After 20 years of use, it isn’t uncommon for an old washer or dryer to bite the dust, leaving the owner tasked with researching new options. Once they start reading reviews online, however, the unsuspecting shopper may be dismayed with how many customers say that their modern laundry machines died after only six years or so! How can this be when the old machines, apart from an occasional repair, hardly caused any issues for over two decades?

Well, the answer is simple. They just don’t make things like they used to... BUT WAIT! Not all hope is lost, for we still have Speed Queen, and they're making machines just as durable as the good ol’ days! They currently offer a unified stacked laundry center with a front load washer and an electric or gas dryer for people looking for compact laundry options.

GE Appliances is one of the largest appliance brands in the US and was founded over 100 years ago. Their innovations include inventing the over-the-range microwave in 1978 and the first "smart" dishwasher that used sensors to gauge how dirty your dishes were in 1995. They may not be the first brand people think of when they need washers and dryers, but GE has a small but solid selection of top load and front load washers and dryers. 

If you're considering a new GE top load washing machine for 2019, you might be interested to know about GE's model revamp taking place this spring. There are two reasons why this knowledge is valuable: if you want to save money, you may be able to snatch the older model for a lower price; and if you want to avoid discontinued models to ensure you can easily find replacement parts or get the latest and greatest features, you may prefer the newer model. Let's dig into what GE is changing about its top load washer lineup!

More and more, consumers are interested in finding appliances with quiet operation. Noisy refrigerators, dishwashers, and laundry appliances can be especially intrusive in an apartment and homes with open floor plans. If you have a second-floor laundry room or laundry closet, a quiet washing machine might be crucial for your sanity!

Normal sounds in new washing machines include clicking and humming, gurgling or running water sounds as the washer fills and drains, and the sound of the basket spinning up and down in short or long bursts. One of the major factors tied to noise reduction is vibration reduction - the two go hand in hand! Although it's unlikely that you'll find decibel levels for most washing machines (unlike with dishwashers, where there is plenty of competition to be the quietest dishwasher), there are several key features you can look for from different brands that will help you find quiet washing machine models. 

As you research your next washing machine, consider the brands Speed Queen and Whirlpool. Both are well known names in the US laundry industry. Both companies are known for making quality products in both the commercial and domestic markets, and their laundry products are manufactured in the United States: Speed Queen in Wisconsin and Whirlpool in Ohio.

The laundry industry has changed over the years and washers have been redesigned to use less water and electricity. These changes have been challenging for the industry because these new washer designs require customers to make adjustments and changes in the way that they do laundry. With less detergent and water used per cycle along with longer cycle times, many customers are missing their old machines that had deep water washes, 35 minute cycle times, and excellent cleaning results.

However, there are many excellent washers available that will do the job well while saving energy. Speed Queen and Whirlpool are on the leading edge of this industry and are making products that are energy efficient while providing excellent cleaning results and durability. Let's compare two of their best top loading agitator washers.

There is a lot of buzz about Speed Queen in the laundry industry, and our readers want to know more about their products.  Speed Queen is a specialty laundry manufacturer headquartered in Wisconsin that has been making great laundry products for both the commercial and domestic markets in the US for over 100 years.

Unlike many other appliance bands, they focus their efforts on one thing - laundry!  This focused effort has led to great results for Speed Queen. We see this in industry publications and hear it from our own customers. Consumers looking for a Speed Queen front load washer will be excited to learn that Speed Queen offers two front load options as of 2019.

If you aren't deep in the laundry industry or a hardcore Speed Queen fan, you might have missed the controversy over Speed Queen's new top load models released in 2018. They had to make changes to meet energy efficiency requirements, and some of those changes involved the wash action of their top load models. This departure from what their fans were used to resulted in some backlash. Long story short, the new wash action is gentler overall, which is not necessarily a bad thing - but it wasn't ideal for some of Speed Queen's customer base. (Despite this controversy, as of this writing all of the TR series of washers have over 4.5 stars from customer ratings on their website.)

The TC5000WN is a return to tradition with a lot of the features that people loved about Speed Queen's 2017 and earlier washers. We'll compare in-depth the differences between the 2018 TR5000 model and the 2019 TC5000 model below! (Speed Queen also released a front load model for 2019 - click the link to read our review!)

In today’s changing laundry industry, you may be wondering where to turn for good-quality, dependable and reasonably priced products. One option to consider is Frigidaire's popular top load washer and matching dryer. 

Frigidaire is a trusted manufacturer of home appliances and they’ve been popular in the US for decades. They have been absent from the top load market in previous years but have returned with a new washer and dryer pair, although they have yet to offer a front load washer. They also offer laundry centers if you're looking for a stacked design with a top load washer. Let's take a closer look at their top load washer and dryer offering. 

If you are looking to compare two awesome washing machine options that won't break the bank, you're in luck. We've singled out two great top loading agitator models from two niche brands that may be just what you are looking for when shopping for a new machine.

Speed Queen and Fisher & Paykel are not quite as well known as some of the other juggernaut appliance brands like Whirlpool, Frigidaire and GE, but that doesn't mean they don't deliver great products. Speed Queen is a specialty laundry manufacturer headquartered in Wisconsin that has been making great laundry products for both the commercial and domestic markets in the US for over 100 years. Fisher & Paykel is based in New Zealand and has been in operation since 1934. They have gained wide exposure in the US in the past 20 years and have introduced many innovative products to the market, including a one-of-a-kind dish drawer dishwasher that made them famous with US consumers. Their agitator washer was a surprising hit when it came out a few years ago and it still has a lot to offer for consumers today.

Let's compare two of their top load washer models to help you with your buying decision!

Many consumers have come to love the Amana brand for both kitchen and laundry appliances. Amana has been manufacturing appliances in the US since the 1930s and their products are well-known for quality and value. They produce solid products with good basic features at very affordable prices. Some consumers just love them!  

If you are in the market and doing your research on new washers, you may be looking for an Amana front load washer. As of this writing, Amana produces one 3.5 cubic foot top load model, and their 4.2 cubic foot front load washing machine has been discontinued. When this blog was initially published, Amana did not produce front load models at all!

We'll review the Amana front load washer (although it may be harder to find now that it is discontinued), plus the top load model just for ease of comparison and an entry-level Whirlpool front loader as well. Check out our washing machine buying guide for more information on buying a new clothes washer!

If you are in the market for a new washer, you are probably trying to learn as much as you can about modern washing machine technology. One of the big themes in today's market is HE laundry detergent - short for High Efficiency laundry detergent. So, what is it and why are many new washers using it?  

HE laundry detergents are low sudsing and activate the soap faster in the new lower water usage machines, improving wash performance and preventing soap build-up on the machines. You'll notice the "HE" symbol on many of the laundry detergent bottles at your local supermarket.