<p>Time to buy a new washing machine, we have a five year old “Calypso” by Whirlpool and it has to be tossed because clothes are getting black oil transmission marks grrrrr.</p>
<p>Any ideas on replacement? I think I’d like a regular agitator again and not the agitator free kind. It has to be a standard size top loading machine as I don’t have room in laundry room for one of the tall ones.</p>
<p>Thanks for ideas!</p>
<p>If you want an agitator, I am guessing you are not considering a front-loader. I bought the Samsung front loader a year ago and love it. Not the top of the line (4.6 cu. ft) but big (4.3 cu. ft). It handles both tiny delicate loads and big loads like king size bedding with ease. Cleanest clothes I’ve ever had. Really spins the excess water out for quick drying. It also has a feature called silvercare that disinfects the clothing so you can generally use cold water to wash.</p>
<p>I bought the Whirlpool Duet Sport washer and dryer in the last couple years. I like that they are more compact machines (will these fit in your space??) AND that they are stackable. When we retire (in the next few years I hope), we will be downsizing. The idea that the laundry area will be a smaller “footprint” is possible. I like the flexibility of these smaller machines.</p>
<p>We don’t have them sitting on top of the separately purchased pedestals–didn’t really see the need. </p>
<p>I was worried the capacity of the Duet Sport wouldn’t be enough. Wrong! They seem to hold just as much as I was doing before in my old top-loader. It was a Whirlpool too but nearly 25 years old. Guess technology has changed a bit over those 25 years :)</p>
<p>good morning! I will go and check out both the Samsung and the duet, thank you both for your recommendations 
Sometimes all the choices seem bewildering! Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>I have the Maytag Bravos (top loader, no agitator) and have been VERY happy with it. I have both the washer and the dryer.</p>
<p>(edit: sorry, I didn’t read the OP carefully, I see you would like an agitator.)</p>
<p>I hate my Duet. Repairmen have been out twice and I still have problems. I have a slow leak from the door, so have to keep a towel under the washer. It also shakes so hard during the spin cylce, that I can’t have anything on top of the washer. I’ve had huge boxes of Tide and my iron end up on the floor.</p>
<p>We had a great Whirlpool that actually my MIL had used for about 15 years, and we used it for another 15, but it finally died when D1 was in college- we used a laundromat for a year before we bought another Whirlpool ( top loader), but it just doesn’t spin the clothes very well- so it takes forever to dry them.</p>
<p>I wanted to get a front loader- because that is supposed to be a strength, but there are so many conflicting reviews. 
</p>
<p>Could you reconsider a front loader? I was amazed, yes, amazed at how much less water was used, how clean the clothes were, and how much less wet they were when transferred to the dryer, so a savings there as well. I’ve also read the absence of an agitator in easer on the clothes.</p>
<p>Toledo…your washer may not be level. Put a level on it going both directions and check. Also, if the washer is on tile, it can help to put a piece of non-skid under the washer.</p>
<p>I have the LG Steamwasher front loader and LOVE IT, LOVE IT. </p>
<p>The benefits of HE washers…</p>
<p>1) use about 15 gal of water per load, instead of 50 gal per load (saves water).</p>
<p>2) if you use warm or hot water, that saves on heating bill since your using less heated water.</p>
<p>3) easier on clothes…agitators “beat up” clothes giving them a shorter life.</p>
<p>4) HE washers spin at a much higher RPM which removes more water, therefore drying time is shortened. For those with electric dryers, this means less or no “lag time” while you’re waiting for clothes to dry to move the clothes from the washer.</p>
<p>5) HE washers fit more clothes in them. The full sized HE can often fit 16 pairs of jeans. The mid-sized HEs (like the Duet Sport) can fit 12 pairs of jeans. A regular washer with an agitator can probably only fit 6-8 pairs of jeans. </p>
<p>6) While some of the HE washers appear to be bigger, they actually take the same or nearly the same “footprint” on the floor. Of course, if you add pedestals they will be much taller.</p>
<p>(can you tell that I once worked for an appliance store…LOL…I helped a friend open one up for a few months…I got my head filled with Whirlpools, GEs, LGs, Samsungs, etc, etc…</p>
<p>I am told that the Samsungs are the only front loaders recommended for use on upper floors (due to noise and vibrations). Does anyone know if this is still true?</p>
<p>*HE washers fit more clothes in them. The full sized HE can often fit 16 pairs of jeans. The mid-sized HEs (like the Duet Sport) can fit 12 pairs of jeans. A regular washer with an agitator can probably only fit 6-8 pairs of jeans. *</p>
<p>Wow- I don’t even * own* 16 pairs of jeans- although that is all H wears and I expect that our current washer makes them wear out faster ( as well as his work with composite/metal). We have a good sized washer now, but that would save so much time- however- I can’t imagine putting 16 pairs of jeans in the dryer- they wouldn’t fit!</p>
<p>I think it’s the other way around…some are not recommended for second floors because of vibration.</p>
<p>As for conflicting reviews…Reviews will differ depending on brand, correct usage, and how old the HE washer is. Many improvements have been made in recent years. </p>
<p>However, all front loader doors should be left ajar for a few hours after use to avoid mildew. The seals are strong so closing them immediately doesn’t allow the water droplets to evaporate.</p>
<p>^^^that’s what I meant to say! </p>
<p>I was told that all the other brands, except Samsung, made to much noise and vibration for intallation on the second floor.</p>
<p>I’m wondering if that is still true.</p>
<p>I also have the Duet and I really like it, but I have had a problem with some plastic protective covers breaking off inside of the washer’s drum. This then exposed some rather rough, metal edges that tore some of my daughter’s delicate clothing…working on getting it fixed soon…in the mean time, I just make sure I have towels in the load to protect the lighter stuff…I like the fact that I can wash a load in 20 minutes…I think the newer models have even better features than the 3 yr old set I have</p>
<p>I want to clarify that we purchased the Duet SPORT, the junior-sized version of the Whirlpool Duet.
Our experience has been excellent. We have a 2nd floor laundry area and were advised to avoid several brands that were known for more vibration than others. The Duet Sport was recommended for 2nd floor use. We’ve had no vibration issues at all. In fact, this set is much quieter than the old top loading Whirlpool we replaced.</p>
<p>It is important that when you look at reviews, you remember that some people don’t distinguish between the Duet and Duet Sport. I pored over online reviews for awhile and learned this. Again, highly recommend.</p>
<p>We are buying a new washer/dryer for a new house. We’ve had Maytag for so long that I can’t even remember when we got it. We read lots and lots of reviews. There were complaints and “love its” for almost every machine out there! We have settled on the Maytag Centennial (top-loader)washer/dryer. I’ll get to try it out in about a month when the house is done…keeping fingers crossed</p>
<p>WOW Everyone thank you for your input/ideas/reviews!! I knew I could count on you all to solve my problem However, I will have to get pen & paper and pretend I’m in college again and take notes…too elderly to remember it on my own Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>I bought a pair of Samsungs last October and I love them. I don’t know about the vibration issue as mine are on the first floor. They are on tile floors and don’t seem to vibrate much. The machines are very quiet compared to my old Kenmores.</p>
<p>The Samsung claims to have special features to minimize vibrations. They were recommended for that reason when I purchased in April’09. You ought to read the consumer reviews to see if any other company has addressed that issue in newer models. When I researched last year, several makes were not recommended for upper floors because the high spins caused vibrations, and some washers tended to “walk” around the laundry room.</p>
<p>Also, if like me you remember when Maytags were the most reliable, you should do some research. The Maytag name is now owned by another company (forget which one). Comments in reviews last year were not favorable. Lots of purchasers were expecting Maytags as they were once known and felt that they had gotten something else.</p>
<p>We have the Samsung front loader on the second floor, bought it because it was recommended as safe for a second level. Although I will say when I spin on high, my metal artwork in the room below shakes!! Don’t use high spin too often because i think its rough on the clothes.</p>