Best Washer at Drying

**gren** · 07-16-2011, 01:16 AM

I use my old, inefficient but luckily natural gas dryer because I have a washer that leaves my clothes quite wet. But, for a multitude of reasons include money, preserving clothes, and not wasting energy I'd prefer to just use my drying racks. Since my washer is old I'm wondering if anyone knows of a good way to assess which washer will do the best job of drying clothes? I know it will likely be a front loader with an extra spin cycle but I'm wondering if anyone has experience or a resource that can give me guidance beyond that. Thanks.

**ArcticSplash** · 07-16-2011, 08:01 AM

I have a Bosch Vision 500 front loader that spins up to 1500RPM. Some clothes like my socks come out virtually dry and wearable. Synthetics usually come out bone dry and don't even have to go into the dryer. Towels come out damp. They are dry enough you can switch to using a clothesline and not have to have them sit outside all day to get them dry, maybe just an hour or two in direct sun should be enough to get them completely dry.

The washer has to be leveled and balanced when you install it though or the anti-knocker won't spin the clothes up to max speed. That feature does come in handy because if the machine "walked" while in the spin cycle, it would fall off the platform I have it on and possibly go right down the stairs which are only 2 feet in front of the machine. It does come with front and back adjustable legs so you can level it. I had a raised platform built for mine (I also got the matching gas dryer). Both are raised on pedestals. These sit on my 3rd floor hallway so I prettied up my laundry nook and the machines are so large I had to remove the doors.

So far I love this machine. The wash cycle is longer than a top loader (heavy hot water cycles take an hour) but it's more efficient. There's a Xxtra Sanitary setting you can use for cleaning some soiled garments and linens and it switches on a built-in water heater on top of using the hot water from the tap to raise it to a scalding-high temperature for a longer period of time, which is perfect for removing any traces of blood, pet urine, etc. The machine also has a "Drum Sanitize" cycle. I put in some bleach in the detergent tray and run it. Removes any built up soap and eliminates mildew out of the machine which is a problem with high efficiency front loaders. So far I love it. It uses a fraction of the water top loaders uses to clean clothes. You can also use less detergent since there's less water.

BTW I bought my washer at AIRS on Chestnut St. Bosch had a rebate and I also used a PECO rebate on the thing to the tune of $350 off the machine. Paid for it on my cashback card which got me 1.5% cash back as well. All the discounts combined cut the price down to lower than what Lowe's on Aramingo was selling it for.

**OldMama** · 07-16-2011, 09:19 PM

I never thought I'd have washer and dryer envy but you did it... I have washer and dryer envy.

**1859Dame** · 07-16-2011, 09:58 PM

"I have a Bosch Vision 500 front loader that spins up to 1500RP."

ArticSplash...I've a preexsiting 3rd floor laundry room. I would LOVE to replace my top washer with a front loader, but understand the spin cycle can shake the entire house AND with an enormous noise level.

My home is a 151 year structure - and I can hear the dryer cycling from the first floor - albeit via the second staircase that runs below.

Does the Bosch shake n rattle all from the rafters down?!?

**gren** · 07-17-2011, 11:24 PM

Looks pretty awesome, MM. I will keep it in mind when I replace mine. Thanks.

**ArcticSplash** · 07-18-2011, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by 1859Dame

"I have a Bosch Vision 500 front loader that spins up to 1500RP."

ArticSplash...I've a preexsiting 3rd floor laundry room. I would LOVE to replace my top washer with a front loader, but understand the spin cycle can shake the entire house AND with an enormous noise level.

My home is a 151 year structure - and I can hear the dryer cycling from the first floor - albeit via the second staircase that runs below.

Does the Bosch shake n rattle all from the rafters down?!?

Yes even with all the gizmos and computer diddies the thing has, it shakes my house, but not enough that the neighbors on either side notice it. My structure is all recent, the only thing that's original are the walls and my crawlspace. It's located in the middle of my house and the shaking is noticeable in the back of the 3rd floor and underneath this area on the 2nd floor. I can't hear it/feel it from the 1st floor or the basement. One trick that I saw to help, if you have walls next to the machine is to go to CVS and get those styrofoam pool noodles and insert them between the walls, between the washer and dryer, and the wall between the dryer.

It doesn't shake though like a top loader does when you have an unbalanced load. It spins up very fast it sounds like a racecar, and the vibration is a rapid pulse. It vibrates the most as it is gaining speed and when it hits the top speed the vibration goes away.

**ArcticSplash** · 07-18-2011, 12:18 AM

The sanitary cycle on this washer is the best. You got a sick kid that loves to wipe his/her nose on shirt collars and sleeves? Bleach + Xxtra Sanitary == there won't be a single microrganism left living after the clothes come out of the washer. Keeps the germs from spreading to the rest of the family's laundry. Same goes for cleaning bedsheets, linens and pillow covers after you get someone sick in your house and it's time to sterilize everything.

**1859Dame** · 07-19-2011, 12:05 AM

Thanks for confirming/clarifying potential noise/rattles to the front load washers. I sure would love one - but still hesitate as it may create cracks to the original plaster to the walls below. Those I've used in Europe have been much smaller - so they emit high-pitched whirs n shakes vs what I would anticipate from a super-sized American model. Not to mention, most have been on the ground/1st floor level so hence my questioning one installed on an upper floor to a single residence.

**ArcticSplash** · 07-19-2011, 01:50 AM

Originally Posted by 1859Dame

Thanks for confirming/clarifying potential noise/rattles to the front load washers. I sure would love one - but still hesitate as it may create cracks to the original plaster to the walls below. Those I've used in Europe have been much smaller - so they emit high-pitched whirs n shakes vs what I would anticipate from a super-sized American model. Not to mention, most have been on the ground/1st floor level so hence my questioning one installed on an upper floor to a single residence.

Plaster walls? You absolutely do not want a high spin front loader, no matter what they tell you how quiet it is! Yes it will crack your walls severely especially old plaster. Maybe you could have drywall installed in there just for that one area?