I don't own a Bravo, I do own a Cabrio which is very similar. I have not had any problem with twisting or wrinkling with my machine, although some people have reported these problems. I think part of it is how you sort and load your laundry. If you have several items in the same load that have long ties on them, those could get tangled (of course in a traditional TLer they would probobly tangle too, and wrap around the aggitator). If the Bravo has a Sheet/Towel setting like the Cabrio you will want to use that for large flat items, it prevents them from twisting up. Don't wash large towels or sheets on the heavy duty cycle because it aggitates the items faster and will cause large flat items to tangle. When you load the washer (except for whites loads with mostly small items) do not dump or stuff the items into the washer, place them in, one at a time, around the wash plate. When you remove items from the washer, shake them out before tossing them in the dryer (this is good to do with any washer). Do not wrap or lay long items around the wash plate, drop them in in a heap (example, my towels are so large I could wrap one all the way around the basket, I drop them in in a pile with four going around the washplate per layer.). And just so you know, I love my machine, it works great and holds a ton of laundry, but I think it works best with at least a medium size load. Small loads still clean well, but they can sometimes offbalance the machine. This is not really a big deal since it usually can rebalance itself, but the load might take a bit longer than expected. I have had my Cabrio for a year now and I can count the off balances or times it has tangled items (usually because I did something stupid!) on one hand. By the way, if mine does off balance, the only way you will know is if it takes a lot longer to finish than you expected, or if you put in a couple things that it can't balance and it beeps for you. It does not vibrate or shake if the load is not properly balanced.

Joanne

Proper loading methods and cycle selection, as Joanne outlines, along with using proper HE detergents, are the key to getting good performance from the HE "wash-plate" machines.

One of my two washers that I use regularly is a Whirlpool Calypso (which is NOT to be confused with the Cabrio! - they're very different machines). Calypsos have a history of user dissatisfaction, but they do work well if used properly. :-)

Thanks, I'm glad to know it dosen't vibrate or shake when imbalanced. We have 8 year old Whirlpool Duet washer and it shakes violently and actually moves across the floor several inches. Our laundry room is on the 2nd floor and I've been told it would be better to have a top loader for a second floor laundry room as front loaders are more prone to shaking.

OR Try the Samsung F/L with VRT they work fine for 2nd floors or anywhere. They have a system that stops the vibration.

My grandmother has the Bravos, and she and I think it is fabulous! She does not get twisted, tangled clothes out of her Bravos as well. Joanne pretty much hits the nail right on the head with her post above as to how the Cabrio/Bravos operates and what you need to do to prevent any potential tangling. It is especially important to use the Sheets cycle when washing large, flat items. The Bravos and the Samsung VRT are both good choics if you are concerned about vibrations. My grandmother's Bravos does not vibrate at all, however hers is on a concrete floor. Hope this info helps! Let us know what you decide to purchase! Good luck!! :o)

Well, I went with the Bravos washer and dryer and Home Depot is supposed to deliver it Thursday. I'll post after I've used it and let everyone know what I think! Thanks for all of the help.

pluckymama what do you think of your machines?

The Bravos washer is very quiet and is getting the clothes clean. There is no vibration or shaking even at the highest spins and my laundry room is on the second floor. It holds more laundry than any washer I have ever owned, including my king size comforter that I have washed once and it came out very clean. The only problem I am having is that the clothes come out very wrinkled. I have tried following the advice on the forum on how to load it properly and I give each piece a good shake before I put it in the dryer, but clothes are still more wrinkled than they were in the front loader. I have not had any tangling, but the clothes are each individually twisted when the wash cycle is complete. The dryer is great with a very large capacity and good sensor that lets you know when the load is dry. Also, it dries way more quickly than my Whirlpool Duet Front loader dryer did. Overall, I am pleased, but wish I could better figure out how to get the clothing to come out less wrinkled. I don't want to have to iron!

Have you been loading and unloading as I described above? The way these machines are loaded is important to prevent tagling and wrinkling. If the Bravo has a Perm Press cycle try that, that cycle is designed to cut down on wrinkling. You can also try the delicate cycle which uses a bit more water. You also might try using a lower spin speed if you are using high or medium. Other than that I can't think of anything else. I find with the Cabrio that I actually do less ironing than with my old TLer. Oh, you could try cutting the size of loads a bit. I don't know what your manual reccomends, but the one for the Cabrio says to fill the machine no more than half full for Perm Press or Bulky cycle, and 1/3 for Delicates. Towels, sheets and other loads can be full.

Joanne

Joanne, Thanks, I am going to follow your suggestions and see if that helps. I'll let you know.

When did Maytag come out with there new steam dryer?

I think it is important that we posters state which model of the Bravos we are writing about. This is our third day of owning a Maytag 6700 and so far my wife is very pleased (but more details later). We paid $855 with free delivery

Our shopping started at Home Depot and the 6700. We then went to many other stores and was presented the Whirlpool 6600, which is equal to the Maytag 6600 (since discontinued, even the Kenmore equal). As we read the reviews, there seemed to be more complaints about the Whirlpool models than the Maytags. I have read here that the 6700 has an improved impeller design over the 6600's.

As a side note; I also noticed that none of the FL machines we saw were made in the USA. All were mfd in Korea or Germany !!

This TL's design must be the US's answer for HE washers as there are now similar models from GE.

This TL's design must be the US's answer for HE washers as there are now similar models from GE.GE's Harmony was on the market several years before the Oasis, Cabrio, and Bravos.

If I recall correctly, Whirlpool's Calypso design was the first HE toploader on the market, introduced under the Kenmore brand in 2000 or 2001. The Harmony was next, then Maytag's Neptune TL, then the Oasis, Cabrio, F&P's AquaSmart, and the Bravos.

We have the 6600 -- bought just in time before being discontinued (yay us--at least it's not a computer). No twisting problems in the first week or so of use. But not huge loads--my wife apparently likes watching it so much she wants extra showings.

I realize it's been a while since you posted your question, so I don't know how helpful this will be. I have a new Maytag Bravos 6700 washer which is an HE top-loader (no agitator). I've washed several loads of clothes and sheets and haven't had any problem with twisting or wrinkling.

In fact, my sheets were far, far easier to get out of the washer than they were when I was using a traditional washer.

Hope this helps.

Hi,

I am considering the Maytag Bravos 300 from HD. What is the long-term consensus on this machine? Has anyone here who has posted and owns one still experiencing unusual twisting and wrinkles? That is my biggest concern (that and how clean your clothes are getting) before I purchase this washer.

Hello! :o)

I'm not sure there is a 300 Bravos. The only models #'s I recall are the 400, 700 and 800 models. Personally, if I were buying today, I would get the 800 model with the heater.

And in terms of twisting and wrinkling, as long as you follow the directions in the above posts on how to load the Bravos, you should be fine. In fact, this new series of Bravos washers may not even have that issue anymore, but I'm not sure. I've heard mostly positive things about the new Bravos washers. Even the older Bravos' got pretty good reviews. As I stated above, my grandmother has an older MTW6600 Bravos and thinks it is a marvel! Clothes are thoroughly cleaned and rinsed with no tangling or twisting. She has had some very minor wrinkling problems but nothing major and when the gaments came out of the dryer they were fine. And it is able to hold big, bulky items such as pillows and large, plush comforters.

Hope this info helps! Good luck on your purchase!! :o)

Here is a link that might be useful: Maytag Bravos MVWB800VQ at Home Depot

I have to comment on the new 800 series. We bought the washer and dryer just before Christmas. Thought everything was going well until I tried to use the "Whites" cycle that just uses hot water wash. Got an LF code. Went through the process told to check in the manual with no luck so I called the number in the manual requesting service. The guy came out and said it was the water valve and ordered a new one. When he didn't show up on the date and time to install it I called and was told it was on backorder. I really got upset since they hadn't bothered to call and I had rearranged working hours to be here. So I proceeded to call the store we bought it from and was told since I had put in a repair request that they couldn't take the machine back (I'm not really happy with the long time cycles 1:18 for whites, if it worked at all.)

The sales guy did get in touch with the area Whirlpool rep and she had the part overnighted to the repair place. The same guy came out to install it and guess what? IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM! He called the tech support guy from Whirlpool and was told I needed a whole new CONTROL BOARD!
Now I had been able to use all the other cycles on the machine except WHITES, realizing that I was getting just cold water when I should be getting cool or warm. But after the guy left and I started doing laundry thinking I would be in the same situation but NO! Now the only cycle I get SOMETIMES to work is the SHEET cycle. Don't know why since it is supposed to use warm water. Oh by the way, the CONTROL BOARD is now on BACK ORDER so I have a call into the area rep myself to see what she can do to get it here quicker. She also told me to call the 1-800 number and make sure they have a record of my two problems since the store will have to take it back if it is not fixed with the third try. At least that is what the LEMON LAW here in FLorida states.

So...bottom line - I would wait to see if others have problems with the new Bravos. Yes, it hold a thick kind bedspread easily, doesn't wrinkle the clothes much at all, seems to wash well - but that doesn't help if it doesn't run at all!

Evidently the parts are different on this one compared to the older series - the repair guy had never seen this water vavle he replaced.

I do have the heater on mine and the steam cycle on the dryer.

Here are some of the preset time cycles with no modifications:

Whites 1:19
Bulky :52
Sheets :49
Normal :49
Wrinkle control :44
Darks/Colors :45
Super Wash 1:31
Rapid Wash :33
hand Wash :36

Extra Rinse adds time of course as does changing spin speed or soil level.

mBoston, you can get the tech sheet for your MVWB800VU0 from ServiceMatters.com. Just click here.

HTH, Alex

Mboston, I think the LF code means "Long Fill", and one of the things that can cause this is stuffing the drain hose too far down the standpipe. There's supposed to be a plastic u-bracket that only allows just a few inches of drain hose to go into the standpipe. If the hose goes too far down the standpipe, the end of the hose can go into standing water, and the washer will siphon out as it tries to fill.

Another simple thing to check is to make sure that the hot water tap is turned on all the way. If it's not you'd probably get an "LF" error code as well.

Question about this. The person a few posts above stated that when using the bulky cycle, you couldn't fill the machine too full. I do not have one of these machines but I'm imagining a KING sized comforter would fill that drum pretty full. I'd LOVE to see a vid of the BRAVOS washing a KING comforter.

Also, the lady above said she had a Duet for eight years? Really??? I had no idea Whirlpool had been making duets that long. Not to hijack this thread, but did you have any mechanical problems with the machine during the eight years you owned it other than the loud spinning?

Thanks :)

Kenmore's HE3 frontloader was introduced to the market in 2001, Whirlpool's Duet-labeled sibling in 2002.

I know what LF means, I read the manual completely, went through the steps they said to check and my husband did as well. All was done before we called to have someone else come out. There is definitely not a problem with the hose but with the machine malfunctioning. Besides the repair guy went through the same checks as we did.