Samsung toploader washing machines have had serious issues; there has been a recall. I don't know the details, but they're probably available online.

I've seen concerns expressed about the time it takes to get parts, thus repairs, for both Samsung and LG because they are both foreign products.

After a lot of research, I bought a Maytag Bravos w/d set. (If it matters, they were made in Ohio.) It was important to me to have real hot water, so I made sure the washer had its own water heater. If it didn't, cold water would be mixed with hot on a "hot" water cycle. AFAIK, this is true of all current washers regardless of make.

I am very happy with my washer and dryer. They were the largest capacity on the market at the time and that's important to me because I wanted to be able to wash comforters, quilts, blankets, pillows, etc. Laundromats have become very expensive in my area.

My area has had issues with water usage, drought, etc, so it has been a real blessing to be able to wash much more laundry with much less water, as compared to traditional washers which I had before. I have no complaints, nothing but props for my w/d set.

When I ordered my washer (the one I wanted was not on the floor), I also got an extended warranty (five years) for $100. To me it was well worth it. I have not had to have any repairs, though. I do hope your dad finds a washer that works as well as mine. :-)

Since front loaders and Speed Queen are out I strongly urge you to check out Fisher & Paykel. You can choose between a regular agitator or a low profile one and unlike some low profile agitators F&P's seem to really turn over the clothing load. Both designs are energy and water efficient, the low profile more so, but you have the ability to modify energy and water usage depending on cycles and options you chose. They have auto water level control which can be overridden for manual selection. 5 Wash temps in controlled mode range from 68 or 70 degrees F cold, a warm cold, warm, a hot warm, and hot is full tap hot and not a dumbed down version of what warm or hot means as so many machines now have. An efficient 1000-1100 rpm high speed spin option means less dryer time compared to traditional top loaders. We have had our GWL11 for around 14 years and the love is still there and no repairs.

Thank-you, both!

I'm sorry--I was unclear. Front loaders are out for physical reasons which can't be overcome. Speed Queen has only been questionable because getting him to acknowledge that 2017 is not 1950, and is still a possibility if I have good reasons why it's better. "That's what everyone online likes best" doesn't seem to be cutting it. :)

I will definitely look at F&P and Maytag.

Jujufull, may I ask? How old is your Maytag?

plllog, my washer is 8 years old and my dryer is 9 years old. That's because the first washer I bought (same model) did not have an onboard water heater.

My washer has that high speed spin option too, and it really makes a difference in drying time. This has saved us a lot of money on our electric bill, because dryers are energy hogs, using 220 volts. Towels now dry in half the time it took with my old dryer. The same is true for other laundry.

pllog,

Show your Dad this video-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwcTGhjJUVc

Maytag is not even in the same league build-wise.

Jeff

I don't know what Maytag washer is in that video, but it is nothing like mine - definitely not a Bravos washer. Mine is much bigger with no agitator; it is built like a tank and has a stainless steel drum.

Mine was delivered and set up at no charge, and I watched the guy set it up. Again, there was no comparison. I have never had a problem with the hoses or anything else.

If your dad likes 1950 looks and technology, definitely check out the Speed Queen TL with the manual dial. Looks like, agitates just like it was 1950. Oh, there is more than one speed, but no heater, and the water temperature is set at your hot water heater. You can reset the water level so it fills the tub full for every wash.

It's the no agitator He TL that causes the trouble. It must be loaded precisely to get OK results. The water levels are too low for full immersion and, if you only use the "normal"/eco rinse, there will be detergent residue in the clothes. It's quite a learning curve for traditionally minded seniors.

Why not take the person who actually does the laundry on the shopping trip. If that person can't go, ask questions about what will be washed: just clothes, sweaty sports clothes, towels and sheets, king sized comforters??

Make sure you have good service available locally for any machine you select. Fisher Paykel service may or may not be available in your area.

Maybe if your dad can see the machine, it looks like other residential machines. And it is definitely old school. Even though there is no on board heater, the ones(residential) in our business are right next to the hot water heater which allows a 165F wash. The one at home is not by the hot water heater but still gets to 135-140F on hot wash. We don't keep our hot water heater as hot. The TLs do not have to have an onboard heater if the hot water heater is turned up enough and a true hot water fill/wash is allowed by the machine. This is because you have a lot more water so not as much heat is lost to warm the machine and clothing as a FL. I lose about 5F between the fill temp and the wash temp. Mine washes everything and has handwash and separate delicate cycle. Also perm. press and regular. There are the newer models that have push button controls. The machines we own have been trouble free, except for a pocketful of nails that wreaked havoc with my machine at home. The repair guy said the machine is about the cheapest to repair. Everything gets really clean and rinsed well and we have a lot of detergent allergies. Never any funk, even if stuff gets left in the machine for a couple of days. My test is my son's synthetic workout clothes. We use a minimum of chemicals usually a little STPP and the detergent. I don't know what age your parents are but my parents progressed to needing more heavy duty cleaning. The agitator and deep fill are a good thing.

Jujufull, I use a Maytag Bravo in a condo we rent and maybe it is different than yours but one problem I have had is if I use detergent to spot a stain, the detergent does not come out. Also what is the strongest wash cycle?

Just a point about any machine bought a few years ago, is not the same as one bought today. Even if the machine has the same name and looks the same. Manufactures' are constantly trying to improve water and energy use. IMHO at the expense of clean clothes, useful life of machine, repair cost and ease of use.

With SQ you will have a full 3-5 year warranty including labor depending on model. Maytag also has a set 4.7 cu ft wash tub with agitator with full 5 year parts and labor warranty. Just have to check models for the different warranty.

Thanks, everybody. I've been trying to look for a Maytag more like Jujufull's just to have a comparison. The situation is that there is a housekeeper, but the folks sometimes do laundry too. My father is past the pocket full of nails stage, for the most part. :) The water heater, while outside, is only a few feet from the washer, so that's not a concern.

You've all given me a lot to think about, and good data for why Speed Queen. It's not the appearance. It's just getting his mind to accept the state of things.

I appreciate all the information! There's nothing like GWers who actually use them!!

To preface my following statement, if I were buying a new top loader I would buy a Speed Queen. I would not consider any machine that doesn't have experienced and reliable repair service in your area. As nice as Speed Queen is it can and has broken for a member on this forum. She was unable to get it repaired correctly as the service person was not knowledgeable. Eventually she was able to get the company to return her money and she bought a front loader that she is happy with.

Also I wonder if this logic will work with your father, "Commercial doesn't mean it looks like you are in a laundromat, it means the machine is solidly built to last for years for home use."

My Speed Queen is built like a tank. It is the front loader stack, but an awesome piece of equipment. My water heater is some distance away, so I do sometimes long for an onboard heater that the Miele would have given me. Otherwise, I am Speed Queen all the way. Good luck. Sounds like you have your hands full.

It's the no agitator He TL that causes the trouble. It must be loaded precisely to get OK results.

This may be true for some HE TL's, but it has never been true for either of mine (I had one which did not have an onboard water heater, then got another one a year or so later because it does). I do not have to load it "precisely". I load it just like I used to load washer with agitators. That's it. If I use the Bulky cycle, I don't even have to do that.

The water levels are too low for full immersion and, if you only use the "normal"/eco rinse, there will be detergent residue in the clothes.

If the user wants water to fill the machine, the Bulky cycle will do that. I don't have to use that cycle for my laundry to be fully immersed - I can see through the clear lid - and I have never ever had detergent residue in clothes. Not once.

ask questions about what will be washed: just clothes, sweaty sports clothes, towels and sheets, king sized comforters??

When I was researching washers, before I bought the Bravos, I checked out SQ. None of them were large enough to hold comforters. That's one reason I decided against it. I have been ultra-happy with Bravos.

I use a Maytag Bravo in a condo we rent and maybe it is different than yours but one problem I have had is if I use detergent to spot a stain, the detergent does not come out. Also what is the strongest wash cycle?

I have used detergent from time to time on stains, but I've never had that problem. The strongest wash cycle is Power Wash, which is the one I use to wash my hub's very dirty work clothes, which come out clean every time (sometimes I stop the washer and let them soak, but not always). The strongest wash cycle for whites may be the Sanitize cycle, because it heats the water so hot.

One huge advantage of having the onboard water heater is that we can keep our home water heater set at 115-120, which is just right for showers and baths. If we had to turn it up (as we had to do before), our electric bill would be much higher. We know this from experience.

Having the heater in the washer (and in our dishwasher) has made an amazing difference in our electric bill - also our water bill, since both are great on water usage.

Edit: I am not trying to talk you into convincing your folks to buy a Maytag Bravos. I'm just refuting commonly-believed myths. :-) If they don't need to wash comforters, quilts, pillows, etc, then I'm sure SQ will work just fine. One advantage with SQ is that it is a traditional washer, which they are used to.

I remember reading here several years ago a post from an appliance salesman or repair guy, saying that SQ current washers (like others) do not give real (unmixed) hot water anymore. But I don't have firsthand knowledge of that either way.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but arnt Maytags assembled in the US with foreign parts?

Not that that's a issue in this thread...I'm just curious.

That's not what I was told, MamaP. And when I bought my Bravos washer, they were advertised as being built with commercial parts. Mine is built like a tank.

Dadoes do you know? Well of course he does lol if he reads this.

Juju I'm not sure where I read that.

I forgot to say that Speed Queen is built in the the USA...small town Ripon, Wisconsin.

It's truly a "global economy." Washing machines involve many parts ... wire, water valves, hoses, plastic spacers and supports, springs, electronic boards, knobs, buttons, motors, pumps, inner drums, outer tubs, outer cabinets, blah, blah, blah. The various parts are sourced from various vendors both foreign and domestic. Some of those parts are themselves comprised of many individual pieces (such as water valves involving springs, rubber-ish diaphragms, metal brackets, electric solenoids [which are subcomposed of wires and plastic and such]). How far do you want take the the U.S. vs. foreign parts angle? What, for example, about the various parts of the computers that are used to design the parts that make up the machine?

JuJuFull, the "commercial parts" reference is largely marketing. Some of the parts that comprise the machine may be a bit more hefty but the majority of it under-the-hood is the same as any other machine not tagged as "commercial."

Whirlpool's main U.S. washer assembly plant is in Marion, OH. Check the serial number of the machine (including your Maytag, JuJuFull) for the first letter being M.

My in-laws bought an LG HE top loader a couple of years ago. It has served them well. My neighbour bought a Maytag HE top loader around 5 years ago, and it seems to be working well for her. You might want to check out what brands local appliance-repair companies are authorized to deal with, and eliminate any brands that cannot be serviced locally.

Yes, my washer and dryer were built in Ohio. I knew that when I bought them.

Thanks, everyone, for the additional information.

My father can repair a Speed Queen (not that I'd want him to have to). That's the issue, not the looks. :) He hasn't touched a coin op Speed Queen for thirty years, but they were one of the less loved of his responsibilities back in the day. The company believed in in-house maintenance and repair, never mind pay grades, figuring you get what you pay for.

But, yes, we do have local repair for anything you can dream of, including a very good repair service at the appliance store with certified techs and local specialty service groups for all the major brands.

I'm getting a much better idea of what's out there than reading up on the machines themselves did. Thank-you all for coming through for me.

I would ask at the appliance store which brands tend to give the most problem and which ones tend to give less per their servicers/techs.

We bought an LG HE (no agitator) top loader 3 years ago when our 10 year old Whirlpool front loader failed. It doesn't clean as well as the front loader and it's a little rougher on the clothes but not as much as a top loader with/agitator. No problems so far. It has a huge tub and will take a comforter if you need one washed.

wekick, re your Maytag washer in your condo, which does not rinse well when you treat stains with detergent - I would recommend spraying them with Shout (or Zout, which is stronger). Again, I haven't had that problem with my Maytag, but since you have, that's what I would do instead of pre-treating with detergent.

plllog, since your dad has experience repairing SQ, that seems like the obvious choice. :-) Would they need really hot water (unmixed), or would "warm" be good enough?

Jujuful, that's Wekick's Maytag. I've never had one.

I do think they'd need hot water, but, as I said, it's only a couple feet from the water heater. You can be sure I'll be checking out the mix question.

Thanks for the further info, everybody!

"your Maytag washer in your condo, which does not rinse well when you treat stains with detergent - I would recommend spraying them with Shout (or Zout, which is stronger). Again, I haven't had that problem with my Maytag, but since you have, that's what I would do instead of pre-treating with detergent."

I guess what I am asking is what cycles do you use that would get the detergent out, if you don't have that issue? We are on vacation so I don't take a bunch of laundry supplies, just a small bottle of detergent, lol. I can spot and rinse it out by hand too.

plllog, I apologize for the mistake and I edited that post to make it accurate.

wekick, when I wash my hub's work clothes which are really dirty, I add a heaping 1/4 cup of baking soda (this seems to make a difference) into the drum before I start the washer, and I use the Power Wash cycle with the heater. Sometimes I pause the washer to let them soak for an hour or more; that definitely helps.

Same goes for white laundry like socks and tee shirts; I use the Sanitize cycle and OxyClean. Ditto for the baking soda, and sometimes a soak. :-) If there's a store near you, maybe you could get Shout or Zout while you're out one day. I know that's not always possible when you're on vacation, but I hope you and yours have a great time either way. :-)

Thanks Jujufull. We aren't going there until Oct but we use the same condo usually year to year.

Been very satisfied with my Fisher Paykel Ecosmart with agitator.

I used to own a Bosch front loader and dryer, loved it and never had any issues. However, when we moved to our new home the front loader wouldn't work because of space configurations. I bought a Maytag Bravos 4.3 cu ft HE top-loading washer and the matching dryer from Lowes, for less than $1000.

I've been very satisfied with it. The noise it makes is different, but you get used to it quickly. I've found that it cleans perfectly well, honestly can't notice a difference in my laundry, and it's nice that I can load a comforter into it if I need to (they wouldn't fit in my Bosch, so had to take them out to wash). Never had a problem with loading it (I just kind of distribute the clothes in the washer like you would with a washer with an agitator). I will say that the clothes do come out more wrinkled than from my front loader, but the wrinkles go away completely in the dryer. The dryer is louder than my Bosch, obviously not as well insulated, but again it works fine.

I use Tide pods, occasionally Tide liquid, and the Tide Oxi multi-purpose cleaner with whites.

My daughter-in-law has the Maytag Bravos HE 5.3 cu ft washer/dryer set. That machine is huge, the tub is very deep and might prove a challenge for shorter people to unload the tub. She loves it, she has five children.

So, after giving due consideration to the F&P and Maytag, I got to see the Speed Queens today and bought them for the folks. The dials are very similar to classic Whirlpool/KitchenAid, which is a plus, the size and shape fit the people and house best, and I'm convinced on the repair record. Plus I started this quest knowing they were beloved of the Laundry Forum and were known for getting all the detergent out. :)

Thank-you, everybody, for your input, advice and encouragement.

JC

plllog, I feel sure, based on all you've said here, that SQ was the best choice for your folks. Are they excited? :-)

OT, but I just learned this past week that KitchenAid appliances are made by Whirlpool. Has this always been so, or this is something (relatively) new?

Tracie, my Bravos washer is 5.2 cu ft. Sometimes it's (literally!) a stretch to get everything out, but it's well worth it to me. I can always snag something with a plastic hanger if I need to, but fortunately that's rare. :-)

Having five children, I know that is a real blessing for your daughter. Those b-i-g washers hold a ton of laundry! Not to mention comforters, pillows, etc.

JuJuFull,

Whirlpool bought KitchenAid in the mid/late 1980s. KA dishwashers segued into Whirlpool's mechanical design over the course of several years. KA laundry appliances were always sourced from Whirlpool upon introduction circa 1986 (KA laundry products were discontinued ~2006 after Whirlpool bought Maytag). Early KA ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens were sourced (IIRC) from Thermador. Not sure about the refrigerator history but I have a 1996 KA topfreezer unit that's pure Whirlpool.

The difference between my KitchenAid Superbas and the top of the line Whirlpool in 2001, when I bought them, was that the KA had a porcelain top. As far as I know, that was the only real difference.

Whirlpool used to make lots of really solid, dependable appliances. They made washers and more for Kenmore. Then they decided their good name wasn't so important. They bought KitchenAid, Jenn-Air and Maytag, and abandoned the quality they used to be known for.

Jujuful, I wouldn't say excited. It's laundry. But pleased, yes. Thanks! :)

KitchenAid's agitator has a larger-diameter base (there are perforations in bottom of the basket, the agitator base covers them) and larger fins. Models with a 3-speed motor typically run the medium motor speed for high agitation, coupled with the larger fins for a more gentle action than Whirlpool's units. The motor is beefier with a stronger capacitor.