[Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines
Matthew Chao
mattchao at verizon.net
Sun Jan 8 15:59:22 UTC 2023
Seems the primary advantage of a front loader is that there's no
agitator; the drum spins instead, so you can put odd things like
comforters into it.--Matthew Chao
On 1/8/2023 10:28 AM, Annette Carr via Electronics-Talk wrote:
> It is my Whirlpool Duet Washer that has bit the dust. My duet dryer bit the
> dust a few years ago. At the time, the Duet was the most accessible model
> on the market, although not 100% accessible. My model is too old for any
> type of remote access.
>
>
>
> A quick search is not finding the duet, but the following 3 Whirlpool models
> came up and do not have a touch screen. This does not mean that Whirlpool
> does not have others without touch screens. It looks like some of the
> Whirlpool models have an auto-dispensing soap feature. As best as I can
> figure out from the brief descriptions, you pour the liquid soap into the
> dispenser and the washer does the rest. Of course, just another thing that
> can go wrong with the machine. This feature is attractive to me since I
> struggle with pouring liquid soap out of the big container. I try to keep
> the Tide container with the pump and refill it with the new bottle of soap.
> A large funnel is helpful.
>
>
>
> Here are the not so cheap 3 Whirlpool models that do not have a touch
> screen:
>
>
> <https://www.whirlpool.com/laundry/washers/front-load/p.4.5-cu.-ft.-front-lo
> ad-washer-with-quick-wash-cycle.wfw5605mc.html>
>
> Model: WFW5605MC
>
> Price: $799.00
>
>
>
>
> <https://www.whirlpool.com/laundry/washers/front-load/p.4.3-cu.-ft.-closet-d
> epth-front-load-washer-with-intuitive-controls.wfw560chw.html>
>
> Model: WFW560CHW
>
> Price: $944.00
>
>
>
>
> <https://www.whirlpool.com/laundry/washers/front-load/p.5.0-cu.-ft.-front-lo
> ad-washer-with-quick-wash-cycle.wfw6605mc.html>
>
> Model: WFW6605MC
>
> Price: $899.00
>
> Add To Cart
>
>
>
> Annette
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
> Sherry Gomes via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2023 9:56 AM
> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Sherry Gomes <sherry.gomes at outlook.com>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines
>
>
>
> I used to be able to put a California King comforter or lighter weight quilt
> in my front loader. I really miss it. But I also felt exceedingly dependent,
> because when it got in a mode I couldn't fix by turning off the machine and
> turning it on again, I had to ask my sister or neighbor to come over and
> help. I've been using washing machines since I was a little girl and it was
> frustrating. sure, these top loaders are not my favorite style, now I've had
> a front loader, and I have to use a reacher to get stuff out of it, at least
> the settings don't randomly change if I walk past them while they are in
> use. And no, I never purposely brushed my hands or anything over the
> display. Lol.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
> Kay Malmquist via Electronics-Talk
>
> Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2023 6:48 AM
>
> To: mattchao at verizon.net; Discussion of accessible home electronics and
> appliances <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>
> Cc: Kay Malmquist <kay.malmquist at gmail.com>
>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines
>
>
>
> That is one of the nice things that people like about front loaders. They
> have a higher capacity of clothes that can be put in them. The pair we have
> can hold up to 20 pairs of blue jeans. We can easily put a queen size
> comforter in these.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "Matthew Chao via Electronics-Talk" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>
> To: "Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances"
>
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>
> Cc: "Matthew Chao" <mattchao at verizon.net>
>
> Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2023 7:42 AM
>
> 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
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>
>>
>
>> > omes%40outlook.com
>
>>
>
>> >
>
>>
>
>> > _______________________________________________
>
>>
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>> > 086%40gmail.com
>
>>
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