OT: Calypso Washing Machines

[Beth]

This is the new Kenmore or Whirlpool washer that has a stub instead of a regular agitator and I am intrigued. I know it got good ratings from Consumer Reports (they say it cleans the best and is the most gentle on clothes) and it is more energy and water efficient while still loading from the top.

Of course there is a catch: this sucker costs more than what I thought I'd pay for a washer AND a dryer. My current pair may never die, but I've gotten some holes in t-shirts and my son's knit sheets, and this weeks I got rust spots on two shirts. I am ready and I feel myself weakening! Has anyone else heard this siren's song? Is it worth it? (Notice, I would not be asking if this were a cooking appliance instead of a cleaning appliance.)

[kwormann]

Well Beth, I frequently hear the same complaint from Scott about the way our washer treats our clothes! I wonder if its energy efficient enough to pay for itself in the long run?

Kim

[Alisa]

I've never used the Calypso but I just bought the Sears Elite front load washer and the matching dryer. They are very energy efficient (much less electricity AND water), are gentler on clothes, hold more than a standard washer, and are so quiet I often check to make sure they're actually on!

[cchhbb]

I'm also in the market for a new washer/dryer. Does anyone have an opinion on any of the stackable units out there? I've looked at Miele, Asko, GE, Kenmore, and Maytag, but I haven't made a decision.

Thanks,
Cheryl

[Alisa]

The Sears Elite set that I just raved about above is also stackable.

[funnybone]

We bought the Maytag Neptune W & D over 3 years ago, and I have never regretted it. The washer is a front loader, uses less water and less detergent (however, you have to use an "HE" (high efficiency - less sudsing) detergent and only Wisk and Tide have one out (and it is more expensive than regular Tide/Wisk).

After having a regular washer for over 10 years, this one is truly great - I would never go back to the other type again - it's front loader all the way! When we were selling our last house, the real estate agent would always ask if we could include the W&D in the sale (of course not!!) as the potential buyers all wanted them.

[Beth]

KellyD, thanks for that info. Do you know if she had problems with the control panel? I heard there were problems with the earlier models (in 6 months, they have had 3 -- 2nd replaced the bad control panel and the third added a couple of features, maybe the delay wash). When I bought my dishwasher, I was sold by the Kenmore Elite, but bought Kitchenaid's version beacuse I liked the top rack and the other salespeople better. I will probably do the same thing on the washer. Kitchenaid also had remarkable service and suport when I had a leak in the seal.

I have 2 long-haired cats, so the pet hair would be an issue for us. I was also told that front loaders do not have as good of a repiar history and are more difficult and expensive to repair. They have to send two men to repair them.

I just called Whirlpool (am I at risk of becoming the 800# queen?) and found out that you can use either regular of high efficiency detergent in the Calypso. Yeah! I think I am sold, just a matter of how soon I actually get it. Too bad it's not covered by my home warranty (my $900 dishwasher was about $350 out of pocket). Oh well, this is what happens when you splurge on some 590 thread count sheets (found them for $199, list at $1200). You have to spend the money you saved on a washer than won't put holes in them! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Beth]

Originally posted by kwormann:
Well Beth, I frequently hear the same complaint from Scott about the way our washer treats our clothes! I wonder if its energy efficient enough to pay for itself in the long run?

Kim

Kim, I asked about the $$$ for the savings, but they can't aswer that well because of energy costs changing so rapidly. It is supposed to be about 65% more energy efficient, or use 1/3 what you may have now, and be about 40% better on water use. I think the detergent use may be less too. I think it helps, especially if you are willing to see the savings over a 10-15 year lifespan. It will add up very quickly in terms of saved clothes and sheets, hours and cleaners spent trying to get rust stains out, etc. That's probably true for anything I might buy, but this is the one time in my life I want it all. Well, I could live without all the bells and whistles, but I want this cleaning action. I tend to scrimp and bargain hunt, but 3 years of looking, this one has what I want. Now to find the best deal....and I'll shut up now.

[aggie94]

Kelly,

I'll second Beth on the thanks for that info. DH and I have been contemplating a Neptune set for awhile now, but we have 3 dogs and a cat, and pet hair is a huge issue in our house. It never occurred to me that that would be a problem with the front-loading washer! Ah, the things they forget to tell you...

[Beth]

I might have bought a front loader by now except that unloading it would add more bending strain to my neck. I already hate unloading my dryer and have to contort to scoop out into a basket. I'd get a top loading dryer if they made one. That's why I was so excited to see this one come out. It's efficiencies appear as good or slightly better than the front loaders. I'm not sure whether the top loader requires the special detergent or not. I have looked and it seems very hard to find as well as expensive. Does the fact that you use lest make the cost similar?

[KellyD]

Beth - to answer your question, my next door neighbor bought a Calypso washer about a month ago, and Sears has had to replace it twice. Needless to say, she is very unhappy with it.

As for the Neptune, I am a diehard fan of Maytag - would NEVER buy another brand - but I haven't been thrilled with it. My DH wanted it because of the energy efficiency etc (we lived in CA at the time). And I do think it is easier on your clothes, but I don't like getting down on my hands & knees to get all the wet clothes out of the drum. And for those of you who are pet owners, eliminating animal hair is the biggest drawback. In a top loader, there is usually an overflow where pet hair can rise to the top and float away, but in a sealed drum, it has no where to go and stays on your clothes. It drives me CRAZY!! I used to be able to put a hairy blanket in the wash and have it come out clean. Now it just comes out with clean hair on it!

But I will buy Maytag again - just not a Neptune. Their customer service has been truly superb.

[SusanT]

We considered buying a front-loader when we bought our house a couple of years ago, but since we would have had to renovate laundry room to accommodate the door and water and electricity are relatively cheap in our part of the country, we went with a conventional top loader. We've been very happy with it.

Having said that, I would go with the Neptune if money is no object. The Calypso may be very good but I'm usually a little leery of new technology until the manufacturer has had some time to work the kinks out.

[luv2cook]

I have the front loading Neptune. I never knew that's why cat hair wouldn't come off the blankets!

I had it serviced once for manufacturer defect. They only sent one guy. Has been working fine ever since.

The problem I have is with my maytag refrigerator. I HATE it. I will never buy another one. I've had it serviced 4 times and it's only 3 years old and I suspect it's still not working right.

[Beth]

Originally posted by kwormann:
I wonder if its energy efficient enough to pay for itself in the long run?
Kim

I went to Whirlpool's website under new product information. They have a energy savings calculator so you get an estimate of how much a new appliance would save you over one the age of yours. It's all based on Whirlpool products, old and new, and national averages for water and energy costs (BTW they say the savings are 66% or energy and 50% for water...I was a little off) and I think it said 8-10 loads per week. Based on the age of my current washer (which is a Kenmore and probably very much like the Whirlpool base), my annual energy savings would be $138-142. Over a 10 year life, the
washer would more that pay for itself ($1,380-1,420). If you live in an area that gives rebates for energy star compliant appliances, you could get a rebate (my last home in CA would get $75 from PG&E), and you can get 6 mos. supply of the Tide HE until sometime in July. Plus, it is supposed to extract more water so drying time is less. The dryer that is paired with it also has features that reduce drying time, so that should help too. I may not even have to rationalize this purchase as rescuing my tshirts and new sheets from holes and rust spots! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

BTW, they say an average load of wash is worth $300-500. Does that sound right to you?


[This message has been edited by Beth (edited 06-03-2001).]

[Beth]

Ooops! At the Whhirlpool website, they had a plug for a 6 mo supply of Tide HE when you buy a new washer and dryer (not the biggest rebate ever, but beats nothing), saying Tide HE was designed for this machine. I sent an e-mail and found that the on-line folks say Whirlpool say the machine requires the HE detergent just like a top loader. They say the regular detergent will create excessive suds and could create a build up in the machine or lines. That's not what the folks on the phone told me when I posted above, so I wanted to correct that for anyone else who was interested.

[Beth]

Allison made me do it. It was fate. I HAD to buy a new washer and dryer so I could give my old ones away to a family who lost theirs in the floods (after an anti-rust rinse and several loads without a repeat of that problem). Granted, I didn't buy THEM the new ones, but it got us to make a decision the same week the store near us got the Whirlpool Calypso. We discovered they charge $140 for a 5yr service contract on the pair vs. $360 at Sears, they were offering 18 mos. no-interest financing and matched Sears' free delivery. They also have a lemon policy where on the 4th service call, they will replace the unit with the nearest equivalent new model (addresses some of the new technology concerns). I was finally pushed right over the edge. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

In reading the manuals, you CAN use regular detergent with these, but you use less. I'm using what I have on hand, and DH and I both think the clothes are getting cleaner with ordinary detergent even though I've hardly used any prewash spray (my hand used to ache from spraying...could the boys just be eating neater, or missing their clothes and going straight for the floor?).

Loading this machine without an agitator is strangely easy. DH all but fought me to get to the machine and start a load. My boys (4 & 7) watched the video and washed their own comforters; all I did was guide them on which cylce to use. My king-sized down comforter also went in and I actually thought it got washed (in a different load). I tried that one in the old machine and it came out with dry spots, so I know it didn't get clean.

I realize most folks are not thinking of spending this much for a washer and dryer, but if you are looking at anything near this, I would recomend it. I did tell Whirlpool they really needed to put out a more basic model that gave the cleaning technology at a more affordable level. They did say that over time, prices would probably move down a bit (this already lists below the Kenmore Elite and the Maytag Neptune) and more standard models could be offered.

DS and DH say there is one flaw...you cannot open the lid on the washer to watch it. It stops when the lid is open, so you just see it stop. You'll have to rely on the video they give you to see how it works. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

All that said, I'm very happy with both of them, the timing, everything. They seem to clean and dry better, cost less to run, are quieter... the only thing not to like is the price tag, but I'm rationalizing that with energy and water savings, noise reductions, reduced detergent use, reduced prewash use, time savings (especially if I can keep the guys nterested in helping with laundry), less clothes wear and tear, a tax write-off on the old pair, and anything else I can come up with. Was it George Carlin who did the routine about rationalizations - ever try to get through a day with at least one?

Even so, I am embarrassed enough that I waited four days to gloat. Now I promise to stop unless anyone asks for more info.

[Leanne]

Originally posted by cchhbb:
I'm also in the market for a new washer/dryer. Does anyone have an opinion on any of the stackable units out there? I've looked at Miele, Asko, GE, Kenmore, and Maytag, but I haven't made a decision.

Thanks,
Cheryl

I have a sears stackable - mostly b/c it's all I have room for in my house. I've been pleasantly surprised at the size of the load it can take. The washer works fine. I have had some problems with the dryer - it usually takes 2-3 cycles to dry the clothes completely. Other than that, I like it & it saves a ton of space.