Speed Queen: front or top load?

[magnificent_baby]

Going to bite the bullet soon. I cannot tolerate my LG anymore, too many issues. My mom LOVES her top load SQ (thanks to the hive!).  

 

I'm eyeing the front loader because it's slightly bigger. Not sure if I can get my king size comforter in either way. I don't soak clothes very often, so that shouldn't be an issue. 

 

So, front or top?? Any mildew issues with the front?

 

ETA: My first instinct is a top loader, however, the front loader would match my dryer. My dryer works fine, so no plans to replace. The set sits in a small closet in our kitchen with the door open 99% of the time, so I think a mismatched set would bug me. 

Edited August 8, 2016 by magnificent_baby

[Guest]

Can you really wash a king comforter in a home washer?  I have never even considered this, even though I have had large capacity front- and top-loaders.  

 

Huh.  Who knew?

 

[Carol in Cal.]

I have an oldish (maybe 19-20 years old) large Kenmore washer and put king sized comforters into it.  It's a stretch but it works.

 

However, I studied Speed Queens and the Q and A from actual users indicates that that's not possible to clean king sized comforters (and not even blankets unless they are thin) with their home sized washers.  I would still get one, but that's a limitation that I would have to accept.  It's not as big a deal for me because I only wash comforters once or twice a year anyway.

[Ottakee]

For the huge difference in cost I would go with the top loader and run to the laundry mat occasionally with the comforter.

[magnificent_baby]

Can you really wash a king comforter in a home washer?  I have never even considered this, even though I have had large capacity front- and top-loaders.  

 

Huh.  Who knew?

 

Yes. I can currently with my large capacity LG. That will be the ONLY thing I miss about this washer. 

[magnificent_baby]

For the huge difference in cost I would go with the top loader and run to the laundry mat occasionally with the comforter.

 

I just noticed that after I posted the thread. Yikes!! Huge price difference! Probably not worth it in my situation. But darn, it would match! 

[TranquilMind]

Can you really wash a king comforter in a home washer?  I have never even considered this, even though I have had large capacity front- and top-loaders.  

 

Huh.  Who knew?

I've been washing mine in my older Maytag front loader for decades. 

[Carol in Cal.]

Front loaders use less water and soap.

 

Top loaders are more versatile, I think--if they fail, you can still open the door and siphon out all the water.  I'm not sure precisely how you do that with a front loader.  Also top loaders you can usually add extra items to, or open the top and readjust the clothing to avoid unbalanced loads.  I'm not positive of that for Speed Queens, but it's definitely a question I would ask.  

 

I have a newer workhorse Maytag at our cabin, and you can't open the top without turning off the cycle.  Then you can't make it resume where it left off.  AND, it does some kind of sensing to decide how much water to put in, and you can't see what it decides, so it actually warns that if you wash rags with flammable liquids in them, you can't put them in the dryer because the gas might still be present and ignite.  SIDENOTE:  I hate this Maytag so much.  I have never had a washer that wrinkles things the way it does.  I was warned that it was a gentler action than higher end washers from other manufacturers, and so I anticipated that it might not clean quite as well, but had no expectation that it would wrinkle things beyond usability.  It's in the basement, and we have a spot on the main floor for a washer.  My plan is to leave the Maytag in the basement but not use it much, just for sheets and king sized blankets (have not tried the comforter yet, and I'm not sure whether it would fit.)  But I hope to get a Speed Queen top loader for the upstairs spot and use that the most.  It's something I'm saving up for.

[samba]

I had nothing but trouble with my Maytag front loader (flooding twice when in locked mode, sour laundry, etc.) so I never want a front loader again. The appeal of the SQ is the top loading, old-timey knobs, center agitator, large capacity. My mother bought the same Maytag washer we did and had most of the same problems. She decided to go with another front loader because of water usage. We have well water and she's on city water.

[magnificent_baby]

Front loaders use less water and soap.

 

Top loaders are more versatile, I think--if they fail, you can still open the door and siphon out all the water.  I'm not sure precisely how you do that with a front loader.  Also top loaders you can usually add extra items to, or open the top and readjust the clothing to avoid unbalanced loads.  I'm not positive of that for Speed Queens, but it's definitely a question I would ask.  

 

I have a newer workhorse Maytag at our cabin, and you can't open the top without turning off the cycle.  Then you can't make it resume where it left off.  AND, it does some kind of sensing to decide how much water to put in, and you can't see what it decides, so it actually warns that if you wash rags with flammable liquids in them, you can't put them in the dryer because the gas might still be present and ignite.  SIDENOTE:  I hate this Maytag so much.  I have never had a washer that wrinkles things the way it does.  I was warned that it was a gentler action than higher end washers from other manufacturers, and so I anticipated that it might not clean quite as well, but had no expectation that it would wrinkle things beyond usability.  It's in the basement, and we have a spot on the main floor for a washer.  My plan is to leave the Maytag in the basement but not use it much, just for sheets and king sized blankets (have not tried the comforter yet, and I'm not sure whether it would fit.)  But I hope to get a Speed Queen top loader for the upstairs spot and use that the most.  It's something I'm saving up for.

 

You just gave me an idea! I could move my LG to the basement to keep for comforters and have the SQ upstairs. Hmmm, wonder if DH would go for that?