Washing Machine Blues

Besides baking, I spend a lot of time reading product reviews. Why you ask? Because everything in the house keeps breaking.

About three weeks ago our washing maching started this annoying habit of stopping mid cycle. We discovered if we pushed on the lid (to activate the switch I can't see but know is there), it would start up again. After another week, a push did not work and we had to perform CPR-like thrusts. Cursing also helped. What used to take 30 minutes for a load of clothes, would now take closer to 60 because you have to babysit, coddle and prod the machine. It would stop working a few times through one cycle.

I still had the owner's manual (was given to me when I bought the house 2 years ago) and called the service department. I dislike this washing machine. It has no features, it rips my clothing sometimes and leaves black streaks on my whites. But since it was only 2 years old, I figured I would just get it fixed. This would probably cost about $100. The service department told me based on the serial number, it was purchased in 1999. I am amazed the flippers we bought the house from have a manual for a 9 year old machine. Needless to say I was disappointed. I bought a new dryer three months ago, and had I seen this coming, I would have bought a set.

I started reading reviews on washing machines. I am very interested in the new front loader technology. I like the idea of less water, and room for huge loads. Washing machines are expensive and many of the reviews aren't positive. This decision was extremely stressful. Literally, I thought I was going to have an indecision meltdown in Sears. (This was my third trip to a store to check out washing machines.) I narrowed the choice down to a standard agitator style machine that was pretty big and a High Efficieny Top Loader. I took Sean with me to assist in the buying process and hold my hand.
I decided against the front loader because I had no desire to bend all the way over to put clothes in and pull out, and if I got a pedestal, the washer would be a foot higher than my new non-techy dryer.

Option 1: Whirlpool Cabrio with Agitator
Pros:
-Uses more water (some feel that more water gets clothes cleaner)
-Uses regular soap
-Washes fairly large loads
-Less expensive
-Agitators have been around for years
-Stainless steel bucket
-Nice push botton controls and knob

Cons:
-Uses more water
-Can fit Queen size comforter (I have a King bed)
-Push button controls (repair costs?)

Option 2: Whirlpool HE Top Loader (the one we looked at had a glass top)
Pros:
-Uses less water
-Uses HE soap which many brands now make
-Washes large loads - King sized comforter
-Stainless steel bucket
-Nice push botton controls and knob
-Washes more towels than I own

Cons:
-Repairs (if needed) are fairly expensive
-Expense
-Reviews state that clothes are left wrinkled and mangled due to the high speed spin cycle
-Clothes take longer to wash (than your standard older machines), but I'm told the time and energy is made up with much less dryer time.


My heart truly wanted the huge bucket (option 2). I'm tired of taking my big blankets to the laundromat. This machine had a glass top which looks nice, but is it practical? I don't see myself watching my laundry spin, however I do see us setting tools on top of it and cats jumping on it and more. Being the bargain hunter I am, I asked if it would be cheaper to get a model without a glass top. Yes!

It came down to this:
1. Option 2 machine w/glass lid could be delivered March 1.
2. Option 2 without a glass top could be delivered March 13.
3. Option 3 presented itself. The salesperson offered us a Kenmore machine, very similar to Option 2, for $50 less that what they were asking for the Kenmore on the price tag, and less than option 2 w/glass. The clincher, they would deliver tomorrow! President's Day! And we already have the day off. Score.

Stay tuned for the full review. We will hook it up tomorrow and I will wash!