Product review (5 stars): I absolutely LOVE this Panda Washing machine
I absolutely LOVE this Panda Washing machine.  3 years later and its still going strong, a little
workhorse that never disappoints.  I wanted to maximize and prolong its life, so watched several youtube videos for any pointers.  I read in the manual NOT to run water through the spinner when its spinning, but I saw the inlet hose and was confused, so I called Panda, who told me if water is placed into the spin section, it can seep into the motor and it will no longer run, and that it was a product flaw thats damaged many units.  PLEASE DO NOT RUN WATER THROUGH THE SPINNER, or do so at your own risk.  Here are some tips Ive used if this can help anyone.

1)  Even though it has a strong pump, I decided to drain the water into a 5 lb bucket I keep on the floor next to the washer, then manually dump it into the sink.  When I first tried the washer, I extended the drain hose to the sink, but found it struggled when draining the last of the water.  I don't feel its much of an inconvenience to take the extra step of using the bucket if it puts less pressure on the pump and extends its life.  I added a picture below.  Also, I attached the drain hose to the bucket with a strap so it doesnt go flying off  I learned the hard way when I got water all over the floor because I didn't initially secure it.  I cut 2 holes in the top of the bucket to hold a small strap that holds the hose in place. It was not hard at all to cut through the bucket with an exacto-knife.

2)  The inlet hose did not fit my kitchen faucet, so I am using a large soup pot that actually works better for me.  I immediately start filling the pot while I am setting up my washer, separating my loads, etc, so by the time Im ready to start my wash, the pot is full.  Also, I am able to re-fill the pot for the rinse cycle and have it ready to go while the wash is going, so I wasn't too disappointed that the hose didn't fit my faucet.

3)  I find 9 minutes for a wash is sufficient.  After the wash, I place  the load into the spinner to spin out most of the soap, while I drain the wash bin, then repeat with the 2nd  and the laundry.  I don't drain the rinse water since I feel its still fairly clean and use it for my next load and repeat the process.  I only drain the dirty soapy water after each wash.

4) I agree with everyone else that the lint catcher is useless.  I bought a floating lint catcher for $1.99 at the dollar store.  Its in the photo below if that can help anyone.  I couldn't believe how much lint it catches!

5)  Out of curiosity, I took the plastic backing off the unit to see the inside (when it was unplugged of course).  The drain hose is secured in place with a strong hardened silicone gel that was impressive.  I checked for leaks and there were none.  Not too crazy about the actual hoses themselves  they are thin and flimsy, but theyve lasted 3 years so far with no issues after constant use.

I can quickly wash a load of clothes.  The wash takes 9 minutes, then I spin the clothes to get the soap out for not very long, approx. 1-2 minutes, then return it to the washing bin with fresh rinse water for 3-4 minutes, then finally back to the spinner for 2 minutes max.  I find 2 minutes is enough to leave the clothes 80% dry, unless of course, you have jeans or thick sweaters, although I have never found the need to spin the full 5 minutes.  I absolutely love it and recommend it and hope this review can help others.