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Few reasons. One is a positive history/experience with them. The Whirlpool made (most common machines on the market) top loading machines were rock solid for 30

Few reasons. One is a positive history/experience with them. The Whirlpool made (most common machines on the market) top loading machines were rock solid for 30 plus years. People would often have them for 20-30 years. (and still have them, keep them maintained) Another reason is they do a better job of washing clothes as they use more water. This is important for people that have kids, do cloth diapers, or are actually washing dirty/muddy clothes. They also don't have mold issues because of rubber gaskets and have been historically cheaper to maintain and repair. The new top loaders, specifically Whirlpool made vertical modular washers are complete garbage. They break within 2-3 years of buying new. Whirlpool stopped making the direct drive top loading washers that everyone loved about 3 years ago. Now you can only buy them used, and I would highly recommend doing so if you need a good washer. Front loading machines do spin the clothes a bit dryer, which saves on dry time, unless you hang dry, then it really doesn't make much difference. But they cost over twice as much and are about double the price when it comes to repairs. Hope that helps! Here's a post I wrote up on the subject. http://recraigslist.com/2015/10/they-used-to-last-50-years/ http://recraigslist.com/2015/10/they-used-to-last-50-years/

nickpsecurity 10y ago
" The Whirlpool made (most common machines on the market) top loading machines were rock solid for 30 plus years. People would often have them for 20-30 years." This is no exaggeration. The one that broke for me was estimated by the technician to be 20 years old with the dryer he said was probably 30 years old. We'd kept them for years and years with no need for repairs. They did the job. I told him in IT that complexity just made stuff break more often or take more work to fix. My prediction was that the old stuff was still more reliable & cheaper to fix. He confirmed this was true. Said the new stuff was all garbage that kept him in good business. I asked for the most reliable, used, old washer he had in stock at their warehouse at the time. The one he gave me for $80-100 looks old as the other stuff but similarly works fine. I never buy new washers or dryers. I'd consider newer dishwashers because both Consumer Reports I read a long time ago and personal experience had them breaking a lot. I'm curious about feedback if they've improved in reliability over time. Washers & dryers the old ones win hands down at 20-30 years operation. They're the mainframes of appliances.
- roseburg 10y ago
  Yeah, you were wise to listen to him. Another tell is to go into used appliance stores and see what they carry the most of. Most used appliance shops won't even bother refurbishing many machines now because it's not cost effective and they don't trust that they will make it out of their warranty before breaking. Dishwashers, stay away from Frigidaire entirely. They are made disposable. 2-3 years is the average life before needing a repair. I've had the best experience with Whirlpool dishwashers. KitchenAid has gone downhill in the past 5 years or so, in terms of quality.
nickpsecurity 10y ago
Just got done reading that article. Awesome stuff. One thing I was considering a few years back is redoing the old appliances that last forever to target to people interested in reducing waste and/or lower-class people as "buy once never worry again." I was mainly worried about patents but you said elsewhere the core techniques are decades old. Other concern is Energy Star affecting design or implementation cost. In any case, what do you think of a clean-slate development that reversed some of the trends in your article?
- roseburg 10y ago
  Thanks! I've thought quite a bit about it. I think the demand is there now for well-built machines as people are realizing now that their old machines were built much, much better and lasted longer. Before now, people really didn't have a contrast for those machines, so they really didn't understand how good they had it. If someone was able to buy the patent for Whirlpool's direct drive machine, that would be ideal, then just start manufacturing those things again. People would weep tears of joy if they could buy those machines again, not exaggerating. As far as design, there are only two designs that have ever been used. The top loader with the tall agitator and newer top loaders have the low profile agitator. I'm still not quite sure why Whirlpool stopped making their direct drive top loaders. It was the biggest step down in quality I think I've ever seen. Machines went from lasting 8-12 years before needing some routine maintenance to mostly breaking within the first 3 years on the newly designed Vertical Modular Washers. With enough resources and determination, the appliance industry could be turned on it's head, at least starting with washers and dryers.
  - nickpsecurity 10y ago
    Damn so there is a remaining patent. Buy it or not, there's at least a ticking clock toward a reliable machine. :) I reposted your article in Lobsters forum. Curious what you would reply to Ted's interesting points: https://lobste.rs/s/3rcyqa/they_used_last_50_years_appliance/comments/xm3enz#c_xm3enz https://lobste.rs/s/3rcyqa/they_used_last_50_years_appliance... He raises a few good points but one I don't have any detail on is the commercial washers and dryers. How much better or worse are they? What's the arrangement like in terms of is it the same crap with a profitable service contract or much better with maintenance provisions at reasonable points in time?
mongol 10y ago
Thanks. My main fear is that my Siemens top loading washer will break. It was unique in how its control panel was located, making it possible to slip under my sink. Now this design is totally gone from the market, and I will not find a design that will fit. It is interesting that almost all models, for all brands existing, to buy new look the same.
- SomewhatLikely 10y ago
  A brand that's definitely not trying to look the same is Speed Queen.
reitanqild 10y ago
Around here Miele is know as the rock solid ones. We got a front loaded Miele washer for our wedding and it has a warranty for 10 years but is expected to easily last up to 20 with minor fixes.
- SOLAR_FIELDS 10y ago
  Miele brand seems be associated with quality. They are also well known for their vacuum cleaners.

nickpsecurity 10y ago

" The Whirlpool made (most common machines on the market) top loading machines were rock solid for 30 plus years. People would often have them for 20-30 years." This is no exaggeration. The one that broke for me was estimated by the technician to be 20 years old with the dryer he said was probably 30 years old. We'd kept them for years and years with no need for repairs. They did the job. I told him in IT that complexity just made stuff break more often or take more work to fix. My prediction was that the old stuff was still more reliable & cheaper to fix. He confirmed this was true. Said the new stuff was all garbage that kept him in good business. I asked for the most reliable, used, old washer he had in stock at their warehouse at the time. The one he gave me for $80-100 looks old as the other stuff but similarly works fine. I never buy new washers or dryers. I'd consider newer dishwashers because both Consumer Reports I read a long time ago and personal experience had them breaking a lot. I'm curious about feedback if they've improved in reliability over time. Washers & dryers the old ones win hands down at 20-30 years operation. They're the mainframes of appliances.

roseburg 10y ago
Yeah, you were wise to listen to him. Another tell is to go into used appliance stores and see what they carry the most of. Most used appliance shops won't even bother refurbishing many machines now because it's not cost effective and they don't trust that they will make it out of their warranty before breaking. Dishwashers, stay away from Frigidaire entirely. They are made disposable. 2-3 years is the average life before needing a repair. I've had the best experience with Whirlpool dishwashers. KitchenAid has gone downhill in the past 5 years or so, in terms of quality.

nickpsecurity 10y ago

Just got done reading that article. Awesome stuff. One thing I was considering a few years back is redoing the old appliances that last forever to target to people interested in reducing waste and/or lower-class people as "buy once never worry again." I was mainly worried about patents but you said elsewhere the core techniques are decades old. Other concern is Energy Star affecting design or implementation cost. In any case, what do you think of a clean-slate development that reversed some of the trends in your article?

roseburg 10y ago
Thanks! I've thought quite a bit about it. I think the demand is there now for well-built machines as people are realizing now that their old machines were built much, much better and lasted longer. Before now, people really didn't have a contrast for those machines, so they really didn't understand how good they had it. If someone was able to buy the patent for Whirlpool's direct drive machine, that would be ideal, then just start manufacturing those things again. People would weep tears of joy if they could buy those machines again, not exaggerating. As far as design, there are only two designs that have ever been used. The top loader with the tall agitator and newer top loaders have the low profile agitator. I'm still not quite sure why Whirlpool stopped making their direct drive top loaders. It was the biggest step down in quality I think I've ever seen. Machines went from lasting 8-12 years before needing some routine maintenance to mostly breaking within the first 3 years on the newly designed Vertical Modular Washers. With enough resources and determination, the appliance industry could be turned on it's head, at least starting with washers and dryers.
- nickpsecurity 10y ago
  Damn so there is a remaining patent. Buy it or not, there's at least a ticking clock toward a reliable machine. :) I reposted your article in Lobsters forum. Curious what you would reply to Ted's interesting points: https://lobste.rs/s/3rcyqa/they_used_last_50_years_appliance/comments/xm3enz#c_xm3enz https://lobste.rs/s/3rcyqa/they_used_last_50_years_appliance... He raises a few good points but one I don't have any detail on is the commercial washers and dryers. How much better or worse are they? What's the arrangement like in terms of is it the same crap with a profitable service contract or much better with maintenance provisions at reasonable points in time?

mongol 10y ago

Thanks. My main fear is that my Siemens top loading washer will break. It was unique in how its control panel was located, making it possible to slip under my sink. Now this design is totally gone from the market, and I will not find a design that will fit. It is interesting that almost all models, for all brands existing, to buy new look the same.

SomewhatLikely 10y ago
A brand that's definitely not trying to look the same is Speed Queen.

reitanqild 10y ago

Around here Miele is know as the rock solid ones. We got a front loaded Miele washer for our wedding and it has a warranty for 10 years but is expected to easily last up to 20 with minor fixes.

SOLAR_FIELDS 10y ago
Miele brand seems be associated with quality. They are also well known for their vacuum cleaners.