Product review (4 stars): Useful little machine
I purchased this machine several months ago and have been using it to wash my clothes.  I still take larger items and items like towels, washcloths and socks to the laundromat (items that either don't fit into the washer or don't do well with air drying - the towels, washcloths and socks I have found for me really need the fluff-drying that a hot air dryer provides, otherwise they get really stiff and uncomfortable to use).  But for washing my clothing, this little guy really does a good job.

Caveats:

1)If you don't load enough items into it to - for lack of a better term - stabilize the water, when it gets going it can create what I like to call the whirlpool effect and slop water over the sides of the bucket.  Even if the lid were able to lock down tight enough to prevent the water spillage (it doesn't), there are holes in the lid.  However, through trial and error I have figured out that if I put enough clothes into each load (but not too much, otherwise the machine stops working), it prevents this whirlpool effect.  For me, as a large woman, that would be a floor-length skirt, two bras and two pairs of underwear.  Your mileage may vary.  I also keep a hand towel draped around the base in case of spillage.

2)I have found that the knobs can be difficult to grasp and turn - if my hands are wet.  That's the other reason I keep a hand towel handy, so that I can dry my hands before turning the knob.

3)I generally work my way from lights to dark.  The reason for this is because I lift the clothing out by hand once it's washed - into a smaller tupperware "bucket" that I used for just this purpose - add a bit more water to bring the level back up (since some of the water goes with the washed clothes), and reuse the water for the next load.  I go from light to dark because as we all know sometimes dye leaks out of clothes and you don't want to have to change out the water more than necessary.

4)I started out filling the smaller tupperware bucket with water and then pouring it from the tupperware bucket into the machine, but then I had an epiphany.  I have located the washer next to my kitchen sink, and my kitchen sink has a sprayer.  So now I put the detergent, colorsafe bleach and softener in first, then use the sprayer to add water.  Much easier.

5)The other reason I located the washer next to my kitchen sink was for ease of rinsing.  For larger items (like skirts, pants and shirts), I generally run water over the items while kneading them against the side of the sink.  For smaller items, I generally hold them in my hands while kneading them under the water flow.  Works like a charm.

6)To save myself from getting arthritis from hand-wringing out the items (and to speed the drying time), I also got a spin dryer.  (A Mini Countertop Spin Dryer Clothes Spin Dryer Portable Clothes Dryer
from The Laundry Alternative, purchased through Amazon).  Works great.

All in all a handy little apppliance.