Again, thanks for all the replies and helpful hints about using Speed Queens. Having explored the local laundromat - it seems clean, but who knows what was washed in the load before yours? - I am now doing wash using the 5 gallon bucket and (new!) plunger method. Saves money and gives you great arm toning exercise at the same time. For one person's wash it's really not bad at all. @jakvis: I don't think this poor old Maytag is worth fixing. I googled its serial number and found that mine was not the only one with problems. Indeed, mine seems to have lasted a relatively long time, probably due to light use. The link below has some reviews. Here is a link that might be useful: Maytag SAV2655A Reviews

Thanks everyone for your helpful input! After combing all the discount sites, I ended up ordering two comforters (was looking for my guest room, too) from Macy's. I had looked in the store, but never thought to check their Web site - it's huge! Since I've been searching for something so specific regarding fabric and color, I thought it best to be able to make a return without having to spend money on shipping. These were 20% off + free shipping, so the cost went from astronomical to not-quite-as-astronomical. But, both seem to fit the bill, are cotton and MACHINE WASHABLE! Ordered this for our bedroom. I think it will work against my deep-blue walls and dark furniture, but brighten up the room by pulling in the our white trim. Got this for the guest room, which has mocha walls and drapes with hints of light blue. It's a very "moody" room. I had a Chris Madden comforter set from Penny's which had decorative tassels that started falling apart - last time I ever try that. This set has the same color range, and I'm hoping it will match the blueish sheets and brown skirt I already have. We'll see. Keeping my fingers crossed!

I worked for a dry cleaner for several years in my (sort of) misspent youth. I worked in the alterations department and I also learned to press which meant I spent a lot of time "out back" with the dry cleaner and the spotter. I learned a TON about fabric care and when I no longer worked that job (and no longer received free dry cleaning!) I began learning how to properly launder things, by reading old sewing and Home Economics books I picked up at yard sales. "Dry clean only" is the safety net for manufacturers. If they slap that label on something they're protected from liability. Consider that both sheep and geese routinely get wet. ;) Cold water and a dilute solution of my favorite laundry detergent is how I wash things like comforters. I will take them to a laundromat to use the extractor to really get remaining water out of them and use their dryers (I don't have a dryer). I routinely wash our feather pillows by first soaking them with the garden hose (this keeps them from floating in the washer). I put them in the washing machine with a cup of ammonia and run the cycle. I rinse them twice. Ammonia cuts grease (and everyone's hair is oily and sometimes we sweat while we're in bed). I take them to the laundromat and "extract" them and then dry them, finishing with a full day in the sunshine on top of the car, turning every couple of hours. They look nearly brand new when I'm done. They're now nearly 15 yrs. old, too. I use ammonia a lot actually; esp. for woolens. I use it for hats, socks, mittens (I rinse carefully and add a capful of lanolin to the final rinse to add water repellency and promote elasticity in the wool fibres). I block and dry them flat or, in the case of socks, on stretchers.

elyash...Larsi is the expert on the Electrolux 60 & 70 series (I own the 70 set) but let me try to answer your questions. Washer 1. Hand Wash you may never need it but it's nice that it's there. The Hand Wash cycle has more "motion" (tumbling) if you will, than the Delicate cycle; where there are more longer pauses between direction changes. 2. Steam Prewash (I haven't used this yet) but makes sense for really filthy clothes best for oily type of stains to relax fibers before washing. 3. Wool (haven't used this either) uses very specific settings (warm wash, cool rinse, gentle tumbling, medium spin, normal soil level), you can't modify these settings. 4. Extended Spin (haven't used it) seems like overkill to me. The 60-70 series maximum spin speeds are 1300-1400 RPM and only at the very end of the spin cycle. The clothes are really almost dry at that point and a few more minutes won't do much more (unless you have some really heavy absorbent material). 5. Custom Options : Every cycle has a water temp, spin speed, soil level (time adjuster) and available options for that cycle. Depending on the cycle you may have the option to...Add Steam, Eco Friendly, Allergen, Extended Fresh, Shrink Guard, Add More Water, Stain Pretreat, Fresh Rinse, Extra Spin, PreWash, Warm Rinse, Delay Start. 6. 3 Favorites vs. 1. Say you wash the same thing using the same settings. Instead of turning the dial to the cycle you want and going through all the settings you want, you can do it once and save it. Then when you go to wash that same load again you just go into Favorites, select your saved cycle and press "Go". The 70 will store 3 of your "Favorites" vs. just 1 on the 60. 7. Most of the wash cycles are hidden under Specialty, you'll mostly use the main cycles on the big dial. Dryer 1. Different cycles have different options. I to use Medium Low (heat) on which ever cycle will allow me to use it. Some cycles will only allow "more dry or less dry or damp dry etc). It really doesn't matter too much what the dryer says the cycle is for (towels, casuals etc) the dryer has sensors to determine how far along the drying process is and adjusts accordingly. 2. I have used steam but not "Fast Steam". It's really just a fine mist sprayed into the drum. It's not true steam at all. No, you will need to iron. 3. The use of a drying rack is recommended for washable woolen items. Check the use/care label for proper fabric care. 4 I don't own anything woolen so I don't know if you would have to take some items to the dry cleaners. 5. Personal preference. 60 series most controls are laid out and have easy access, 70 series options are under the "options" section for each cycle. I hope that helps a little. You can view the manuals online for more info. Electrolux Website