Capacity in Miele and Speed Queen front loaders + other FL Qs

last year

Hi All,

After years of issues with our Electrolux front loading washing machine, we are ready for something new. We have to get a FL machine due to the set-up of our laundry room. Right now I am used to a very large capacity machine in which I can wash a queen sized comforter. (I don't know the exact capacity of my Electrolux, but it is on the big side.) The Speed Queen and Miele options are in the 2.5 to 3.5 range in terms of capacity. Any personal experience with these machines? Eg. What could you fit? Any pros/cons to report?

I also see that LG gets some good marks, so that could be one to consider. Our biggest concern is a moldy smell. In spite of keeping the door open, wiping down the gasket, running the "clean washer" cycle, etc., our Electrolux always smells bad.

Thanks so much!

Featured Answer

jwvideo

last year

last modified: last year

While waiting for other current users of Miele and SQ washers to respond, you might find it helpful to look at some other recent threads where your question was discussed.

Re: Speed Queen FL and comforters --- have you run across this Speed Queen video about washing a king-size down comforter in the current FF7 model? (I'm also recalling several threads here within the last couple of years where posters here discussed washing large comforters in current SQ FL models but I'm having trouble turning them up with the search engine.)

As for the Miele W-1, there is some discussion of washing even king-size down comforters in the long-running thread miele-w1-t1-washer-dreyr including some specifics from a user with the screen name of Cal. If you haven't yet looked at the AutomaticWasher.org site, there is a longish thread from a couple of years ago about that topic: https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?83323. I'm also recalling this video of a somebody in Europe washing a king-sized down comforter in Miele W-1 model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGA0k0Z56FM

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Comments (9)

georgect
last year
I have an Electrolux (EWFLS70JIW), 7 years old and it's rated to be 4.4 cu. ft.

So yes it's on the larger size compared to a Miele, just so you can compare size differences.

You'd probably like the size of the LG's, as the Miele and Speed Queen are smaller.

I've yet had any bad smells from my washer.

I use hot water washes often (also Allergen and Sanitze to keep things clean).

Keep us posted on your purchase.
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@Jen Jobart To be clear, let me say again that my own set-up is a manual, external mixing valve rather than a set-up using the small, in-line electric water heater alternative you asked about. Also my heaterless, 14 y.o. FL washer is not a Speed Queen. That said, the "electric water heater" alternative is actually an after market "plug-n-play" thing rather than something you that you frame or build-in during house construction. What you do during construction is to make sure you have enough 120v circuits and outlets in your LR to be able handle the 1400 watt (or so) load of the heater while running your washing machine. The person I know who has one of these set-ups is running both his FL washer and in-line heater on a single 20 Amp 120v circuit much as you might do with a washer with an on-board heater such as a Miele. For new construction like yours, I might prefer to add another, dedicated circuit and outlet for in-line water heater. The inline external heaters may draw more current than a standard on-board water heater will. The one I've seen first hand was one that used a little Bosch in-line heater like this one: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bosch-Tronic-Mini-Tank-2-7-Gallon-Lowboy-6-year-Limited-1440-watt-1-Element-Point-of-Use-Electric-Water-Heater/5000622219. You just hang on it the finished wall above or next to the washer where you can reach it easily and plug it into a regular 120v outlet. Connect the input side to your cold water tap with an off the shelf washing machine hose. The shorter, the better, (Might have to add a hose-thread fitting to the heater's in and out pipes; some heaters come with them, some do not,) Run another hose from the "out"port on the heater to your washer's cold water "in" connection. What I understand you do with a washer like the Speed Queen FL models (which do not have electronic auto temperature control) is (a) choose a cold wash temp on the washing machine so all (or most of) the water flows in through the cold side when it fill for a wash); (b) set your in-line water heater to the warm or hot temperature you want to use (something between 95°F and whatever the unit's top end is which may be 145°F although some models apparently will go higher); (c) give it 15 minutes to heat up; (d) start the wash cycle; and (d) turn it off when the wash fill is done unless you have some reason to want hot rinses. Turn it off when you are done with the washing day or washing session. After all It's an inline, point of use water heater with a small tank and it serves only your washing machine. On the days when you aren't washing, there is no need to use power or keep water heated. Some folks think it sufficient to just skip this extra set-up and equipment if your Speed Queen will be close to the water heater. YMMV, of course, because different people have different laundry and laundering preferences. For an idea of how that might work with a SQ Front-Loader, check out Jeff Caban's experiments in this thread, if you have not already seen it: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5193747/my-last-three-weeks-with-a-fl-speed-queen-afne9bsp113tw01#n=0
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luna123456
last year
There is a difference between a DOWN comforter and one with a synthetic fill. Down shrinks to almost nothing when wet. This makes washing large DOWN comforters fairly easy. Synthetic fill does NOT shrink when wet so it may be more difficult. Down is a better material, in my opinion. Synthetic's only benefit is that it is inexpensive.

Keep this in mind when deciding. MOST of the large capacity washers are NOT designed to be stuffed full like the Miele W1.

LGs largest 5.2cu ft washer is rated for the following amounts in the listed cycle:

Speed Wash: Less than 3lb

Delicates: Less than 8lb

Bright White: Less than 15lb

LG does not list weights for other cycles. All of the above listed weights are LESS than Miele lists for the W1. The simple point in listing this is that most brands that have huge drums are NOT designed to have their stuffed full. I am pretty sure that MANY people stuff them fairly full and then wonder why they wash or rinse poorly and why they don't last as they should. Electrolux does not list the amount of laundry allowed per cycle on machines sold in North America. They DO list maximums on machines sold in Europe. Surprise, surprise they are the same or less than the Miele W1.
wdccruise
last year
@luna123456: "The simple point in listing this is that most brands that have huge drums are NOT designed to have their stuffed full."

From the LG WM3400CW and WM4000H*A Owners Manuals:

"The washer can be fully loaded but the drum should not be fully packed with items. The door of the washer must close easily."
luna123456
last year
@wdccruise

Good luck with that. Most commercial washers do NOT support filling a 5.2cuft drum full in the same footprint as a home washer. Just go look at a laundromat and how beefy those washers are built for the size of the drum. Then to think a home washer that holds MORE in the a smaller footprint is going to wash well and hold up to that type of abuse.

It is a common thread here that people want a washer that does a good job and will last a long time. If you do one load of wash a week ANY washer will last a decent amount of time. If doing one or more a day (or the equivalent) then MOST brands outside of speed queen and Miele will not hold up to that abuse. Tear one apart and look at the internals. Then look at a commercial washer.

It's like asking a pickup truck to do the job of dump truck. You haul a load of gravel here and there your probably fine. Do it multiple times a day and the pickup will be junked long before the dump truck is even broke in.
wdccruise
last year
@luna123456: "It is a common thread here that people want a washer that does a good job and will last a long time."

Well, per CR, LG WM4000HWA washer is a recommended best buy, and the brand is tops in predicted reliability. Owners at Home Depot and Best Buy like it too.
luna123456
last year
Consumer reports…….ok…..
armjim
last year
jwvideo, I looked at the SQ video you provided and then the link to the thread over at AW.org. Very interesting. The SQ video on YT looked like there was still a little room left after the user loaded the comforter. I'm not sure that would fit in a Miele or other smaller capacity washer without stuffing it in and forcing the door shut, which seems against advice I see here. 5 years back when I was trying to figure out what to replace our LG with for the home we were building that we live in now, I asked about washing king sized comforters in a 3.5 cu or so capacity in a FL; the response I got-I think from Lars- was that it would get wet but not necessarily clean. Yet that is what the F7 is and it looks better than I expected. Fascinated by all of this.
dadoes
last year
I have a queen-size, synthetic-filled comforter that fits in my Neptune TL which is rated 3.5 cu ft. It also fits in my AquaSmart toploader which has a 3.7 cu ft drum (3.1 cu ft DOE) rated 15.5 lbs capacity.

Capacity in Miele and Speed Queen front loaders + other FL Qs

jwvideo

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georgect

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