Kitchen & Housewares : Danby Portable Top-Load Washer

Rating: - Great washer
I bought this washer 2 years ago and it is still working great. I had no problems installing it at all despite of the fact that I am a woman:-) It is big enough for 2 people and I had even washed blankets in it. It is easy to wheel it all over the place as long as you don't have carpets in the bathroom or the kitchen:-) I thought that it will be noisy but is actually quiet and it is easy to connect to the sink. The only problem I had (which is more of a problem with my sink faucet than with the machine) is that sometimes it leaks from the faucet but once I replaced the rubber circle inside of the connector it was great. Before the replacement I just stopped the water flow once the machine was full and washing. And I have a portable dishwasher which connects to the same sink using the same adapter so there is no need to change it if you have more than one appliance.

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Rating: - Love it - great for one or two people
I have had this machine for over six months and absolutely love it. In an apt. setting it is just great. It washes beautifully; I think it often does a better job than larger permanent washers when you use the long cycle. However, I always wash in cold water and air dry everything now on gull wing racks -= thus it is wonderful for saving energy. I do manually add softener for the last rinse, which is very easy to do if you set a digital kitchen timer as the cycles are consistent. It is usually quiet -- and the only time it isn't is if you overload it with too many heavy towels, which then makes spinning louder.

My suggested improvements would be to make the casters taller, the leveller lever more easily workable, and do something (or offer advice)on how to lessen occasional lint; Also, the faucet connector could be just a little tighter as I do get some drips.

I would DEFINITELY buy another if something happens to it. It is SO NICE not to go to the apt. laundry and fight the crowds... And it is SO NICE to have clean, nice-smelling, well-washed clothes.

In short, it's a flexible but tough little work horse. I live frugally in a smaller apt. so this is a real treat that has saved me so much time, stress and money. So glad I did it. If your model works as well as mine, I dont' think you'll regret it. I researched so many alternatives online and this sounded the best. I also had to order online and have it shipped but it was well-worth the effort.

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Rating: - This is my favorite thing! I love my Danby washer.
If you hate going to the laundramat, like me, you will love this portable washer. It is quiet, does a full load of washing, and is extremely easy to use. Jason at Today's Concepts was very cool, assuring me that if my machine arrived DOA, I would be reimbursed for all I had paid, including shipping (and I live in Hawaii!). This was the best Christmas present I ever gave myself. I highly recommend it. By the way, I have seen the Haier machine, and it is far less sturdy, only washes very small loads, and is more difficult to work with than the Danby; yes, it is cheaper, but you get what you pay for. I live on a limited income, but am so glad I paid the little bit extra for my lovely, hardy Danby.

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Rating: - Works great...until the tub breaks
When I received this washer one of the rods holding up the tub was detached. I fixed this and it worked like a dream. However, a couple of weeks later another rod gave way. This one was much more difficult to fix because it was toward the front of the machine rather than toward the back where I could get a good look at it. The basic problem with this washer is that the supports that hold the rods in place are made of cheap plastic and apparently break fairly easily. The first one broke without the washer ever being used and the second broke while I was washing a bed sheet. I would not recommend this washer to any one else.

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Rating: - Wonderful in tight spaces or little resources
This is another Danby purchase I would do again.
Something I should point out that I forgot to in my review of the Danby countertop dishwasher is the kitchen/bathroom sink adapter Is The Same as the washer. So one adapter for both on the sink side!

I was able to buy one of these in Mexico, unlike the dishwasher. Good thing, because it weighs more than the dishwasher. I had it delivered. I started out using it with the sink adapter. Then I moved out of an apartment and into a house, and hooked it up with regular washer hose. (Got hot water by attaching the hose to the bottom of the water heater).

Unlike the dishwasher, the unit is very quiet. I had no "walking" while in the spin cycle when I had it on casters. I just bought a rolling plant stand instead of the Danby casters.

Sure the stainless tub (dishwasher has a stainless tub too) is smaller than today's "normal" washer. Reminds me of the amount of clothing a washer from 60 years ago could do.

Like the dishwasher, all mechanical controls, no electronics. Again, very light on resources like water and power needs. Really does what they say it will. Make sure you don't let the drain hose come out of the sink. The fresh water will keep filling, and going right out the drain hose on to the floor.

I dropped using a laundry service after my co-author Gudrun showed me the miracle of micro-fiber. Great fabric choice for any road warrior, and I was afraid the local service wouldn't know to say, not use fabric softener on my clothing.

This unit is GREAT on my micro-fiber fabrics using the economy cycle with the gentle button turned on. Yet it can do my heavy cotton robe or quilt cover in regular mode.

A fantastic buy.