63 out of 64 people found this review helpful.
Big family, Big savings
Date of Review: May 30, 2002
The Bottom Line: If you wash a lot of clothes, you will reap the saving on your water and electric bill in a matter of years.
Maytag has created a new upscale line of Washers and Dryers called Neptune. These high-end pair are marketed as larger and more efficient and therefore you will be paying a premium for them. Last summer I reviewed the MAH4000 and wasn't overly impresssed, but since then we lost are current washer and decided to replace it with the MAH5500. The following article will focus in on this Neptune Washer
The Unit:
The Maytag Neptune Washer is a rare front loading washer. Even though this is washer is larger capacity, it is much more difficult to overfill this washer, because the clothes will not fit in the cylinder as tightly as a standard washer configuration. If you overstuff, the clothes will fall out. This may negates the extra capacity you were buying it for in the first place.
Since it is a Front loader, it uses much less water as you would image. Otherwise, you would have a flood every time you opened the machine during the wash cycle. This is where the washer earns it efficiency rating. By using less water during the wash and extracting more water during the spin, you save money on both your water and electric bills. (Now it may take you 5 years to recoupe your savings, but if the washer lasts 10 - 20 years than you have easily saved money)
The Neptune uses a tumbler similar to a dryer. The clothes therefore, are not constantly in the water, but rather, they are submerged part of the time. This is an alter way of washing without an agitator. This method does not seem to clean the clothes as well. The clothes have to try to clean themselves, instead of being beaten by another force. Some stains that were on clothes that we washed didn?t come out. (Of course they may not have come out with a standard washer either).
The Neptune was noticeable quieter than a standard washer. Without the agitator, the unit hums like a dryer spinning instead of your washer jumping all around.
The Features:
All the controls on the unit are touchpad sensitive. There are no nobs or dials to use. These are the buttons:
Water Temperature settings: Hot-cold, warm-warm, warm-cold and cold-cold. (Note: temperature is for Wash-Rinse)
Fabric Settings: cotton-sturdy, easy care-permanent press, delicate-hand washables.
Cycle Option Settings: Besides regular cleaning the other settings are Cotton Sturdy, Wrinkle-Free, Delicates and Handwashables, Stain, Prewash, Whites, Colors, Quick cycles and Extra Rise.
My wife just loves the Maximum extract feature. This spins the tumbler so fast that all the water is wrung from the clothes. This is really great for washing comforters that seem to hold onto the water.
The door on the MAH5500 is also reversable. SO if you have a tight squeeze by opening the door to the left, you can easily move it over to open to the right.
Conclusion: I have changed my tune since reviewing the MAH4000. I like this newer model. The clothes do seem to get clean and the savings in water and electricty will pay off in a few years. I paid 950.00 for mine.
Check out review of Neptune Dryer: I like this one too!! http://write-reviews-at.epinions.com/hmgd-review-72D7-6A35D52-3A2C129A-prod1
