Best washer and dryer on a budget?
 

We dont have a lot to spend - $1000- $1500 is our absolute max. I will not buy anything from sears because their products are crappy and their service is beyond horrendous. Never buy sears. They are a nightmare to deal with.

Anybody happy with what they have? Any suggestions? TIA

My washer and drier are out of your price range. One thing to consider; front-loading washers (if you are considering them) need to be left open after use, so that they can dry out. Otherwise, you get mold. If you don't have the space to leave it open, don't get one.

Sears appliances are typically 're-badged' from other brands. You should be able to pick up a pretty darned decent set from Home Depot or someplace like that for under $1000 or an even better set for $1500. Also shop around the appliance shops in town to see if they have floor models or scratch and dent deals. I doubt you are going to care if your washer has a dent on the bottom of the right side, but that same dent could save you $200 off the list price. I've read mixed reports on the front loading washers, so I don't know if I'd go that direction.

Also, if you are not averse to buying used, shop Craigslist or your local paper to see if you can pick up a set for quite a bit less. People move all of the time, and often sell their appliances when they do. Or someone may have just gotten a brand new set to replace their 5 year old ones. Washer and dryers often last 15-20 years without problems. I've bought 5 year old washer and dryer sets for $200-400 that worked for me for years and years. My mom used to own several rental properties and some of the tenants would want washers and dryers in place before they rented. It worked so well for the rentals, I bought used for my first house, and my second house. The set I'm using now was bought used for $300 and has been in constant use for 4+ years without problems.

find a scratch and dent store in your area and see what they have... can definitely get some awesome deals at those places.

We picked up our dryer at Costco (old washer hasn't crapped out yet). So long as you're able to transport it yourself, they have good deals. Limited selection, but good deals.

The Lowe's and Best Buy around here has discounted ones sometimes. Maybe they were returned or something, but they are a little cheaper.

I got mine from Lowe's, but had a 10% off coupon. I also made my own stands, because front loading machines are 12-15" too low. I would save up a little longer and buy the one you would want 5-10 years from now. If you know you will keep it for 25 years, you should spend the extra $200-$400 to be happy with the quality and performance. You also won't be tempted to want to replace it in 5 years if you buy one you are satisfied with.
Whirlpool at Lowe's: 3.4 Cu. Ft. Capacity Duet Sport™ Front Load Washer (Color: White) ENERGY STAR®
Whirlpool at Lowe's: 6.7 Cu. Ft. Capacity Duet Sport™ Electric Dryer (Color: White)

Speaking of which, I probably should do some laundry.

ASU, do you actually have those exact two? How well do they clean and is the dryer efficient? The price is right on the nose. What about quality, maintenance agreement, all the stuff? btw, thanks for the links.!

As for scratch and dent, i hadnt even thought of that. There was an appliance store in San Diego where I used to live that had a huge scratch and dent section. We live in LA now. I have to do a search for scratch and dent. I could care less is if it scrathed or not very pretty. The damm things go in the garage anyways so nobody but us is going to see them.

As for costco, we are members and there are two stores within probably 8 miles of my house. Do you have a costco-purchased machine? Are you happy with them? I would love to know.

Thanks everybody for the advice!!!! :thumbsup:

The Craigslist tip was great. I found sets for $300 where a new one from sears would cost $750. I wonder though .... why am I not better off buying it from sears? I feel like $300 is a lot of cash to drop on an individual who I really don't know hence I automatically doubt their integrity.

I haven't done my research and I intend to but can anyone make a couple of pointers on picking out and actually testing a washer and dryer before buying it. I just feel it would be better to get it from somewhere I can get my money back or a replacement.

Yeah, we have a dryer that we purchased from there--the washer in the set that came with the house is still going. We've very happy with it. It isn't the fanciest dryer, but it's got all the settings we need, and it was at a price we liked.

Will you admit to at least the possibility that you might be overgeneralizing here? Or painting Sears with too broad a brush?

I have a Kenmore washer and gas dryer that came with my house five years ago. Judging by the avocado color, they were probably made in the early eighties and are still working well. The dryer has a dryness sensor, and even it still works. They are both kind of noisy, but are in the basement, so I don't really care. I like my funky old guacamole appliances from Sears.

For reliable info, check out Consumer Reports. They last looked at washers & dryers in their February 2008 issue. Or Get information on Washing Machines from Consumer Reports

If you really want cheap, check out places like Goodwill and Salvation Army during the summer. They get so many machines from people that are relocating (and don't want to move their washers and dryers) that they are really cheap, and I've been told by a former employe, that Sally even hauls some straight to the scrap metal dealer.

Lindy

The problem my family has always had with Kenmore appliances is that they've been darned hard to get parts for, so if the thing ever breaks down, you've got to wait quite a while for the part to arrive (if they have it at all).

Another really cheap option: Habitat for Humanity. They operate a charity shop in our town that has pretty much everything you could ever need for a house, from furniture to light fixtures to appliances. The appliances they sell aren't as cheap as other charity shops, but they've typically been checked out and tested; they also tend to get better appliances in than other places I've seen.

I bought a used set on Craigslist - a washer and gas dryer from a family who had just gotten a new set because the wife wanted something prettier. I paid $120 for the set, and never had problems with them - they were probably about 5-10 years old, as they had been in the house when the couple moved in.

For the dryer I recommend one of these:

Hills Branded - Folding Head Hoists

It does need a backyard and sunny days though

:)

Seriously, we use our electric dryer so rarely that it could be anything, but the one we bought was recommended by Choice magazine. They are a not-for-profit research organisation that tests *everything*. I'm not sure if the same thing exists in the US, but we've bought quite a few things based on their recommendation.

CHOICE - CHOICE Online

And do appliances in the US carry an energy/water rating? If so, you should check those too.

Only the washers do. There is a lot of unknowns with how dry a washer will get things during the spin cycle. I do wish they came up with a standard so it was easier to compare the different models.

And I do have the models I posted up there. They get the job done, and I like them. Lowe's had free installation after rebate as well. As far as energy efficiency, I'm not sure. I don't notice any large increases in my bills (I can go a month or two between a major laundry day).

I was also surprised at how few I could find on craigslist around here. I had no way to pick them up or move them however.

If I lived in Arizona or in some dry desert environment, I would get one of those outdoor clothes lines.

For many years, Kenmore washers and dryers were rebranded Whirlpool units and they were almost bulletproof. I've got a pair in my basement right now, and other than ordinary belt replacements, they've served well-bought second hand and I've had them for 15 years.

Can't speak for the current Kenmore, but as an appliance repair tech, the old stuff is good stuff.

Nada? Zip? Zilch? Niente? Hakuna?

C'mon People!!!! I'm trying to get a washer & dryer and Craigslist is looking mightyly attractive!!! How exactly do you go by choosing quality when it comes to buying these artifacts? I am so scared of loosing $300.00 on a peice of junk.

Some people take good care of their things, regardless of age. For me personally, I set my price threshold at the price where I was willing to take a hit if they died on me within a few months. I didn't look at any sets that were over $175. My find ended up being a matching set, still in great condition both externally and internally, for $120.

well, we bought just a washing machine. we are going to live the dryer just a bit longer. The dryer still works, just doesnt dry as fast as before. We bought a samsung washing machine. it was about $900 or so. amazing machine with all sorts of settings i've never seen before. Front loader; uses only 15 gallons of water vs. 40 in my old sears (whirlpool) machine.

It's so quiet, you have to stand next to it to hear that it's on. and it doesnt dance around like a jitterbug during the spinning cycles.

and the best part is that here in los angeles, the dwp (department of water and power) is going to rebate us $365 because the machine is an energy efficient machine. So, for about $600+, we got ourselves a new washer. We have to wait on the dryer until we get that rebate check.

Thanks, everybody, for your advice. :thumbsup:

I hate to mention this, because it sounds obvious, but it wasn't to me, so... did you check the lint trap on the outside end of the exhaust pipe? That needs to be cleaned out periodically as well, not just the lint trap on the inside of the dryer. If that's clogged, it'll seriously increase your drying time.

The other, not so obvious reason, your dryer might not dry as fast would be that one of your heating elements is burnt out. Some dryers have two of them and they can and do break independently. It is pretty easy to check and not even that hard to fix if it is broken. You can google up a guide on how to check and replace your element if you are interested. Or PM me and I can explain how to do it.

If you do find that one is broken, go ahead and replace both. They only run $15 or so each and if one has broken the other is likely not far behind.

One more vote for Whirlpool. If you repair your own they are easier to repair and find parts. Sears and many others are just the same as
whirlpool.

Make sure you also check out your local estate auction or auction house. I have sold many washers, dryers and other appliances to many happy people over the years.

First you need to really think about your budget and what your needs are. There are a lot of places to buy brand new washer and dryers at discounted prices. For example, a major retailer sells it to a discount shop because it's a little damaged from shipping or it's simply out of style. That would be my first place to look. Other than that, shop the ads and work the coupons. 10% off can amount to a lot on a big purchase like this. Good luck!

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I think I am a handyman, but don't ask my wife!