my friend's Speed Queen washing machine

[iris lilies]

Last night at a Christmas Eve party my friend, my age and with the same disdain that I have for newfangled appliances features related her story of shopping for a washing machine.

She checked out all of the consumer sites, Consumer Reports tests, and concluded that most people are unhappy with their new machines that do not get clothes clean. The machines "sense" how much water should be in the tub so you cannot adjust the setting. You cannot open the lid at any time during the cycle. She does not want a front loading machine.

This resonated with me because all of her objections are my objections. She finally found a machine that fit her requirements, a Speed Queen model. It's made in the USA, it is top loading, it fills up full of water if that's what you want, the tub is made of steel and plastic parts are minimal.

Now I feel as though I should rush out and buy one to keep as a spare machine for the inevitable day when we will need a new washing machine and I will HATE everything that is available.

Does anyone have a Speed Queen machine, and how do you like it?

[Teacher Terry]

We bought an Amana a year ago & I love it. It is a top loader and has very few features and you can tell it how much water you want, etc. Maytag also sells a basic model like this one. All my friends with the fancy water saver machines hate them. The only drawback is that it will not hold my king size comforter so I take it to my friend's house to wash it. What I have found that for most appliances if I buy a bunch of features I never use them. I do love my self cleaning oven but even the newer stove does not have a bunch of features other then that.

[Alan]

I wish I could help you Iris, but unfortunately I know nothing about our washer. I was banned from its presence following an unfortunate cashmere sweater incident some years ago.

[Teacher Terry]

I bet you turned an adult sweater into a child size one-I did that once when I was young. Also it was part wool so it looked like it had grown long hair-my Mom was not happy since it was hers :|(

[CathyA]

Sounds like one I might like, if my 35 year old Maytag ever poops out.
I turned 2 of my sweaters into doll's sweaters when I was young. I couldn't figure out who the heck put doll sweaters in my clothes dryer! haha

[Blackdog Lin]

I have an "old fashioned" set, Fridgedaire, 6 years old. Affordable to purchase, dependable so far, and our clothes get clean, then they get dry. (I still don't have the clothesline I am hoping for.) I agree that I neither want nor need all the new bells and whistles. The washer has 3 load-size settings, 3 water-temp settings, and 3 cycle lengths. Enough for my needs.

[ToomuchStuff]

The Speed Queen's I have dealt with, are in laundrymats. I was told to use a laundrymat when I had a different job, years back (it would ruin the inside of a lot of units), and started using the laundry for large items that wouldn't fit at home, or multiple loads at the same time (for example when I was getting a bunch of overtime due to a boss in the hospital). They look to be simpler units (closer to the 1960's unit I started out with) and built for commercial use.

[thinkgreen]

I bought my Maytag set in 1984. We hope they keep going for awhile yet. In the last 30 years we have
* repaired the washer once after it froze & a part split
* repaired the dryer twice, once the door latch, once a wire rusted.

You bring up a very good point. These machines would be hard to replace.

[rodeosweetheart]

Years ago I wanted a commercial grade Maytag and ordered it through my plumber, so that is probably a possibility, Iris. Also try ABT appliances out of Chicago;they deliver everywhere across the country.

We have a great new (3 years old) very basic Maytag, like teh one my 85 year old mom just bought to replace their 45 year old Maytag-- it was 299 on sale at Home Depot--called the Centennial model (?)

[pinkytoe]

I wish I had known about Speed Queen when we bought a washer six months ago. We bought the simplest one we could find at Sears - a Whirlpool - and I don't like it at all. As you said, I have to push a button to get permission to lift the lid once it starts. And it doesn't get clothes clean. Facing same dilemma with dishwasher - too many bells, whistles and plastic. My 1984 stove works like a charm and is so solid compared to new ones.

[creaker]

This is good to know - I have a Kenmore that's pushing 17 years at this point. The agitator stripped last year and I was able to replace it, but I don't expect it to have many more years.

[Teacher Terry]

I am not sure but I think that all new machines require the lid to lock and you to hit a button to stop the machine before you can open the lid. I think it is a kid safety item. My bottom of the line machine has this which I think is a pain.

[iris lilies]

I am not sure but I think that all new machines require the lid to lock and you to hit a button to stop the machine before you can open the lid. I think it is a kid safety item. My bottom of the line machine has this which I think is a pain.

Yes, it's NAnny G regulating our behavior for our own good again. My friend gave the impression that the SpeedQueen didn't have this limitation yet, but perhaps I'm wrong.

That's why I'd like to buy a machine now and store it (just as we are hording light bulbs.)