[Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines

Sun Jan 8 05:45:24 UTC 2023

I was always told that top loaders clean better, and that if you use a front 
loader there is some kind of chemical that you need to run through to keep 
mold from developing.

Andy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Annette Carr via Electronics-Talk" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: "'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: <amcarr1 at verizon.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2023 5:38 PM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines

>I too will do everything I can to be able to use a front load washer.  They
> are easier to get things in and out, they use less water, they are gentle 
> on
> the items being washed, and they clean better than the top loader.
>
> Annette
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
> Aaron Spears via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Saturday, January 7, 2023 6:44 PM
> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Aaron Spears <valiant8086 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines
>
> Hi.
>
>
> I love front loaders for a variety of reasons. I'm trying to make a rule
> here at the house that we'll never get another one that isn't a front
> loader, but that's just us. I think they clean better, they use less 
> water,
> they may last better, at least the one we have now is older than we 
> managed
> to get the previous 3 sets to go.
>
>
>
> Cheers:
> Aaron Spears, AKA Valiant8086 General Partner at Valiant Galaxy Associates
> "we make (VERY GOOD AUDIOGAMES) for the blind comunity"
> http://valiantGalaxy.com
>
> On 1/7/2023 4:15 PM, Sherry Gomes via Electronics-Talk wrote:
>> I just replaced my LG washer and dryer with traditional buttons and knobs
> washer/dryer by whirlpool. I got them at Lowe's. I had really liked my
> friend's LG set, and had used it for two months while waiting to move into
> my new house. but on my set, the digital display was so sensitive that I
> swear breathing too hard near it changed thing. walking by and a sleeve
> touching it, a dog's wagging tail. I loved them because I had wanted a 
> front
> loader for years. I can't reach the bottom of top loaders. But I broke 
> down
> and got these whirlpools and I'm reasonably happy with them. My sister
> helped me put some locator dots on them, and they are 100 percent
> accessible.
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf
>> Of Annette Carr via Electronics-Talk
>> Sent: Saturday, January 7, 2023 1:08 PM
>> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: amcarr1 at verizon.net
>> Subject: [Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines
>>
>> As you can probably guess from the subject line, we are in the market for
> a new washer.  Saw 4 potential options at Lowes, so was wondering if 
> anyone
> has experience with any of them.  I am pleased to report that the sales
> person went and got an extension cord and plugged in the machines we 
> wanted
> to look at.
>>
>>
>>
>> Here are the models with notes about what I was able to observe.
>>
>>
>>
>> LG washer model WM4200HBA
>>
>> And
>>
>> LG washer model WM4000HBA
>>
>> * Has a stand-a-lone physical power button.  I think it also had a
>> stand-a-lone physical button for starting.
>> * The cycle selector has defined clicks that you could easily feel as
>> you turned the knob, along with an audible tone.
>> * However, the knob did not have an indicator/pointer, and a complete
>> revolution of the knob did not return you to where you started from.
>> * When you turn the machine off and then turn it back on, you are back
>> at the "Normal" cycle and its default settings.  You could keep a braille
> list of the cycles in the order of their position around the knob, and 
> just
> count the clicks/beeps.
>> * There is a touch screen with buttons along the sides and bottom.
>> There is a very thin seem around the outer edge of the touch screen.
>> * If you drag your finger across the buttons on the touch screen or
>> accidentally touch one of the buttons, it will be activated.
>> * There is some room around the outside of the touch panel to place
>> abbreviated braille labels or at least an indicator dot so that you could
> get lined up with the button.
>> * When you touch the touch screen, there is a beep.  There are only 2
>> different sounds.  One indicates that something changed, and the other
> indicates that there was no change.  The beeps do not tell you if you have
> cycled through all of the choices, so you do not know how many options 
> there
> are.  Whether a feature is available and the number of options for it, is
> different for each cycle.  For my current washer that just bit the dust I
> had a document on my computer that outlined each of the cycles, the
> available features and their options.  I had always planned on brailling 
> it
> up, or finding someone to do it for me, and never did.
>> * Although we did not test the dryer, it looks like the controls are
>> set up like the washer.
>>
>>
>>
>> GE washer model GFW550SSN2WW
>>
>> * The Power and Start Button are combined on a small touch pad, but it
>> is easy to use it.  The Power is at the top edge, and the start is on the
> bottom edge.  I can't remember if they required pressure to activate, I
> think it was just a touch.
>> * The cycle selector knob clicked and had beeps, along with a pointer.
>> You could add braille labels and this would be pretty accessible.
>> * There is a touch screen to change the settings for the cycles.
>> * There are buttons on the sides and bottom of the touch screen.
>> * There are thin lines between the buttons, but if you drag your
>> finger from button to button you will be activating each button you 
>> touch.
>> * There is some room around the outside of the touch screen where you
>> could place tactile indicators or abbreviated braille labels.
>> * You will need a cheat-sheet of some type to know which features are
>> available in each cycle, and what the available options are for each
> feature.
>> * There were audible beeps, but they were hard to hear in the store.
>> It was not apparent if there is a volume control.
>> * Although we did not test the dryer, it looks like the controls are
>> set up like the washer.
>>
>>
>>
>> Samsung washer model WF45B6300AC
>>
>> * There is a touch screen to control everything accept select the
>> cycles.
>> * The buttons are on the sides and bottom of the touch screen, but
>> there is some braille and tactile indicator dots.  Yes, actual braille 
>> and
> tactile marks.  The sales person was as shocked as we were.
>> * The Power button is on the top-right corner and there is a braille
>> "P" off the right edge of the touch screen.
>> * Below the Power button is the start button and there is a braille
>> "S" off the right edge of the touch screen.
>> * All other buttons along the left and bottom have a single dot to
>> indicate where they are.  You would have to add your own braille labels.
>> * If you drag your fingers across the touch screen, you will be
>> activating the buttons.
>> * There are beeps for every time you touch the touch screen.
>> * If a feature being activated on the touch screen has multiple
>> options, the pitch will change for each press of the button, and when you
> get back to the top of the list the tone starts from the first pitch. 
> This
> helps you know how many options there are for that feature, within that
> cycle.  This is how the beeps worked on my now non-working Whirlpool Duet.
>> * The cycle selector knob does click and does beep as you turn it.  It
>> does not have an indicator/pointer and one revolution is not equal to
> navigating through all of the cycle options.  Did not test to see if when
> you turn the machine off if it goes back to the default settings.
>> * Although we did not test the dryer, it looks like the controls are
>> set up like the washer.
>>
>>
>>
>> These were not the actual models we were looking for, but they are what
> Lowes has.  We are going to do a bit more research and I will let you know
> what I learn.  If anyone has any additional information about these 
> models,
> good or bad, I would love it if you would share.  Of course, any
> recommendations for a washer you found to be accessible is welcome.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Annette
>>
>> hear
>>
>>
>>
>> Annette Carr
>>
>> Let me make you sparkle!
>>
>>
>>
>> Independent Consultant
>>
>> ~Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski~
>>
>>   <mailto:amcarr1 at verizon.net> amcarr1 at verizon.net
>>
>> 703-915-2837 (call or text)
>>
>>
>>
>> View the online catalog and see all that TouchStone Crystal by Swarovski
> has to offer!
>>
>>   <https://sites.touchstonecrystal.com/sites/annettecarr>
>> https://sites.touchstonecrystal.com/sites/annettecarr
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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