I didn’t go with speed queen because they’re nearly double the price of all other washer/dryers. I know they’re built like tanks and don’t really fail, or if they do they’re easy to fix. But I’ve also heard they can be tougher on clothes and wear them out quicker.
Ultimately ended up going with Maytag. It’s been solid for the past 6 months, no issues at all and I got a free 5 year warranty from the small local appliance store I bought it in, so maybe check them out opposed to the big box stores. They fix it if there are problems, not Maytag.
Also look for one with a “deep fill” option. All new washers have a federal requirement now that makes them “high efficiency” which really is just using way less water and spraying them for an hour. Whether this fully washes your clothes is a bit of a debate, but I guess that’s how most are in Europe now. The “deep fill” option is supposed to be if you’re washing bed sheets or very soiled clothes, but I still use it to soak my clothes.
How do you determine if one is deep fill? EDIT: NM I found it. The one I chose has this option!
Speed Queen, preferably a used from 2020 from before they switched from mechanical controls but the newer electric controls are better than the competition.
I read this as alligator washers and was very confused
Well, if you have a better way to wash your alligators, I sure would like to hear it.
Why do you want a top load agitator?
Don’t say mildew in a front loader. It’s a solved problem. They’re better in almost every way.
“Solved” is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. Mold in front-loaders is a user-mitigated issue, not something that has been solved by a space-age design evolution. If you leave the door open, wipe the gasket regularly, use HE detergent correctly, and run cleaning cycles, it can be fine. But that’s less like a solved problem, and more like a list of annoying chores.
Top-load agitators (especially newer high-efficiency ones) avoid all that by not having a gasket that traps moisture in the first place. Some of us prefer that simplicity, especially in rural homes, older laundry rooms, or places where airflow and heat vary seasonally.
Also, saying front-loaders are “better in almost every way” kind of ignores the fact that they’re slower, more prone to balance issues, and usually harder to repair yourself. They’re great machines for the right person, but that doesn’t mean everyone else is making a mistake.
I just prefer not to have to supervise my washer like it’s a sourdough starter. I have enough trouble with actual sourdough starters.
Haha good answer.
Neither my front loader nor my sourdough starter have bad odors. First one I leave the door ajar, other one I leave on the counter and feed every couple days.
What are you feeding your front loader?
Bread flour and water, stir well.
I’m my experience with front load washers will eventually dump all the water out the front.
They’re like French door refrigerators. Conspicuous consumption drives the initial purchase, and people paid too much money to admit it sucks and they made an expensive mistake.
Currently, I have a shitty old, no-frills refrigerator, and a shitty old zero frills electric stove. And you know what? The refrigerator keeps things cold so they stay fresh longer. The stove heats to a consistent temperature every time, so I always know what to expect, and my food turns out great. Frankly, it’s vastly superior to the Fancy Thermidor gas stove I used to use, whose temperature was always hotter than the sun, or ‘why the fuck is this taking so long?!’ And honestly, the fancy whatever brand stainless steel refrigerator I used to use, used to have moisture issues, maybe because of the fancy-schmancy built-in ice and water dispenser in the door, but stuff would go bad faster in there because it was always too moist. So I guess I could get something fancier, but I think it would actually be a downgrade in terms of performance, and the only purpose it would serve would be to make me feel extra fancy. Which isn’t nothing, but I think I’ll take the practical trade-off here.
