Help me choose — GE or Maytag?

5 years ago

Finally getting my sad little laundry closet renovated so I can get FLs. We cannot stack, and have other space constraints (again, sad closet!!) but I really want a washer with an onboard heater. I would prefer an allergen cycle but at at the very least a santize cycle. We will be installing behind fully-louverd doors and I will have room for a slight crack in my washer door.

I have narrowed it down to this:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Maytag-4-8-cu-ft-High-Efficiency-Stackable-Steam-Cycle-Front-Load-Washer-White-ENERGY-STAR/1000704962

Or this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-4-8-cu-ft-White-Front-Load-Washing-Machine-with-OdorBlock-UltraFresh-Vent-System-with-Sanitize-and-Allergen-GFW650SSNWW/311972518

Both machines will have availability issues so I will have to be patient. The GE is going to be a bit snug but I think it will work, and it will give me a vented front plus allergen cycle. I can get it at Costco for a decent price.

The Maytag fits the space with more wiggle room, looks more attractive to me FWIW, and I can get it from a small, family owned dealer who still offers service. But it has sanitize only, and I expect I’ll pay more for it.

As to a dryer, I’ll get the cheapest matching dryer I can. I don’t like bells and whistles, just a basic moisture sensor. Both washers come with features I will never use, but everything seems over-engineered these days.

Any way to break this tie?

Thanks.

Featured Answer

MizLizzie
Original Author

5 years ago

And the winner is Maytag. Found myself unexpectedly driving by the local appliance shop today, and just went in and pulled the trigger. No clue when I will get them; they warned it could be as late as October.

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Comments (9)

dadoes
5 years ago
Haier owns GE appliance division since 2016, if that is of any consideration.
armjim
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I know there is little love for Whirlpool here at the moment, and I do dislike the KitchenAid oven we have that has the AqualLift feature. That being said, our KA dishwasher is phenomenal in its cleaning ability. Wonder if there is hope for the Maytag brand?
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MizLizzie
Original Author
5 years ago
>>>Haier owns GE appliance division since 2016, if that is of any consideration.

Sadly, yes. I was not aware. dadoes, would YOU purchase GE?

Also, what is the real difference between SANITIZE and ALERGEN? They are not just marketing terms, are they?
Nick
5 years ago
So I was in the same position as you. I was deciding between these two and availability basically forced my hand to get the GE. I actually have the 5.0 one but it's basically the same. If I could make the choice again I would choose the Maytag but I am happy with the GE. I wanted an American made washer and Wayfair said the GE one was but then I found out it wasn't after I bought it. So simply based on that I would have chosen the Maytag.

But other than that I am pretty happy with the GE. It's my first frontloader. What I'd suggest is to read both manuals. Personally, the Maytag manual is much better written and goes into greater detail. The GE manual is pretty vague and every time I've chatted with their reps I've gotten poor info.
Nick
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
There is a difference between the sanitize and allergen protocols if they're getting NSF certification. Allergen is better because there's actually a temperature that has to be met. For sanitize it must:
- at least 99.9% of test organisms are removed when the washer’s sanitization cycle is selected, and
- there is no carryover of test organisms between loads after sanitization cycle is used.
For allergen:
- Washers certified to this protocol must remove at least 95 percent of house dust mite allergens and feline dander. The wash water must reach 131° F (the temperature required to kill dust mites) for at least three minutes. The washer must be easily cleanable, corrosion resistant and designed to avoid accumulation of dirt and debris.
So I guess that's one pro for the GE is that they do the stricter allergen cycle.
MizLizzie thanked Nick
dadoes
5 years ago
Some GE appliances are still produced at Appliance Park in Louisville KY, and possibly other facilities in the US. Some models may be sourced from elsewhere. Some frontload washers in the past were sourced from China, may still be so. The trick is to determine which current models are from where, if it's a concern.

I would possibly choose a GE range if I needed a replacement. Current 17yo one is a GE. GE has long been known for decent cooking appliances. Laundry, not so much. Refrigerators I suppose are average.
MizLizzie thanked dadoes
Nick
5 years ago
You can go here to see which GE products are made in the US: Made in America | GE Appliances

They only make toploaders in the US.

I just got an electric GE stove and I love it.
dadoes
5 years ago
An appliance assembled in the US likely has individual components sourced from other countries. It's a global economy, no way around that.