[Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines

amcarr1 at verizon.net amcarr1 at verizon.net
Sun Jan 8 14:51:46 UTC 2023 

Yes, the seal can give out around the door on front loaders, but top loaders have more of a problem with the brackets and balancing springs breaking because the load of items being washed was uneven.  Pros and cons to everything.

Annette


-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Matthew Chao via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2023 8:42 AM
To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Matthew Chao <mattchao at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines

Also, front loaders have more of a tendency to develop leaky seals around the door, and they also tend to have a smaller capacity than their top-loading counterparts.  When I bought my house, it came with stackable front-loading washer/dryer combo.  Just my thoughts.--Matthew Chao



On 1/7/2023 10:37 PM, Pamela Dominguez via Electronics-Talk wrote:
> I have not known that to be the case.  More of my clothes have gotten 
> destroyed using the front loaders we have in this building.  Also, I 
> don’t like the way clothes come back out at you when you are trying to 
> put them in.  I am much more used to top-loaders.  Pam.
> 
> Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for 
> Windows
> 
> *From: *Annette Carr via Electronics-Talk 
> <mailto:electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> *Sent: *Saturday, January 7, 2023 8:41 PM
> *To: *Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances 
> <mailto:electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> *Cc: *amcarr1 at verizon.net <mailto:amcarr1 at verizon.net>
> *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
> 
>  >
> 
>  >
> 
>  >
> 
>  >
> 
>  >
> 
>  > _______________________________________________
> 
>  > Electronics-Talk mailing list
> 
>  > Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
> 
>  > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
> 
>  > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> for
> 
> Electronics-Talk:
> 
>  > 
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/sherry.g
> 
>  > omes%40outlook.com
> 
>  >
> 
>  > _______________________________________________
> 
>  > Electronics-Talk mailing list
> 
>  > Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
> 
>  > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
> 
>  > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> for
> 
> Electronics-Talk:
> 
>  > 
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/valiant8
> 
>  > 086%40gmail.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> Electronics-Talk mailing list
> 
> Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
> 
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
> 
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> 
> Electronics-Talk:
> 
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/amcarr1%
> 40veri
> 
> zon.net
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> Electronics-Talk mailing list
> 
> Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
> 
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
> 
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Electronics-Talk:
> 
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/pammygir
> l99%40gmail.com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Electronics-Talk mailing list
> Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Electronics-Talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/mattchao
> %40verizon.net

_______________________________________________
Electronics-Talk mailing list
Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Electronics-Talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/amcarr1%40verizon.net

More information about the Electronics-Talk mailing list