Overall a great buy
Written: Jun 24 '06 (Updated Jun 25 '06)
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Pros: PERFECT balance, spin speed, soak cycle, well thought out machine, PRICE
Cons: lid only opens 90 degrees, no typical soap & bleach dispenser, mediocre on tough stains.
The Bottom Line: Would recommend it for most people but not construction workers who will need washers that are harsher on the clothes in order to clean them..
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| tmcwhort's Full Review: Fisher and Paykel GWL11 Top Load Washer |
I just purchased the F&P GW11 and I do like the machine.
I did have a Calypso washer which I liked initially as well but it has been unreliable after 4 years. In my opinion, reliability is always a top factor along with cleaning ability. I can't comment on reliability for this F&P but I will fill you in on what I know.
Capacity:
3.7 cubic ft. It has a good capacity and will wash queen size comforters but unlikely a king size.
Wash cycles:
Permanent press, heavy duty, regular, wools, and delicates. There is a favorite cycle that you can program for instant push button memory.
Options:
-3 Spin speeds which the high speed 1000rpm works great. Lower the speed for more delicate clothes.
-soak cycle, soaks your clothes for 2 hours and every minute or so it agitates 4 times to move clothes. WORKS GREAT for bleach soaks.
-Softener rinse, always use when using bleach and fabric softener as it clears all fluids from hurting your next load.
-delay start, 1hr, 3hrs, and 9hrs
-3 water temps, hot/warm/cold. Actually there are more such as warm/cold or any other variation.
-4 water levels, auto/high/med/low. As above, there are more such as medium low or medium high.
I tested the machine out many times watching it through each cycle (atleast until the machine locks the lid during the rinse and spin cycles.) It is a unique machine. Here are some of my opinions.
-Reliability---UNKNOWN
-cleaning ability----Good but definitely not perfect. I tested a white sock with mustard, red wine, chocolate syrup, and olive oil on regular cycle with a full hot wash and medium size load. (you can get a hot wash and will tell you how later) The results were not good. The chocolate syrup came out, most of the oil, but the red wine and mustard were prominent.
I then used bleach and the soak cycle for my whites, including the stained sock, and they turned out much better.
Normal every day clothes appear to get clean with no problem and there is little smell of detergent once completed. Which is a good thing!
The clothes do get submerged in the water which is what I wanted. The agitator clearly moves the clothes around and no piece goes untouched.
With my limited use I would have to give this an average rating on cleaning. It is more gentle on clothes than a traditional toploader which might be the sacrifice for beating the stains out.
I have been using HE detergent on the F&P but will switch to regular tide or cheer and see how it does.
HOT WATER WASH:
Hold the favorite button down until it beeps a few times. Then press the permanent press cycle, select hot wash, spin speed, water level, Soak (optional), softener rinse (optional) and when all your settings are done hit favorite again, then start. This will be remembered as your favorite setting and go through the motions again if you want to change it. It will agitate with hot all the way through agitation cycles but rinse with cold. ALL rinses are cold no matter what setting.
CONCLUSION; I like the ease of use and technology. It is nice. Once again I think it cleans average daily use of clothes well but tough stains is a different story (unless you use the soak cycle)
The machine is lightweight, easy to install and balance, very quiet, stable during high spin speed. I don't like taking the cap off the agitator to pour soap/bleach down. Not that big of deal though. It does conserve water/energy and is a smart buy overall.
It was this or a speed queen. I am not sold on Front loaders yet. They still have too many problems from reviewers. I bought this for $550 and that included tax and a 5 year top to bottom warranty. NOT A BAD DEAL.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 550
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Epinions.com ID:
tmcwhort
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Reviews written: 10
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