[Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines
Amanda Lee
amandainparadise777 at gmail.com
Sun Jan 8 22:51:26 UTC 2023
A suggestion: try using pods instead of having to measure liquid detergent
or powdered detergent.
They are awesome!
-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
Annette Carr via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2023 10:29 AM
To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: amcarr1 at verizon.net
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines
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
>
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>
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>
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>
> > omes%40outlook.com
>
> >
>
> > _______________________________________________
>
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>
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