OT - need a new waher/dryer - any suggestions?

[ottawa-newbie]

Hi everyone!

Just thought I'd ask my fellow Canadian disers about their washer/dryers. ours are going on 15 years old and I think it's time to upgrade!

Any advice?

Thanks

 

[A&CsMom]

We have had our Frigidaire Gallery Series front loading washer and matching dryer (stacked in our 2nd floor laundry "closet") for 3 years and really like them. Front loading washers apparently use less than half the water of top loaders, and have great capacity. I have heard of problems with some front loaders, though, so you'll want to do your research if you want a front loader! I think there is a thread on the budget or family boards about front loaders. One thing about front loaders, though, you need to buy "HE" (I think it stands for high efficiency) laundry soap - it is low sudsing. It's not more expensive than regular laundry soap, but there is less of a variety and No Name or low cost brands for the most part don't make HE detergent. In ours we also have to use non-concentrated fabric softener. However, the money saved on water is worth it to us, and because we need the stackable set up, the front loader works well for us. By the way, we bought ours at a Frigidaire "scratch and dent" place in Kitchener or Waterloo and got a great deal, same warranty (only cosmetic damage).

 

[bev r.]

I just bought the Whirlpool front loading washing machine model 9150PW4 in January. I am extremely happy with it. My laundry room is on the main floor and the only time you can hear the machine is when it goes into its high spin. It is extremely quiet. It has a delay start which I've used a couple of times. I've set it so that the load finishes when the kids come home from school.

Costco makes an HE liquid soap which I am please with. If you use the delay start you need to use powder, so that the soap does not drip onto the clothes. It is extremely easy to use.

You can make large loads with the machine. I recently was able to wash my queen size down duvet in there.

My old washer was a whirlpool, and it lasted 16 1/2 years before it died.

Now if my dryer would die, so that I can replace that with a higher capacity size.

 

[mbb]

LOVE my Kenmore HE4 front loader washer and dryer...

Got them last summer on clearance - they changed the model style.
They're called H5t now..
http://www.sears.ca/gp/product/B000...008?ie=UTF8&searsBrand=core&mqnodeid=16363721

Ditto everyone else on the HE soap. The seal will mold if you use the regular detergent, and have to have lower suds volume.

Interesting side note, our KW use was decreased by 300KWhours on our power bill this month - from the same time last year.

The washer and dryer are the only things we've changed

Happy laundry!!

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

We just got our LG front loaders that we've stacked 3 weeks ago. Model number ends in 2477.

Love them so far - I've read that while you 'should' use the HE detergent you CAN use the regular stuff as long as you only use about 1/4 of the amount.

My set has a sanitize cycle which I've been using for the daycare blankets and most of the time I've been using the speed wash cycle as long as the clothes aren't too dirty. Love the way the soap and fabric softener are put into it too - you add it to a drawer then it's 'flushed' into the machine when it's needed.

I was amazed the first big wash when I was able to get 6 loads done in less then 4 hrs. 35 mins to wash and 35 mins to dry where before it was 45 to 50 mins to wash and another 70 to 80 mins to dry!

Can't wait to see my next hydro bill - am only using about 1/3 to 1/2 the amount of water per wash, loads are bigger so I'm not doing as many AND the KW have dropped from almost 1000 per year with the old machine to 160 and from over 1000 with the dryer to basically nothing b/c dryer is gas vs old one that was electric.