Think it won't happen to you? Think again.
Written: Oct 12 '04 (Updated Mar 17 '08)
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Pros: It's a great washer, really it is.
Cons: It's also a gamble. How long until you start having problems too?
The Bottom Line: Is the $1000 price tag an amount you're willing to pay for a ticking time bomb? Really do some research before making this purchase.
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| mothra3's Full Review: Maytag Neptune™ MAH5500B Front Load Washer |
I’ve been putting off writing a review of my Neptune washing machine for quite some time now. That’s partially because I’m a professional procrastinator, but partially because I wasn’t quite sure what to think.
You see, when I first started preparing to write it several months ago, I decided to look at what the other reviews posted here on Epinions had to say, and what I saw came as a shock to me. The washing machine I was in love with was being panned by nearly every review. They spoke of problems with mildew and short-circuiting control panels. I thought to myself, “surely they must have fixed this problem,” because I’d had my machine for about a year and had experienced no problems to speak of. I had even highly recommended it to my Mother-in-Law when they were in the market for a new washing machine.
Then, on a recent visit to the In-Laws’ house, I happened to open the washing machine door to look for a missing sock, and what greeted me? Mildew! Lots of it! And their machine is just a hair over 1 year old, meaning their warranty has—you guessed it—expired.
(Well, I should qualify that—the full warranty has expired. All parts are covered the second year; the electronic control is covered through the fifth year; the drive motor is covered through the tenth year; the inner wash basket is covered for life. However, all labor and transportation costs for the installation of those parts is not covered.)
I was reeling. True, they use it twice daily (with a therapeutic massage business in her home, she has lots of sheets and towels to wash). I recommended that she leave the door open after the last load of the day, so that the moisture can dry, and she claims that has helped, but the underlying issue is this: Maytag hasn’t fixed this problem, despite its widespread, well-documented occurrence.
“How can this be?” asks the part of me that inherently believes that a company as supposedly reliable as Maytag would never knowingly sell a product that has encountered so many problems! Apparently, the culprit seems to be in the design itself: After each load, a small amount of water remains in the washer. (It is in the chamber outside the basket--not touching the clothes--but upon spinning the basket, you can hear it sloshing around in there.) Why this is the case, I cannot possibly understand, much less explain, since it would seem to anyone with a brain that standing water is a glaringly obvious problem. Over time, as the interior of the machine repeatedly fails to be able to dry (and you cannot physically reach the outer chamber where the water is to see, much less clean in there), mildew flourishes. It would appear to be exacerbated by a) how often you use it; and b) whether you typically leave the door closed. When you use it often, the moisture level is more often renewed, foiling any possibility for the interior to dry as it ought to. And since the interior light and the control panel won’t turn off until you either close the door or clamp the sensor somehow, most people will naturally close it, locking all that water vapor inside and leaving no chance for the moisture to dissipate.
What does all this mean? It means that this appears to be an unavoidable problem—it’s just a matter of how long it takes until it becomes unbearable…or worse.
As soon as I returned home, I stuck my head in my washer and, sure enough, the musty smell was undeniable. Though there was no visible mildew, that smell tells me it’s lurking there, just waiting to rear its ugly head. But I had to be sure. I ran a few loads of laundry. Instead of coming out smelling fresh and like detergent (no, I don’t use the unscented type), they smelled musty and yucky.
Next, I scoured the product literature. There it was--buried in the middle of the User Guide supplied with the machine, under “Care and Cleaning”--a paragraph reading:
The interior of the washer should be cleaned periodically to remove and [sic] dirt, soil, odor or bacteria residue that may remain in the washer as a result of washing clothes. We recommend taking the following steps every 60 to 120 days to clean and freshen your washer interior. The frequency with which the washer should be cleaned and freshened depends on factors such as usage, the amount of dirt, soil or bacteria being run through your washer, or the use of cold water.
The method of cleaning then described involves using a 2:1 solution of warm water and bleach to wipe the door seal, then filling the bleach dispenser with chlorine bleach and running a complete cycle using hot water. So that’s just what I did. When it was done, guess what it smelled like? Bleach and mildew. Subsequent loads of laundry showed no improvement in smell over the pre-bleach loads.
A defender of Maytag would likely say, “Well, if you had been cleaning it as recommended from the beginning, it never would have gotten this bad.” That’s certainly hard to say. I suppose it’s possible. But let me ask you: When was the last time you washed your washing machine??? (And doesn’t that seem counterintuitive???)
After all, given the fact that we’re dealing with standing water here, you could manage the problem as if you were maintaining a pool. But do you really want to be heavily chlorinating your washing machine—where you wash all your (and in my case, your kids’) clothes? That sounds a bit harsh to say the least. Then again, since you can’t reach the outer chamber where the mildew is, there’s really no other way to keep it clean! And through all this, keep in mind that whatever liquid is in that chamber, be it pure water, cleaning solutions, or pond scum, it is part of your next wash cycle. Eeeeew.
Oooh—and here’s another doozy of a quote from the Neptune’s User Guide:
Washers can be damaged if water is not removed from hoses and internal components before storage.
Therefore, in addition to running an empty load with bleach, disconnecting the inlet hoses and the power supply, they recommend that you:
…leave the washer door open to let air circulate inside the tumbler.
That’s if you’re going to be storing it for any length of time. But if there’s always water sitting in there, isn’t that the same???
Either way, I stand at a point where I am unsure what to do. Class Action suits involving this machine abound in many states; I have even received an invitation to join one. But a settlement purporting to guarantee that Maytag will repair my washer (regardless of when the warranty expires) at least twice over the next 5 years or present me with a voucher good towards the purchase of (but not amounting to the full price of) a Top-loading Neptune Washer…? Those are small consolations when you consider the fact that at the time I purchased it, Maytag actually would not allow retailers to sell these machines for any less than the sticker price of $999. If a person is going to spend that kind of money for a Washing machine, they expect it to be a dream, not a nightmare.
And when I first bought it, I thought it was a dream.
As a front loader, this machine requires a fraction of the water necessary to fill a standard top-loader, particularly one with as large a capacity as the Neptune. Consider the fact that there is no “load size” setting on this washer. It uses more or less the same amount of water (not very much) regardless of the size of the load. And you can really cram it full! Then consider that the method of cleaning (tumbling instead of agitation) is not only more efficient (requiring less detergent), but gentler on your clothes. There’s even a “hand wash” option that is so delicate, you can actually launder your bathroom rugs (and other delicates) without shredding them. In sum, the abilities of this Washing machine put it head and shoulders above the standard top-loader. So much so, that if I had to buy a new machine to replace this one (~sob~ and it kills me to admit that sooner or later, I will) I would want it to be the same (except without the current problem).
The features, in a nutshell:
Four cycle choices: Cotton/Sturdy, Wrinkle Free, Delicates and Hand Wash;
Four wash/rinse temperature settings: Hot/Cold, Warm/Warm, Warm/Cold and Cold/Cold;
Six wash options: Heavy Soil, Normal Soil, Light Soil, Quick (for just freshening up new or stored clothes), Rinse and Spin;
Five additional options:
Delay wash (delays the start time one hour for each time it is pressed, up to 9 hours),
Presoak,
Stain Cycle (lengthens washes and rinses and adds a fourth rinse),
Extra Rinse (adds a fourth rinse) and
Max extract (which removes more water from loads and is very helpful with rugs, blankets, etc.);
Detergent, bleach and softener are all added to the load (at the appropriate time, of course) via an Automatic Dispenser located on the top of the machine. Just fill the individual cups as marked and it takes care of the rest.
Heck, if it would sort, load, unload and fold, there’d be nothing else to ask for. Dependability, maybe…
So it’s better all-around than a top-loader. But top-loaders are, for the most part, several hundred dollars cheaper. And they don’t usually start giving you trouble after only a year. And we’re not just talking about mildew. It seems that a common problem with the Neptune is that, as moisture continues to collect, first the door lock starts malfunctioning (and the machine won’t work without the door locked), and eventually the control panel shorts out. That sounds like a pretty big problem after shelling out over $1000 for the machine to begin with.
And as long as I believed that the problem had been fixed by the time I purchased mine, I believed it wouldn’t happen to me. Now it’s looking like I was definitely wrong. So far, I’m only dealing with mildew. I’ll continue to clean and bleach and fight that battle. But how long until the day when my machine suddenly stops being usable? I have no way of knowing. And if I participate in the Class Action settlement, but my machine stops working the day after the five years are up, then I have no further recourse. Shall I fix a machine that I know is going to break again? I guess at that point, I’ll just have to trudge to the appliance store with my tail between my legs and buy a Miele. Again.
Yes, I know, a lot of you are going to complain, “But you haven’t gone into the details of this washer!” I considered doing that, in the interest of being thorough. But the more I wrote, the more I felt that it would be like carefully polishing the deck of a boat that was slowly sinking. If there’s no way to stop the boat from sinking, then my time is better spent otherwise. (Don’t believe me? Google “Maytag Neptune Problems” and hunker down for a lot of reading.) Suffice it to say that this machine comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a $1000 Washing machine. Maybe more. Then again, so did the Titanic…
Update May 6, 2005:
While purchasing a new filter for my Maytag refrigerator, I noticed that they were still selling the Maytag Neptune, though the price was a few hundred dollars less than what I had paid. I couldn't help inquiring as to why they were still selling it when it had had so many problems. The salesman told me that he did not feel the problem was as widespread as it seemed, but that Maytag was fixing them, even if they were outside the warranty period…
So I decided to go ahead and call Maytag and get my smelly machine “fixed.” After sitting on hold for no less than half an hour, I finally spoke with a representative, who took yet another 15 minutes to locate the part necessary and schedule the maintenance. It never fails to amaze me what kind of hoops Maytag makes you go through in order to get any help from them.
Fortunately, the repairman who came to fix the machine was very friendly, knowledgeable and eager to help. Being terminally curious as I am, I wanted to see what the inside of the machine looked like once he started taking it apart, to see how bad the mildew was. I was surprised to find that the only part that he was replacing was the rubber seal right by the door, called the boot. While this did have a little bit of mildew on it, it wasn't that bad. This made no sense to me at all, since it seemed obvious that something as small as that could not possibly be having such a huge effect on the smell of my laundry. Nevertheless, he assured me that this was the only part that needed replacing. He even showed me the area directly behind it and it was also nearly mildew-free.
So in the course of discussing the problem here is what I found:
1) The water you hear sloshing around when you move the tub is not leftover water; there actually is a small blurb in the user's manual, which explains:
“The sealed balance ring around the tub contains a liquid and is designed to make the washer spin smoothly."
Apparently this is the case with top loading machines as well; however, since rotating the tub does not cause it to cascade, you don't hear it.
2) There is nevertheless a small amount of water left over in the bottom after each cycle -- this is necessary to keep the pump primed and is once again the case with all washing machines. If you notice a humming sound when you start up your washer, this is the sound of that water draining away.
3) Because of its design, the Neptune retains a great deal of humidity, where normal top-loaders normally would not. Not only does it have a watertight seal, but its design is not particularly conducive to leaving the door open. This makes it an ideal place for mold and mildew to grow. By simply leaving it open between cycles so that it can dry properly, a great deal of the mildew problem can be solved. Since I found it troublesome to leave the door open (as both the interior light and the control panel remain on as long as it is open), he told me to simply unplug it. (The electrical outlet is easily reachable for me.) The only adverse effect of doing so is that it does not remember the cycle that you normally use, but this is not a particularly big deal to me.
4) He mentioned the argument that many make, which is that this mildew issue does not seem to be a problem with most front loaders in laundromats. This is because they periodically bleach the twinkies out of the machines to keep them clean, as well as leaving them open as much as possible.
So, for the past few weeks I have been leaving the door open after using the machine. Since the air circulates well now with the door open, the tub no longer has a musty odor. I wish I could honestly say that this has affected the overall smell the clothes when they come out, but it hasn't. They still do not have a fresh smell. I'm going to try bleaching the twinkies out of the machine and see if that helps a little bit more.
Another update: March 17, 2008:
Well, it's been quite I while since I last updated, and I've got some more to share. I still have this machine, and with 5 kids, it gets lots of use. I am still glad I can wash my bathroom rugs. But I have found that there are certain things it just cannot do.
First things first, though: now that I've been keeping the door open at all times when it's not in use (which is a nuisance, since my laundry room is small and we have to walk through it to get to the garage...), I do not have any problems with mildew. That is the good news.
Unfortunately, I am finding that the reason why the laundry doesn't smell good coming out has nothing to do with mildew--it's because the machine is so "gentle" that it quite simply is not getting the clothes clean. How do I know?
In a fit of madness last year, brought on my son developing an allergy to disposables, we decided to try cloth diapers. These were not your mother's diapers--now there are all sorts of all-in-one, fancy-shmancy cadillac diapers! The diapers I loved, and I didn't mind having to wash them; the trouble is that the diapers would not get clean no matter what I did. I tried every kind of detergent, baking soda, vinegar rinses, you name it. (Because they were so fancy shmancy, I couldn't risk bleaching them and ruining the waterproofing. Grrrr...) The moment my child would wet, it immediately turned to ammonia, a sure sign that there is still bacteria in them.
After going through several excruciating months of trying every suggestion on the planet, it was clear that my washing machine was never ever ever going to clean these diapers. I was forced to give up. You see, those top loaders may be bullies, but they sure do beat up the dirt and bacteria and get them gone.
And so I am beginning to admit to myself that if I ever get the opportunity to kick this machine to the curb and replace it, it is highly likely that a top-loader will take its place...and the bathroom rugs will just have to be spot-cleaned.
...sigh...
Thanks for reading. If you’d like to know more about the feats and foibles of the other Maytag appliances I’ve bought, click one of the links below:
Maytag Jetclean II Three-Rack Dishwasher
Maytag Wide-by-side Refrigerator/Freezer
Maytag Gemini Gas Range
Maytag Over-the-Range Microwave
Or skip them and just read about how much better Miele is:
Miele Novotronic G841SC Plus Dishwasher
The Ultimate Dishwasher Buying Guide
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 999
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Epinions.com ID:
mothra3
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 - Top 1000 |
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Location: oblivion, awaiting a heroic rescue
Reviews written: 48
Trusted by: 27 members
About Me:
Loss of mind now complete. I am, however, feeling much better...
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