I am giving a background to my purchase of the MAYTAG NEPTUNE because I want to illustrate the differences between our washer experiences.
While waiting for our house to be completed we moved from a large rental into a much smaller duplex. Since it was upstairs we had to sell our large washer and dryer. All they had was a stacking space saver washer/dryer. Yuck! We were a family of four and I could only wash about four pairs of jeans at a time. When I tried to sneak in a few more items it would vibrate so badly everything on top of the dryer would come raining down. Forget trying to wash even the thinnest of bedspreads/comforters. With two unpotty-trained kids at the time I was constantly going to the laundry-mat to wash bedding. Since my boys are a little "wild" I would have to sit out in the car with them buckled in their car seats and wait, NOT fun.
Before moving to the duplex we had always had a full sized top-loading washer. The agitator in the middle takes up precious space but at least you can do a decent load and are able to wash a thin bedspead/comforter. Still there was an occasional trip to the laundry mat to wash sleeping bags or larger comforters.
I had first heard about front loading washers while reading Consumer Reports Magazine. I knew the next washer I bought would be one. I wanted to save water and energy, cut detergent costs, have a larger loading area, and cleaner clothes. I talked passionately about wanting one from then on, but the cost was a little off putting. I knew the energy savings would more than pay for it eventually, I would just have to swallow the initial price. When shopping for a front loader I found out that as an incentive to buy I would receive a tax credit. The credit for purchasing a premium efficiency appliance,the MAYTAG NEPTUNE was $190.00.
I had wanted a washer that I could see the clothes being laundered like the commercial ones, but with the Neptune that wasn't a possibility. And I was a little frightened of having computerized touch pads instead of knobs. But I needed a washer so I bit my lip and paid with plastic.
I have been using my MayTag NEPTUNE for just under a year now. It is a little noisy, but at least it never vibrates or goes off balance. The sound is strange catches my hubby off guard every single time. Almost like a whistle and a whirr, we call it a jet taking off, but it isn't an intrusive or overly annoying sound. My oldest has sound sensitivity and it does not bother him.
I can have the floor of the laundry room covered in clothes, and with one wash laundry is caught up. Due to the huge inner drum I can fit at least two regular washer loads in it at once. I can wash all of our bedspreads/comforters even the heavier, thicker ones. I have also laundered sleeping bags and a down comforter. I can even wash pillows, especially the kids' character pillows that would be too awkward in a top-loader. Since I bought this machine I have not had to endure a laundry mat once, I love this machine.
The only thing that irks me is that when I do my whites there are always socks and washcloths completely soaked that have fell into the rubber lip. It is a space between the drum and the gasket around the drum. So I always have to put these items aside until the next time I do whites.
This is the only washer that I have ever used that I know what all the buttons are for. It is incredibly easy to use.
1. Load the washer, do not stuff tightly. There is a large amount of room, but don't get crazy.
2. Select your fabric setting, there are four.
a. cotton sturdy, normal wash for common clothes and linens
b. wrinkle free, never used this setting it's for dress up clothes, poly/cotton blends, and wrinkle free clothing
c. delicates, also never used it's for your unmentionables, your lacy, sheer things, or dressy blouses
d. hand wash, I love this cycle but it encourages me to be lazy
3. Select your wash/rinse temperatures, there are four.
a. hot/cold
b. warm/warm
c. warm/cold
d. cold/cold
4. Select wash options, there are 6.
a. heavy soil
b. normal soil
c. light soil
d. quick-this is for clothes that were stored clean and need freshed or newly purchased clothing
e. rinse
f spin-if I overload the washer I have to run it through an extra spin cycle. One of the main selling points of front loaders is how efficiently they spin clothes which makes less work for your dryer, again saving energy-money.
5. Select options, there are 5.
a. presoak-adds 15 minutes of soak time with a little tumbling. Can be used with any cycle
b. stain cycle-has a fourth rinse and adds extra time
c. extra rinse-fourth rinse
d. max extract-this is the one I always use, it's for street clothes and bedding. Not to be used with wrinkle free fabrics, nor would I use it for my unmentionables
e. delay wash-wash can be delayed up to 9 hours-I don't know what for but it is an option
the amount of water varies with each load. There is an adaptive fill valve that adjusts the amount of water for efficient cleaning, and energy-water conservation.
6. Close door.
7. Add detergent, bleach, fabric softener-there is a little hinged door on the top left hand side. In it are three clearly marked places for detergent and color-safe bleach, chlorine bleach, and fabric softener. It is automatically dispensed at the most optimal time in the cycle.
8. Press start. After start is pressed and the cycle started the door will lock. If you need to throw something in do it before 5 minutes has passed. Just press the start/pause feature, the door will unlock, open, put in item, close door, press start/pause again. Do not try to force the door open during cycle. When finished the door locked light will go out.
A couple of features I did not address, there is an estimated digital time display, that counts down the minutes left in cycle. There is also a signal pad where you can choose the volume for the end of cycle beep. The door is reversable for your convenience. The interior light is replaceable with a 10 watt bulb.
.When I first bought this washer I went to the store to buy (he) high efficiency name brand detergent. I didn't want to risk over-sudsing with regular detergent. Apparently the manufactures were under the impression they were selling powdered gold. So I bought a $20.00 bucket of he soap from Sears. That bucket lasted a family of five, including three children and all the clothes and bedding they go through, 7 months. It only takes 1 to 1 1/2 little cups full to get our clothes clean.
The instructions that come with the NEPTUNE WASHER are very thorough, a video was included but due to the great instructions, I've never watched it.
This is a hardy machine my oldest on two occasions got in the laundry room and "helped". The first time he poured a bottle of bleach in the top, luckily the whites were in there. And the second time he got a bottle and a half of fabric softener in and a large bottle of non-chlorine bleach. The machine just took it in stride. Now I check the door everytime I walk by to make sure that it is locked.
There is a 1 year warranty from original purchase date. Any part that fails to work under normal home use will be repaired or replaced without charge.
2nd year-all parts are warranteed- but owner must pay labor, mileage, transportation, and any other costs that come up
3-5 years-electronic control-see above
3-10 years-drive motor-see above
3-lifetime-stainless steel inner wash basket-see above
The exterior cabinet, including top and baseframe are warranteed against rust-through for the first year from original purchase, repair or replacement is free of charge. From year 2-10 repair or replacement is free for the part, but owner must pay all other costs, see above
The requirements for this great washer are: 120 Volt 60 Hz AMP Fuse or circuit breaker and water pressure of 20 to 120 p.s.i. This ifo is taken from the MAYTAG NEPTUNE high effiency washer installation instructions.
