Let me start off by saying for the last 16b months or so, my wife and I have been using the Panda Compact Washer & Spin Dryer available here from Amazon:
Panda Small Compact Portable Washing Machine(10lbs Capacity)XPB45 -Larger Size
We loved and used the s*** out of it, and it has held up absolutely great - it still completely works, but we decided it was time for an upgrade... so we measured our closet, cleaned out a bunch of other junk to make room, and pulled the trigger on this 11lbs fully automatic washer!
If you're interested in the Panda Washer/Spinner, please take a moment to read through my review. That one's cheaper and easier to fit in a small closet due to its lower height and shorter depth from back-to-front. But it's not automatic:
http://www.amazon.com/review/RGGD44UPNO2PL/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00KY5V4M4&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=2619525011&store=appliances
If you have the Washer/Spinner, I'll state this upfront: DEFINITELY UPGRADE. The fact that you never have to deal with the rinse and spin cycles ever again is FREAKIN AMAZING. This washing machine works exactly like you'd expect a 'normal' washer to work.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
For those of you in apartment buildings -- This washer ships in a box that doesn't hide the fact that it's a washing machine. It's not exactly obvious, but if you have a landlord who really cares, you may have to find a way to be more sneaky. We spoke to our super, and explained that we wanted to get a "portable washer that hooks up to the sink, no installation necessary" and he said it was fine. So no sneaking around here.
Compared to the Washer/Spinner combo machine, it's immediately apparent that this Fully Automatic Panda is an upgrade in quality. We never had an issue before, but while the Washer/Spinner is plastic, this seems designed to last. Even the buttons on the top seem like pretty high quality compared to some other relatively inexpensive electronics we've bought in the last year or so (i.e. our cheap microwave and a/c have plastic which after lots of 'presses' seems to separate away from the button).
When it comes to measurements of the Fully Automatic washer, the dimensions listed here on Amazon are spot on. The height of the machine is fine for myself and my wife, and the two wheels on the back of the machine make it a LITTLE bit easier to move around than lifting (the wheels only help you go back and forth, not side to side). Unfortunately the machine's a bit too heavy to really be portable, so we parked it in it's spot in the closet, and likely won't be moving it for a long while.
BASIC SETUP:
The initial setup is VERY intuitive, and only took us a few minutes to get started for our first load.
There is a standard three prong outlet plug, the included hose & sink adapter which perfectly fit our sink to add water, and a drain hose which hooked over the side of our bathtub.
Just like our older Panda Washer/Spinner, I wanted to take this to the next level... I never want to move this from the closet (our "laundry room"), and since we don't have water hookups or drains in our apartment, we have to use the sink faucet, bathroom power outlet, and the bathtub. Most critically, the included plug and hoses won't reach any of these from our closet. So all of the parts I'm listing are here to help making it reach further.
WATER HOSE:
The box comes with a few excellent parts, but I didn't end up using most of them. It CAME WITH two (2) four-feet-long hoses (one for hot and one for cold, both are identical to each other), along with a Quick Connect Hose Adapter & a Sink Adapter, and a simple 'cap' for the hot water inlet if you're like us and hook up to the sink. Since we're hooking up to the sink, we really only need one hose, but the problem with the hoses for us is they're much too short. We did try our "expanding" garden hose the first time we tried it, but it's definitely not capable of holding the water pressure from the sink while the machine is running, and on disconnecting the built up pressure exploded water all over. So instead you'll definitely want to use a more solid hose, like the one included or a longer one.
We ordered this one: "Washing Machine Hose Black Rubber, 12 Foot, Made in the USA " ~$17
Washing Machine Hose Black Rubber, 12 Foot, Made in the USA
It's 12 feet long, and basically like a simple garden hose that's a little bit stronger and capable of holding up the extra water pressure. A regular standard "green" garden hose would probably be fine, but since we're in an apartment building I didn't want to risk it if something were to go wrong and flood our downstairs neighbors.
Since we are pretty tight on space, and the hose connects to the back of the washing machine, I found that I had to pull the machine away from the wall a bit, and even then I had a problem with "kinks" in the hose. So I also got this hose elbow bend, which I connected to the back of the washing machine and it immediately let me back the washer up to the wall and eliminated the "kink" problems (cold water inlet... the hot is 'capped' with the included cover): "Camco 22505 90 Degree Hose Elbow" ~$4
Camco 22505 90 Degree Hose Elbow - Lead Free
I just measured, and now the back of the machine is 2.5" to 3" away from the wall. Without the 90 degree elbow, it was 5"-6" minimum away from the wall to prevent hose kinks.
We also already had a "DANCO" quick-connect hose adapter & sink adapter (which we bought last year at Home Depot), so I kept the older one set up because it matched our sink pretty well (... why fix what ain't broke, right?)
All in all, the setup for water input was incredibly simple... and now we have an extra-long water input hose to the sink, and it takes only about 5 seconds to set up when we're ready to do the wash.
WATER DRAINING:
The water drain hose is longer on this machine than the Panda Washer/Spinner, which is nice... but still not long enough to reach our tub without us having to worry about it popping out. Also, when facing towards this Fully Automatic Panda Washer, the drain hose comes out of the LEFT of the machine, rather than the right side... which meant the hose had to reach even further to get to the tub. Fortunately, the diameter of the drain hose was exactly the same as our previous setup... so I literally just untightened the ring clamp off the older washer drain hose, and removed the barb adapter (hose connected and all), put it into the new washer's drain hose and tightened it up with the same ring clamp. Here's what I used:
The adapter: Watts Nylon Hose Barb (A-591) Adapter 3/4" ID x 3/4" MH ~$3
Basically, this is two sided, where one side gets shoved into the drain hose of the washing machine. It's not perfectly snug, but it's close. With the plastic tape and clamp below, it's completely water tight. The other side screws onto a normal hose, and makes the setup extremely simple.
Unfortunately this product isn't available on Amazon, but I found it at Home Depot, and Lowe's has it in their online store. It's plastic and only ~$2-$3. The closest thing I found to it on Amazon are these similar metal versions:
Anderson Metals Brass Garden Hose Swivel Fitting, Connector, Barb x GHT Female Hose
Orbit Underground 27180 Green Thumb Brass Male Hose Mender, 3/4-Inch
Waterproof tape: TFE Pipe Joint Tape 1/2" x 520" ~$9 (and you have lots left over)
This is very thin plastic non-sticky tape, which wraps over the ridges on the side of the "barb" adapter that goes into the Panda drain hose. I wrapped it over the ridges on the smaller side about 10 times, then forced it I to the drain hose. With this plastic wrap on the adapter, it's a very snug water tight fit. The home depot guy who helped us suggested we use this tape for any other parts that screw together that leak too.
Oatey 15164 Hercules TFE Pipe Joint Tape
Garden Hose: Apex 6' Leader Hose ~$11
This was simply the cheapest hose they sold at Home Depot. Any normal garden hose will do, but this one was our perfect length, and has a wide enough inner diameter to allow the water to drain quickly without issue. This screws onto the barb adapter attached to the built-in drain hose, and drains into our bathtub. It's small and light enough to store without an issue.
Apex 887-6 5/8-Inch x 6-Feet Hose Reel Leader Hose
The Ring Clamp: SS CLAMP 1/2"x1-1/14" Diameter ~$1 each
This clamp fits over the built in drain hose at the end, over the plastic wrapped side of the adapter, to hold it in place tightly. It's not strictly necessary but it was less than a dollar at Home Depot. A simple plastic wire-tie (zip-tie?) could work well too. Here on Amazon they sell them in a 10-pack... and I'll be honest, these may be one of the most incredibly useful things I've bought.
Breeze Power-Seal Stainless Steel Hose Clamp, Worm-Drive, SAE Size 12, 11/16" to 1-1/4" Diameter Range, 1/2" Bandwidth (Pack of 10)
All of the new parts took about 3 minutes to put together... It's really not difficult at all.
Now when we do laundry, I just grab the longer garden hose & feed it straight into the tub without moving the 'portable' washing machine at all!
POWER:
This is pretty simple, and what works for us may not be exactly what works for you. I set this up last year for our Panda Washer/Spinner, and it's still working for us with the new Fully Automatic washer today.
A simple flat white extension cord to reach from our bathroom's outlet, along the floor edges, to our closet. The cable is flat so it fits underneath both doors at all times. I covered it with a cable cover that has a sticky back which keeps it all in place all the time. I went with white versions of each so it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb in our white bathroom.
Notes: I was able to use a simple wire cutter / scissors to cut the cable cover down to size to fit our space. The hardest part of the whole setup was getting the extension cable into the cable cover, and laying the extension cable down carefully in our bathroom so it stays in place. I bought the 15' extension cable, and it JUST reaches. I'd recommend a 20' to 25' one, but I couldn't find a FLAT white one, and the one I bought supports THREE outlets... which is perfect since I also just bought the Panda dryer for the same closet!
Extension Cable: 15 ft. 16/3 Indoor Extension Cord for Tight Spaces.
15 ft. 16 guage/3 prong White Indoor/Extension Cord for Tight Spaces 3 outlets
[Cable Cover: (I'm not sure if this was the exact one, but any should do) Legrand/Wiremold CordMate Channel- White
Wiremold CMK50 Cord Mate II Kit
THE DRYER:
We paired our previous Panda 10lb Washer/Spinner, with the Panda 8.8lb Dryer. And it continues to work perfectly fine today.
Even with this new 11lb Fully Automatic Panda Washer, I'll stuff the washing machine full, and everything that fits into the washer fits into the dryer without any problem. I can't stress this enough... this is an incredible dryer, highly recommended:
Panda Small Mini Stainless Steel Tumble Dryer8.8lbs Compact Apartment Dryer Pan745sf
You can read my review of the dryer here, and the accessories I used because it's an indoor dryer (with no external exhaust):
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3EI30C99BSWIO/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00PIYEUHW&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=2619525011&store=appliances
SUMMARY:
So we're about a two weeks in with the new washing machine, and very much loving the fact that we never have to go downstairs to the apartment building's laundry room.
I'd say my only MINOR complaint is that you cannot open the lid once it starts or it buzzes and gives you an error (E2). This means that if you use a washing detergent 'lid' to measure how much you're putting in, you can't rinse the lid in the washing machine because it stops the water from filling. So we may consider switching over the the detergent packs and just never worry about that again :-)
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Highly rated, highly recommended!
I am editing this in February 2017. I bought this washer in June 2014, and it has been working just fine since then. We do 6 to 8 loads of laundry a week.
My original review.
The Panda machine arrived today. Fast shipping, I ordered Monday, it arrived today.
It is impressive looking, nicely styled, easy to move around. Nothing in the way of assembly for the washing machine itself. The only tricky thing was figuring out the somewhat terse instructions about installing the quick connect on the faucet. I finally went with "trail and error" on the rubber washers and ended up trying all 3 before one "fit". I still need to work with the connection a bit because it still leaks just a little bit. The type in the instruction manual is very tiny, I had to fetch my reading glasses to decipher it. It is needlessly tiny too, since there is plenty of white space.
It does come with a strong chemical smell. If I was writing ad copy I would describe it as "that luxurious new car smell" except of course that that smell is outgassing volatile chemicals, lol. And after only a couple hours in my kitchen, the whole place stinks so i turned on the whole house fan. Tomorrow it's going onto the back porch for a few days until the smell goes away. I ran two "quick" ten minute wash and rinse cycles, with no clothes, and I used dish detergent, in the hopes that the smell in the tub would go away and it did substantially go away after two wash and rinse cycles, no clothes. But the exterior and hoses appear to be the continuing source of of the chemical smells.
The tub seems roomy.
It was amazingly quiet while going through its quick wash and rinse cycles. it is fully automated, unlike the smaller and older model that is #1 in this small apartment washer category, you can set it and forget it. You need to make sure the drain hose is secured in the sink. I neglected that detail but fortunately I was in the kitchen when the drain hose hopped out of the sink onto the floor. Oops. So I put it back and tucked it between the water hose and the faucet and it stayed there securely.
It did come with some water in it, which I heard sloshing around as I walked it into the kitchen from the front porch. It wasn't too heavy for me to do that (and I'm 62).
The promised dolly to move the washer around with is not a Panda product. It comes in a separate box. and the instructions appear to be in a charming prose consiting of English words in what I bet is Chinese word order, lol. . . I quote. . .
"(1) In the prescribed length (62 x 62 cm) and bearing weight (128 kg) for use. (2) Before installation on the pipe centerline draw, resize to pull out the red line as the center of symmetry support plate, the last screw. (3) If there are 2 directional wheels, directional wheel mounting direction to be consistent. When using 2 directional wheel in the back, brake wheel and regulating towards the front."
Etc. And all the wheels appear to be "directional", I'm guessing, but each of them rotates 360 degrees, none of them are fixed in a particular direction.
Fortunately, looking at the pieces inside the box, it appears to be fairly straightforward, four sections to put together using 8 heavy screws and four wheels. And there are 8 holes for the screws and 4 holes for the wheels so the instructions notwithstanding, it seems fairly simple to put together. The final size is adjustable.
So I am going to go ahead and give it a four star rating and maybe eventually five. It seems to be working as described, I who am a mechanical dunce managed to get it out of the box and hooked up and working and look set to figure out the movable dolly that it comes with.
It is the quietest washer I've ever come across.
Next day. . .
The next day, most of the chemical smell was gone so I didn't exile it to the back porch. instead, I did my first load of laundry, 9 shirts, which loosely filled the tub. Product worked like a charm, and it was still quiet with the clothes in the tub.
Edited 7-31-14 to give it a five star rating.
I've had this for four months now, and I really love having it. The hookup was no problem. Some people might need to remove the center adapter in the hose, and hook it up to their sink. (the adapter comes installed, you can just remove it.) You also have to remove the faucet aerator.
TIP
.If you are hooking up to the sink, use the COLD input on the washer to avoid frustration. Use your faucet to adjust temperature. Always leave machine on cold.
Finally getting around to reviewing after suspiciously watching this machine for any failures. Since buying it on March 27, 2017, I can comfortably say that there isn't anything I can see wrong with this wonderful appliance. Absolutely an addictive addition to my little apartment. I will never worry too much about not having an unit W/D in another place again.
WHY I BOUGHT IT
So, as with most cases in an apartment search, you end up compromising on something. I gave up a chance at a washer/dryer in-unit for extra cash in my pocket every month. Fast forward three years, and the new machines in my building through a combination of resident (ab)use and maintenance neglect (thanks leasing office!) became moldy, funky, gunked up nightmares. The final straw came when the heating units in all four dryers went out, and clothing rinsed by the frigid winter plumbing took three cycles in a dryer to get damp-dry. (At $8 for a single wash/dry load, that was a big no-no.) I decided to take matters into my own hands. Literally. But after a single session of hand-washing in the tub, I swore, "Never again! To the Amazon!" Enter the Panda compact washing machine. If you are living in an apartment with shared laundry, or no laundry, this might be your best new mechanical friend.
NOTABLE WASHING DETAILS
Once I fit it in my closet (with the aid of some well-written homemade engineering reviews) and checked that it was leak-proofed, I immediately threw in the first test load. It was about six t-shirts/tops and three pairs of long work pants, along with a couple fistfuls of black athletic socks. "Don't overload it" they said. "I like to live dangerously!" I said. I set the water level to the large setting and nervously watched it percolate. Admittedly, I probably overloaded the thing the first few go's, but the Panda held strong. Everything came out great! And while I cannot endorse overloading... As long as you loosely dump in medium weight fabrics and avoid packing the items in, machine functionality should be fine. I have yet to experience any major problem I did not called down on myself through careless usage or overambitious loading. My general rule is, if the fabric is staying above the water surface more than twisting under it--you've gone too heavy on the clothes, so stop and take some out. Other than that, I find the machine washes just as well on the quick setting as any other and always does a great job. The spin setting is good enough for most fabrics, and can even be set solo to extract just that much more liquid out of heavier loads like jeans.
WHAT'S ALSO NOTABLE
Now, this is a fully-automated washing machine, unlike the most famous (and sometimes infamous) semi-automated, twin tub versions you may see. Also, unlike the twin tub versions, this sucker is large. Like, not kidding. It's sizeable. I am 5'5" and it comes up to my high waistline. It is somewhere in size between a side table and dresser. Sooo if you're trying to hide it suddenly from an unit inspection so that your lease isn't voided and you're forced to move out, you may be out of luck. :) But once it is set up, you're going to be so happy to have it working.
TIPS & TRICKS:
- If you are trying to fit this in a closet/corner, like I did, do yourself the biggest favor and get the dolly and drip pan tray everyone else is using. Five times easier, promise.
- Maneuvering it into tight corners or over short, horizontal distances is not for the weak-willed or spaghetti-armed. It's about 35-40 lbs of bottom heavy weight. If you can get help, don't be proud--take the help.
- Matthew Zimmer is an engineering genius. Followed his recommendations (almost) to a T, and was able to set up my washing machine in an adjacent hall closet. I would add that if you are using his suggested nylon barb from Home Depot, it cannot be re-used/unscrewed multiple times, as the metal hose end will distort the threads. I tried to re-use the first barb once I realized my garden hose was too long... But it leaked all over during the second installation. Buy two at once if you think you're going to mess up at any point.
- Plumbing tape is absolutely crucial in sealing both the intake and outtake hoses if you decide to extend hoses or do some additional engineering so do not skip that step! Other that that, this has been a dream setup and amazing product.
- Get a lint catcher for the outtake hose. ESPECIALLY if it's going into your tub. Otherwise you'll be pouring Liquid Plumber down your pipes every five washes.
- Be prepared to clean your tub a lot. Just accept it.
- Detergent pods are perfect for this machine. Anything more is a waste.
TL;DR may be expensive, but gives you the convenience of an in-unit washer. Read Matthew Zimmer's review to get the most of your washer.
Not only is this small giant wonderful and perfect, but the customer service representative, her name is Kate; very professional and kind, service is amazing. My realitive had a question about the manual ( it is not much there at all), and the nice lady emailed him with in the hour and answered all of his questions. This washer is so quite that I had to walk over to it 7 times just to make sure it was on. It is beautiful, high-tech, top of the line. My last washer did not do this good and it cost over 3 times as much as this. My relative has a 550 sq.ft. apartment and there is plenty of room for this small giant. When I am done with it, I wheel it in the closet. The only reason it may arrive wet in the stainless steel drum (his was dry) is that is how they test it at the factory for leaks.
It has a 1.6 cubic feet capability capasity which translates into that it can hold up to 11 gallons of water at a time; of course this depends on what you set the controls at. Very easy to hook up to a kitchen faucet. Hooked it up, put the drain in the sink, plugged it into any 110 volt outlet and there it goes... whoala! This Panda never leaked, pumped the water out with no problem, never vibrated, are moved, I love the beeps it makes when it is done, clothes where spunned out perfect, I love the see through lid. This Panda can hold two pair of jeans (36x32) and 5 pair of socks in one load, and the next it can hold 5 pullovers (large) and a few undies. What more can a guy want. They came out very clean and not tangled up. Does not leak a drop of water from any hose when it is running and the only time it does is totally up to me when I disconnected it from the faucet and some water drips onto the floor and that is it.
I would recommend buying the 4 wheeled cart from the Panda website; it is around $50.00 which includes S&h. The washer does have two wheels in the back but you have to tilt the washer half the way back to get them to work and that can be dangerous. The cart is very easy to put together and very strong, rolls easy. I cant say enough. The Panda and the cart packaging was perfect. This was a gift that I had delivered to my realative and saw it in action today. Wonderful in every way. I wished I could get one.
Feature Product
- This washer is a space-saving design which makes your laundry easy and simple. It is perfect for Apartment, RV, Vacation Home, Dorm, and second washer for your house.
- Lager size 1.6cu.ft capacity allows you to fit up to 11 lbs. of cloth, electronic Touchpad controls and LED display, Delay start available, upgraded with an extra Control Lock option, regular 3 prongs 110 Voltage can be plugged anywhere, 2 built in rollers increase mobility for easy move around.
- Large See-through viewing lid and stainless steel tub, 3D waterfall, Pulsator generates strong and weak water flows
- 6 Washing Program provide flexible washing options: Normal, Quick, Heavy, Bulky, Delicate and Spin Only, Upgraded with an Extra Rinse Function
- 2 rear inlets for easy installation; Connect the washer directly to your faucet with the included quick connect adapter kit and hoses.
Description
The latest generation, enhanced design. The Panda 1.6 cu.ft Compact Washer is the right choice for you and your family. Timeless design features a large See-through viewing window, Smooth lines, electronic touchpad control and LED display. Stainless Steel tub is durable and resists rust and chipping. 6 washing program provides flexible wash options and excellent fabric care. Upgraded with an extra rinse function. Delay Start and Control Lock available, 2 built-in rollers at the back bottom increase mobility for easy move around. It is a space-saving design which makes your laundry easy and simple.
Brand: Panda
Model: PAN50SWR1
Color: White
Volume Capacity: 1.6 Cu. Ft / 11lbs
Wash Program: 6
Water Level: 3
Tub Material: Stainless Steel
Unit Weight:77.8lbs
Unit Dimensions (inch): 37.00 (H) * 19.75(W) * 20.50 (D)
Install hoses for (For use faucet in kitchen and drain water in the sink)
1. Remove the faucet filter or nozzle from your tap.
2. screw silver part of facet quick adaptor to the tap and tighten firmly.The adaptor has both female and male threads, choose one size that suits your tap.
3. one end of inlet hose attaches to COLD connector on the back of washer, tighten with a wrench.
4. The other end of inlet hose attaches to the silver adaptor which is already fixed on faucet.
5. Hook the drain hose up to the sink. Make sure during washing, the drain hose must reach always at height of at least 30 inch (in the sink) to drain water out.
6. Always choose "Cool" temperature on the control panel, but you could adjust your warm, hot, or cold water from your tap.
IMPORTANT:
1. Please directly connect the water inlet hose to Cold connector in the back of the washer
2. Connect another end with faucet adaptor, then connect to the tap
3. Choose the Cold Water Temperature ONLY. If choose Hot or Warm water temperature, it may cause the machine malfunction. However, you can always feel free to adjust the temperature on the tap.
Pre-Use Caution: Some small objects, such as coins or hair pin may possibly cause clogs for the drainage system. Before load clothes into the washer, please check with the pocket and remove all small objects from the pocket.
We guarantee all washers are brand new, if you find some water or watermark, it's manufacture testing.
I bought this washer because my building doesn't have any machines available. When it was first delivered, I discovered a huge dent toward the back right edge. It was then I realized that someone had dropped the machine somewhere during the shipping, since there was a large gash in the box. Given that the dent was quite deep and not merely cosmetic, I contacted Amazon for assistance. After some dissatisfying customer service from agents working abroad, I requested assistance from a domestic agent, and was able to get a replacement sent.
In the mean time I used the damaged machine twice, and was quite worried when the machine made horrible thumping noises during the spin cycle. The drum also tilted toward the front when the machine was empty. While waiting for the new machine to arrive, I put together the dolly I ordered and placed the damaged machine on top to try it out. A blue cylinder then fell out from under the machine, and I realized then that it was definitely broken. The machine also caused a flood under my kitchen sink cabinet when I connected the universal adapter to the faucet. Because the connection was difficult to tighten by hand, the water pressure would cause the water to spray out and drench the wall behind the sink, eventually causing the leak in the cabinet. I was at this point ready to give up on the machine and cancel the replacement
The replacement machine arrived undamaged at my work and I got it home fine. Then I stopped by Home Depot and was advised to not purchase a wrench for tightening the faucet connection. Instead, they recommended a pipe lubricant (such as the Danco silicone grease), which would provide more ability to tighten the connection without damaging the threading. The grease would also serve as a water stopper. I was skeptical but bought the lubricant, which I applied to the inside of the adapter, and then screwed onto the faucet threading. This time, the water still leaked out, but did not spray when the water was stopped by the machine for the agitation cycle, so there was no flooded cabinets.
I was very pleased with the new machine, which did not shake or make horrible noises as with the damaged machine. It did my laundry in about 42 minutes, and I did not have to turn off the water in between cycles to avoid the spraying. My only complaint would be that the machine caused a lot of lint to cling to my clothes. Since this was only the 2nd time using the machine, I deduced that it was because I had left something in one of my pockets and not because of the lint trap. But the lint is quite difficult to remove.
Overall I think this is a great purchase for anyone who wants the convenience of in unit laundry. Just make sure that you do purchase a dolly (the one recommended by Amazon) since the machine is quite heavy (about 60-70 lbs) and the tiny wheels on the back are not great for moving around. I also recommend buying the pipe lubricant and also leaving the adapter head on your sink constantly, and removing just the pipe instead, so you don't have to keep threading and unthreading the adapter whenever you use the machine (thereby damaging the delicate plastic thread of the faucet head).
One of the best purchases that I made for my apartment life. I've been using it for half a year now. I have 4 kids. 8 years old, 7 years old, 3 years old, and almost 2 years old. There is also the Mr., Myself, and my roommate. We have all used it to the point that I feared I would break it. I did not.
I recommend this. No doubt.
Buy it.
Just got the machine a couple of days ago and have done about 10 loads so far -- and it works great. I have it hooked up to a regular washer hookup (hot/cold/drain) and have no problems with leakage. For a small washer, it has a lot of features. Countdown timer. Multiple modes. Multiple water level setups. And it's quiet.
If you are expecting a tiny washer, this isn't for you. It's 24x24x36 tall. And you have to leave a couple of inches on the sides and the back for the hoses. So, unless you have a really big kitchen or bathroom, it's not going to fit. We wanted something that would handle decent sized loaded, but be easy to move ourselves (we're renters), and this fits the bill perfectly.
I've gotten quite a bit of clothes in it. About 14 t-shirts or about 6 pairs of jeans in a load. Basically, if I'm doing a full load, I fill it up -- but don't compact down the clothes -- and I'm good to go. This is a great washer for 1-2 people. And, since you can set the water level, if you just need to do a few things (socks, underwear), you won't waste water.
Keep in mind that it does ship via FedEx or UPS -- so there's a chance that it's going to get dented. Ours had a few cosmetic dents, but since it's a washer sitting in our garage, no biggie. It's about 80 lbs, so can be lifted, but not easily moved like the smaller Pandas.
Unpacking is easy. Cut the packing straps off the box, take out the top and side Styrofoam, and then lift the box over the washer. (The bottom of the box is held by the straps.) The bottom Styrofoam was pretty beaten up, likely in shipping, but the washer survived the trip fine. Mine had a gray grid-like piece of plastic packed at the top of the washer and an unmarked screw. No instructions on what that was for, but I figured out that you slide that into the bottom and use the screw to secure it. (It only fits one way, so once you figure it out, putting it in is easy -- but you have to tip the washer to do it -- get some assistance when doing this.)
It's one of the best purchases I had ever made in my life! Seriously. Because I live at a rented studio where there is no laundry on site and I didn't want to go to Laundry Mat to do my laundry anymore/ or hand wash my shirts/ uniforms/ pants.. I was spending 2 hours standing there to hand wash my laundry. And it was a terrible nightmare. The machine is slightly smaller than a regular washer that you would usually purchase at Sears, the Amazon guy was able to deliver it up to my second story and it has wheels to pull the washer. Upon setting up the washer, I had minor problem connecting to the faucet but I had the problem solved with the help of places like Home Depot.
Though the machine is compact, it is sufficient enough for a 3 people family, I'm doing laundry every 3-4 days, two people needs a total of 3-4 rounds depending on whether you want to separate colors or outerwear. I use it to wash bed sheets, towels, duvet covers. The gentle cycle 37 minutes is my go to, I even use a laundry bag to bag all the clothes. Clothes often came out nice and clean. Then I hand dry my clothes on clothing rack. It takes 1 day or two for everything to be completely dried.
If you don't want to go to Laundry Mat and prefer to do Laundry at home to save yourself time and money, I highly recommend this wash.
When this unit arrived, my wife and I were immediately excited. NO MORE LAUNDRY MAT visits...
We have had it a week now and put about 10 wash cycles behind it and it seems to be doing well. I installed this in the my RV where the designed washer goes and it fits like a glove.
I cant say there is anything negative about this yet, seems to exceed all expectations.
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