Washing Machine Reviews by Consumer Reports
Posted on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 and is filed under Other News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
All right. Let’s talk about it. The topic of washing machines isn’t sexy, but we need clean clothes anyway, so if you’re in the market for a top-loader or front-loader washing machine, here’s what you should look for according to Consumer Reports’ reviews:
Consumer Reports tested 50 washing machines, so you didn’t have to. GE, Estate and Maytag washers were on the top of their list as great values for $500 and less.
They also warned consumers to be cautious of high-priced washers with “anti-vibration” technology and allergen removal. Some of these claims, they stated, were hype and vibration levels varied among brands. Front-loaders tended to vibrate more–even though they dried clothes faster–so much so, in fact, that pictures vibrated. If considered, front-loading washers should be used on the ground floor or on a concrete slab. Consumers who are concerned about reducing allergens can vacuum more often and use allergen-resistant materials on their beds.
Top-loading washers are more affordable, but tend to be less energy or water efficient. Consumer Reports Best Buys are the GE WJRE5500G[WW], which runs about $480, and the Maytag MTW5800T[W], which is $500. The Estate ETW4400T[Q], by Whirlpool, also scored high.
Front-loading washers are more efficient, but can have a mold problem if it is not in a dry area. Consumer Reports recommends the GE WCVH6800J[WW], $900, and the Frigidaire Gallery GLTF2940F[S], $650.
Consumer Reports does not recommend buying a warranty with any of these washing machines because washers are not likely to break during the warranty period. And if so, the cost of repair would be about the same as the cost of the warranty.
The full report on washing machines will be available in the February 2009 issue of Consumer Reports.
