It is my opinion that fabric softeners and sheets are unnecessary - PERIOD! If your clothing are "STIFF" coming out of your dryer, then you have a bigger problem, such as soap/detergent build-up. If you use these products to control static, there are ways to control it without toxic chemicals and perfumes from softener sheets and liquids. -If you experience static cling, then you are over-drying your clothes (especially if you have a mixed load of natural fabrics and synthetics). -Don't dry synthetic fabrics in the dryer. If you do dry synthetic fabrics, pull them out of the dryer before the load is completely dry. -You can spritz a dry load with a fine mist of water, tumble the load on "air" dry - no heat - a few times, and that will break the charge so you can remove the items without getting a shock. A fine mist of water is also a way to stop static cling if you are wearing garments that tend to get static. If you add these products so you have some mystical scent, such as "Spring Fresh", derived from chemicals, then add scent. -Grainlady

The unit I have is electric. Gas is also available. There are currently three models (six if gas & electric are counted separately). DG62T27CW2, DG62T27DW2, & DG62T27GW2 are the gas models. They differ in control panel layout and choice of cycles/options. CW2 and DW2 are labeled AeroSmart and are marketed as matches to F&P's AquaSmart washers with matching control panels (CW2 has an LCD panel with capacitive touch buttons, DW2 has soft-touch buttons and no LCD). GW2 has soft-touch buttons (no LCD) and matches the panel of the EcoSmart washer. Any model of course can be used with any brand/model of washer. GW2 is equivalent to the older DEGX1 that I have.

I don't think lack of electronics has anything to do with SQ reliability. By the way, I have read that the timers in the SQ residential top loaders actually have a HIGHER failure rate than SQ's electronics, which they use in ALL their front loaders as well as their commercial top loaders. They are confirming this by REPLACING the timer with electronics in their new residential top loaders coming out next year that will replace AWN412, AWN432, AWN542. Why is this the case? Speed Queen uses high quality electronics, just like all the other high quality parts they use. Electronics aren't the problem. CHEAP, CRAPPY electronics are the problem. How often does the "board go out" in your car? Rarely if ever, because the electronics in cars are high quality. The mechanical parts go out first, which is also what happens in a Speed Queen and is exactly how it should be! All that said, no matter what the brand, we don't hear about washer electronics failing too often anyway. It tends to be more common in appliances where the electronics are exposed to harsher conditions, like ovens and dishwashers. This post was edited by hvtech42 on Wed, Aug 27, 14 at 21:39

I guess the question is why would you use them? Sometimes there's the old that's the way we've always done it! philosophy and I avoid that policy often. My reasons for not using are the same reasoning as above. I don't use them because I simply don't need them. Why waste the money, time and effort? Plus I don't like my clothes to smell. When clothes smell,that's when I think they need to be washed. Most detergents now have a water softening agent in it so the "softening" aspect is moot. Dryer sheets do build up on the dryer sensors and why cause more maintenance? Save money, save labor. Static cling is occasionally an issue but I never found the sheets to really do that much. A can of Static Guard or it's frugal counterpart, a spray bottle of water to mist the clothes, is more effective. I have several poly blend and poly t-shirts and now in the winter, yes there's some static. So I give them a shake and all is well. Plus if I don't dry as dry, or "over dry" as some call it, that helps too. Don't want damp clothes but a bit of humidity in the air in the fibers is fine and deters static. I haven't even used vinegar for a long time. I'm just so happy with the way my clothes come out now, and simpler is better. Don't need the extra cost or labor.