Product review (5 stars): great, smart washing machine
We got the new Maytag on sale a month ago. I love it! There are three of us at home now, and our old Maytag, which lasted 26 years, was a heavy duty size. It finally died and we decided to go with something smaller and more energy efficient.

This machine does a great job on our laundry. It uses at least half the water our old one did, even though we could preset water levels on the old one. It was simple to find HE detergent and it wasn't much more expensive than regular detergent. Plus, you use a very small amount per load.

The best advice I have to offer is to be sure and read the manual. This machine operates differently than old washers. It has no agitator, so your clothes aren't pummeled, but rather are circulated in the water. There are various settings for water temperature combinations and different settings for the type of items you're washing. I've washed lingerie, full loads of towels, jeans, and cotton shirts without a bit of trouble, and they all come out smelling fresh and clean. Even my husband's perspiration-soaked t-shirts came out perfectly clean.

And when the clothes come out of the machine, they can be pretty wrinkled. I think the strong spin cycle does an excellent job of getting the water out. I just give each piece a shake and throw it into the dryer, and the wrinkles are gone. And since they get spun so well, they are in the dryer for shorter lengths of time. Very efficient!

I will admit that the machine makes some pretty odd sounds. Our machine is in the basement, so it doesn't matter. When it starts up, it makes a humming sound and then when the water goes in, it's in short bursts. Doesn't matter to me.

And neither does the locking lid. I don't care if it locks or not. If I miss a sock or pair of undies, they go into another load. And you can actually click to open the lock if necessary.

I'm going on record as a fan of the washer. If something happens, I'll write again.