connie_s's Full Review: General Electric WPGT9360EPL Top Load Washer
After 30 years with my old Whirlpool super capacity plus, it was time for a new washer. I wanted something better. I didn't want an agitator, but I wanted top load because of a bad back. I read the reviews on Epinions, and despite a few bad reviews, I decided to take the plunge.
Wow, is this thing fantastic!! I have washed dog bedding, quilts, comforters, blankets, oversized pillows, and even sleeping bags. It's done a wonderful job. It's alot quieter than my old machine, and as far as a learning curve.. there is none. Sure, I've altered a few settings to suit me, but "My Cycles" lets me save them, so I only have to do it once.
Even that old favorite comforter that I had been afraid to wash because of the hand stitching came out without a stitch missing. The trick is, increase the soil level, and set it to delicate, tap cold. Even my old hand stitched pillows with lace and tatting came out perfect. And I don't want to leave out the delicate blouse with the beadwork... not a bead came off.
And talk about cleaner... I didn't know my things weren't that clean before. Oh my gosh, the dirt that this machine gets out.
And for the totally housework ignorant husband... I programmed a setting for my husband's work clothes... all he has to do is load the clothes, detergent, and hit "My Cycles", then push the button with his name on it...how easy is that?? And when it's done, and he moves things to the dryer, it also has a "My Cycles" option with his name on it. The only downside is you can't link the washer & dryer "My Cycles" settings together to make it automatically load the dryer settings. It only sends the auto dryer info when it's a factory programmed cycle in the washer.
If there are any other negatives.. the washer made the dog bark the 1st time or two(sounds different), but he got used to it.
And the top of the dryer is plastic, so put a towel or a scatter rug on it if you want to set anything there so it doesn't get scratched (that also will keep things from sliding down the sloped surface)
More on features:
Water savings -- This machine saves water by sensing the weight of the items being washed. It only uses the amount of water necessary for cleaning them, so you need to think about that when you put in detergent (don't put in too much). 07-20-07 update -- I have noticed that because it uses so much less water, it isn't able to take away as much lint and hair from the clothing made of spandex, polyester, nylon. (I have a very long haired heavy shedding dog), but the dryer takes care of that, and most seems to fall off even if I hang them on the clothes line outside.
Dispenser -- it has a dispenser for pretreat, detergent, softener, and bleach. Put it in before starting, and you can walk away till the load is done.
Preprogrammed cycles -- You can choose by garment, fabric, special cycle, or "My Cycles". The screen is actually a touchpad, and has a "back" & "home" button. The garments cycle ranges from jeans to lingerie. The special cycles are what I find great -- blankets, comforters, pet bedding, and lots more. Any preprogrammed cycle can be modified by a few touches to the screen, then you can save it to "My Cycles".
Modifying cycles -- Your soil level increases or decreases the time. Your temperature has hot, warm, cold, and tap cold, and I believe there is an option for sterilized hot for things like diapers. You can also choose an extra rinse or an extended spin. The settings for the wash intensity are aggressive, normal, delicate, and handwash. I think you'd have to have something like farm overalls covered in cow manure to use aggressive.
When the washer is done, and you are ready to put things in the dryer, it automatically sends the info over. It takes 7-10 seconds (no big deal), and you have the option of modifying those settings also.
Balancing -- I've washed an oversized pillow and a small one together, and big and bulky items...it hasn't had a bit of problem balancing them. No more machine walking across the floor, splewing water everywhere.
Twisting clothes together -- I wash 7 pairs of leggings at a time, and it has done better at not twisting them than my old agitator washer. I think that this may be according to the setting you use (I use normal).
Room -- This tub is BIG. I put two blankets in together and still had room left. And it has a large opening--things are so easy to load and unload with no agitator in the way. The dryer is great also for loading and unloading.. it too has a large opening, and they put it close to the top so your don't have to stoop too low to get things out (your basket can set right in front and you can just rake them into it)
And before I bought I compared it to the Whirlpool ...here's something you might want to check out. With the lid open on the GE Harmony it's about 52 3/4 high, which clears most standard cabinet uppers. The Whirlpool is 59" -- I wouldn't have been able to get the lid open all the way or leave it up.
Looks and quality -- This thing looks better installed than it did in the pics.. It's very neat and clean looking, and they did use real glass in the upper lid, which makes it easy to clean, and keeps it from scratching easily. The sides and front are still enameled steel. Everything is built very tight and heavy. You can tell that this is a top of the line item. And the lint trap in the dryer is right out front, so it just takes a second to clear out.
Power -- If a cycle is done, and you're not around, the machine turns itself off after 5 minutes, but when you restore the power, and/or turn on the dryer, the information isn't lost -- it still transmits to the dryer.
This is truly a space-age machine. The only thing it doesn't do is load your clothes or detergent.
Update 06-18-07 .. my 78 year old mother brought over her Bates George Washington bedspread that she inherited from my grandmother. It went in eggshell color with tangled fringe. She was amazed that it came out brilliant white (we didn't add bleach) and with all the fringe smooth and unknotted...Wow! (We used the comforter cycle on the washer, but had to add 15 minutes to the drying time because of the heavy weight of this bedspread)
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