I need a new dryer! Any recommendations?

[Sew So Happy]

My old dryer stopped working tonight. It smelled like something was burning and I went to investigate and my dryer had stopped. It has an electrical smell to it. The dryer is probably around 18-20 years old now. I had gotten it from inlaws. I have not looked at the price of washers and dryers yet and I am wondering about what kind of costs am I looking at. Whenever my washer goes out on me, I want to buy a front load washer. Do I need to go ahead and buy both together? Is it a better price? This is where I wish Dh was home to help me. I hate to buy something like this without him here! Tell me what you all have and do you like it!

[windwillow]

I bought a complete kitchen, dishwasher, 3 drawer fridge and a fancy stove in stainless for a steal.* Got them at a Sears Outlet, scratch and dent sale.* The scratches and dents are on the back side and $$$ were knocked off the price.If I were you I'd find a scratch and dent warehouse place.* Personally I have the Whirlpool HE front loading system, I bought the pair and the drawers that goes below so I don't have to bend over as far and I have extra storage for a lot of cleaning supplies, detergents and stuff.* I love my set, I can wash and dry my big king size quilts and wash things as delicate as silk blouses.* I can wash a couple of tops or up tp 10 pair of jeans, the real nice part is they are just a little more than damp when I pull them out of the washer.* My manual says it runs 230 mph on the last spin cycle.* I've had mine four years, maybe five and my DH says he can't run the space ship yet.* There are a lot of lights giving it the space ship look.* Mine are white and grey, now they come in a rainbow of colors.* Oh before I forget, even if you buy a scratch and dent system anywhere your warranty is still good.* Or if you have a home improvement store card you could put it on your card but you won't get near the deal. Best advice I can give is get the set and drawers underneath, buy them at a scratch and dent warehouse and get a good deal!!!
Windwillow

[craftmama]

I also had to recently replace the washer and dryer. I went with the front loaders because they claim to use less water. (we are in a water shortage in S. FL). I love them. The washer does spin at a high rate and tends to move around abit. The dryer stops automatically when the clothes are dry. It has a sensor in it. I agree with windwillow, spend the extra money and get the drawers below. Great storage and saves your back. We priced them at several stores, went to Best Buy because they offered 18 months with zero finance (we just pay $100.00 a month so we don't get a big bill at the end). We saw the drawers cheaper at another store, but the salesman matched the other stores prices. We looked for free financing and free delivery and anything on sale. I didn't need the bells and whisltles (like the steam delivery system). Good Luck with your decision.

[stitchcrazy]

We just had to buy new washer and dryer last year because when we sold our house the buyers wanted our old ones with the house - it was fine with me because I got to upgrade! We went with the Whirlpool Duet set, which are both front end loaders. My mom had it, so I knew it worked well. We bought the washer at a liquidation sale at 45% off and then finally found a matching dryer at Lowe's (Home improvement store). I absolutely love them. They use very little water. Craftmama is right about the high spin rate. They do move around a bit. I've never gotten the right balance on the feet, so they get a little bit loud. The best part about it, is you can watch your clothes get clean in the little window!!! I'm sick, I know...

[StitchinGrandma]

IF you are going to get the front load machine then figure out which brand you want to buy now and get that dryer to match. I'd stick to white however since you don't know if the pretty colors they have now will be available when you need the washer down the road. OR, do what I would do and go buy both now in a pretty color and then donate the old working washer to the local women's shelter so someone moving out of the shelter and on her own again will have a washer for her to use to do her kids clothes and take the tax writeoff on a working washer. ;)

I can tell you that we bought the Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer with the extra drawers under each one about five years ago now and I LOVE them! We haven't had any problems at all with either and even if you don't think you will use the drawers, get them anyway since it raises the openings up to waist high. Niiiiiiiiice benefit. Love mine. OH and if you must know ...... my washer AND dryer both worked when we bought the new ones. hehe

[stitchcrazy]

Yes, I'm with Vicki - buy them together. Like I said, we bought our washer first because we found it for 45% off, but that store didn't have the dryer. we bought the biscuit color, which is really just off-white, well they quit making it and it took us like 3 months to track down a matching dryer. So, go ahead and buy them together even if you're not going for a crazy color...unless you just don't care if they match...

[Sew 'N Sane]

* Got them at a Sears Outlet, scratch and dent sale.* The scratches and dents are on the back side and $$$ were knocked off the price.If I were you I'd find a scratch and dent warehouse place.* Windwillow

Like Windwillow, I got mine at a Sears Outlet and save quite a bit of money. Plus, they will let you buy an extended warranty. Trust me....buy the warranty!

I also got mine with the storage units underneath and I use them for extra snack items for the kids. Plus, having them up higher is a HUGE benefit.

I also use mine to wash my duvet cover and it works wonderfully.

:marchmellow:

[StitchinGrandma]

OMG There's a secret hideout I never thought of before. Hiding snacks for the kids. HA

[craftmama]

OMG There's a secret hideout I never thought of before. Hiding snacks for the kids. HA

For the kids or From the kids. opps, giving away my secrets.:rofl:

[Sew So Happy]

Okay, I was going to just get the dryer, but the more I looked around and thought about it...I did want matching this time around. So, I took to the internet and went to a few places to look at prices. My sil's fil manages an appliance store and he gave me a good deal on the Frigidaire Affinity. It has the features I wanted and they gave me a drawer free when I bought the other. They are delivering tomorrow. I put my washing machine on Freecycle and they are supposed to pick up this afternoon. The dryer will go with the delivery guys. Thanks everyone for the input and thoughts. I love the idea of storing snacks in one of those drawers! I was wondering what I was going to put in all that space.

[stitchcrazy]

Wow - you work quickly!!! So glad you found something quickly and got a great deal. I think you'll be very happy with your choice.

[StitchinGrandma]

Oooooooooh nice. I'm glad you got both now. And you are going to LOVE loading the soap and all that stuff all at the same time. It's wonderful.

[windwillow]

I'm surprised so many of us have the Duet set. Love it, mine isn't noisy and doesn't walk, the drawers are wonderful. Congrats on your new set with the drawers, good choice on your part. My laundry room is yellow with white caninets and trim. It is so nice to do laundry, when I walk in there I feel happy, like I am outdoors in the sunshine and I don't even mind doing the laundry.

[stitchcrazy]

I made my tiny little laundry room decorative, too. I put some cute pictures in there and some faux flowers and cute little wicker baskets for my dryer sheets and iron and starch. I figure if I have to spend half my life in there, I might as well enjoy it! ;)

[StitchinGrandma]

I got my Duets before they had any pretty colors. *pout and cry* I have that gunmetal grey color but that's still better than white.

[Sew So Happy]

I almost wish they weren't delivering tomorrow, because I actually thought how nice it would be while nothing was in there, to go ahead and paint. I always liked a yellow laundry room, too. It does seem like a cheery color. There are too many of those white coated shelves in my laundry room fo rme to mess with it while dh is gone.
I have never had a matching new set, so I am looking forward to just looking at them in my laundry room!:)

[StitchinGrandma]

HA! Painting! I've been waiting for this one. LOL