer locks itself once started and the water won’t even start until the lid is closed and locked. There is a button to shut off the lock and open it to add something but it dings at you when you press it and I know my small child wouldn’t know which button to press. Not to mention the fact that the lid is way to heavy for her to lift too. But I could definitely see this happening with any older model top loader.
YoungHouseLove says
So smart!
xo
s
Tara Dawes says
I have been eyeing the heck out of the whirlpool that you posted. Our washer is about 5 1/2 years old – while it “technically” works well- I absolutely hate it, it’s a front loader, we have three dogs so it gets gunked up with sooooooo much dog hair. I will NEVER get a front loader again, and I’ve tried to warn people I know that are currently in the market away from them.
Trying to convince my husband that we should take part of our tax return this year and purchase a new top loader – really hard to win that debate when again “technically” there isn’t anything wrong with our current one. Alas, I guess I must live vicariously through you all. Although maybe once you get yours and give it glowing reviews I can show those to hubby as proof of why we need one! :D
Carla says
We bought our first house about four months ago. The crunch was on to buy appliances, something I’d always looked forward to, but boy is it overwhelming when you’re pinching pennies and you live a good distance from a laundromat.
At first I wanted what you guys had purchased. I really valued your opinion and thought stackable front-loaders would be best. But the price was too high for us (no outstanding sales). And we started thinking about saving money over the long haul.
In the last few months before our move, we stopped using the dryers at the laundromat to save money and energy. We loved the entire process of wrapping the long laundry line around our small courtyard and hanging laundry. And we were amazed at how quickly everything dried, even on cold days.
In Asia everyone hangs their laundry. That’s what I had to do when I lived there, and I found it be very relaxing, even ten stories up on my balcony. So after a bit of browsing for appliances I suggested to my husband that we keep some of our meager savings in the bank and just buy a washing machine.
We ended up paying $750 (still a lot for one appliance for us) for a white Speed Queen, a professional grade appliance found in most laundromats. It is fully made and assembled in the USA, comes with the best warranty (so we didn’t bother buying one), and is made to last for much longer than anything else on the market.
It’s also easy to repair. The front panel pops off and Speed Queen is great about quickly sending out repair parts. They are easy to talk to on the phone and offer excellent customer support. The machine itself is not fancy pants. No bling bling or digital panels. But we love that. It’s a washing machine. In 30 minutes or less our laundry is done.
We don’t have to worry about the door getting locked by an angry computer, mildew in the drum, plastic parts breaking (because there isn’t any), or an expiring service warranty. And as a standalone without the dryer, it doesn’t take up much space. It’s just this cute, humble made in the USA thing that gets the job done. It’s not an Energy Star appliance, but when you look into that and understand what it means specific to washing machines, it’s really not an issue. Plus, we’re saving tons of money and energy by not having a dryer.
On drizzly days we set up an easy drying system inside and really haven’t had any problems. And like I said before, even on the coldest days with no sun, the laundry dries outside in just a few hours.
Not for everyone, but just something to think about for those folks who think they could do without a dryer. :)
YoungHouseLove says
We hear such amazing things about the Speed Queen!
xo
s
Carla says
I love your matching washer and dryer set, and I would have replaced the older dryer, too. So no judgment call whatsoever. I read the comment regarding repair problems and expense with the ones you just bought. You will find similar comments on anything out there, but not everyone bothers to share their experiences. If you want an attractive washer and dryer set with more than the basic features, you probably chose well. Only time will tell, and again, that may not be everyone’s experience with the same models. So enjoy them! They’re really cute!!
Jan says
When we purchased our Bosch front loaders, a friend of mine said to not add soap the first time I did a load of towels. Sure enough suds galore. Front loaders use less soap and sometimes that a hard habit to break.
YoungHouseLove says
So funny! Good to know!
xo
s
Leah G says
after similar research and shopping, I bought this washer for our new home this fall. we LOVE it! the favorite feature at our house is the window on top: our 1-year-old son loves to watch the laundry ;)
YoungHouseLove says
So glad to hear that!
xo
s
Judi says
I cannot believe we scooped the $herdog and J-Boom in any aspect of home anything, buuuuut,,,we’ve had the Bravos XL washer and a slightly different dryer (no steam) in silver for a year and three months now, and although I am the most neglectful person EVER when it comes to maintaining washers (seriously, don’t be like me) they still look and perform as though they were brand new. And we got ours from HD too, and they did a great job with the delivery. Bonus 1: We had been told that top-loaders don’t develop mold issues, and I am here to tell you that that is true (see above re: washer neglect). Bonus 2: That hand wash thing? IT REALLY WORKS. I have given up dry cleaning. I swear these things have saved us thousands. Hope you love yours as we love ours–congrats!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh la la! You scoopers! I love that you love it. Here’s hoping we can all enjoy them for a nice long time! No whammies, no whammies, no whammies!
xo
s
Laura says
Our 10 year old dryer gave up the ghost last fall. I managed to catch a Veterans Day sale and got a good deal. We weren’t exactly planning on the appliance replacement and since the washer works fine we didn’t replace it. They’re both white, but definitely mismatched.
We bought the mid price LG. So far so good.
Amber says
Oh man thanks for the shout out! Annnnd I just noticed the original comment had a typo. Haha! You guys really made my day. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Of course Amber! And don’t worry about typos, I think I make 40 of those a day (especially when I’m on my phone doing comments in the car, haha!).
xo
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