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GratefulDad
Guest
What is the best washing machine for a family of six in 2015?
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mdleagedguy
Guest
The biggest one you can find. We have a Kenmore that weāre happy with. It is one of that takes the HE soap, and is energy efficient. Iāve found that with a large family we typically wear out washing machines quickly. They donāt make them like they used to. Plan on replacing it every couple of years even with a more expensive model. Maytag is also good. GE machines tend to wear out more quickly than other brands. It really sucks when the washing machine breaks. By getting a larger machine you run fewer cycles on the motor and it will last longer. Plus, you donāt need to do as many loads per week. Same thing goes for dryers.
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Xantippe
Guest
Have a look at Consumer Reports.What is the best washing machine for a family of six in 2015?
Interestingly, itās the fancy exotic brands that are more repair-prone across all major appliance categories. The highest performers in terms of durability are often the common household names.
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jeannetherese
Guest
You might talk to your appliance repairman about which models and styles seem to need fewer repairs.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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ServusHumilis
Guest
If I wanted a washer that was going to last and do bigger loads Iād probably look for one of the older style non-HE āHeavy Dutyā machines that loads from the top. Just like driving a V8 vehicle based on a tried and tested platform; it could run forever but youāll be paying for more gas, or in this case using more water. Our top loader was nearly 10 years old and a workhorse when it was replaced and still worked (but it had a belt and other things replaced at points) though we got something newer. Itās an HE model but its capacity is much smaller and I somehow doubt it will last as long. It would certainly be harder to have work done and look for expensive electronic parts in the future if anything needs replacing. Look at Whirlpool traditional top load washers, or if you want the HE Iād possibly go for a top loading HE one (less likely to leak and I imagine a larger capacity). Some Kenmore appliances are made by Whirlpool.
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GratefulDad
Guest
What about service? Who has good service and who should be avoided?
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nhamm10
Guest
We purchase many appliances due to having rental properties . Our appliance guy recommended for our personal home the Speedqueen! (To expensive for our rentals) Itās heavy duty, has a fantastic reputation. The agitator cleans and the machine rinses clothes the old fashion way not the new way to save water that doesnāt clean as well and doesnāt rinse all the soap out. Also, never put the full cup of laundry detergent in the wash. He said you use about half of what the manufacturer recommends. They are there to make money and the more you use the faster you go through it! Your clothes will get just as clean cutting back on it. (plus itās not good for your washer)!
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bmaj
Guest
Donāt get one of those newer āwater-savingā models. They take almost twice as long to do a load - absolutely horrible! I would recommend something āheavy-dutyā with extra large capacity for your beautiful large family. Our Amana āCommercial Qualityā washer is still going strong after many, many years, and weāre very pleased with it, but there are likely other good ones as well. Good luck in choosing, and enjoy those kids!What is the best washing machine for a family of six in 2015?
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bmaj
Guest
Forgot to mention - top loaders seem to be the best in our experience. Have heard some horror stories about the front loaders.
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pensmama87
Guest
We have a Fisher Paykel top-loading high efficiency washer and love it. Weāve had it five years and it does just as well as it did when we got it. I do clean it every once in a while (meaning I run a cycle with nothing in it except white vinegar, and then wipe out with a microfiber cloth to get out any stray lint hanging around inside). I make my own laundry soap (powder) and have never had a problem with it in the machine.
We are a family of soon to be five, but we do cloth diaper, so the washer gets used a LOT.
We are a family of soon to be five, but we do cloth diaper, so the washer gets used a LOT.
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MomaMary8
Guest
New machines wear out very quickly. Iāve gone through 4 HE washers in less than 10 years. Top and front loaders. The top loaders lasted a bit longer than the front loader, and the front loaderās repair cost was higher. Itās not the labor that kills, but the replacement parts for all the new machines. The typical part that goes bad costs around $600+ā¦just the part.(sorry, I canāt remember the name of the part)
My suggestion is to by a re-built machine that was made prior to all the government mandates. I can throw in a folded wash cloth or shirt in my new machine,and it comes out perfectly folded. If there is not enough agitation to unfold a cloth, how is there enough agitation to get the dirt and grime out? But the machine does rate high on being āgentleā on the clothes
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GratefulDad
Guest
Yes 100% cotton diapers rule. It is funny to use cloth diapers for all four of ours and actually dull diaper pins to the point they canāt be used. We are saving them to give to the kids when they have children as a badge of honor haha.
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Xantippe
Guest
Gah.
New machines wear out very quickly. Iāve gone through 4 HE washers in less than 10 years. Top and front loaders. The top loaders lasted a bit longer than the front loader, and the front loaderās repair cost was higher. Itās not the labor that kills, but the replacement parts for all the new machines. The typical part that goes bad costs around $600+ā¦just the part.(sorry, I canāt remember the name of the part)
My suggestion is to by a re-built machine that was made prior to all the government mandates. I can throw in a folded wash cloth or shirt in my new machine,and it comes out perfectly folded. If there is not enough agitation to unfold a cloth, how is there enough agitation to get the dirt and grime out? But the machine does rate high on being āgentleā on the clothes
Iāve got an affordable nearly 8-year-old top-loading Whirlpool washer still going strongāwe lived with it in a rental house for 5 years, stored it for one year, and have had it in the house we bought for nearly two years. It sounds like I need to guard it with my life.
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MomaMary8
Guest
Yes. Yes you do! (I also have a few more kids than you with a lot more laundry
)Mary_Gail_36
New member
Top loaders seem to be going extinct though, they are pretty hard to find.
What I liked about top loaders is if after a minute or two you find a sock that should go in as well, you could open it up and throw in the sock.
With front loaders, no such option. (unless you want a wet/soapy mess).
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MS_SURVEYOR
Guest
When my wife and I were shopping for a washer 8 or 10 years ago, we looked at a lot of washers. I bought 2 high dollar models and sent them back. We settled with Speed Queen. A large capacity, heavy duty washer without a computer board. All antilog controls. Speed Queen is the washer used in Landry Mats.
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slh3016
Guest
Speed Queen all the way! Just got one a couple of months ago and LOVE it!! Had a Maytag top load HE machine that was terrible. I always referred to it as my communist washing machine because it would lock the lid and would not let me choose the water level. I couldnāt even fill it up to let stuff soak. It would drain out in an hour.Speed Queens are built like a tank with mostly metal parts. They are what the old Maytags used to be before Whirlpool bought them out. They are not fancy but they get our clothes clean! We have a farm and lawn business and I often had to wash my husbands clothes twice in the HE machine to get them clean.
They are rated commercial so they are able to get around the governments energy-efficiency regulations. I will say, however, that our water bill was slightly higher the first month (about $20) but at least my clothes were clean!!!
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Zzyzx_Road
Guest
I had a 1994 Kenmore washer that I bought used and let go last year ā¦ for a 2005 similar model Kenmore. An aside: to go with that old washer, I also had a 1981 vintage Maytag dryer that I bought at a garage sale when I moved into my first home, just gave it away when I upgraded to the 2005 Kenmore dryer that came with the washer. Youāll say Iām cheap? Yes I own that.
A couple of years ago, my parents let go a washer/dryer set made in the 80ās for an HE model top loading washer and bigger capacity dryer. Mother has two complaints about it: it doesnāt dissolve powder detergents very well on its own. Sure the detergent goes in first before the water and the laundry, but the water has to be manually agitated for the detergent to fully dissolve which my mother does with an item to be washed. This was never a problem with their old washer. After using powder all her life, she switched to a liquid detergent because of this. Second, the rinse cycle doesnāt fully rinse the detergent out of the clothes so she always runs a 2nd rinse to do this. Sorta defeats the water saving features, donāt ya think? Not remembering the model at the moment.
I hear similar stories to the ones in this thread about old vs new, etc. So ā¦ Iām hanging on to my 2005 model washer/dryer set and will defend them against all comers, including my future wife if I have one.
Other posters have suggested Consumer Reports. I strongly second that one. Do the monthly online subscription which you can cancel after one or two months. This will give you online access to all their review and rating articles from the last few years, searchable by category. Far better than trying to find CR in the magazine rack somewhere, that will only have the latest articlesā¦
A couple of years ago, my parents let go a washer/dryer set made in the 80ās for an HE model top loading washer and bigger capacity dryer. Mother has two complaints about it: it doesnāt dissolve powder detergents very well on its own. Sure the detergent goes in first before the water and the laundry, but the water has to be manually agitated for the detergent to fully dissolve which my mother does with an item to be washed. This was never a problem with their old washer. After using powder all her life, she switched to a liquid detergent because of this. Second, the rinse cycle doesnāt fully rinse the detergent out of the clothes so she always runs a 2nd rinse to do this. Sorta defeats the water saving features, donāt ya think? Not remembering the model at the moment.
I hear similar stories to the ones in this thread about old vs new, etc. So ā¦ Iām hanging on to my 2005 model washer/dryer set and will defend them against all comers, including my future wife if I have one.
Other posters have suggested Consumer Reports. I strongly second that one. Do the monthly online subscription which you can cancel after one or two months. This will give you online access to all their review and rating articles from the last few years, searchable by category. Far better than trying to find CR in the magazine rack somewhere, that will only have the latest articlesā¦
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MS_SURVEYOR
Guest
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GratefulDad
Guest
The Speed Queen says it has all metal components. Now I need a to find a store that sells them.
How is the repair service on them?
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