Everybody I know always recommends a speed queen washer due to their reliability and ability to truly clean clothes - my questions are:

1. what model is ‘best’

2. do they ever get bigger than 3.2 cu. Ft.?! I just feel this must be too small for a large load or a king sized quilt etc!

Hit me with all your opinions please!

This would be my first Speed Queen. I will stay with top loader with agitator. I’ve narrowed my selection to TR7, TR5 and TC5. I like TC5 because of no lid lock, but has no water selector level... If you have some time to share comments, opinions, I would appreciate that. Thank you.

We have a Samsung washer now and it’s garbage. It’s been repaired quite a few times in the 5ish years we’ve owned it. It’s new thing is not adding much water and running an entire cycle without water or dispensing any detergent. I don’t have time to babysit the thing. Husband started researching and talking to coworkers about the Samsung and his coworkers suggested a Speed Queen. I know I’ve seen them mentioned in this group, but usually skipped the posts because it wasn’t relevant to me.

Anything we should know before purchasing one? Any tips and tricks? Good or bad experiences?

Thanks so much!

Edit 10/12/24: we purchased a TR7 washer from our local owned appliance store. First thing we washed was our 10 year old king size white down alternative comforter. It came out sparkling white a fluffy! We couldn’t believe what a change it was from our other washer. Towels are fluffier and smell cleaner also! Thanks everyone for your comments and input 😊

Our washer (whirlpool) / dryer (Maytag) is close to finally quitting on us. And they have given a very noble effort....best estimate is they're from the late 90's and came with the house.

Our basement is a little humid / damp as it's a stone foundation. Is speed queen the only answer these days? Does the humidity in the basement impact life expectancy of appliances?

I bought a pair of Speed Queen W&D TC5003WN & DC5003WE, $3000 out the door two years ago. The reason I bought them was because I read online how SQ brand is a commercial brand that is supposed to last longer than other brands. I could've paid other brands for about $2000.

Fast forward to today, they have fixed the dryer twice, and the replaced the water valve. When the dryer wasn't working I opened it up, and found that the outlet duct was not connected properly and there was lint everywhere inside, including the motor and heating coils.

The good thing is I found the direct contact to their repair service, so I can get in touch with them fairly quickly. But even that, one time they didn't have part and I was without dryer for almost 3 weeks. It turned out I didn't need the part anyways (the ground wire came loose and the dryer wasn't heating up). Now the dryer is making squeaking noise, which is probably just something loose, but it is still annoying.

So I paid extra $1000 for "potentially" longer life on these machines. My previous machines, Whirlpool and GE, lasted me 10 year each. So basically I won't see the ROI on the extra $1k until 8 years from now.

Not saying they are totally junk, but IMHO they are not worth the 50% premium over other brands. Think twice and decide for your self.

Since many people asked, here is the info for west coast/california: https://distribution.alliancelaundry.com/west/
number: 800 451-1161. There are other numbers at the bottom of the website too (look under 'Region' drop down menu).

See these posts all the time, and I understand their simple mechanical design makes them relatively bulletproof, but are they actually good at washing/drying? As compared to a state of the art Samsung with all the bells and whistles, what would you be missing by using the Speed Queen?

I’ve read that Speed Queen is the best washer/dryer on the market, but having trouble convincing my partner that the price (2-3x the cost of a basic machine) is worth it.

Tell me what makes SQ the most legit option. Or tell me I’m wrong, and which appliance I should buy. I’m looking for washer and gas dryer.

Thanks!!

2-22-25 EDIT—UPDATE AND REQUEST FOR ADVICE

Thank you all for your valuable insight and guidance. I read every single comment and weighed my options. I’m omitting parts of the story for purposes of brevity.

I was able to locate a refurbished speed queen on Facebook marketplace. The seller was somewhat sketchy, but I was running out of time and options as I needed to leave town to handle some family matters.

The seller would not exchange cell phone contact information so I was messaging the wife (W) who had made the original post and setting up delivery for her husband (H) who is the person who repaired the appliance and would be delivering.

H made delivery while I was out of town to my partner. We were able to get the speed queen washer and a refurbished LG gas dryer. Seller was located about an hour away and was willing to deliver (for 100.00) and haul away my old washer. all in I think we paid just under US$600.

My partner opted to make the first load of wash a set of really nice white sheets (he has been sick for weeks and was sweating through sheets like crazy).

When the wash came out, the sheets were inundated with paper like flecks of debris.

We were able to determine that the cause was probably soap scum built up under the agitator. After some research, we purchased air shims and lifted the agitator. I will post photos in the comments.

I cleaned the washer as much as humanly possible, using the guidance directly from speed queen (including a solution of vinegar, baking soda, and dawn).

I have run a number of of cycles since then and while there is vast improvement, I’m still getting some flecks (see pics below).

I suppose the next step is to call for a speed queen tech to come out and evaluate the appliance. However, I wanted to ask you all if you had any further suggestions for taking apart the device to find the offending crevice where this scum is hiding. I assume there’s more scum behind the drum. Any advice?

SECOND EDIT: I guess I cannot upload any photos. If anyone is curious, I will send them via direct message.

THANK YOU!!

Is there anyone who don’t like their Speed Queen washer/dryer (TC5/DC5), or regret getting the 3.2 cu ft washer instead of the bigger ones from the other brands?

Upd: Thank you all! Went ahead with TC5+DC5. Looking forward to the delivery next month.

Edit: well after all that we ended up going with this Miele W1 haha. I actually had Miele in the running before making this post, but I mistakenly thought you had to get the twindos, which I didn’t want. In the end, as highly recommended as SQ is, I just wanted something that had a bit more features than the TC5, and the TR7 isn’t readily available near me. Thanks u/javaavril for the Miele info and everyone for all your insight and advice, it was very much appreciated!

—

Driving myself a little crazy trying to pick a new washing machine and could use some advice please! Also open to other recs, SQ or not.

TLDR: Looking at the TC5 and FF7, possibly the TR7. Want something that can really clean and deodorize athleticwear well, but not shred regular clothing.

We’re just a two-person household, but we do laundry frequently because my husband exercises a lot and we also do a lot of bulky laundry (blankets, towels, sheets). My current washer has bit the dust, but it was having a real tough time washing out some body odor and deodorant stains. The only thing that helped was soaking it in a bucket of water and vinegar, so a machine that is good enough to clean/deodorize without having to soak is ideal. Otherwise, a top loader is necessary I guess so I can soak.

The TC5 seems to be universally loved, but there seem to be reports of it wearing out clothing more quickly? I could use mesh bags, but would rather not if I can help it. Also don’t love how you don’t have different water level options for smaller wash loads.

The FF7 has way more settings for different fabrics and water levels, but not sure how much I’d use some of the features. It’s a front loader so I don’t think I can soak and is way more expensive, but we don’t really have a price limit as long as the machine is BIFL.

The TR7 I was keeping in mind just because it’s a top loader and allegedly gentler than the TC5, but I know the TR line has been criticized for being a little too gentle.

Any advice would be appreciated! TIA!

We just want the most basic top loader, that is quiet, lasts for years and can be opened mid wash to add clothes or fabric softener.

Apparently a lot of top loaders will not fill up all the water even when "XL load", "max load", or equivalent is selected.

Which makes/models still do let a person do this? For example, if I wanted to fill it up and then add clothes.

Everyone is recommending a speed queen washing machine, but the capacity seems small. 3.2 cu Ft. I have king size bed and I don’t think it would fit or I would hate to damage it by over packing the washer. Does Anyone have king/large bedding with a speed queen that can drop a review for me?!

They come with pretty good reviews and seem pretty durable. I know they make commercial units but I’m kind of curious if they are serviceable. I have a whirlpool stack washer and dryer now that the spin bearings are bad on that is only a year old. The repair place told me I need a whole drum and it would be $475 with shipping. If this was 3-5 years in between changes it may not be that bad, but I don’t think I want to put $475 in it every year plus whatever else breaks. So with durability and the ability to be repaired being the most important factors, is Speed Queen good?

What is your favorite top-load washing machine? We live on a ranch, so it NEEDS to have the option of using a larger amount of water than most current machines offer. With my current machine, I use the bedding setting for every wash just to get things clean. Also, I don't want to deal with repairs unless it's something my husband can DIY. Im a teacher, and we love in the middle of nowhere. Dealing with warranties tends to be a pain in the rear since the largest "big city" is over an hour away from us. I want a washer that will last AT LEAST 5 years (preferably longer) before breaking. Any suggestions?

EDIT: Unfortunately, front-loaders are not an option. We have a large mud room where our cats and dog stay while we're at work. If I leave a front-loader cracked, the cats will get inside... and the dog will close the door. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Top loaders are our only option. I'm definitely not getting a front-load washer that has to stay closed all of the time.

I recently purchased a TC500 and DR500 Speed Queen washing machine and dryer based on all of the positive reviews. I would honestly return them if I could. The dryer has been repaired twice in the one year of ownership and the washing machine constantly leaves water marks and stains on clothing. The genesis of this post was after washing my athletics, which usually go in the upstairs front loader, and they came out just as dirty as when I put them in. I ran the cycle on delicate and it’s honestly a joke. My 6 year old apartment sized front loader does an infinitely better job and uses a fraction of the water.

Tired of replacing a $700 washer every 3 years. Would love to know if this is something they make or if it’ll wash just as well with the agitator removed. Thank you.

ETA: Model is Speed Queen® TC5 3.2 Cu. Ft. White Top Load.

Partially based on the discussion surrounding the brand I've seen on here, when our 10 year old washer started making distressing noises I headed to a local shop to check out Speed Queen washers. I was buying right before Memorial day- but these don't typically go on sale. Paid full price, which is fine. It's a locally owned family dealer, they service everything they sell, and delivered, installed, and hauled away the old one, which was the most basic Whirlpool available at the time.

Based on reviews- I hope to have this washer for a very long time. I'm 41 now, so having it until I retire seems within the realm of possibility. Good deal.

Having gone through the first two loads- here's my initial review:

Things I expected:

Noise. Some reviews online said that they're quite loud. Honestly, it doesn't seem any louder than any other washer. Definitely quieter than the breaking down one I got rid of (which had developed a series of troubling noises.)

Controls. They are mad simple. This is also something I like. I don't need lots of bells and whistles. All anyone in my house wears are jeans, tees, and the occasional button down shirt. We do have a lot of farm-dirty clothes though.

Unexpected/underestimated:

Speed. Holy cow, Speed Queen is no lie. My first load, which was quite full, with extra fill (a week's worth of business/downtime clothes after a conference) took 27 minutes. Much faster than expected. (I timed it.)

Drying: Yes, it's a washer. But with how fast it spins the clothes coming out are significantly dryer than our previous washer. Probably twice as dry? Which means shorter dryer times and faster drying for things I hang up.

So far, very pleased. If it explodes, I'll update.