Many of the new highest capacity and most energy efficient washers have impellers in the bottom of the wash tub that perform the wash action and clean the clothes. These washers look enormous because they have no obstructions in the tub, but they have to be loaded properly to avoid tangling and to allow the clothes to be cleaned properly.

If you are not sold on the performance of these new designs, GE and Maytag still make agitator models that are very energy efficient and have big tub capacities. These are just a few of the factors to consider when researching a new washing machine (check out our washing machine buying guide for more info).  Most of the new washing machines are very different in design with direct drive motors and load sensors to control water usage, but GE and Maytag have packed most of this new technology into these models while sticking with the traditional agitator design that some people prefer.  

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 starting in 2019. They have slightly revised the lineup for 2020.

Are you looking for the most dependable, longest-lasting washing machine on the market? If so, then you're probably looking at commercial washing machines for home use. These models are rare in the home appliances market, but they're out there. These washers are made with heavy-duty construction and often do not have the energy efficiency of consumer-grade models. They are priced similarly to many high efficiency top load washers but don't have as many of the modern "bells and whistles."  You will have to make some trade-offs if you want one of these models, but if durability is your most important criteria, a commercial washing machine made for home use is a great choice.

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. Unfortunately, Fisher & Paykel has discontinued their popular agitator washer as of late 2019, so this article is now "in memoriam." Don't worry - we'll give you other agitator washer brands to consider!

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 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.

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.

We once had a salesman who I heard telling customers many times that the washer he was selling was the "Laundromat Model." Although he was talking about Speed Queen, which is a commercial grade top load washer, this could also be said about the front load washers of today because many of us remember only seeing them in the laundromat for many years before they hit the consumer appliance market.

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 offering great 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 a 3.5 cubic foot top load washer and matching dryer, and a 4.3 cubic foot front load washing machine and matching dryer. When this blog was initially published, Amana did not produce front load models at all! This new model was released in late 2019 after the old model was discontinued in early 2019.

If you are in the market for a new washer, you are probably trying to learn about every style and option available to you. You can find a ton of information on this in our washing machine buying guide, but in this article we'll explore direct drive washing machines in detail.

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. 

Shopping for a clothes washer these days can be somewhat confusing as the manufacturers incorporate new technologies to conserve water and save energy. It's hard to argue against saving energy, whether it be fuel for our homes and cars, or simply saving electricity by changing our lighting to more efficient fixtures. New technology in laundry equipment has enabled us to save on water, electricity, gas, and even soaps (thanks to concentrated HE laundry detergent), while taking better care of our clothes. There's just a bit of a learning curve you have to deal with!