Maybe --- if you **ALWAYS** empty your pockets!
Written: Jul 09 '00 (Updated Jan 11 '02)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Quiet, fast, efficient, ecologically responsible
Cons: God forbid you should leave anything in a pocket!!!
The Bottom Line: Only if you **ALWAYS** empty your pockets. Otherwise, get the Fisher & Paykel EcoSmart.
|
|
|
| Ledermann's Full Review: Frigidaire FWT449 Washer |
UPDATE AS OF 11 JAN 2002:
It's now been a week since I've been able to do laundry. The repairman just left, after telling me he was completely unable to repair this machine and "needs to do more research into Frigidaire's quirks." Last time I ran this machine, I noticed an odd "scraping" noise when the drum would rotate. The repairman tells me he can "...almost guarantee that it was some foreign object from a pocket..." although he can't seem to find or identify the foreign object that would be at fault. If this machine is going to simply throw its (metaphoric) hands in the air and have a nervous breakdown every time it encounters something left in a pocket, it's not going to survive real-life family laundry very well or very long! C'mon, let's be honest: sooner or later, people DO leave things in pockets. The inability to deal with that strikes me as a **MAJOR** design flaw. I'm beginning to wish I'd gone with the Fisher & Paykel...
Washing performance:
It can be exemplary, but don't skimp on the soap or detergent. Yes, I know all the hype on front-loaders speaks of how much less detergent you'll use. Well, what you have to remember is that the comparison is to the average top-loader in average-to-hard water --- where you'll need about a cup or more of detergent per load. We have "conditioned" water throughout the house, and we had become used to using only a few TABLESPOONS of soap in the old top-loader. Because that machine used so much water per load, we still got a fair amount of suds and cleaning out of it.
This time around, there is far less water usage, but ironically, that means that we must somewhat increase the amount of soap or detergent. There isn't as much water to get the surfactant (sudsing/cleansing) action going, so you do rely a bit more on the sudsiness itself. It's not a bank-breaker --- maybe using 1/4 cup instead of the former 1/8 cup, but it is noticeable.
If you use the proper amount of soap or detergent, though, clothes come out of this thing just delightfully soft, as well as clean! The rinse and spin cycles are so much more efficient that you don't have the usual slight detergent residue that's common to top-loaders --- which is especially nice for those of us (like me) with allergies to many detergent products!
Controls:
For the most part, pretty straightforward. At first, it's a bit disconcerting to realize that there is no setting for water level. Instead, the machine has a switch to say, "The water should always be at this level in the drum, regardless of the size of the wash load." Bigger loads or more absorbent fabrics mean that there's more water in the clothes and less in the drum, after it gets going. As a result, the machine may stop to add a bit more water, until it reaches the magic preset water level. Likewise, if you believe that a washing machine needs as many bells & whistles as can be crammed onto a control panel, this won't be the one for you: there is a control for wash/rinse temperature combinations, a control for whether you want an extra rinse, a loudness setting for the end-of-cycle buzzer, and the usual "push & turn" dial to choose from regular/extended, permanent press, or knit/delicate cycles. If you have an article of clothing that requires more specialized care than that, you really should be taking it to the dry cleaner! (And yes, I do have a few that qualify...)
Detergent, bleach, and fabric softener are all handled through a "drawer" system that includes marker lines for proper amounts. Note that:
* You cannot (well, okay, SHOULD not) use liquid detergent, because it will enter the drum prematurely and possibly cause spotting on clothes. Instead, use powdered detergent, which is then siphoned and mixed with water as the drum fills for the wash.
* You cannot (and yes, I mean CANNOT) use powdered bleach, as it will gum up the drawer and siphon mechanism. If you use, for example, Clorox 2, use the liquid kind; you can also use conventional liquid chlorine bleach.
* Remember to measure the fabric softener (by the capful), then dilute it with water to the fill line in the drawer. This gives it the proper consistency to be dispensed during the rinse. **DO NOT** use the "balls" --- they won't open properly, and they may cause damage to the drum!
Miscellaneous considerations:
* ALWAYS close the door after each cycle! Even if you don't have kids or pets, you just cannot predict whether some kid, cat, or puppy will somehow end up in there! While these washers are not like the older versions that had true "latches" (that could only be opened from outside), it just doesn't make sense to take chances.
* It's a good habit to use your hand to roll the drum around once or twice when unloading, just to make sure that nothing has stuck to the top. (Socks seem to like to do this.)The machine does this automatically at the end of the wash cycle, but doesn't always get everything loosened.
* Get the stackable model, rather than the one with the control panel on the back. Even if you don't intend to stack it (I don't), this gives you a few more square inches of very handy clothes-folding space right on top of the washer itself --- you don't need the laundry table, because your washing machine serves that function. Just be careful not to scratch the surface, so it doesn't rust.
* The controls do collect dirt (bad design element there), and can be hard to clean. Use a Q-tip.
* #####ALWAYS##### remember to empty pockets, unless you like spending weeks unable to do laundry!!!
Bottom line:
It's a bit pricier than many of the more conventional machines you could buy, but your utility savings will quickly repay the cost --- and it's quite likely your local utility companies offer very substantial rebates! Be aware that it will have hysterics, refuse to work, and demand to be sent on a week-long romantic Caribbean cruise if you should leave a dime in a pocket of your clothes...
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Ledermann
|
|
Location: Aptos, CA
Reviews written: 53
Trusted by: 12 members
About Me:
Silicon Valley guy reviews appliances, movies, & music -- film at 11!
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.