Question(s) about washing machines withOUT agitators.

[underpants]

Washing machine shopping.
Anyone have a top loader withOUT an agitator? Thoughts? Pros/cons?

He are looking at a Kenmore 27132. 35% savings right now - $950 to $580.

A salesman at a local store told us that we would have to keep the clothes out of the middle like an agitator does - really?

[MADem]

1. I do.

It's a mini one, from China that I have stashed at a cottage. It was small, about the footprint of a kitchen chair, and it does an amazing job on clothing and towels and sheets--but you can't fit too much in it.

We line dry the clothes and are very satisfied. We've had it for five or six years. I think we paid three hundred bucks for this thing, but, seriously, you can hide it in a closet.

We just throw our stuff in there. Sometimes stuff gets a bit tangled up, but it's no biggie.

[stopbush]

2. How about a front loader? I have a Kenmore we bought in 2005.

Still runs great.

Very efficient on water and energy as the tub doesn't fill up like a top loader. It fills about a third and the clothes are moved thru the water. No agitator for your clothes to get torn on. Family of four - we're always doing laundry, and our machine is very dependable.

Can't recommend it highly enough.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. We bought one last year, and I don't remember the brand.

I do keep the clothes out of the center.

It works great! It does take longer but somehow I don't care. It holds more, too. The clothes come out less wet than in our old washer.

[Generic Brad]

4. Definitely purchase one without the Brooks Brothers Rioters

You simply do not need those types of agitators.

[blue neen]

5. !

[blue neen]

6. Oh, this is a tough subject.

We've had a top loader without agitator since 2010.

It saves on water and sewage bills, and probably electric bills, too...and I can't stand the thing. IMHO, it does not get the clothes nearly as clean. There are some items, particularly whites, that have required re-washing.

A couple of idiosyncratic things: With the older washers, I used to get a real kick out of opening the lid and seeing how much dirt was in the water! Weird, but it was just neat to see how well the washing machine was doing its job. These washers don't work that way.

Also, I used to really enjoy using Rit dye to refurbish curtains, etc. You can't do that with the high efficiency washers.

Good luck with your decision.

[Laffy Kat]

7. After one too many repair bills I've stopped purchasing expensive appliances.

These days I only buy bottom-of-the-line everything. IMO they last longer; and the less electronics and bells and whistles, the better. Honestly, gone are the days of the Kenmores that lasted forever. Seems like there's only a few companies that make ALL the brands.

[BlueSpot]

8. Just bought one recently & am very happy with it

I can't say it doesn't clean. Everything seems about the same - clothes don't smell funny or look bad. I don't know what else to judge by. Just use a lot less soap. I used my usual amount the first load and had to do multiple rinses to get rid of the excess. Now I use a lot less soap (you do have to use the "he" high efficiency soap) and it works fine without extra rinses.

No one nor the written instructions told me to keep my clothes out of the middle and I haven't made any attempt to do so. I can't even guess how you would do so once it starts unless you were to stop it and rearrange things. I don't know what negative effects are to be expected but I haven't noticed any. It's amazing how much more space there is without an agitator.

It does take longer but it isn't massively longer. It makes amusing sounds.

[Callmecrazy]

9. I have one...

I've had mixed results. Sometimes my clothes come out all twisted and I have to unwind them before they go into the dryer. I think the twisting affects the cleaning ability of the machines because it doesn't allow for cleaning of the entire garment.

[underahedgerow]

10. I haven't used a top loading machine in years... terribly inefficient, and you can't stack the

dryer on top, horrible waste of space in general and distinctly abusive to textiles.

I use front loaders, and I'll tell you what.... My clothes last many years longer. I just realized my favorite black long sleeve tee shirt is over 15 years old.

You couldn't give me a top loader with an agitator for free. Wouldn't take it.

Just sayin'.

[Thor_MN]

11. I bought a Whirlpool pair when my old washer started acting up

I absolute love them, but in fairness, they had a low hurdle to clear. The new dryer can keep up with the washer. It helps that the spin cycle on the new washer is faster (rotational speed), thus removing more water. Hated my old dryer, it never seemed to work very well, so when the old washer stopped agitating, out they went.

The washing cycles are a bit longer, but not having the agitator "tower" in the center makes washing blankets and sheets much easier.

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. Detergent is important for these washers

They use a fraction of the water, so if you don't use an high efficiency (HE) formulated detergent, it WILL leave residue. Price is the same for the commercial HE detergent formulations as their regular, so thats good. The bottle will be marked HE. I would love to find a home grown solution, but haven't taken the time to research it yet as I've only had my new top load for 6 weeks now.

They should all be on sale for Memorial Day. I paid $549 (regular $799) during the St Patty's day sales for a Whirlpool that had great ratings on a few sites and am very happy with it.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_670297-46-WTW7300DW_1z11pmg__?productId=50376876&pl=1

Then again, I bought my old Kenmore W/D 8 years ago (used - it was 22 years old this year), so it was rather easy to impress me.

I doubt this one will last half as long as that one did.



Edit to add - This is the first I have heard of keeping the clothes out of the center. No idea how you would even do that?

[underpants]

13. Thanks and thanks for all the responses

We were told by the sales rep who gave us all the other WRONG info that we should not use liquid soap. I'll have to check hat out too.

Well we went to a locally owned place to give them a chance and due to word of mouth. From my experience and research following it, I think they are used to selling to high end customers and loyal customers because they have been there forever. Their floor models were almost completely with agitators.

Yeah the interrupting the cycle to move clothes around didn't make sense to me from the start.

The model we are looking at is already 35% off AND we get a 10% discount on top of that. Sears has a 30 day price guarantee but this price isn't getting lower for Memorial day.

Thanks again.

[Ruby the Liberal]

15. I recommend reading the reviews on sites where they are selling this model

to see what users are saying. One of the things I learned was that pod-type detergent is the kiss of death for both top and front-load agitator-less washers - they don't break apart efficiently enough for the low water. They may make HE formulations in a loose powder, but I haven't checked yet as I'm still on my first jug that I bought when I got the washer.

Should have also mentioned, fabric comes out so dry after washing that its almost disconcerting. Takes a LOT less time to dry.

[underpants]

16. Yes. Petroleum in soaps sticks to plastic holding tank = mold

I have researched that and found that to be true. Thanks again for all the insight.

[patricia92243]

14. I like to soak a lot of my clothes, rugs, etc. I don't think you can do this

on a front loader.