best top loading washer?

rkashwood

last year

Would like to be able to wash delicates and have it be relatively on the quiet side

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SEA SEA

last year

last modified: last year

Top load 2016 AWN432 Speed Queen owner here. Great washer. Harsh as heck on our fabrics, but stuff is clean and that was our motivation in buying it. armjim and I have the same washer like he mentions upthread. If you were to find one of them on CL or FB marketplace, I'd say to jump at the listing and make it your priority if having a TL was your wish. The delicate cycle is very delicate. So much so, I don't use it! ; )

Given that SQ no longer manufactures this model I would not buy a top load washer if I had to replace our machine. I'd have to go back to a front load washer. We owned FL washers for quite a few years and had really smelly and dirty laundry from them the entire time, thus why we went back to a top loader. After reading so many positive comments on this forum about FLers doing a better job than TLers for a long time now, it seems that we had FL washers that were not good at what they should do. Unfortunate for us.

But today's offerings for TL washers are not likely to give you what it is you are looking for, sorry to say. The mechanical designs have changed and many will say not for the better. I'd try to steer you to a front loading washer instead.

I'd buy a Speed Queen or Miele FL washer if I had to today. Now that we have enjoyed very clean laundry since 2016 with our SQ TL, we don't want to go back to dirty smelly laundry again. Be prepared for a price that could take your breath away though.

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Comments (15)

armjim
last year
No TL is going to be particularly quiet at different phases of the cycle, so you sort of have to accept that. We have a Speed Queen which on the Delicate cycle, is very delicate. Very short periods of slow agitation followed by longer periods of soaking. It is not a quiet machine, but nor is it thunderous. It is located in our Laundry Room, and if I were to close the door it would be barely heard elsewhere in the house.
sushipup2
last year
Speed Queen.
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lapsangtea, You are so right. While the Kitchen Forum is for the KO (Kitchen Obsessed), the Laundry Forum is full of LO (Laundry Obsessed). They sound like a bunch of mad scientists. I dip my toe in there upon occasion. I leave really fast before they notice me. They did help me with a pressing ring around the collar conundrum. The answer to the original question is Speed Queen. I've purchased two of the TL manual control SQ's. One for myself, one for a family member. We both love them. Even my DH, who couldn't care a less, thinks it's a really good purchase. Simple, effective, reliable. You have to hunt down an appliance dealer that sells them. They aren't sold at the big box stores. Some people like the upgraded electronic unit, but two different appliance salesmen with long years of experience steered me to the basic unit. They said they never get repair calls on them. I believe them. I like being able to just drop a dishrag or something I've forgotten into the machine after it starts. It doesn't take as long to cycle. You can adjust it for load size. You can soak as long as you want. While SQ make a great FL, I'm happy to go old school with the TL. I'm glad to be back to TL after two very expensive FL machines. The alternative would be to beat you clothes on a rock in a fast flowing stream. I'm not really into it. But, I bet one of the Laundry Obsessed does it regularly and can advise you on best practices if you ask them.
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My first experience with front loader was when we lived in europe and it was great, just had to do smaller loads and no dryers. Back here in the US and bought a home and the 20 year old top load washer died. i really debated what to get but ended up with a mid range whirlpool front loader (will probably get higher end miele next go round). I had a small leak out the back but they came and fixed it quickly and no problems since. also my clothes wash way better than top loading and dont get all twisted on each other. and i dont have a problem with mustiness - i leave the door open and it also tells me when to run a clean cycle (clean it with affresh or bleach). i would buy front loader and recommend it.
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quadesl
last year
The newer Speed Queen DR3,5 or 7 would be the best IMO. The wash motion is easy on clothing yet do a good job cleaning. The agitation cycle is very quiet, less than 43 db and wash cycles are less than 35 minutes.
dan1888
last year
last modified: last year
For top load the TC5 is the most like the older models. 2 speed 1/2hp motor 210* agitation as in the previous models. It has a delicate cycle. It has been kept in production by customer demand, It also fills the tub all the way. TR uses a variable speed larger motor and less agitation range. But $1400 is a lot. I'd get a 5yr or older model off CL or Facebook Market. 5 years ago, they were all $750 new.
wdccruise
last year
CR's top-rated HE washer (HE washers don't have old-style agitators) is the LG WT7150CW ($700) which has a delicate cycle.
Kendrah
last year
I read so much about how great speed queens are so I got one in our last house. I failed to see what all the hype was about and wouldn't get one again. I loved that there weren't many electronic bells and whistles, but it didn't get our clothes particularly clean and it was loud.
HU-178658043
last year
Love our Whirlpool Cabrio, though some reviews suggest they may have slipped in reliability since we got ours.
armjim
last year
last modified: last year
The best Speed Queen is the older analog model, such as what myself and SEA SEA have. The action is strong enough to do a great job of cleaning. The TC5 would be the only new SQ TL I would consider. The newer models with the different transmission has very poor turnover. I would not have one of them. I also do not like the TL HE models with an impeller rather than an agitator. We have two in our family-one a Maytag, the other either a LG or Samsung. Dismal to use. If you select a deep fill option/cycle to accommodate bedding or a very full load of other laundry, it will fill the tub with water but then the linens just sort of float because there is not enough action to properly submerge and clean them. It is hard these days to find just the right TL. There seems to be much more flexibility and choice with a FL.
wdccruise
last year
@armjim: "If you select a deep fill option/cycle to accommodate bedding or a very full load of other laundry, it will fill the tub with water but then the linens just sort of float because there is not enough action to properly submerge and clean them."

Correct. The impeller at the bottom of the tub is not the same as an agitator. Solution: don't use the deep fill option. -- Owner of GE HE washer
wdccruise
last year
@SEA SEA: "But today's offerings for TL washers are not likely to give you what it is you are looking for..."

Well-performing top load agitator and HE washers are available See: https://www.consumerreports.org/products/washing-machines-28983/top-load-he-washer-37107/view2/ ($10/month digital)
dadoes
last year
"Sea Sea: Top load 2016 AWN432 Speed Queen owner here. ... Given that SQ no longer manufactures this model I would not buy a top load washer if I had to replace our machine."

The Speed Queen TC5 model, aka the Classic Clean, is the same mechanism and wash action as your machine. The older design was discontinued when a new design (known as Perfect Wash) was introduced in 2018. The older design was brought back in 2019, apparently due to consumer demand for it.
dadoes
last year
"armjim: The TC5 would be the only new SQ TL I would consider. The newer models with the different transmission has very poor turnover."

The TR series (aka Perfect Wash) doesn't have a transmission. The mechanism is basically a frontloader turned vertical. The basket (with integral agitator) has a simple pulley on the drive shaft, driven by a belt directly to the motor pulley. The variable speed motor (said to be 1 HP) repeatedly reverses direction to provide agitation.
armjim
last year
Thanks for the clarification dadoes. It is a terrible wash action. As SEA SEA said, I am not sure I would buy another TL. The flexibility I have with my 2017 is just not available on current TL machines, at any price or by any manufacturer, I keep hoping that SQ will increase the capacity of their FL's a bit and begin offering a heater for the washer. Just in case I need to go that route in a few years.
Toronto Veterinarian
last year
Why only a top loader? You'll have many more options (and lower utility bills) if you go for a front loader.

best top loading washer?

SEA SEA

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