OT - Energy Star Appliances - Washers

Community Leader
Registered: 07-26-1999
OT - Energy Star Appliances - Washers
11
Fri, 03-12-2010 - 11:14am

Does anyone own any of the Energy Star rated washing machines?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2010
Fri, 03-12-2010 - 12:10pm

I LOVE MY WASHER. Seriously, I actually enjoyed doing laundry with it, when I had it & the matching dryer lol.

I have the Kenmore Elite Quiet Pack 2, HE3. I started using it in Feb 2007. AT that time I only had 4 kids but the 5th arrived in 2008 - so for 2 years I've been doing laundry for 7 people, plus about 6 months my sister & her son were living here.
Plus dayhome laundry (think, extra towels, cloths, placemats, bibs).
On average, when I have a working dyrer (ha ha), I do at LEAST 12 loads of laundry a week - and there's some weeks (potty training, sick kids, etc), that I do upwards of 18. Obviously higher than what an average family would do.
And my washer is still working excellent, after 3 years of that volume of laundry.

I LOVE IT, had no problems with it whatsoever. Mine has a fairly large capacity but also auto adjusts the water - so if you're only washing a couple bath mats or delicate clothes, it only uses the absolute minimum amount of water needed.
(And I love the handwash cycle, so much stuff goes in that I would never put in a normal washer).

I can only imagine how much money we've saved, having splurged for the energy star washer!

Melissa
~ Mom to 5 ~
~ Melissa ~ ‎"We need to find the courage to say NO to the things and people that are not serving us, if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity." - Barbara de Angelis
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-17-2010
Fri, 03-12-2010 - 12:11pm

I don't have one right now but my mothers was an energy star (I say was since she passed away but it is still in my dads house and working great) and she purchased it when I was about 13 or 14 so it has been well over 10 years. Everyone I know has an energy star washer and I've never heard anyone comlain about it. Mine isn't because it is the one the landlords installed and is probably as old as I am. If I were you I would hunt around online for reviews of the brand your going to buy. If other people have had theirs only last 2 years then I'm pretty sure they've said so in a review somewhere.

 

 

Community Leader
Registered: 07-26-1999
Fri, 03-12-2010 - 12:25pm
Thanks for that info Melissa, I hadn't even saw that washer when I went searching, but realized its because its a front load washer.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2010
Fri, 03-12-2010 - 2:06pm

I also am totally paranoid about that stuff, trust me. My laundry is on my main floor, in the back entrance - and I have 2 very rambunctious toddlers and I'm sure they'd try something like that. I remember hearing that story.

The door on my washer locks as soon as the cycle starts. Mine has an "add a garmet" feature, which will let you unlock the door in the first 2(?) mins of each cycle but you have to hold down a certain button for a certain amount of time...Other than that, you absolutely cannot unlock that door unless you cancel the entire cycle.

Melissa
~ Mom to 5 ~
~ Melissa ~ ‎"We need to find the courage to say NO to the things and people that are not serving us, if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity." - Barbara de Angelis
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Fri, 03-12-2010 - 4:08pm

I have an energy star rated front loader as well. It makes a HUGE difference in water bills. When ex bf was here we were averaging (houshold wise) about 2 loads a day. Mine is 2 years old.


The only complaint I have is that the timer isn't very accurate, lol. It will say 2 minutes left but it takes 5. I think that is my fault though. I should be using High Efficiency laundry soap,


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2010
Fri, 03-12-2010 - 4:37pm

Bex - I use Tide Free HE, and Downy free. They're both in white bottles. I can't use anything with scent, never have been able to.

You're right about the timer, mine does that too. But sometimes it's the opposite as well - will say 2 minutes but 10 seconds later it's done lol.

Melissa
~ Mom to 5 ~
~ Melissa ~ ‎"We need to find the courage to say NO to the things and people that are not serving us, if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity." - Barbara de Angelis
Community Leader
Registered: 07-26-1999
Fri, 03-12-2010 - 5:05pm

Thanks ladies, that was my next question about the detergent.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-17-2010
Fri, 03-12-2010 - 8:23pm
I almost have washing machine envy over those of you that have the nice front loaders. Our is so old and gross and the cold water motor is going out so it takes 45 min to fill for each cycle :( I can't go into Sears or Lowes without getting all dreamy eyed over all the nice new washing machines.

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-16-2010
Fri, 03-12-2010 - 9:36pm

OMG Stephanie, you sound just like me. My washer and dryer were a billion years old when I got them & we've had them for 8 years. We have to put a full water-cooler bottle on the washer lid to keep the cycles going & we have to frequently mess with the dryer so it will heat.

It stinks, but we agreed to stick with these until they really die & then we'll get a super-cheap pair from craigslist. It would be nice to get new ones but it is low on our priority list until we get a few more things paid off.

First Debt BUSTED 2/12/10
Second Debt BUSTED 2/26/10
First Debt BUSTED 2/12/10 Second Debt BUSTED 2/26/10 Third Debt BUSTED 3/19/10
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2010
Fri, 03-12-2010 - 9:48pm
Just imagine, that I had a dryer that matched my dream washer....that was electric.
We moved into this house April 08, right before our last DS was born (lil booger decided to show up early!)....And I had to start using a gas dryer that was NOT the one here when we saw the house ...The one we ended up with was made in ....get this.....1989.....Yes this is the infamous dryer that was "ok"...but quickly wasn't ok and started taking hours and hours and hours and then 7 hours to dry one load and eventually died LOL.
And my beautiful electric dryer (barely over a yr of usage) is sitting in my GARAGE, keeping the mice company....lol.....
Trust me, I sympathize with those of you with old machines!
Melissa
~ Mom to 5 ~
~ Melissa ~ ‎"We need to find the courage to say NO to the things and people that are not serving us, if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity." - Barbara de Angelis

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