I think this is what we are leaning towards. Just wanted to know if there was another option to consider. This sounds most like what we have currently.

We faced the same dilemma when our old Whirlpool washer finally bit the dust.

After much research, we ended up buying a Speed Queen Model AWN432SP113TW04. We've had it almost a year, and we love it.

It's top-loading, has a steel tub, big capacity - 3.3 cubic feet. It has the same cycles as our older washer. (It does have an Eco cycle that saves water, but we just ignore that.) It washes beautifully and seems to be gentle on clothes.

Another thing - it lets us use hot water when we want to (of course, you can also use cold or warm). Most newer washers won't let you use hot water, only lukewarm. They mix in cold water to bring the temperature down. This means you can't kill germs or dust mites. With the Speed Queen, you can wash with hot water (as hot as your water heater allows).

This model did cost a bit more than some low-priced brands. But it's worth it.

A TL that kills dust mites...depends on what temp your water heater is set on.

Before running out and buying a SQ make sure your dealer will support you and make sure there's a service provider in your area that is qualified.

We live in the DC area and the website lists quite a few service companies.

Websites typically aren't kept updated very well. Best to check directly with the servicers that are listed to confirm their status.

When our old Whirlpool gave out we used the Maytag that was in the house we bought (the Whirlpool lasted 20 years). I wanted a FL and so we gave my stepson the Maytag. My wife has hated the FL ever since. I keep waiting for it to fail but it has lasted about 7 years so far. I'll get her a Speed Queen when the time comes. 3 year extended warrantee just cost me $495

I hate my front loader, too. Next washer will definitely be top loading.

Donna

Do your homework on TL'ers before buying. ..so much has changed from our older trusted ones.

mampinky0, would you (and others, if desired) please expand on your comment about top-loaders and how so much has changed? Our son needs a new gas dryer and the washer won't be far behind. I'm the designate shopper (who purchased a Whirlpool Cabrio TL when it was new and I am happy with it, but that was before Whirlpool went through its reorganization/upheaval).

Dadoes is best suited to answer this as I'm unsure what machines still operate as a traditional top loader.

I can say many of the new TL say extra large but only fill half full..also they have a control clearly marked cold, warm, hot, but the hot is dubbed down so you don't get true hot. These two things alone are not traditional...so you wash a full load and the machine fill half way...and forget your hot wash for whites and bedding...I know there are a few on the market that come very close to the traditional machines but other than Speed Queen I don't know which ones.wish I could be more helpful but I suspect someone will jump in with good advice.

My 25 year old Whirlpool Gold workhorse washer finally bit the bullet a week ago. Yesterday, a Speed Queen TL washer/FL dryer pair with mechanical controls was delivered. Cost: about $1,700 including tax, and they hauled our old set. We are fortunate because our water heater is about 12 feet away from the washer, so hot is really hot. Because I wanted a top loader, Speed Queen was the best choice for us. Did not buy any extra warranties. The SQ washer is built rock-solid, there is a metal plate across the bottom, and the dryer capacity is huge. You can add water to the load, and the machines seem fairly quiet. However, the lid must be lowered to add water, though I think there is a workaround so that the lid is up while you add water. There is a three year warranty that covers all parts and labor, and a 15 year warranty on the transmission. I washed a queen fleece blanket and a king fleece blanket together today, and while they are not heavy, they are rather bulky. Dried quickly.

Since government regulations will be changing in 2017, I'm very grateful to have purchased a Speed Queen washer before the feds tinker with energy/water efficiency requirements again, and impair performance and drive up costs further. It is criminal that so many machines need to be replaced every 7-10 years. Its such a waste of time and money. Like the OP said, we hated to see our Whirlpools go. I can't think of anything mechanical that we have owned for as long. I estimate that we washed at least 15,000 loads in that washer. We did many repairs over the years, but parts are harder to come by now. One of our sons has already asked us to leave the Speed Queens to him. I hope they last that long!

Top loading washer machine that is not HE: http://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-3-8-cu-ft-Top-Load-Washer-White/1000052849

EDITED: It appears this is as close as you can get to traditional top load. It is not HE, so there is no sensor meaning water actually fills to the top. And you can actually open the lid mid wash!

We were in the same boat, and the new Speed Queen electronic machines get delivered tomorrow. For everyone who says that FLers or HE TLers just have a "learning curve", to heck with that. I look forward to machines that work the way they should. (yes, good service around here.)

Temperature selections on that GE top-loader are Tap Cold, Cold, Cool, Colors, Warm, and Hot. Four different kinds of cold. The manual doesn't list actual temperatures, and I bet that you don't have to worry about getting scalded on Hot.

It can be a guessing-game to keep up with what models from which manufacturers are still full-fill, "old-style" toploaders. The offerings are constantly changing, behavior of control systems modified.

Most of the machines with an old-style agitator that do a full-fill have restricted temperatures ... cold is cold, warm is cold, hot is tepid.

Some of them, such as the GE cited above by "B DC," have restricted fill levels for rinsing unless the Softener Rinse option is selected. This situation can also apply to machines that have mechanical controls. I recently ran across a 2014 Hotpoint (GE clone) model with mechanical controls and a Softener Rinse option. It bypasses the water level control and runs a TIMED, low-level fill for rinsing unless the Softener Rinse option is selected which puts the water level control back into the circuit for the rinse fill.

"Hi- This is Sue at GE Appliances. Yes, model GTW330ASKWW features a Deep Rinse option located above the cycle knob. When selected, the deep rinse cycle ensure clothes are rinsed of soap residue and fabric softener. Thanks for checking with us!"

According to GE it seems to be as simple as setting to deep rinse. I don't get the hoopla. Much better than a no level wash and rinse setting you have no control over with HE washers.

In regards to temperatures, that is something I would ask the manufacturer. I have not had a need to wash any loads in a scalding hot temperature.

B DC.....many of us know the benefits of washing whites, and sheets in hot water, its just a good laundry practice.

As far as GE saying its as simple as setting the deep rinse, what about a deep wash...a traditional TL'er does not function like a HE.. it requires the water cover the clothing, so if you wash a full or extra large load that the machine has a designated cycle for and the water only covers the clothes half way..LOL.

I'm also confused as to why GE would say if you set the rinse for deep rinse it will ensure removal of fabric softener.

I would ask exactly how that works LOL.

Deep rinse is necessary for applying fabric softener.

Front-line phone reps don't know any more information than what's in the sales literature, same as what's distributed to consumers and stores.

Is GE saying that not setting the Deep Rinse option means that clothes are not ensured to be rinsed of soap residue and fabric softener?

The option on GTW330ASKWW is labeled as Deep Rinse - Select when adding Fabric Softener. Many consumers won't understand that the machine does not do a rinse like their old machine if that option isn't selected. Those who don't use liquid fabric softener will ignore it on that point.

The aforementioned Hotpoint is labeled Power Rinse - Select when using Fabric Softener. The neighbor who bought it new from an independent dealer (not realizing it's a two-year-old discontinued model, and I didn't tell her that bit of info) had no awareness of the difference in the machine's functioning with and without the option selected until I explained it. She immediately turned on the option, said "I don't use softener but I guess I better turn this on."

Mama pinky,

Are we distinguishing between wash and rinse? My original comment states this washer does not use a sensor and fills the tub like a traditional TL.

dadoes brought up the issue about the rinse cycle not filling like a traditional TL. But she/he further explained it will if you select a different option, but made it sound a little complicated

I don't think dadoes and I came to a different conclusion. I simply stated the rep said it a button feature. So I am wondering why we are all talking in circles about the same thing.

Hot water and whites are not a good laundry practice it is a traditional laundry practice.

Hot water is not a good laundry practice...how else do you get the funk of body oils out of sheets? I suppose very warm may work, but only if the sheets are changed at least weekly.

It is known fact around most of the world that hot water is used for washing whites, sheets, towles and also most things made from 100% cotton. In al of europe we have machines that states the temp of the water on the program selected.

In Sweden were I live it is said by a very known testing institut much like your consumer reports, that is a non profit organisation, non comersal institut.

They say at least 140 f for what mensioned above and even hotter for sheets that are white.

As mamapinky said you need hot water or at least very varm or you get buildup. Al our machines have heaters so we always get whatever emp set on the machine.

Hot water as a necessity to generate clean laundry has been a debunked myth for quite some time. Particularly noting Europe. I guess I have special body funk because cool and warm water works just fine.

Anyhow, glad you houzzers get riled up over hot water. My initial post was to help OP in her pursuit to find a TL washer that is not HE and closer to traditional.

B DC, just judging from my own experience: I would guess that if you took

Bed linens

Dish towels

Underwear

that you've been washing in less than hot water, and washed them at 140 degrees F, you'd be surprised at what you've been sleeping on, wiping your dishes with, and wearing. They would look cleaner and perhaps also smell cleaner. For some of us, once we've seen the difference, it's hard to go back, even if it's just esthetic.

B DC...rub some oil on your hands than wash in less than hot or very warm.

Mama I do all the time actually. It's the soap that makes it come off.

Surburban I like your point it was very illustrative. I could counter with equal anecdotal experiences but I will pass. Mainly because my same response would be copying and pasting my last response.

If everyone is still itching to talk hot water then feel free to proceed without me. Now if you want to bemoan the plight of HE washers count me in!

First off we don't wash our clothing in soap, well at least I don't, I use a synthetic detergent. Whats next a dishwasher using cold water. A few comments were made about the benefits of hot water washing and suddenly the non hot water users become so defensive.

I would not buy the machine B DC recommended. It's an HE TL'er, disguised as a conventional, old school machine. It washes on various levels of cold water, doesn't fill all the way and lacks a transmission. The reviews are terrible.

Many FL HE washers actually do a great job getting laundry clean. Do your research and buy from a trusted company that has local service. Once you have your FL washer, use 1-2 tablespoons of a top-reviewed detergent to get excellent results. You'll never miss your old school top-loader.

1. If it does all that you say then how is it disguised? It would sound like a straight HE to me.

2. Where does it state it does not fill all the way? A lot of the reviews state the exact opposite.

3. How does various levels of cold make it "HE disguised"?

I made that assumption reading the reviews and watching a video of it in action. Look at the energy guide, it uses just as much energy as an HE top loader as well. The agitator post appears to be useless and just tricks buyers into thinking it's an old school washer.

Do you have this washer and can personally attest to it's superiority?

The question of hot water washing isn't like, say, the question of whether vaccines cause autism. Anyone interested enough can do a well-enough controlled experiment to see how much difference it makes for them. Do it over time and any difference will be more detectable. But if your washer's temp settings are "dumbed down" and hence closely spaced, you might not see much difference at all.

Little greeny if you read the reviews an overwhelming majority have stated the water actually fills the tub as opposed to HE washers. In fact a good bit of positive reviews compare it against a former HE washer

In addition, the GE rep for the specific washer has stated more than once that the washer is NOT HE, and there are no sensors present (a requirement for HE washers, as HE washers use water according to what it suits an adequate amount for the sensed laundry size) and instead the tub water fills according to size selected.

Re-configuring appliances to output the same or similar amount of energy comparable to HE does not make it HE. It is called technology.

Lastly I have no more personal experience anymore than you do to make a determination by video. But all we can do is properly research. "HE" is not in the title, nor the description or specifications. The manufacturer has stated it is not HE. So if I were to collectively make a decision based off these facts I would reasonably conclude the washer is in fact not an HE washer.

Now if you think it is a reasonable line of thinking to believe it is HE because you watched a video, and completely disregarded multiple statements made by GE, and ignore the absence of any semblance of the mentioning of HE in the appliance description is on you.

My original posting also stated "as close as" a tradional TL-which does not mean "it IS" nor does it mean "equivalent." It simply means it is as close as a traditional TL for today's market.

A closer washer to an older traditional TL would be a Speed Queen. I think this machine is as close as you may get.

Mama pinky, yes they seem to be highly recommended. I will look into them myself.

I made this recommendation based off my own desire for a more traditional TL through browsing.

Everyone has their own set of facts these days. Sigh.

I've actually test-washed smelly sheets -- ie sheets washed in apartment house top loaders for years that obviously didn't get out the body oils -- in machine with and without heaters.

The ONLY way the body oil discolorations and odor was removed was with a 158F profile wash. That also removed espresso coffee stains. I have photos to prove the coffee stain removal.

Everyone should use whatever water temp they want to wash sheets. But unless they are hot-washed they aren't clean enough for those of us who are particular.

I will be happy to take on any throw down on this issue, camera in hand and washer at the ready. Expect others here, like larsi and mamapinky would do the same. Because we all know the difference.

For anyone who doesn't agree, no harm done. We won't be visiting you anyway so it doesn't really matter.

I don't wish to argue with anyone here. The laundry room is for those of us who love all things laundry to have a safe place to discuss our mutual interests. Please keep it civilized and respectful. If you can't, I suggest going somewhere else.

littlegreeny, so when did I become disrespectful? there are two commenters now that either directly stated or implied I keep stinky/dirty laundry. How is that creating a safe envorinment to discuss all things laundry? It's funny when others unneccesarily escalate you're giving likes galore, but when I respond tactfully I am somehow a problem.

Mamapinky it is clear you have been heated for some time now, which is why I chose to ignore at least one of your comments. But I do thank you for "tolerating" me having a different opinion from yours. All I have stated here is a difference of opinion.

Anyway I saw someone mention consumer reports earlier. I found this article some time ago which I found to be interesting. I did not feel a need to post it because all of the hot water talk is causing my eyes to glaze over (I am taking a second yawn as I type):

http://www.consumerreports.org/washing-machines/dont-bother-using-hot-water-to-wash-your-laundry/

For myself, I'm thankful that those of us who love hot water don't have to boil vats of water to do a load of laundry. I am grateful that I don't need to live by a stream to wash clothing. I count my lucky stars that I have so many fabulous laundry room choices and an abundant amount of things to wash. Even when it seems like an endless chore, I am blessed. Now if only I could find a machine to wash my dog...

Well, hot water! I can say that DH farm clothes are much cleaner with a hot water wash at 140. Before my front loader, I used an old school Maytag. The only really clean loads I got were when I filled with hot water and let it soak for a few hours. Now with my front loader and on board heater I wash all his clothes at 140f. Much cleaner than before. The hot water on his teeshirts have really made a difference. Before I just ran a hot load in th TL but they didn't get this clean. I am using a top shelf detergent now, where as before I was using a mid shelf liquid. I am also using Sttp with my powder persil detergent. So is it only hot water, or a combo of factors? I will not want to give up the hot temps though. My white hand towels, that he uses daily, are as white as when I bought them 3-4 years ago. They get motor oil and greasy grunge on them. It all comes out. I haven't tried cool water though. Maybe I should, to test results with top shelf detergent and my front loader.

I had no idea this question could garner such debate. I clearly have a lot to learn about laundry. I assumed washing on hot would not only shrink my clothes, but also fade them much more quickly. My husband ordered a new seal for the tub and will be replacing it and we are keeping our fingers crossed that fixes our current leak. If not I see a Speed Queen TL in my future. Thank you all for the information. I will have to start my research on the proper way to do laundry ASAP. :)

Nice to meet you Kari! Apparently you stink and none of these houzzers would dare set foot in your home! That is somehow the appropriate response to us non hot water users :) But I say if your mama raised you right, you more than likely smell just fine!

Oh for the sake of pete.

BDC...you actually had a bad attatude..so I reacted...now its over...the end.

B DC are you new to the laundry room? I don't recall seeing you before. Why don't you grab a jug of detergent, hop upon your washer and join the great group of folks here. I'm not reading back so please start off by telling us what washer you have...and did I hear you type you are thinking of getting a Speed Queen?

You call it bad attitude I call it responding to someone who tried to not so discreetly insult another stranger's cleanliness. Which is absurd (and definitely a bad attitude). So if you would like to react, that should have warranted a reaction. Not to mention you stated you had a problem with my comments before you "reacted."

I unfortunately have a HE TL washer. So hopefully the stinky OP (and I) will find a replacement washer that is not HE.

B DC, my point was that your laundry is likely not as clean as it could be (which is true at some point, or for some laundry items, of all of us here). Yes, I was a bit frank about it. But I figured that someone who frankly expressed his/her opinion about us (we're a bunch of laughably superstitious primitives, performing ritual laundry practices that have been debunked by science) could certainly take a similarly frank response, especially in a forum about literal dirty laundry. Obviously not. Sorry I've offended you. We take pride in being a friendly forum, unlike so many others.

Suburban I thought our conversation was just fine. Sorry if you thought* I was speaking about you.

Might I note I never stated there are no benefits to hot water, and my initial comment was about hot water and whites. It just expanded from there because of the hot water mania lol

One of my sisters washes everything in cold water for years. Her old-style (1984) Maytag toploader carried a smutzy odor. She was always loaded-up on dryer sheets and highly-scented detergents. I couldn't convince her to at least use warm because "our t-shirts will shrink" she said.

They took the grandmother's machines when granny died, being some years newer. The bro-in-law connected them up and got the hot/cold hoses reversed ... so they were washing (and rinsing) in HOT for several weeks without realizing it. The washer would beep an error code every time they ran it for not getting cold water but they thought the beeping was normal behavior, until they brought it to my attention and I figured out/explained the problem. No mention that anything had shrunk in the interim ...

Happenstance came along and now they have a frontloader, given to them by friends (after a catastrophic failure due to bad usage habits), and which I completely disassembled and repaired last February. I gave sister instructions to run hot and/or Sanitary cycles on a regular basis, and the machine's cleaning cycle (which heats to 130°F) monthly. She's not doing any of that. Last time I was there, the machine had slime and mold around the door seal and an odor, developed in 7 months after I had it refurbed to pristine condition. Go figure. Toploader, cold washing, smutz. Frontloader, cold washing, smutz.

Dadoes your going to have your hands full with your sisters washer, again. Good thing your sister has a brother so knowegable.

dadoes I have only had/used this HE TL for a year now. My main complaint is the water level. Sigh, I really despise the small amount of water used.

B DC, I've been using a Whirlpool Calypso for 8+ years. Bought it used, refurbed it, best toploader I've had to-date. If you're not familiar with the Calypso, it was the first HE toploader on the U.S. market, introduced circa 2001. The fill level is less than the impeller-style machines on the market now.

I was recently given a 2011 Maytag Bravos that has bad bearings. Will be interesting to put it through its paces for comparison to the Calypso after I get the repairs done.