My new Maytag washer arrived yesterday and I am thrilled with it.
The lid opens perfectly as if it had been designed for my tight spot. The dryer is recessed and my old front loader used to match it, side by side. But I think it looks fine this way. I had to pull the washer all the way up to the door surround in order to be able to fully open the door but I am very pleased with the way my new laundry room is working out. I absolutely LOVE my new washer and have done two loads. I think this top loader gets my clothes a lot cleaner than my old machine and it spins them almost dry. Today I did my double bed sheets and four towels and I will use the sheet setting again because I like a tub nearly full of water. The load I did yesterday was on a setting that used very little water but the clothes came out clean. I can't wait to do some sweaters on the hand wash setting. One of these days I will photograph the other half of the room which is a half bath but I need to do a deep clean first.
One of the reviews I read said to walk away from the machine after starting the wash. I decided to watch it because it's fascinating the way it works without the center agitator that I grew up with. I did today's load in all white but threw in an old pink and white striped towel that I use for cleaning. It was so interesting to see that it changed positions in the load so the other things must have also.
The stainless steel tub is huge but not overly deep so you can easily unload the wet clothes. See what I mean about the center device? I guess the sides work like a wash board and they say the clothes get clean by rubbing up against each other. There are lots of interesting sounds and the clothes are always doing something, sometimes fast and sometimes slowly. I was prepared to be disappointed but instead I am delighted with my purchase from Lowes. They aren't paying me to advertise this, I'm just sharing with my friends.
xo
27 comments:
Interesting. Thanks for sharing this. Do tell us if you have further thoughts as time goes by. Someday I'll need a new washer and it's nice to have a sincere review.
I bought a new, (well, not so new now), Fisher & Paykel washer and dryer about four years ago. The washer is the same as yours without the agitator in the middle. It also has many bells and whistles that I will probably never use, but who knows. I love both of them, and yes, whatever the technology is today, they are quieter, my clothes are much cleaner, I use far less soap and water, and the best part is they are more energy efficient. Now if someone would just invent a self-cleaning kitchen, I would be over the moon!
You new washer looks perfect in your utility area. Glad to hear it works well and you like it. Appliances have come so far during our lifetime! I can still remember my mom with her old wringer machine and rinse tubs. Life was much harder back then, but our laundry always sparkled on the clotheslines. Fond memories, but I'm grateful for modern appliances!
Thank you for your review. We will need a new washer one of these days and I will definitely check out a Maytag like yours. I love the features you describe!
justaweecatnap -- I will definitely keep you posted as I become more acquainted with my new Maytag washer. I only went in two stores before making my decision. The first store still sold the top loaders with the center agitator. The sales people were not helpful and basically ignored me. Then another lady came in and she and I looked together and reviewed all the washers. I am so grateful for her advice. She had a bad back and found one top loader she liked but the tub was very deep and she said it would require one of those bases to raise it up and that would cost another $300. She had a tight spot too and was going to have to take down a wall to get the old one out and the new one in. I still had my heart set on another front loader until I met her. When I went to the second store and raised the lid on the one I bought, I knew immediately it was the one for me. And it was!
xo, Rosemary
lisa -- You went very high-end with your set. i love that brand, especially the refrigerator drawers. I wanted a basic washer with dials and not too many choices. They all have electronics but I am hoping this will be my last washer. The repair man who pronounced by old one dead on arrival, told me top loaders were harder to work on. Mine came with a 10 year warranty and and is made in America so I have my fingers crossed for a long run with it. I will be more careful with it and won't overload it and plan to wash clothes more frequently than I normally do. The high-efficiency features are good for the environment too.
I hope you find that self-cleaning kitchen one day. I've been working on mine and I am almost there. Even though my dishwasher is broken I have no urgency to replace it. I wash dishes as I go and all my things are always clean now. I am so glad I have a double sink. Maybe next Labor Day I will replace and review that kitchen appliance too. That's the best time to shop -- I saved over $200 on my washer purchase.
xo, Rosemary
Pam -- Wringer washer and rinse tubs -- what memories they bring back. Our mothers had it very hard. I still love hanging out laundry but use wooden racks instead of a clothes line. I use my balcony railing too. I love using rough towels instead of the soft ones that come out of the dryer. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
xo, Rosemary
Mom -- I hope you don't need a new washer anytime soon. I read lots of reviews after buying mine, before it was delivered, so I knew what to expect. Lots of reviews were negative ones from people that didn't know how to find the right setting. One man who had dirty work clothes actually called the company and a lady there walked him through the settings to get the most water in the tub and the longest wash cycle. She told him to set the dial for bulky/sheets and soil level dial for extra heavy and after that he was happy and his work clothes came out clean. He said in his review the normal dial must be for ladies underwear. (smile)
I still want to wash some sweaters on the hand wash cycle. Will keep you posted.
xo, Rosemary
I have the exact same washing machine. I too was used to a machine using a lot of water but the man that installed mine explained why using the "bulky sheets" setting for washing my clothes was not a good idea! I hated the water saving business because I my entire city sits over an artesian well. He took the time to explain it and the new HE "High-Efficiency Laundry Detergent." You will be very surprised how much cleaner your clothes are.
Catherine -- So using less water and HE detergent doesn't dilute the cleaning power of the detergent so the clothes get cleaner, right? I am going to use the "cold water" setting on my next load and see what that does. I will let the machine decide how much water to use. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
xo, Rosemary
Hi Rosemary,
I found your blog within the last year and really enjoy your posts! I wanted to chime in and say I have had the same Maytag washer you just bought for a couple of years now and have no complaints...other than not having a "quick wash" setting, but really, that is not a deal breaker for me. I followed up with the coordinating dryer (electric) about a year later and haven't been as happy with that purchase. It seems to take FOREVER to dry a load of towels (three cycles to get them completely dry, ugh) and about two cycles on other loads which I do find annoying. The set does look nice though in my 1950s utility/pantry off the kitchen :)
Hi Christy -- I was wondering if the soil settings had anything to do with the length of the cycle. Maybe a "light soil" setting is shorter than a "heavy soil" setting. I would dearly love to have a laundry room in a pantry off my kitchen. But mine is fine in the basement because I have the furnace room all set up with three drying racks for towels, jeans, and really, almost everything. I did put my sheets in my gas dryer yesterday though. I am sorry to hear the matching electric dryer isn't working for you. I never had any luck with "timed" dryer settings so I always use the hottest setting and set the timer on my phone to come back and check. My old dryer is very efficient and I don't care that it doesn't match my washer.
xo, Rosemary
Oddly enough no it doesn't. The new HE washing liquid is very effective. Just don't use too much soap. I still can't totally accept the idea of less water so I use the extra rinse cycle. That makes me feel better. The only thing I don't like is... I could set my old Maytag to wash something for a certain length of time. I knew exactly when the machine would finish. It feels like this machine takes forever to do a load of sheets and towels. You can't tell it how long to run. Just when I think it has finished and I can put things in the dryer, it starts up again.
Catherine -- My old washer took much longer to complete a normal wash cycle than this one. I would rather use more water and have only one rinse. We should all get together and have a support group for this washer. My old one was HE too so I am very familiar with the low water thing. I love this washer because you can still open the top to push down ballooning items or add more clothes. The lid doesn't lock down until the spin cycle begins. I keep meaning to look at the clock when I push the start button but keep forgetting. I shall keep posting my findings. Thanks for posting yours.
xo, Rosemary
Glad to see Maytag is putting out good washers. I used Maytags for over 20years each and then my husband bought me a Kenmore for some reason. My back is killing me from the front loader but I do like using less water so if this machine of yours works like you say, some day I may get a Maytag again. Hurray!!!
First of all, Rosemary, a warm hello. I have been AWOL for a very long time and for no particular reason and do emphatically apologize. I have missed checking in and being inspired. What could be more exciting for this return visit than your new washing machine, well researched like all of your home-improvements. I'm very happy that you seem truly pleased with it. When our new first ever for us front loading washer was delivered many years ago, our little grandson was with us for the day (he was three then and is 17 now . . . here's hoping the machine lasts another 14 years) Anyway, the little guy was fascinated by it and wouldn't budge. So we brought a little bench into the laundry room and some snacks and that was his evening entertainment!
My front load washer started smelling bad after a,few years so i bought a,top load. I'm much happier with it. It uses very little water but everything comes out so clean.
Linda -- Welcome back. I hope you had a good summer vacation in Maine this year. Your 17 year old grandson would be fascinated by my new top-loading washer with the glass top for viewing the wash, rinse, and spin cycles. I know I am!!! I hope your front loader lasts for many more years so you don't have to go through the agony of picking out a new one. I have to admit I did all of my research after the purchase but before the delivery in case I had to cancel the transaction. I was just plain lucky that the lid did not interfere with my overhead cabinets.
xo, Rosemary
Betty -- I never had a problem with my front loader getting a bad smell but I think that's a common problem. The lid on my new top loader has a breathing space so the tub is not sealed when the lid is closed. I am trying to be extra careful and I wipe down the stainless steel tub after taking out the clean laundry. I have hard water and I don't want to get mineral spots. I am glad to hear you like your top loader too.
xo, Rosemary
Guess what, I just said to my husband that we must get a new washer! Thanks very much for sharing your washer here. It looks good to me! (But like you, I was surprised by the lack of an agitator!)
Kay G. -- Please look at all the others before making your decision. I had to work with a tight space and this Maytag fit in my space. Think about your back and don't get one with a tub that is too deep. I have done 4 loads and I absolutely love the washer I bought and I'm sure you will love it too if you get it. I learn something new every time I do a wash. I use the Tide liquid that has no scent and there are almost no suds. I bought the Tide Oxi and did a load recently (in my old washer before it broke) and I could not sleep in the pajamas I washed because the strong, almost overpowering scent that remained in the clothes kept me awake. I don't want my clothes to smell like anything but sunshine. Now I suppose I will have to do detergent reviews too.
xo, Rosemary
I'm on my third front loader, LG now, and vowed after the first one I would't buy another. Don't ask me why did as I have not good answer, maybe I was being optimistic think each one would do better than the last. I feel like my clothes never really get clean, just not enough water. The washing seems to mimic slapping your clothes on a rock by a river. My daughter Samantha just bought a new washer /dryer from Costco and the washer is a top loader, I think also LG, she LOVES them. The washing machine does an excellent job of cleaning. I guess if I have something that really needs a good wash instead of a rock slapping I can take it to her house.
Well, I find this most encouraging! I have been putting off purchasing a new washing machine because I really have resisted the HE business and less water, feeling like my clothes won't get clean. I had never considered a Maytag...we have always been Whirlpool/Kenmore users. A couple of family members swear by their LG appliances, so like your daughter, I am going to look at Costco. I still want a top-loader. Your Maytag sounds great because I could control (to some degree) the water level. We just purchased a new Bosch dishwasher after our Kenmore finally gave up the ghost after 24 yrs!!! It has been on backorder for 1 month and we expect it on September 28th. I am tired of not having a dishwasher, but only because of the gaping hole in my lower cabinet area. Handwashing dishes for the 2 of us is really no extra trouble I find. I will be following closely to see what your continued experience is with your newest acquisition! Thank you, Rosemary!
Rosemary, it's been 6 months since you bought your Maytag. Do you still love it? I went to Lowe's and Home Depot and am considering buying that same model. I don't want all the bells and whistle on a lot of the other washers.
Peach Margarita -- Yes, I am still pleased with this washer. The bulky/sheets setting is my favorite and by now, I have tried them all. I don't do laundry that often and it is the only setting that uses a tub of water. I hardly ever use my dryer but hang my laundry outside or in the furnace room most of the time. This washer spins them almost dry so they dry quickly. I have noticed a lot of lint on dark slacks and jeans this way. They would probably be fine if I dried them in my dryer to get rid of the lint. I brush them with a stiff brush after they are dry and that works just fine. Good luck with your purchase.
xo, Rosemary
I wanted to add to my comment above... Our Maytag (same model) is now about four years old and we use it daily - family of 5. Last week we had Maytag out to replace the motor. The parts were covered but the labor was $200+. (I should have renewed the extended warranty when it ran out!) The technician said that these machines last about 10-12 years. One major and one minor repair is expected during that time. He looked at the whole machine while he was here and said everything was in great condition. He mentioned that we clearly followed the manufactures directions on how to load the machine. Apparently, it is common to overload the machine which he can see in the extensive wear and tear on the parts. So, be sure to follow the manufactures directions on the proper way to load the machine as it will extend the life. I would also suggest to purchase the extended warranty (and renew it when it expires - which I did not!) It will save money in the long run since repairs are expected. One more thing...I asked for an opinion on what is considered "the best" washing machine. He said that Maytag, Kitchenaid, Whirlpool and a few other brands are manufactured by the same company and use the exact same parts. So for the price point, this model is a great deal! Hope that helps!
Christy -- Thanks for your advice. I have watched several YouTube videos on how to load this machine. I only do laundry once every 10 days or so and I never overload the washer. I am sure my machine will last longer thank yours. But thanks for taking the time from your busy schedule to leave a comment. Happy washing.
xo, Rosemary
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