What washer should we get upstairs?

15 years ago

Hi there,

We need to replace our trusty old Whirlpool that gave out this weekend. We have an upstairs laundry room (right above my dining room -- UGH). We looked at frontload and top load and cannot decide.

We have a live in who does our laundry daily, sometimes 2 loads back to back. She stuffs the clothes in (and I can't seem to teach her not to) so we need a large capacity that will hold up to her abuse.

I also have a daughter with eczema so I need the ALl Free Clear as the only washing detergent. I know they make an HE version but it's hard to find.

We looked at the Kenmore Oasis topload and the LG frontload (the new one with the cool square door). Bot have gotten really BAD reviews on the Sears site.

Any suggestions? QUIET, large capacity and reliable are my top requests for this 2nd floor unit. We would hate to have water all over the ceiling.

Thanks! Katherine

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Comments (5)

washer_man
15 years ago
If you're looking at the Kenmore Oasis, you might want to consider the Maytag Bravos, which is the Maytag version of the Oasis. The reviews for the Bravos have generally been quite favorable.
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cynic
15 years ago
I guess if I had a live in who couldn't learn how to do the laundry they wouldn't be allowed to do mine. An improperly loaded machine is going to be problematic. Especially so with frontloaders and washplate machines from what I see and hear. It can damage clothes and doesn't do the machine any good. Plus clothes won't clean as well. They'll probably lump up and not rinse or spin as well and this could be an issue with people with skin problems. I'd do something about that if I were you but of course, that's your business.

So if you're still going to put up with it, I'd suggest another Whirlpool or a Speed Queen. Basic, simple and dependable. I wouldn't risk an expensive machine and my family's well-being by getting a machine they couldn't handle.

As far as the detergent availability, the good news is that it should improve as time goes on since the number of HE machines are increasing daily and more and more HE detergents are on the shelves. I also see far more "free" and "clear" types of detergent being sold. It seems that a lot of people are sick of the perfumes and irritants, including me. I can understand since I'm sensitive to a lot of detergents, have friends and relatives with psoriasis (sp?) and I use Tide Free/Sensitive with great results and better cleaning than other brands. I've given some to my "sensitive" friends and relatives to try and though they were very hesitant to even try it, all have been surprised. There's lots of detergents out there. You might not be locked into the one. But I understand that when you find something that doesn't itch, you want to stay with it. Guess you'll need to stock up if you have trouble.

BTW, If you can train the person, (maybe stand there with a Taser a few times?) there's one other caution. On a second floor installation, should you choose a front loader, be sure you have it in writing you can return it in case of problems. There's a lot of vibration issues with second floor installs and you really can't tell ahead of time whether you'll have trouble or not. Forewarned.
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mara_2008
15 years ago
If I seriously thought my new washer was going to be abused, I'd buy the cheapest one I could find.

If I invested in a good washer, it would be a condition of continued employment that my hired help study the manual as many times as it took to use it right. Period.
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mara_2008
15 years ago
My Maytag Bravos is quiet, has a huge capacity, and so far has been completely reliable. But I honestly wouldn't buy it if I thought it would be abused.
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appliance_researcher
15 years ago
sdkath,

I'll second washer man's recommendation for the Bravos. My family members and I got one for my grandmother and she absolutely loves it! It can hold a TON of clothes and gets them thoroughly washed and rinsed! and the new Bravos MVWB800V model has a built-in heater, which I find to be a very beneficial feature on any washer.

Also, I noticed on the bottom of page 21 in the owner's manual of the Bravos (a link to the manual is provided) that the washer will go into "oL" code if it is overloaded. According to the manual, the washer will start to fill but then drain what was sprayed into the machine. Then it goes into "oL" mode and will stay in that mode unless you remove a few items of clothing from it.

This way, you won't have to teach her not to stuff the clothes in: the washer will do that itself! Hope this info helps! :o)

Here is a link that might be useful: Maytag Bravos MVWB800VU owners manual
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What washer should we get upstairs?

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