<p>I think there is a pause option ( I asked as I too manage to miss odd socks, etc)</p>
<p>Oh gosh, hope this thread doesn’t die as I’ve just found it. Am in the process of buying a house which has a stacked stainless steel Miele washer and dryer in the utility cupboard. The seller is taking them with him (discontinued models but Miele keeps parts available) so I need to replace. Top loaders don’t exist here (London) so it’s a question of which make/model of front loader. Miele is about twice as expensive as Bosch - but its top rated washer comes with a 10 year guarantee. </p>
<p>A few posters have commented on the efficiency of the spin cycles - can anyone tell me the RPM of a machine s/he’s happy with? The choice here goes from 1200 to 1800 rpm - I read somewhere that the American top loader is about 800 rpm but I’ve also read that there’s very little difference between a 1200 and 1400 - and once you get to 1400+, there are issues with noise and wear and tear on the drum. </p>
<p>Dryers are a whole other kettle of fish. I need to get a ‘condenser’ model - anyone have views on those?</p>
<p>We had an Asko condenser dryer and a Bosch condenser dryer. They were both fine; I prefer cleaning their lint traps to cleaning a dryer vent!</p>
<p>Our microwave died under warranty and DW dropped it off and had a chance to chat with the guy who actually repairs appliances. He had an interesting comment about HE dishwashers - his experience was many of them clog up with powder detergent because there’s too little water to wash it completely away.</p>
<p>HE washer and steam dryer arrived this morning. Still reading the manual…
The washing machine has a series of musical beeps that are ascending when you turn it on and descending when you turn it off. Can’t decide yet if it’s cute or annoying…</p>
<p>My name is Crester and I am a laundryholic. I have sat in front of my front loaders and watched ‘the laundry channel’ too many times. Come on, you have too. </p>
<p>That being said</p>
<p>For those who are considering front loaders, I once compiled a ‘check list’ of things to think about while shopping for a clothes washer. Enjoy.</p>
<p>Washing Machine Questionnaire</p>
<p>Do you want a front loader (FL) or top loader (TL)?</p>
<p>If you want a front loader, do you want an internal heater (yes!)? If you don’t know, please read the Gardenweb Home forum Laundry Room FAQ.</p>
<p>Where in the house will the washer be set up - second floor, basement, closet? What is the floor made of; wood floors/second floors may lead to machines shaking at high spin speeds.</p>
<p>What are your space configurations/confinements? Are you looking for undercounter units? Also consider unit depth, will it fit?</p>
<p>How big a machine do you want? How many loads a week do you do or want to do?</p>
<p>Do you have special laundry considerations like shedding pets, or young children in diapers? Do you have any problems now that you are hoping to solve with a new machine?</p>
<p>How important to you is the loudness of the machine?</p>
<p>Do you want controls on the top rear or front of the machine?</p>
<p>Where are your hook-ups - washer on left/right, stackable? </p>
<p>Are you looking for just a washer, and if not, do you need/want a matching dryer?</p>
<p>What factors are most important to you: cost, reliability, performance, speed, water/electricity savings, controls (specify things like: water temp, type and amount of cycles, cycle times, spin speed, ability to open the machine and add chemicals or clothes)?</p>
<p>How much do you want to spend?</p>
<p>Do you have a preferred vendor? Sears, Best Buy, Independent retailer, Lowes/Home Depot (some may have deals going)? This is very important as places like Best Buy have horrible customer service reputations. </p>
<p>Have you called a few of the extended warranty companies to ensure they are within servicing distance? </p>
<p>Getting off my (laundry detergent) soap box…LOL, thanks for indulging my obsesssion</p>
<p>Jim626 - I have a one year old He top loader and steam dryer (maytag Bravos) and at first the chimes annoyed me so I googled how to shut them off (easy). I missed my laundry music and turned them back on.</p>
<p>I’m not really interested in front load or HE products. I just want a washer that works like the Maytag we bought in 1978. The Speed Queen seems to be the closest. Does anyone have any experience with a plain, Jane top loader by Speed Queen? Thanks.</p>
<p>I absolutely HATE my Bosch front loader. Nothing ever seems clean to me, it takes 60 minutes for regular wash cycle, stays damp and smells musty. Would love to have my old kenmore top loader back that washed in 45 minutes and didn’t stink.</p>
<p>Bluejay - I have no experience with the Speed Queen YET but I will in a few months. The machine is literally sitting in the garage of my new house (our summer home) waiting to be hooked up. I won’t get to try it until May! We purchased it on the recommendation of our builders appliance guy who said it was built really well and is a very reliable machine. That was good enough for me to buy it…since it is a second washer/dryer for chiefly doing the beach towels and bathing suits. We got a Maytag Bravos 950 for the second floor laundry room. That one is an HE top loader.</p>
<p>I have a Maytag Neptune front loader that is about ten years old. I love it. It does get stinky sometimes, but I just run a load of whites and bleach through it. The regular part of the wash sounds like a cat growling, and the spin is no louder than a top loader. My favorite cycle options include the extra rinse and the max extract. Yes it takes more time than a top loader, but the time it takes is the same as the time it takes to dry, so no big deal. I use a liquid softener, and occasionally have to clean the waxy gunk out of the feeder, but it’s worth the convenience of automatic feed. Haven’t seen a repairman yet (knock wood). I do have friends who had mechanical issues with theirs, but maybe it was an earlier model year.</p>