<p>I’ve had a Maytag “Centennial” set for about four years. “Commercial Technology” printed on it. Top load washer, Energy Star certified. Designed and assembled in the U.S. It is not the bottom of the line but near it. The washer has a stainless tub and fabric softener dispenser. I like this set. It really spins the water out of the wet clothes. I had a talk with a repairman a while ago and he told me to avoid front load washers. </p>
<p>Mine is top loader and energy star, near the bottom of the line. We got 10% off and $50 credit.</p>
<p>I am still in love with the red LG washer and dryer set we got about 3 years ago. I don’t think I have ever been so excited about appliances before!! Clothes come out more gently washed than with the old style top loader. Although I wash on the cotton/normal setting mostly, I use a lot of the features, like the steamer (on both but I use it on the dryer), the bright whites, the speed wash, the bulky, towels (on the dryer.)</p>
<p>I would take any repairman’s recommendation with a grain of salt. After all, they are in the business of repairing things. 
What they like to see in your house is a thing that breaks somewhat frequently but is easy to repair - that kind of washer is the mega cash cow for them.</p>
<p>I use a lot of the features on my front loader, and I’m not afraid to wash cashmere, lace, and silk in it using the handwash setting.</p>
<p>Liking the LG front loader set we got last December (caught the black Friday plus Cyber Monday sales). LG and Samsung both have a drain tube so you can empty the water that sits in the bottom of the machine- 1-2 cups worth! I debated this a year ago and am happy with the decision. We got a great deal so have extra feature. Like being able to wash the King bedspread and comforter at home. Since I probably use too much detergent sometimes I have made use of the extra rinse cycle on occasion. You need a lot less detergent than you think. Don’t worry about extra features if the price is good. </p>
<p>I had one of the newer Bosch washers in the house I just sold. For a couple years it made me crazy with its resetting of the wash time. The 25 minute Quick Wash would end up taking an hour and a half. I kept putting off calling the repairman because I feared it would need a new electronic panel which would cost beaucoup bucks. I finally called for service when we had a closing date and was told that I should only be using two teaspoons of HE detergent. The machine had a sensor and if the water was still soapy it would continue to rinse. I cut back on detergent (had been using Tide Pods) and the cycle did finish in 25 minutes. Still, I wasn’t convinced that the clothes were really clean.</p>
<p>Interesting!</p>
<p>I have no suggestions, and am following because we are having problems with our new GE machine. This thing is the size of an SUV! It keeps adding time when washing a load of towels. Lot’s of visits with rebalancing and a new computer panel already tried. I had no problem with the previous 20 year old Kenmore, but I’m sure it used too much water and electricity. </p>
<p>Kenmore appliances are manufactured by Whirlpool, so the old ones would be similar in reliability to a good Whirlpool set. Kenmore continues to have an excellent reputation, although I have never had any of their appliances. However, I have friends who built new retirement condos on healthy budgets who chose Kenmore over other brands due to their reputation for reliability and service.</p>
<p>When I was taking an advanced cost accounting course in grad school many moons ago, the instructor talked about the fact that a farm equipment manufacturer (John Deere, maybe?) manufactured chest type freezers immediately after WWII, but they had to give it up because they were so reliable that no one ever needed to replace one. We live in a society that depends on planned obsolescence and some of the stories in this thread confirm this.</p>
<p>If this Maytag washer doesn’t work out, I’m going to get the LG that I can wash King bedspread and comforter at home. </p>
<p>When I was in the market for a new washer I wanted a no frills top loader; went to Lowe’s website; researched highest customer satisfaction rating for my price range which was $500 or less. I purchased a GE top loader and have had absolutely no problems in the last three years. Absolutely love it.</p>
<p>I went to Costco and they seem to have washer and dryer in my neighborhood Costco.</p>
<p>Watching this thread. I have a Kenmore - a very simple model - that is over 10 years old (I have to check my records to see just how old it is). We’ve never had to repair it in this time. Now it is having a problem with the spin cycle - it sometimes forgets to do the spin cycle at the end, so I have to manually set to do this. Not a big deal, but it is inconvenient and I am starting to see what looks like small rust spots in the tub. this has not created any problems yet, but the writing in on the wall that we’ll need to replace it.</p>
<p>My parents have a newish washer (top loader)- the kind without a center column agitator - and they hate it. the clothing comes out all in a huge tangle. So I want an old style washer with a center agitator. It’s what I have and I’ve never had a problem with this style. And I want a top loader. That style works for me. </p>
<p>OP here. I really would have liked to have purchased a HE front loading machine but, thus far, there doesn’t seem to be one that has good ratings that has the more shallow depth that my space requires. The old fashioned Speed Queen, top loading with an agitator, appears to be the best option thus far. A little hard to swallow the extra energy and water it will use…the independent store I purchased the current set is supposed to let me know if there are any other options for me so I’m holding out, hoping they’ll let me know this week.</p>
<p>On the old thread, I posted that I was delighted to be rid of my old Whirlpool Cabrio set from a former home that I replaced with a cheap top load pair in our laundry room. My intention was to next install a set of front load Electrolux units in my newly remodeled master closet/dressing room. By the time the bathroom remodel was done, many months after the expected date, they’d been discontinued. I ended up reluctantly buying a Whirlpool Cabrio Platinum pair. </p>
<p>There was a problem with the new washer in the first week and it took about 10 days to get the replacement part delivered and installed. Since then, both the washer & dryer have been great. I use the Cabrio w/d at least 5X/wk. Sheets are no more of a problem than in the washer with the agitator column and I really like the heater for the deep clean cycles.</p>
<p>“A little hard to swallow the extra energy and water it will use…”</p>
<p>Regardless of those factors, I would never go back to a top loader. My clothes last much longer, and my washer takes care of all handwash that I had to do in the past. Bummer that space does not allow you to put one in!</p>
<p>If I have to get a washer today, I would get a miele. Got to try one while traveling in Norway. It worked great.</p>