Received the unit, performed normal setup, and everything worked great initially. The web interface is pleasing, and you can set thresholds for temperature and humidity when it sends alarms. You also get alarms when the base unit cannot communicate with the remote sensor. But here are the problems:

1) I am using this for a place where there are power failures (think mid Michigan around Christmas), and expecting (and/or read in some reviews, I don't recall) that when communication between their web service and your base unit is lost, it sends alert emails. But not so! This function, which is really easy to implement on their end in the software, is missing! I purposely tried it a few days ago - nothing! I can see on the site directly when last communication occurred, but you'd really want email alert for that, just like for their other functions.

2) When I "restored the power failure" after perhaps 12 hours, it had lost the ability to synch to its probe. Now, several hours after the power restoration, the web site still shows "no communication". Of course you could now re-synch the probe and the base unit - but this is a major annoyance, because it takes time, but also because it never lets you know that power is indeed back! Not even on their web interface, considering the alarm doesn't work. And, more importantly: every home will likely go through a few power failures a year - do they seriously expect customers to re-do configuration of the unit after each one?

3) The "text" notification to the phone just did not work. The problem appears to be that they are not using a "true" text message, which may cost them money, but rather you select your provider and they apparently use the free "email to sms" service that most major provider offers. Well, I am one of the growing number of people who use cheap no-contract per minute plans (in my case PTel, 5c/min, and 10c/megabyte, on T-mobile network, works great and very cheap! Get it!) And these services offer regular sms, but no "email to sms" So out of luck there.

4) Considering their "power out" notification doesn't work, I hoped that at least I could put it on power backup using passive power over ethernet (PoE). In that way I could "see" an actual suspected power outage on their web site in the form of unusual temperature ranges, or get temperature alert emails when the then dead HVAC can't keep the place in range anymore. I have a centralized, high-power 12V backup system, including step-down to 9V / 5V, and with that you can power most "normal" internet things (routers, wifi, switches, internet cameras, etc). But - they use the oddest power transformer, it uses 20V (unnecessarily high for such a simple device requiring basically no power), and to top it all, it is AC (which for sure no common battery backup system provides). So they make it basically impossible to put their system on power backup, unless you plug it into a battery-powered 120V system - but these usually run only a few hours at most.

What is very annoying is that all these issues could have been solved/avoided for no extra cost (except perhaps the sms, which I even would be happy to pay on a per-case basis) if their design engineers had just thought things through a little longer. I surely hope they will get fixed in future upgrades. As it is right now, the unit is severely limited in its actual useability.


Purchased from Amazon, the QML30SS was delivered by Fedx from Houston TX in a plain brown box which was poorly taped.  Fortunately, there was another box inside that one and it was the factory Broan box which was sealed and new.  I was a little surprised that even inside the Broan box there was very little styrofoam around the hood.  Anyway, no dents, dings or dimples so all was good.

The unit was very light weight considering its appearance.  The metal is thin and I dare say flimsy until it is installed where then the mounting to the underside of a cabinet give it rigidity.  I should add that because of the bottom of the hood being closed as opposed to many other hoods on the market, that closed bottom gives the hood additional rigidity and strength.

Installation was a project for sure.  I had to replace the shims under the cabinet to accept the hood mounting screws.  Making new shims added at least a hour to my installation.  I use the hood in the non-ducted mode so I didn't have to route duct work or cut holes.  When installing, I found it easier to hold the hood up to where I want to mount it and mark the holes for the mounting screws rather than to do all the measuring necessary to find their location.  By doing this, I had a very perfect fit (requires someone to hold it while another marks the screw holes).

I purchased a Broan carbon filter (required for non-ducted installation) and two Broan light bulbs.  The light bulb sockets are attached to the underside of the hood so that when you unscrew the hood bottom, you can lay that bottom on a table and install the lights using the adjustable brackets so that the bulbs are perfectly flush with the bottom of the hood before you reattach it.  Knowing now that the light sockets are adjustable, I wish I had purchased the cheaper, non-Broan, light bulbs at half the price.  Not all bulbs are the same length so I took no chances and bought the over priced Broan bulbs, regretfully.

The hood is 29 7/8" by 17 1/2".  The fan is plastic and the fan motor isn't too loud as others have said.  The fan isn't anything more or less than I expected for a hood of this caliber.  The low speed might be adequate to take care of a simmering smoke and the fast speed would be adequate to handle larger plumes.  If you are looking for a hood that will suck the pancakes off your griddle, then move on, this hood isn't for you.  But, this was perfect for me in that it was styled very much like the expensive Bosh models, does the job of any hood in its class and I absolutely love the fact that you can wipe clean the underside so no grease ever builds up.  The lights are placed very well on the hood and illuminates the stove top evenly.  The light "high" setting is bright white (daylight color) and the "low" light level is more of a antique white or yellow light in contrast.  It is a great night light in the kitchen that doesn't blind you and adds a bit of warmth to the room.

I didn't want to invest in something that was more expensive than my stove and I didn't want to stuff a $40 dollar hood into my kitchen either.  This was the best compromise.  Expensive looks and does the job at half the price.  Can't beat that.


I have a studio apartment with a subpar laundry room on-property. As snooty as it sounds, public laundromats have come to really ick me out over the years. Plus, the hot water of the washers here trickled out like molasses so adding bleach was not an option. I did a LOT of research for this machine (I mean a lot) and my only regret is honestly not buying it sooner!!! As of writing, this review is after having it for 6 months, so I know what I'm talking about. This is most perfect thing I could ever want in my cute little apartment. I also really love how you can wring out (spin) in one basin and use the agitation cycle (wash) in the other. Simultaneously.

GREAT FOR:
Single person/student/studio apartment
If you don't produce a ton of laundry every week
If you have a work uniform that needs to cycle out/be washed frequently
If you go to the gym a lot and need to wash your workout clothes frequently
If (you rent) and your utilities are paid (WOW!)
If your bed is queen or smaller (CAN indeed fit king size fitted or loose sheets, but not blankets)
Someone with infants/elderly (you want to wash those pesky 2-3 items daily so the baby food/soiling doesn't crust while it sits in the hamper until the next laundry day)
If you're not significantly tall: If you're above 6'0", doing several loads on laundry in one day might make your back ache a tiny bit. This is a somewhat low-to-the-floor product.

My tips:
- DON'T OVERLOAD it. It can handle it, I guess (I haven't smelled any burning odors?) but why put your little machine through that? You want the laundry to swish around pretty freely for best results.
- The "spin" (wringing) cycle doesn't need that much time. That is to say, it wrings it out in a matter of moments.
- If, during spin cycle, the machine bangs around, it's merely uneven. Open in, ensure heaviest articles are at the bottom, flatten out the top disk, and try again.
- A Japanese user guide on YouTube suggest wringing (spinning) all the clothes after the wash (soapy) cycle. This is a must if you're heavy-handed with the detergent. Otherwise maybe wringing just half of the items is enough to get soapy water out (other than the draining function the machine has). Then continue to fill with water and resume to rinse cycle.
- Use HE laundry detergent.
- Fill the wash basin with your laundry detergent (and a good splash of bleach for whites) while it fills up with water (and the "wash" function is spinning it around). Then, when it's about half full, add your clothes, making sure to add one at a time to ensure it's still swishing around freely. If you add one item too many, just pull that one out and let it sit in the sink until you refill the machine with the next load.

I also feel I'm more frugal with laundry soap now! I used to pour a bit haphazardly haha... Having such a compact basin really makes you consider how much you pour in, so I'm very grateful for that.

Last but not least: THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS PHENOMENAL. I've genuinely never had such a kind, FAST-RESPONDING customer service team, I'm not even exaggerating. I hope to have this little machine for several years to come. As I said, it's 6 months since I bought it and it's just as powerful as the day I got it. I'll update if anything happens.


Ordered the weekend of 1-30-16, received on 2-2-16, first use on 2-3-2016..... AND ....I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS UNIT!!  I have named it my little beast!  It's lightweight, but is A VERY POWERFUL little machine, from the washer to the Spin dryer, it doesn't disappoint!  Sure it requires a little more effort. But when the trade off is lugging laundry down to a laundry room with not enough washers for the number of units in the building that usually has broken units and the manager never cleans the room and there's spiders hanging out in the corners of the room! In addition, I have had clothing stolen out of my loads.... I don't mind the little effort using this requires! This SIZE is PERFECT because before I'd have to save up enough laundry to do in the big machines downstairs, which would take a week and a half and I'd have fewer options for what to wear and a mountain of laundry to do when it came time. The Water inlet hose fit both the kitchen and bathroom faucets no problem. I had leaking when using the unit, but found it to be user error. Don't over stuff and don't fill water above 3/4 of the height of the lint trap. Use the laundry mesh bags as everyone suggests. I say it's a must! Even with those they get tangled up from the power of the agitation this unit provides. That spin dryer is da bomb! Items come out barely damp and while it is true you will need to split the load washed into two to spin. It only takes it 3 mins or less depending on the item thickness. That time just flies right by! **note there is a metal clamp in a Baggie that comes with the unit but it's not listed in the instructions it's the water inlet hose clamp for the faucet....also there is another water inlet on the right side of the unit...apparently that feeds water to the spinner but I dint find this necessary ....that also isn't mentioned in the instructions**. For detergent this doesn't need much, and I'm not kidding! I use liquid detergent and found that 1.5 soup spoonfuls was just enough, using 2 spoonfuls for dirtiest loads and if I added Oxyclean powder to the load, I decreased the detergent used. It will be overly sudsy if you don't and will require and extra rinse cycle. My only regret is not jumping off the fence to make this purchase sooner. I'd been stalking this and the larger unit for over 3 months. I am VERY HAPPY with my purchase and very glad I bought the smaller unit. It fits perfectly in the kitchen is lightweight and really easy to carry around if needed and I think in the long run this unit is more likely to fit into future homes I may move to. I will be using other suggestions made in other peoples reviews for extending the water inlet hose so I won't have to move this around.  This came in a shipping box that had the top part slip over the bottom foam part. I am keeping that with plans to cover it in a wipe-able plastic shelf liner in the same off white color as the kitchen cabinets so that I can use it as a cover to keep it from view should the manager of building need to enter. ;-)  I learned my lesson, I won't be fence squatting to purchase the dryer too! That's in my very near future.....Great product that works like a champ!


<input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/E1RZOoRh8QS.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71ACdi1wgmS.png" class="video-slate-img-url"> After several instructional videos and reviews, I decided for $219 (S&H included) I was going to get this beauty. I used it for the first time and let me say.. its great!! The washer side is bigger then expected so i was pleased.  The spin side was what expected, small but not TINY! and it really wrings the clothes so it cuts down on drying. The unit itself is easy to use despite the "instruction manual". Not much info there, doesn't explain what the right hole is used for but I learned how to put it to use!! Also, it comes with a round metal ring... what it's for..I DON'T KNOW!! lol... if someone does...please tell me!

Now, when you look at the Panda, you will see a hole located on the left and right top corner of the machine. The left corner is to fill the washer with water when you connect it to the kitchen faucet. Simple enough. But what is the RIGHT HOLE for??? Well, after many videos no one has explained this, so hypothetically speaking... Lets say your washing clothes and wanted to continue using the same water for the leftovers that couldn't fit. So know your unable to do a rinse cycle....THINK AGAIN! After you put some clothes in the spin dryer as instructed, attach the hose to the RIGHT HOLE... yes, we are going to use this mystery hole if its the last thing we do!! and turn on the water..add a bit of fabric softener (optional) and close it.  Keep the water running... that's right.. running for a couple of minutes.. this will get out all the extra soap. Now , shut the water off and let the spin cycle continue, adding extra time if needed. When you set the unit to drain, water in both basins will drain out. Now if anyone else uses the right hole differently, please let me know how.

PROS:

- Compact size for apartments or RV's
- Affordable
- Has a lot of power and it washes well... clothes smell DELICIOUSLY CLEAN
- You can sleep in for a change instead of going to the laundromat

CONS:

- I had to put a towel underneath cause i noticed it leaked a bit... I know washers can do that, let me know if anyone has
  experienced this.
- The mystery ring that comes enclosed with the manual...its perplexing!

TIPS:

- Buy an extended warranty that covers your product the day you brought it just in case.
- When your finished, place a basin on the floor and put the drain hose in it to get all the final drops out of the machine.
  If you got the strength put the Panda on top of counter so it can drain better.
- Also rinse out, dry and leave the door open for a bit to air out so musky odors don't occur.

HAPPY WASHING!!!!


Love this concept of freezing "whatever" (i.e. beverages, olive/coconut oils & herbs, etc.) and getting amazing results of 2 inch cubes. I like to cook naturally and cook with coconut oil the majority of time. Well, coconut oil can go from liquid to hardened state depending on the temperature in your pantry. Why not freeze it, keep the cubes in a plastic freezer bag, and voila, you've got a convenient way of storing pre-made flavored herb cubes. I also like to bake, so, I can always use the coconut oil in a cube with just the right amount for my baking. That way, I just let it sit out in a bowl to thaw and once again, I'm keeping it simple in the kitchen.

My first batch was using some Peach-Mango Lemonade. The ice-cubes did not melt as fast, and they were yummy, as opposed to some watered down cube with no flavor messing up a cool, and otherwise refreshing beverage. I love mine and it was easy to clean and store more treats in. All this and it's BPA-Free, which is SO important to me!

Pros:
Large White tray measures 6.25 x 4.35 x 2 inches and creates 6 Large square cubes
Great for Cooks, Bakers, Crafters
Multi-Functionality (use for beverages, cooking oils, natural bath soaps, etc.
Dishwasher Safe
BPA-Free (BIG WINNER)
Easy to clean and store
Great Ease to get out whatever you decide to put in it
Satisfaction Guarantee!!! (Yeah)

Cons:
None reported.

About the Seller:
I ordered my Large White Ice Cube Tray from Chilled Creations on 6/27/13 and it arrived on 7/1/13...on time and although the inside plastic was somewhat ripped off, this could have occurred during shipment. The seller also had sent properer verification as to when the product would be delivered and when it shipped. Inside the box, was an insert with other potential uses, instructions, and website to visit for more ideas. Additionally, I received another email providing FAQ's about the product, which gives more information that was very helpful.

Recommendations:
Think outside the box. Yes, this large ice cube tray is great for regular ice-cubes. However, if you love to cook,or bake, or craft, then you'll find great ways to use these BPA-free, silicone, large, ice-cube trays sold by Chilled Creations. Great buy. Hope this helps!

UPDATE: As of 7/23/13, I had to get another set of these large ice trays. Simply amazing. Yet now, I have more ice cubes to accent with during social gatherings. One cube will suffice for your guests. You can even get creative and put a sprig of mint, or raspberry, or strawberry for that matter when doing fruit juices to add some flair. Thanks so much Trove of Goods for putting out this great kitchen accessory! I also would say that they upped the ante and took notice of my previous comment about the ripped plastic I initially received. This time when I ordered, it was sealed in a sealer-tight plastic bag with a nice picture on the outside and then enclosed it was sealed in yet another plastic bag. This was great! A warning label was clearly pasted on the side, and it also had a Tips card on the inside as well. Awesome. You guys rock (pun intended).


I love this little machine.  I started doing laundry by hand because our local laundromat solutions are expensive and gross.  But dripping wet laundry is no good, it takes forever to dry and makes a mess wherever it's hanging!

Enter the Nina.

After I soap up the clothes, I put them in the Nina to extract soapy water, back into the bucket for a rinse, and then back into the Nina to spin dry for about 5 minutes.  When I take the clothes out, synthetics are almost completely dry (about an hour left to air-dry) and cottons are pretty dry (about 4 hours left to air-dry).  Obviously, your mileage may very depending on humidity, temperature, and airflow, as well as the individual properties of your clothes.  I have a cold apartment with poor airflow, so I use a box fan with my drying rack to accelerate the process.

Pros:

It's not terribly noisy.  It's a little louder than a fan.

It is fairly big.  It has the footprint of a 5 gallon bucket and is about 150% as tall.  I can squeeze it under my cabinetless bathroom sink though!

It is not very heavy.  Anyone with a normal amount of strength can move this thing.  It even comes with a handle for easy hauling.

It can fit a good amount.  I just took a load out:  2 women's M tees, 1 women's M yoga pants, 3 men's XL tees, 1 men's XL button-down, 1 men's XL long PJ pants, and 2 pairs boxers.  I do my laundry in a 5 gallon bucket and leave a little room for sloshing.

It's pretty good at self-regulating loads.  Once it's up to speed, it works very smoothly!  If it's still knocking 10 seconds in, you may need to shuffle the clothes around and try again.

It's very simple to use.  If it's plugged in and you close the lid, it starts spinning.  Open the lid, and it stops again.  Just don't forget and close the lid when you don't want it to spin.

The cord is conveniently long, but not too long.  It has built-in cord prongs on the back if the cord is too long for your needs.

Cons:

Clothes don't come out completely dry, but they're not supposed to!  If your shower rod is sturdy, you can hang things there; otherwise, you will want a rack, line, or something to maximize surface-area-to-air of your clothes.  The good news is that clothes do not drip after coming out of this, so hang them wherever you want!

It's accented in pink, which makes it look like a toy.  (Then again, my bathroom is salmon pink, so it matches nicely.)

The safety plate is hard to wrestle in sometimes.  You don't always need it, but I find it makes my loads more stable - and after finding clothing starting to spill over the drum, I always use it!

It didn't come with a bucket.  I'm using an old popcorn bowl.  Seems like a silly thing to leave out.

It drains whether or not you want it to.  Keep an old towel around just in case you need to dump your water catcher halfway through a load - a stream will still trickle out of the machine.

I would not recommend this dryer to people with a conventional washer that has a good spin cycle - you won't see benefits.  However, I highly recommend it to people who use an unconventional washing method (the mini washers, handwashing, bucket laundry, etc) because it will make your drying life much better!


(Initial review on unpacking day -- will update after a week or two of use.)

The dryer was lighter than expected (but not so light as to feel cheap).  Build quality is good; packaging is tight fitting to protect it during shipping. Note: you must find and remove the shipping immobilizer under the base -- this is BOTH the metal angle iron and the heavy-duty plastic zip-tie holding it in place. The zip-tie is tricky to get out, even after cutting it open with scissors.  If either is not removed, the spinning mechanism can be damaged.  There is an X-shaped styrofoam spacer filling up the clothes chamber inside at the top to stabilize it during shipping -- remove it, but be prepared to vacuum out zillions of annoying styrofoam bits afterwards.  Finally, DON'T FORGET to set up a bowl or small bucket under the water drain spout at the bottom front!

Use was simple and much faster than I expected -- just put in wet clothes no higher than the top of the inner chamber, slide in the flexible pink safety cover on top of the clothes but under the inner chamber rim, plug in the dryer, and close the hatch, which locks and activates the spinning.  Warning: I suggest leaning with some weight on the lid/dryer when you start it up, because if it is unbalanced, it will buck all over the place.  With experience in loading my clothes, I have reduced the number of bucking incidents and hope to pretty much eliminate them.  Assuming no bucking, the dryer quickly spins up to very high speed and water starts gushing out the drain spout in front. (This is when you will remember to put a dish/bucket in front if you haven't already! :) )  Once the water slows to individual drips, you are done. This usually happened within a minute or two for my loads of heavy-duty cotton T-shirts & cotton underwear.  The clothes came out surprisingly dry, definitely dryer than from my traditional full-size top-loading washer.

Why I didn't give it 5 stars (for now):
1) I will upload photos of the machine and manual; the manual says the warranty is only 1 year, while the listing says 3 years. I have a request into Amazon to find out what's going on here.  Even if it's only a 1 year warranty, SquareTrade sells an appliance 3-year warranty here on Amazon for about 10% of the price of the dryer.
2) Small capacity. Initially, it seems to fit only about 4 heavy-duty thick men's cotton T-shirts at a time; I suspect I will be able to add some socks and underwear at the same time as my loading skills improve.
3) Sensitivity to uneven loading. I may change my mind on this as I improve my loading skills with practice.  It seems likely the best way to load it is to put the heaviest/largest items in first, and to extend each item in a circle shape around the center as much as possible, forming a donut-shaped pile of clothes at the bottom.

That said, I really like this machine:
-) It's easy to move around and compact. I keep it next to my small table in the bathroom, then move it next to the sink and outlet when I want to use it.
-) It's very quiet -- quieter than my bathroom exhaust fan (unless it starts bucking!).
-) It's ridiculously fast -- a few minutes and it's spun out all the water it can, leaving the clothes surprisingly dry.
-) It's easy to use, without any parts that look like they will break easily.


I went crazy when this Nina Soft Spin Dryer arrived. DP and I do our own laundry. He goes to the laundromat and I wash my stuff mostly by hand. He hates going to the laundromat and lets his dirty laundry pile up into huge mounds. I've been doing the hand-washing almost two years without benefit of anything but my hands and a few tub trugs and a strainer basket, but ringing out the clothes is really rough on me and I can't do the best job. DP wanted to get a small portable washing machine (which we aren't supposed to have in our apartment because of problems with leaking), but the more I read reviews of what's out there, the more I knew I did not want to spend that much money on what seem to be, today, largely inferior products. So I got this Nina dryer and one of those breathing washer things. (The latter item is a disappointment because the handle keeps falling out; it'll work great if I glue the handle into it.)

But this dryer! I am so knocked-out thrilled with it that I wanted to wash all the dirty laundry in the house, not only mine but DP's. He had 2 sets of full-sized sheets (one mismatched with a queen-sized flannel top sheet), two shams, and a pillowcase that I said I would wash for him because I was having so much fun with this Nina dryer. After the aggravation with the loose breathing washer handle, I just slopped those sopping-wet sheets into the dryer. I didn't even try to balance them much. I did them in three loads and just threw the sheets in. The one flannel sheet I did by itself, and that was the only one that gave me some balancing problems that I had to rectify. The other two loads (a set of sheets in one, one bottom sheet and the shams and pillowcase in the other) settled into smooth spinning quickly after closing the lid. I just held the sides until the spinning got going good.

Everything went from sopping wet to spun out really close to dry in a minute or two. I didn't time it; I just watched for the water coming out to reduce to a bit of dribbling, then opened the lid to stop the dryer. I threw the load I'd just spun onto the bottom shelf of my dryer rack—no dripping!—started up another one, and then hung the first one. It was so EASY! Jiminy, if I had realized how wonderful this was going to be, I would have bought one of these Nina soft spin dryers two years ago! And the clothes came out smelling so fresh and clean (thanks in part to the breathing washer thing, ECOS HD instead of Tide, and a touch of vinegar in the rinse water), it was like clothes hung on the line in the breeze and sunshine when I was a child. I used to run through the sheets, and doing this laundry was a pleasant remembrance of the past.

I washed two pairs of my Costco Gloria Vanderbilt denim capris and spun both pairs at the same time. I spun them until the dripping stopped, then hung them to dry. Five hours later they were almost completely dry and wearable, with only a tiny bit of moisture at the thick waist band, and it was pretty humid. I also washed a particularly nasty thick reversible white cotton rug and spun it dry in the dryer. It got a lot cleaner than it ever has in a washing machine; the threads didn't unravel more like they would have it a washer; and it was fully dry about a day later. The six bamboo T-shirts were a breeze to wash and dry; I could have put one on right out of the Nina. I'm just knocked out...


UPGATE 5 30 15:  Company sent out a replacement, right away.  I've had it about a week now, and am happy.  It's been working great!!!

UPDATE 5 17 15:  I am so sad!!  It's been 1 uear and a few months since I've received my machine & suddenly, it stopped spinning today. I don't understand and am very upset. Until now, I LOVED my machine but now, I am in tears. I can't afford another right now & the laundromat costs too much. I bought the machine because I kept spraining fingers from wringing out clothes by hand and mow, what am I to do?
UPDATE 5 27 14:  I recommend the following.  The two together have made my life easier.  When you get the washer, you may want to opt to glue the stick into the base.  Otherwise, you'll have to keep retightening it as it won't stay screwed in.  I just keep re-screwing it in by twisting the washer as I'm plungering the clothes.  In part because I haven't found the right adhesive.  Gorilla glue is probably what I need because the adhesive I used did not do the job.  It seems to be a glorified plunger but in retrospect, it is better than a plunger and does a decent job.  Much better than I can with a lot less pain from handwashing.

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SQ7I5S/ref=oh_details_o09_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and I stil LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Nina Soft Spin Dryer!

ORIGINAL REVIEW:  I sprained a few fingers trying to wring out laundry by hand, especially bulky things like pants and lightweight blankets.  Even my toddler's clothing were hard to wring out without having them drip everywhere.  I have to wash frequently in the tub and sink because I can no longer afford regular trips to the laundromat (thanks recession, 16 month lay-off and finding a new job paying more than 1/3 less - - way to go!  Yes, I'm still angry, 3 years later).

Now I only have to go when the clothes start getting dingy.  Between machine washes, I hand wash and put them in this baby, spin for a few minutes and can then hang them up anywhere in the apartment because the clothes get as dry or drier than the spin cycle of a washing machine.  I didn't like the price but the machine works and is a godsend for me.  Now, I can wash a pair of work pants and not worry about them not getting dry by morning.

Before I purchased this, sometimes my clothes would not dry overnight in the winter.  Now, EVERYTHING i've handwashed has dried by morning on the coldest winter nights.  My apartment is usually not very warm because heat costs money so I tend to use humidifiers and lower the furnace, which is often on the blink anyway.

I recommend this machine to everyone who handwashes, especially in bulk quantities and has no dryer or no room for a washer/dryer in their tiny apartment.  I place a sorbent pad and plastic shoebox under the spout to catch the water.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS MACHINE!!!!!


The Nina Soft spin dryer is made in Brazil by an outfit called Mueller.

It seems to do a good job, but I have no other spin dryers with which to compare it.  I would have liked to have tried the original model that Laundry alternative imported.  I actually wanted to get the less expensive "Mini Countertop Spin Dryer Clothes Spin Dryer Portable Clothes Dryer" which I think has less capacity than the Nina Soft, but is less than 1/2 the cost of the Nina Soft.  The Mini Counter-top Dryer also has a built-in timer (with the Nina Soft lacks).  Unfortunately, Laundry Alternative wasn't shipping the counter-top model when I needed a spin dryer (evidently due to some QC issue).

At any rate, there is somewhat of a technique to balancing and positioning the clothes for optimal spinning and drying.  An unbalanced (or excessive) load of clothes could cause the drum to wobble excessively (which could damage the unit) and never get up to speed.

Essentially, try to keep the clothes along the wall of the "drum," with the heaviest articles of clothing on bottom and the lighter clothes on top.  Try to spread the clothes as flatly and as neatly as is reasonable (areas of the clothes that are thickly "bunched-up" along the wall tend to remain more damp after the spin).  The clothes should form a tube up the wall with a hollow center.  Folding the clothes into a strip helps avoid bunching-up.  Also, try to balance the articles on opposite sides of the drum (put one sock opposite another sock, etc.).

In addition, if you place a wringed-out article of clothing on one side of the drum, wring-out the article on the opposite side (sopping wet clothes on one side can cause wobble).

I have found that only one or two heavy pieces are possible in the Nina Soft for it to start spinning without violent wobble.

I have also discovered a special trick to balance denim jeans -- put the seat section on the center bottom of the drum, and spiral the pant legs up the sides of the drum.  Then, without adding any more clothes, spin the pair of jeans alone (with the "protective disk," of course) for about twenty seconds to get rid of the excess water.  Then, stop the spin and shove the seat of the jeans along one wall and add more clothes, with care to add a little more weight to the side opposite the jeans seat.  Then, spin as usual.

It's too bad that Mueller didn't include a manual power switch (or a timer).  The instructions actually have one plugging the unit into the wall socket with the lid closed, which starts the spin.  However, such a procedure could cause mild arcing at the wall plug, which isn't too great.  I have a short extension cord with an in-line switch, and it works well.  Of course, when the lid is opened during the spin, the Nina Soft's internal switch cuts the power to the spin motor, and when the lid is further opened, a friction strap brake closes around a flywheel to stop the drum from spinning.  I flip the switch on my cable and let the motor spin down a little before I open the lid, to save the brake.

One more thing, the water sprays wide out of the nozzle and off to one side a little.  So, get a wide, round, plastic bowl or shallow tub to catch the water.


We bought this fridge about two weeks ago, and we really love it.

1. It's enormous and holds a ton of stuff. It also feels like a very high-quality product. The doors are like 4" thick, and when you open them, it feels like you're opening the vault at a bank.

2. It's versatile. In addition to having adjustable shelves (as most fridges do), this fridge has two very helpful "flip" shelves that enable you to store tall items easily. Also, the deli drawer has a cool adjustable compartment and independently adjustable temperature controls.

3. We totally love the deli drawer, and it's the primary reason that we chose this product over others. We used the deli drawer a lot in our previous (Kenmore Elite) refrigerator. It's great to be able to access stuff in the deli drawer without having to open the fridge. Also, in most fridges, the deli drawers are made of relatively flimsy molded plastic, whereas this deli drawer has the vault-esque qualities as mentioned above.

4. It's quiet. It's way, way quieter than the Kenmore Elite refrigerator that we replaced (and relegated to the garage as a beer fridge). On Consumer Reports, this fridge gets a "very good" rating for noise, which is shy of an "excellent" rating. The problem with buying a fridge is that they aren't plugged in at the store, so you have no way to compare the noise and actual functionality of the products. But, I'd be surprised if there's any fridge on the market that's noticeably quieter than this one, as this one is really dang quiet.

5. We also like the sparkling water feature, and we've been using it quite a bit. That said, people, don't buy this refrigerator "for" the sparkling water feature -- or if you do, hedge your expectations a bit. This product is *not* a soda fountain or a Coca-Cola bottling factory with a refrigerator attached to it. Rather, it's a *refrigerator* that has a little sparkling water *feature.* I know that Samsung is really overhyping this feature, and because of that, it didn't meet many people's expectations and those people are now ranting about it. Ultimately, it's fine and it's a nice convenience, nothing more and nothing less. We lucked out, and we got this refrigerator for an amazing price, and for even less money than the model that does not include the sparkling water. So, for us, the sparkling water is just a bonus. If we hadn't got this refrigerator for such a great price, we would've likely opted for the model that does not include the sparkling water and saved a little money. I wouldn't have paid an extra $150-ish for the sparkling water.

Bottom line, so far, after about two weeks of use, I really don't have anything bad to say about this fridge. My one word of advice, however, is to measure the area where you'll put this fridge very carefully and make sure that you give yourself about 1/2" of leeway to accommodate the published width of this product. When I took the measurements at our house, we "should have" had about 1/4" of wiggle room for the fridge. However, when we actually installed the fridge, it was a smidge wider than the published dimensions, and it just barely fit in our space. I was sweatin' it....

Good luck with your purchase.


PRODUCT - Visually, this is an attractive unit.  The black casing and glass front with LED display look very classy.  I think the cooler looks fine in the corner of our formal dining room.

Functionally, the box does a good job cooling, although there is a temperature difference between the upper and lower shelves, roughly 7 degrees, with the lower shelves a few degrees below the programmed temperature and the upper ones a little above. I did this test multiple times over a few days and got consistent results each time. The shelf temperatures were logged when the unit was full with 32 bottles. I didn't do any temperature testing it when not completely filled, since I plan to keep it full most of the time. I set the temperature on the side with the white wines to 46, the lowest value available, and the side with the reds to 52.  The temp delta between the highest and lowest shelves was nearly the same, again about 7 degrees, on both the left and right sides.  I suppose one way to deal with this temperature difference between the top and bottom shelves would be to set both the left and right side to 49 degrees and then put the white wines on the lower shelves and the reds on the uppers. At least that way, theres less variation between each of the reds as well as between each of the whites, although that really defeats the whole purpose of having the dual-temperature control feature.

As for noise, the refrigerator runs very quietly.  Beyond 15 feet away, I can't hear it at all.  Closer than that, its just a very soft refrigerator hum.  Definitely no issues there.

For internal space, as some people have noted on other AKDY models, most of the shelves don't have sufficient room to hold Pinot or Champagne bottles, although on this particular unit, the bottom shelf has a little more space than the other shelves and is able to accommodate those types, making it is possible to store 4 larger bottles on the lowest shelf.  Alternatively, the wooden shelves are removable, so one could choose to sacrifice some of the shelves to deal with the storage of additional larger bottles.

PACKAGING & SHIPPING - This is a weak spot with the product.  I had to order 3 before I received one that was undamaged.  The first two had the front door glass shattered, and there was no visible damage on the external box so, in my opinion, the styrofoam packing thats used isn't really robust enough to deal with typical handling during shipping, by FedEx in this case.

CUSTOMER SERVICE - I have to give kudos to the AKDY company for dealing with the shipping problems mentioned above.  I was contacted by a Customer Service Rep after they became aware of the issue.  They took special steps on the third shipment to add some extra protection to the external box, and this one arrived without any damage to the unit.  I received quick responses via both phone and email.  They provided outstanding support in dealing with the shipping damage and getting a replacement unit to me in pristine condition.

SUMMARY - Given the features, price, overall good reviews on most of the AKDY wine coolers, and customer service, I'm glad I chose this particular brand and model.  The only minuses I see are the temperature variations between upper and lower shelves and also the packaging, as previously mentioned, but overall, I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a wine cooler of this size.


The small plastic latch that keeps the soap drawer in broke just after a year of use.  I was still covered by the parts warranty, but no longer under the Electrolux labor warranty.  But I'd purchased the extended warranty through the authorized seller.  It was a simple part to replace, but Electrolux customer support insisted they couldn't send me the part directly unless I purchased it, that I would have to have a service technician come out to do the repair, and that only they could file a claim to get the part under warranty.  Having had a bad experience with one of their authorized service providers (all subcontractors) with a warranty dryer repair (more on that another time), I reluctantly agreed, having paid for the extended warranty after all.  I knew the exact part number needed.  I passed this on to both the extended warranty people and official Electrolux designated subcontractor.  I specifically told the service people that it would be an easy fix, that they simply needed to bring this part, and not to come by without it as I was going to have to take time off work to be there for the day.  So of course they send someone to suss the job anyway, causing me to miss a day of work for nothing.  But the worst part was the technician wanted me to sign a lengthy contract, stating he'd already fixed the machine and authorizing him to do repairs he deemed necessary to everything from my dryer gas lines to anything else he felt like doing or billing me for.  He snapped, "No, contract, no service."  I didn't sign, of course.  I'm painting this way nicer than it all went down.  The service guy and his contract was as close to a scam as I ever want to be.  My real concern is for people who are way too trusting and sign a contract that'll end up costing them hundreds if not thousands of dollars for made up work.  Despite my further efforts to get Electrolux to send me this $6 plastic part (which likely costs them less than $1 to manufacture), I ended up paying the $10 (Electrolux wouldn't even throw in shipping - mind you on a part on a washer still under parts warranty) and I fixed it myself.  I even took the time to complete Electrolux's customer service survey in which they stated someone would get back to me if I was unhappy with the result.  They never got back to me. Obviously they decided that a lifetime loyal Electrolux customer wasn't worth retaining. This whole matter caused family stress while we waited weeks for the service guy to come, only to not have the part, and then more time waiting for the part to come to me directly - all the while having to tape the drawer closed in order to even use the machine.  Looked real nice.  Our expensive, color-matching front-loading washer/dryer with pedestals -- with its soap drawer held closed with blue painter's tape.  And whenever the paint would pop out from the pressure of the spring, you risked tearing your arm open as you walked by from the edge of the drawer.  Keep in mind that they could have retained a happy customer, despite 2 out of 3 bad service experiences (all different sub-contracted companies), if they'd just been willing to send me my part which was still under warranty or if they'd even followed up with me after I'd left specific requests for them to do so.  They didn't seem to get that it wasn't about the money, it was about doing what was right.  They simply didn't care.


I am writing this review as my washer is running in the kitchen while I am watching TV and it's quiet enough that I don't even hear it while its running. If you are considering buying this product I have some advice for you. If you are going to run this off of a kitchen sink faucet you are going to want to order a Y splitter to hook to the back of the washer so the water from your sink can mix into both inputs on your washing machine. To find this product search Amazon for the following: "Y Washing Machine Mixer Hose". If you are planning on running this off of a kitchen sink it will not run properly, even if you select a hot or cold only wash, the machine will still a tempt to mix hot and cold water on certain cycles and if you don't have this splitter hooked up, the machine will attempt to pump water from both input spigots. To fix this issue, install this splitter, which will hook right up to the hose that comes with your washer that has a quick disconnect on it. To make set up easy you need to remove your old faucet head and replace it with the top half of the quick disconnect. When you install it MAKE SURE you wrap all threads all the way from the hot water inputs on the washer all the way to the disconnect installed on your faucet and all threads on the splitter. If every thread does not have Teflon Tape, you WILL get a leak as you are connecting metal to plastic threads. Some of you are curious about how much clothes this machine can run and I am very impressed with the capacity for thee 1.6 CF stainless steel barrel. I am able to fill the machine up with one normal sized basket of laundry. I have done 5 towels, 4 shirts, and roughly a dozen pairs of socks and a few undergarments in one load, just make sure that your clothes don't sit higher than the three agitator jets on the side of the barrel, or they won't be cleaned and set machine to highest water level. My third piece of advice for modifying this machine is that if you are going to be storing this machine in a different place then you will be using it is to purchase a set of 4 wheels. You can get these at your local harbor freight or home depot or lowes, then line them up on the bottom of the machine, drill your pilot holes for where the wheels will be and install your bolts from the bottom and install a nut on each bolt from the interior side of the machine. I would highly recommend this unless you want to have two people pick this big boy up to carry it around as the wheels that are on here stock do not work worth a darn. Overall I am completely satisfied with this machine and I would definitely recommend it to anyone lacking washer dryer inputs or space for a larger machine. Oh,....IT IS SO NICE NOT GOING TO THE LAUNDROMAT ANYMORE!!!!! Happy washing all. If anyone has any questions about installing these modifications post a question on here I will answer it.

UPDATE: I've been running the washer heavily for one year with no problems. The washer in the above review is the model with no dryer built in. This washer has been so great to me that I am now buying the washer dryer combo model(there are several model options)  I have permanently plumbed my current washer into my water lines and drain lines under the sink just thought I'd throw that out there for anyone interested in a more permanent setup that this is possible to do... Will update again when I receive the combo unit.


This is a good replacement OEM motor for my 30 + years old dryer.
The instructions were reasonably clear.  Note that this motor will retrofit many models so it may require some minor customizations (instructions include them all in a brief manner).
The metals slotted bands which hold the motor in place are tricky to remove and you could get hurt from their sharp edges. Using a screw driver to  stretch the bands to remove or secure them on their place can cause the screw driver to slip and cause serious cuts.  A nut driver with a small socket to hold the curled edge of the metal bands worked better since it will not easily slip off the metals band ends.  But, be careful in this step.

I made one wiring error which gave me a lot of grief.  The instructions asked to remove and discard a short blue jumper wire between the 'overload switch' and the 'motor switch' (which has multiple male spade terminals).  I realized that I had mistakenly connected the 4A blue main harness wire (from the dryer) to the terminal 4  on the motor switch side (a 1/8" spade connector) where the rest of the dryer harness connections were made to connect.  The right thing to do is to connect the 4A blue main harness wire (from the dryer) to the overload switch side which has a wider spade (1/4") connector.  (The dryer harness had a female 1/4" spade connector - which mated perfectly). Once having fixed the connection, it worked perfectly.  (I wish the FSP instructions were a bit more clear).

To check correct connections, do the following at your own risk and only if you understand how to wire and understand electrical connections.  Do not put in the drum and belt.  Disconnect main plug of the dryer.  Complete all dryer harness to motor connections, secure motor with its bands.
Do either Step A or B:
Step A:  Bypass the door switch (Note: One side of the door switch wire has a single wire running to a single spade terminal.  This is the hot wire.  The other side of the door switch has two spade terminals and two wires.  Depressing the door switch (when dryer door is closed) allows the motor to turn and shuts off the drum light.  On opening the dryer door, the non-depressed switch shuts the motor and turns on the dryer light).  With door switch disconnected from all three wires, find which of the two spade connectors shows continuity to the single spade connector on the other side of the door switch when the door switch in its depressed position (This will be the terminal whose wire allows power to the motor). Short the door switch hot wire to this wire.
OR, skip Step A and do Step B:
Step B:  You can remove the door switch from the dryer panel and make the connections normally.  Ensure insulation of the door switch terminals from everything else.

Leave nothing exposed to making grounding shorts to dryer body.  Check all connections carefully and out in the dryer plug.
If you did Step A, then the motor should run only upon hitting the 'Start' button and stay on.
If you did Step B, then you will need to additionally depress the door switch while making sure that the door switch terminals do not touch you or anything else. Again,ensure insulation of the door switch terminals from all else.  Motor should run only upon hitting the 'Start' button and stay on.  Releasing the door switch button should turn it off.

The motor tends to have a bit of a howl when warm.


An appliance repair man wanted $150 to replace our broken icemaker.  It worked when it felt like it, and water leaked from both ends when it did.  On a whim, I ordered this piece.  Make sure you put your ENTIRE model number.  We have a Whirlpool, and the model number on the door was different from the model number listed on the right side wall of the fridge.  The assembly comes with several different wiring arrangements.  What I did was leave the original wiring, unplug the wire that came with the assembly and plug the old wiring into the new assembly.  I did this because I knew the old unit was producing ice, so there was no electrical reason why the old wiring wouldn't work.  If that ever became the case, I still have the wires that came with the assembly and can switch them out if necessary.

All you need is a ratchet that fits the existing screws on the old unit.  Truthfully, if you don't know what you're doing (like me) I watched a few YouTube videos on how the install the unit.  It's really simple.  UPPLUG THE FRIDGE!!!!  If you can't get back there, flip the circuit breaker.  Unscrew the bottom screw (watch out you don't drop it... it's hard to find In a freezer full of food (did you think I dropped it????  You're right if you did).  There are two screws on top... just loosen them and the unit can be lifted off those screws.  You'll see on the bottom a a little square with a lever that you can push with a screw driver and that will release the wire plug that goes to the wall of the freezer.  Remove the old unit, plug the plug into the new unit, set it in place over the 2 top screw, insert the bottom screw and you're good to go.

Here's where I freaked out... It didn't make ice for two days, but I read that the unit has to reach a certain temperature to produce ice, so I let it go another day, and then back to YouTube... Why is my new icemaker not making ice? So here's where the Freak started...  I needed to "jumpstart" the motor.  You take a wire with two bare ends (make sure it's insulated... wrap some black tape around it, or a piece of rubber, and insert the ends into these tiny holes marked T and H on the front of the unit.  I cut an old plug from a radio that didn't work, scraped the plastic of the two end twisted them.  I wasn't sure if I was going to set the house on fire or electrocute myself, but neither happened... The dial started to turn and I heard water fill the tray.  YAY!!!!!  It's working fine now, and I have a full ice bin.  Took about 2 days, but I'm so happy not to have to buy bags of ice anymore... been doing that for a year.

This is a great way to go to save a bundle of money.  Delivery was quick, and everything you need came in the box.  It was in perfect condition, and this is a genuine Whirlpool part, so there's no problem with fitting.  You will find tons of help on line via YouTube and many handyman websites.  Watch out for sites that want money to tell you how to fix something.  I'm sure they're helpful, but there are many, many free sites.

Good luck!!!


I struggled for a long time, trying to figure out why our 2.5 year old Amana NTW4600Q1 washer wouldn't spin correctly and did a lot of very strange things.  I initially thought it had to be the main control board and for $320, I wasn't going to do that - I'd just buy a new washer.  After several hours over several weeks of troubleshooting, I finally figured out that there is a somewhat unwritten secret....  Inside the body of most washers, there is a technician's manual.  What a find that was.  In my case, I just took the top off of the washer and low and behold, there it was inside the front in a ziplock bag that was glued to the inside.  The troubleshooting instructions in the manual are what finally led me to this part on Amazon.  Wow, I thought - what a crappy washer design.  There are this many people buying this actuator, and the lengthy comments really cemented that for me.  So, I swore if this worked for me, I would write a fair review.  I typically weigh a lot of my buying decisions on the comments I read.  I owe a lot of time and money to those that took time to document their experience.  So, here are a few of my own.  Basically, from what I can gather, this actuator works on a lot of Kenmore, Amana, Whirpool and Maytag washers, which are apparently all assembled by the same "core" company.  In my case, I followed the directions in the technician's manual, and was able to produce the codes that led me here.  I ordered the part.  Replacement took about 10 minutes.  In my particular configuration, I was able to pull the washer out a bit from the wall, unplug it and lean it back.  You have to remove 4 fasteners and one wiring connector to replace this actuator.  Two fasteners hold the belt cover on (2 5/16" head screws), the other two hold the actuator to the bottom of the washer (2 phillips screw heads).  Take the four fasteners out, and the wiring connector last.  Reverse to install, and make sure you get the shifting pin back into the transmission.  Simple task.  Afterwards, I did run the "Calibration" mode, even though according to the manual, this part is not named as a part that requires re-calibration.  Just for grins, I took apart the old actuator, and unlike another review I read, there were no broken gears.  I suspect mine failed electronically, due to the abuse this part has to take.  The fault is the design of the washing machines, not the fault of the part.  This part gets whipped around at the bottom of the tub.  Maybe they could redesign the part and make it more durable, but the actuator does take major abuse.  I'll probably order another one just to have as a spare.  Based on the quantity sold and how fast the "items remaining" declines, this is a very common problem.  I called a friend of mine after I figured out what the problem was, and he said "Don't tell me, it's the W10006 something actuator".  He's an appliance repair guy.  I should have called him first!


This is the proper replacement ice maker, however, there are some important things that you need to know.

1) Pop the plastic cover off of your old ice maker & match the model number to this unit's model number. If they match, you have the correct unit.
2) Order this replacement unit. DO NOT REMOVE YOUR OLD UNIT YET, or you'll be sorry (I know, as I was)!
...
Once your new unit arrives in the mail (or whatever) from AMAZON:

1) Unpack the unit & verify that it has the same model number. If ok, then:
2) Shut off the water supply & unplug the refrigerator/freezer
3) Remove the old unit. (You may need a flashlight, a mirror, a nut-driver (mine required a 7mm driver), and a small spade-shaped screwdriver (used to pop out the electrical connection). DO NOT THROW ANYTHING AWAY!
4) Compare the two units. Mine needed to have a U shaped piece of plastic cut out so that it would fit in to the freezer properly
5) Screw the two upper holding screws back in about 25%. Reconnect the electrical connections. Then pop the unit back in & tighten the screws down.
6) Turn on the water, plug the refrigerator/freezer back into the wall
7) Sit back & wait. ... About 2 ~ 4 hours later, you should see some Ice pop out. ...

What can go wrong?

1) Remove & throw away the old unit before receiving the replacement unit. There is no way to verify the unit is the same thing & weather, or not, the cut out needs to be removed without the old unit for comparison.
2) The replacement unit DOES NOT COME WITH REPLACEMENT MOUNTING SCREWS! Toss 'em & you're SOL!
3) Try to install the unit before checking that the cut out needs replacing. (My mistake!)
4) Get so frustrated that you return the unit & purchase a totally new refrigerator/freezer (at great expense)!

Special note: You can (depending on your expertise):

1) Replace the whole unit as I did
2) Replace only the Drive Module
3) Replace only the Drive Motor

In any case, you will need:

1) A Flashlight (A headset unit is the best under the circumstances)
2) A 6" mirror to see around a corner (trust me, you'll need it)
3) An English & Metric nut driver, or socket, set (I used a 7mm nut driver on the screws in my freezer)
4) A medium sized flat spade bladed screw driver to pop off the electrical connector

I hope that this helps.

ADDED 6 Dec 2017: The unit stopped working and no new ice came out around 2 weeks ago. My SO said that she figured that no water was getting to the unit. I waited & nothing happened.

Then last night she placed a large crock pot bowl that she had been cooking on the top shelf of the refrigerator for storage overnight. ... This morning the dogs woke me up to let them out to do their business. ... And, what did I hear as I waited at the kitchen door? The clunk, clank, rattle of a set of ice cubes dropping into the ice bin!

What seems to have happened is that the water feed line, which ran behind the refrigeration portion of my sideXside refrigerator had frozen & the shock of the heat thrown off by that large ceramic pot as it cooled melted the freeze. So, if this happens to you, consider this as a possible reason before buying a replacement unit.


Pros: Look at it! It's absolutely adorable and our son fell in love (especially with the association from Dora & Diego with baby jaguar). He was taking it everywhere with him. Very soft.
Cons: Immediately, it was shedding everything from small individual strands to larger clumps of fur...we thought it might just be the initial period of a few days but it ending up lasting for 3 weeks. We thought it had gotten better, but then I looked at my son's hands right after he had taken baby jaguar around and they were covered with fur...on his face, close to his eyes, on my clothes, it was just all over. A few people on Amazon confirmed this did not happen with theirs and I got a defective one. Looking at all of Wild Republic reviews now though, it appears that while some are well made, a hefty percentage come with rips/holes at the seams or keep shedding and have a white string poking out like ours did. While it was made right, here's my additional notes regarding Wild Republic compared with a couple other companies:

I've tried quite a few brands of stuffed animals for my son and the Cuddlezoo dinosaur and the Aurora brands are hands down the best quality I've found so far. Wanted to love Wild Republic, but even after several replacements and despite how cute they are, a large portion of their animals tend to be defective with clumps of hair shedding or seams opening almost immediately. The jaguar I finally got that didn't shed a ton immediately proved to shed here and there after a couple weeks of use. The elephant we got that I was initially thrilled with because it didn't shed at all, 2 days later with barely any play I noticed that the seam was open halfway on one of the tusks. So in the future I'd definitely spend the extra money to get something by Cuddlezoo or Aurora. The Cuddlezoo dinosaur is cute, great expression and colors, very soft (but scales are more textured), and more realistic than other dinosaurs I've seen...a decent size for toddler or smaller children. My only MINOR complaint is that it's difficult sometimes to stand on it's feet but you can usually fix that and get it to stand fairly well. Also a warning on Aurora stuffed animals, they're usually much smaller than you expect and smaller than Wild Republic measurements which usually are for the height I believe...I got a 12" labrador from Aurora expecting 12" high or at least a full 12 inches long, but it looks not much bigger than a beanie with MAYBE measuring 12 inches long from nose tip to the end of the tail. But like Cuddlezoo, they never shed and are extremely well made. HOWEVER, I am thrilled to find Aurora's "Destination Nation" line...these 12" animals are exactly the size of Wild Republic's 12" Cuddlekins, same price point, but soooooo much better quality. I've since got a few more Aurora plush and they are all wonderful with NO shedding.

**Update, dropped my rating down to 1 star on the Wild Republic. Some weeks later: I thought the jaguar wasn't shedding much, but have been noticing again black or clear strands on my son's palms (and he's constantly putting hands in his mouth)...I took a sticky lint roller to it and had tons of crud coming off including clumps off the tail and seam areas...FIVE times with separate sheets I rolled off stuff and it is STILL coming off. Absolutely ridiculous...no small child should have to risk ingesting all this stuff because a company can't properly assemble most of its products. My son's so attached to it too...if anyone knows of a brand that makes a nice larger jaguar that doesn't shed, please leave a comment as I'm still searching for one. Thanks


Maytag has enjoyed an outstanding record for performance and reliability of their appliances and quickly became the gold standard in the washing machine arena for nearly a century. Unfortunately, rapid acquisition of other brands, including Amana, contributed to Maytag introducing many cost-cutting initiatives that in the end, compromised Maytag's ability to remain competitive and the market leader for reliability.  An avalanche of consumer complaints on Maytag's low-end "Performa" and "Legacy Series" line of washing machines surfaced in combination with Maytag's "Neptune" units which were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission due to fire hazard potential and a class-action lawsuit resulting in the company hemorrhaging millions in settlement costs to consumers..  This was, essentially the end of what we used to know as genuine Maytag units.

On April 1, 2006, Maytag was acquired by Whirpool Corporation and the original Maytag production plants were subsequently closed.  Whirpool then assumed all brand administration although the Maytag Brand is still used on Whirpool-designed appliances and repair parts.

This explains why when you contact Maytag (800) 344-1274, your call is routed to Whirpool Corporation in Benton Harbor, MI. and their call centers.

Thank goodness that these relatively-common service parts are still available to DIY consumers like myself.  If you are lucky enough to have an original Maytag (manufactured in Newton, IA) then I strongly suggest you repair the unit if it is cost-effective.  The three most common repairs to these units are the drain hose(s), pump and transmission/drive belts.

PROS:

1. This is a common replacement part and the genuine OEM replacement curved drain hose for many Maytag washing machines manufactured in the 1980's and 1990's-Back when Maytag meant quality build and performance and the units were built like a Sherman Tank!
2. This part is manufactured in the USA and distributed by Whirpool Corporation and supplied in a sealed plastic bag with the Whirpool name.
3. Fits properly on both ends for a perfect seal.

CONS:

1.  None-I would however, like to see the two drain hose brackets supplied with the hose as a kit.  For first time DIY's, it would also be useful to have a brief, clearly labeled diagram and simple instructions.

BOTTOM LINE:

1. I paid $13.25 for this hose through Amazon. Don't get ripped off by other appliance parts distributors that charge $18-27 for an imported item.

There is no question about the fit if you are careful in cross-referencing the correct replacement number for your Maytag appliance.  Part #: 213045 fits the Maytag A-612 and many others seamlessly. Be certain to also have your serial and "series" # available if you call and/or order online. You will find these on the riveted metal plate located on the top of your machine for top-loading machines like the A-612.

2. This is an extremely simple repair that should save you at least $85-115 on a service call.  Be sure to ask for two new mounting brackets when you purchase your drain hose. These are not included with the hose but often necessary and strongly recommended to replace if they have become rusted or seized.

3. I spray the inside of the new drain hose with a light coating of heavy-duty silicone for ease in attaching to the pump assembly.  Be careful not to force the hose onto the plastic pump assembly as it can break. Tighten each clamp gently but firmly, especially on the pump end and run the unit through a cycle or two to insure that there are no residual leaks before you put the front cover back on the machine. That's it and you should be good for another 25 years!


Ok keep in mind this review is being written before I have installed the hood and is about first impressions. The hood is nice, seems well made although somewhat lighter construction than I would have thought. All the bits and pieces are provided and the install manual looks to be very well done. I would have liked it to had Led lights instead of what it came with but it does look as if these can be changed out. One bit of design problem is that the hanging eyes are not offset so you can put up a board to connect to on the back .. and they are not spaced apart far enough to connect to 16 inch centers .. this results in some major work to get a stable hanging platform which will not pull loose and fall on the stove.
  The packing around the outside of the unit was very good and no doubt saved it from being a total disaster. To say the shipper had dropped it more that once was putting mildly. Perhaps Z line should switch shippers. The parts which were enclosed  inside the hood had come loose and were banging around which resulted in a small dent in the outer shell and another in the rack mount inside. Now normally these would not be of too much concern but when you pay full price for something,you expect it to not be damaged. On another note, why you might ask did I not say something to the UPS guy when it ws delivered ... well that was because he dropped it off across the highway at another house .. both houses have the same 1036 address but on different roads with completely different spelling. You cannot get them mixed up if you only read the darn label and the road signs. So i was not able to reject the shipment because of obvious exterior damages. What to do now ... I need to put up the hood so I can continue on with my kitchen remodel .. but the small dents will drive my wife nuts ..and I still don't know if it suffered any more damage inside .Well now I do know .. the impact on the outside caused things on the inside to bounce around causing more damage than i first saw ... when you pay over 1 thousand dollars for an item, you really expect it to be in good shape on when you get said item. After mulling it over for a few days we decided to contact UPS to see what could be done as they were the ones we thought could fix the problem .. no so .. you see as we had not shipped thru them, Amazon had, it was up to Amazon to make the claim. So on to Amazon ... not at first real good, you see they do not make it easy to ring them up and let them know something happened ... however Siri on an apple phone knew the phone number for customer service .. once connected things got better but it was still a pain in the butt .. we had to ship it back. once they receive it 7 days later  we will get a full refund, that's good, not great but good, however what happens if for some reason UPS screws up again and ships it to the wrong place ..that's bad ... oh and they will send us another one should we decide we want one ...that's good but who is to say they won't ship it via UPS again who may  well deliver it to the wrong address .. that's bad .. now again, its not so much that I have a bad impression of the hood or the company who made it .. its the shipping I don't think a lot of .. and the idea that its so hard to get to someone to talk about the problem .. part of the problem it seems is my fault .. in trying to be fair to the product, I gave it a 4 star before I was fully aware of the damage .. this did not trigger and look see by Amazon as to why there was a low rating on this product .. so now I have dropped the rating down to a 2 star again because of the shipping ... hope this helps ..


So, we wanted a good looking chimney style vent hood that did not break the bank to replace our over the range micro which was completely useless for removing cooking smoke and grease. 640 CFMs for less than $300? Decent reviews on Amazon?  Sold! Are the rest of you reviewers paid by ZLine? Because this is the biggest piece of garbage, waste of money that I have ever invested in. Saying a lot, I know, but read on...

For the price, I did not expect this to be on par with a Ventahood, or even a lower end Broan, but I *did* expect it to function, at least minimally. Word to the wise: you get what you pay for with this one. Had it not been too late to return this item without a hefty $100 shipping fee by the time our kitchen remodel was almost complete and we were ready to install, this would have gone right back. Unfortunately, we found that there is zero useful information on the company website, much less a human to talk to. Just try to find any information on the ZLine website, and you will see that this is a shoddy company---no useful contact info, product info, etc. Cruddy piece of garbage made in China, although the company as listed in Ohio. . The back story, for those who are interested in details:

The product arrived missing a critical piece (back piece for holding the chimney sleeve), but the vendor replaced right away. So far, so good. Then the problems began...

First, one of the halogen bulbs was DOA. After reviewing the cr@ppy installation manual, which listed the page for replacement incorrectly as page 23, but alas, is actually on page 25  (seriously? They can't bother to proofread the instructions?), I set about replacing the bulb. Had I actually attempted to follow the instructions provided (again, on the wrong page) , complete with inaccurate and completely indecipherable instructions and diagram, I would have broken the not only the entire bulb, but its housing assembly. Luckily, I'm fairly handy and not a complete moron (well, except for purchasing this thing:). The holes for the light bulb were honed incorrectly, uneven and nearly impossible to get a bulb in, but after working gently on it for a while, I eventually got it to work. Still, this process took much longer than it should have, and frankly, I should not have been forced to deal with it right out of the gate.

Fast forward to installation a few weeks later: terrible diagrams and instructions, yet again. Our contractor got the main body up with just a few annoying issues. Then, however, the problems started again. Included with the vent hood is a plastic flexible duct piece. Umm, not only is this type of flexible plastic duct not to code just about anywhere in the US, but it is a fire hazard. The manufacturer knows this, of course, as they state to use rigid ducting. So, why include an unsafe and against code component at all? Lack of integrity, I would gather. Off to the big box store to get yet another part for this new piece-o-junk, this time rigid ducting in the correct diameter, and then...

The bar that holds the chimney cover was bent, and would not allow the sleeves to slide in correctly. After an hour of cursing and finagling, contractor and DH evidence to snip the sides of the sleeve to allow fitting. Eventually, it works, sort of. Whatever, we are over it t this point. We figure, pice of junk but now it's done! Turn it on! And!  Ummmm...

At full speed, a defeating roar I might add, this thing does not even cause a piece of paper to flutter directly underneath its vents. Completely and utterly useless. 600 cfm? My @ss.


5 stars for the initial review.  Longevity is important for appliances...so we'll see how she does over the next months/years.  Overall, I'm extremely pleased with this hood.  For $300, it is what it is.  It's eye-candy.  Looks incredible and makes a huge statement.  But everything else about it is just kind of "chincy."  Not disappointed, as you have to expect that at this price point.  The buttons don't push down very easily/evenly, the wires are dangling loose in the inner fan (some of their 3M tape came loose), some of the baffles fit loosely thus creating a lopsided effect (a gentle bending corrected the situation) the supplied screws/anchors are a joke.  But hey, it looks incredible, and it does it's job...suck's the hot air.  And for that, I'm stoked to spend only $300 on this!  I've posted pictures for you to see....again, it looks awesome.  The packaging job was incredible.  And it comes coated with a protective film that protects the stainless finish until the final reveal.  It is a little hard to peel off the film on the chimney extension unit.  The other reviews said it scratches very easily...so I installed the chimney unit first, then peeled off the coating.  I had to use a razor blade to score it just below the sight-line on one of the chimney extensions for a "clean break."  Was a little nervous removing it from the box because some of the protective film had its own scratches.  I was worried those would transfer to the stainless steel.  Thankfully, they did not.  The noise is a non-issue.  It's a fan people...it's going to make noise.  On the highest setting, you need to raise your voice if you're standing directly by the hood trying to have a conversation.  But the other settings did not require my wife and I to "raise our voices."  It's fine.  Yes, all of the other reviewers are correct: buy new ductwork.  The supplied plastic ductwork is a joke.  It really is "easy" to install in that all you have to do is hang the thing.  Everything else is literally plug and play!

One more thought.  We have a 30" stove and I naturally was going to buy the 30" hood.  But right before my purchase, I started doing a little more research and many suggested to purchase a hood larger than your stove, to ensure it covers all of your burners.  So at the last second, I opted for the 36" hood.  SOOOOO glad I did.  Not only does it look better on the wall, it efficiently "sucks" regardless of what is cooking on any of the 4 burners.

Buy it.  It's worth it.  Let's just see how long it lasts......I'm cautiously optimistic.

UPDATE 4/25/2013:  After only our second time cleaning the stainless steel baffle filters, the screw/nut that holds the baffle together stripped, thus rendering it useless.  Obviously, we were pretty disappointed.  I sent an email to customer service asking what the next step of action should be.  They responded that same day with a tracking number and I had a new baffle in 2 days with no cost.  I've never experienced customer service like that.  Really, just outstanding.  I'm still worried that issues like this may arise again, but for the price-point, I have to expect that (one of the same screws on another baffle sits crooked in the baffle, causing it to align poorly).  My wife and I still love this hood...and after this customer service interaction, we're only more pleased with the purchase!


Very nice unit.. reasonably quite... Been using for a month.
First, it came beautifully packed; no damage in transit. packaging is so good, I can't imagine how it could get dings at all a some have complained earlier. Maybe they fixed the issue. But Five start on packaging.
Power button is only to turn the fan off. press twice it turns fan off immediately; press once it turns it off after a full minute timer delay - a great feature.
LED lights do protrude out about 4 mm under the hood and do shine in your eyes. Take them out and apply a little metal duct tape to mask the edges or just go to any HW store and buy a replacement these are common two prong hood lights also found in some track lights. Can get LED for $3.
The stack/chimney on top is just a cover for the 6" duct, It has two pieces each 17.75" which telescope inside each other and can be separated if smaller length is required. Min length17.75" ..max length 34". If lesser needed you will have to cut .. try heavy gauge metal shears or got to any local Fabrication shop and have it cut. For Greater than 34 you will have just match and buy extra lengths from somewhere on web.
Do not use the flex 6" Duct that comes with it - it is probably the reason for noise many people complained about. Use 6" solid metal ducting and tape it well with foil duct tape (lasting) and top it with guerilla tape for strength. In All ducting joints male end MUST face/point towards the exit/exhaust point to exterior. Never use smaller than 6" duct  in any place even the exterior Duct wall cap must have same cross section area as 2x Pie x 6" = 38 sq inches. Many hardware stores sell caps which have smaller opening at the end and this may cause back pressure and noise. We bought Braun 843BL.
The design for stack attachment on top of hood is absurd. It needs to screw stack from wall side but after you have attached the solid duct to the top of the Hood and hung the hood on the wall hanger you cannot reach it - it is against the wall. Now with the provided flexible duct you may be able to do it; but do resist that temptation if you want quite running fan I just drilled a couple of holes from the sides and none the wiser.
Another problem is that the attachment ring to receive the 6" Duct does not take the female/receiving side of the solid 6" duct - too tight. Again do not give in to temptation to use the provided flex tubing - buy a 6" duct connecter - it is 4" long piece of 6" duct which has male / insertion ends on both sides.
The dimensions of the hood funnel are provided in the picture with a rough diagram.
29 1/4" wide, center it on wall - level it - mark where you want the lower the lower edge of the hood to be (28 to 32 inches above stove top). Now measure up 9.5 inches above the marked hood bottom. This will be the top edge of the hanger piece with has four screw holes ...if none of these fall on  a stud , fix a 4x1 piece of wood across connecting the two adjacent studs and nicely fasten the hanger plate to it. Hanger plate has reverse hooks on which the hood is just hung that's it. Then, you attach the 6" duct at the top of the hood and next you attach the chimney cover to the top of the hood and to another hanger installed at the top.


Everyone,

My wife bought me this kegerator for a birthday present and I was super excited.  I ordered a keg of Stone IPA, and after some searching, I found a local place that exchanges 5 lbs beverage-quality CO2 canisters.  I went ahead and swapped the empty that came with this setup for one of their exchange canisters because in the end, I think it will make my life easier not having to worry about refilling it.

I put it all together, let everything chill down inside the fridge to the coldest setting of 7 (this is important because the CO2 loses pressure when it gets cold).  When I went to pour the beer, it was super foamy.  I thought it was just the new keg so I let it sit for another day, and I tried it again only to end up with the same result.  I wasn't sure what to do, so I did some research and found that for my elevation, my regulator was out-of-the-box set to 25 PSI - way too high.  I found a PSI kegerator chart, and realized that I needed to be at a much, much lower PSI of around 5.  I got a wrench and twisted the +/- nob on the regulator until I got it down to 5 PSI and that solved the foam problem - I did not need a new hose like some of the reviews stated.

My next issue.  Once I adjusted the pressure the pour was fine, but I noticed the beer had a really strong plastic/rubber/metallic/chemical smell/taste.  I did more research and convinced myself I had oxidized my beer by having it exposed to too much CO2 PSI -  this later turned out to be false and I learned that beer can easily withstand up to 30 PSI without being ruined.  I was ready to call it a wasted-keg-day, but out of denial I continued to do research on the problem.

Finally, I found an article on a beer brewing forum that talked about how the synthetic washer between the keg and the tap hose could be to blame.  I disconnected the keg from the hose that connects it to the pourer, and I could smell the problem at once.  There is this white ring/washer/gasket thing that comes with this kegerator that is known to give the beer this horrible taste/smell as it passes over it and/or sits in the tube, and it reeked of that chemical smell.  I truly did not know one little washer could stink and foul up beer so badly, but it sure can.  My fingers still smelled like that chemical a day after I washed them, and I have a terrible sense of smell.  I yanked that thing out, replaced it with a rubber o-ring, and the problem was 90% solved.  I ordered a keg cleaning kit to flush the remainder of the smell out of the tap tube, and a set of black synthetic washers that has been reported not to have that problem.

The only reason I gave it a 4/5 is because of the research I had to do, and the emotional toll it took on me thinking I ruined 5 gallons of expensive beer.  I can tell you right now with 100% honesty that I am enjoying a beer, straight from my keg, and it is delicious.  This thing is going to turn me into a beer snob for sure.

I emailed the people at Smart+ and hopefully soon they will stop shipping those bad-news white washers.

Make sure you adjust your regulator, make sure you don't use one of those white washers, and you will love this thing.

-R


UPDATED REVIEW

I wanted to update my review after using this range for a while, sorry it took over a year.  See below for original comments.

We are still happy with this purchase, and the range still looks great in our kitchen, for the most part.  I will say I am a bit disappointed with how well the stainless steel trim at the top leading edge of the range has aged.  It seems this piece of trim is subject to damage from swiping the glass top clean and it is showing signs of wear.  Just minor scratches really, but noticeable.  I doubt anyone would look twice other than me.

Also, I will echo other comments in that the timer alarm is indeed very quiet and  difficult to hear if you aren't actually in the kitchen.  I also agree that the front mounted control knobs are quire sensitive to being accidentally bumped or brushed when walking by, thus turning a stove eye on unintentionally but neither of these things are major annoyances for us.  Your mileage may vary.

As for cooking, we both think the range works just fine and appreciate the dual oven when needed (which is about twice a year for us).  The cook top heats quickly, but the "eyes" aren't terrible even with heat distribution.  I notice this most when cooking an omelette and see that the egg cooks faster on one side than the other.  Again, a minor annoyance but noticeable.  The oven seems to cook very nicely but I have not calibrated it, having never seen a reason to question the factor settings.

Finally, the glass top, while beautiful and sleek when cleaned and polished, really takes some getting used to.  It is hard to keep it clean between polishing.  We are both messy cooks (part of the fun) and the clean up takes quite a lot of elbow grease.  Much better than the alternatives however, just be aware that it takes more than  "a lick and a promise" to get the glass top nice and shiny.

We are still happy with our purchase overall.  We have had no problems with electronic issues or other significant things.

So far the range has been one of our favorite splurges during our kitchen remodel.  The built-in look is exactly what we wanted.  We love how the range looks with it's beefy control knobs and sleek design.  The dual oven capability is what my wife really wanted and so far it works just like we expected.  Really have only been using the range for a few days now but wanted to post a review promptly.  I will try to remember to update my review after a couple of months of using the range.

I will take this opportunity to encourage buyers in the strongest terms possible to thoroughly inspect these types or items immediately upon delivery.  By thoroughly, I mean complete removal of ALL packing materials, security tapes, protective plastic films, clips, fasteners, etc.  I made the mistake of "only" removing the primary shipping box and Styrofoam protection to inspect the range.  I did not remove the protective plastic film that is commonly applied to stainless steel finishes and that was a big mistake.  Turns out the door handle had apparently been jammed or crashed into during shipment by common carrier and the resulting crease in the door frame was totally hidden by the protective film.  The damage is fairly minor but it is noticeable of course and we've had to order a replacement door.  This is not the fault of the seller but I still wanted to warn buyers that the delivery inspection really needs to be completely thorough in cases like this.  Once you sign for the item, it's yours and situations like this are always disappointing.  The seller is working with me to resolve the issue and I will post a review of the seller once the outcome is known.


So, I have the same model of Samsung dryer drum, and of course it has a crack and missing piece out of the drum.  The thing that tipped me off to this break was the loud thump, thump, thump.
  I bought this dryer during a thanksgiving sale in 2011.  Lowe's was out of stock so they said as soon as they get them in they would deliver it.  So at the end of January 2012, almost over 8 weeks wait, we got the dryer in.  Within the first two weeks of using it, there was a clickity clacking noise from the front of the dryer sounded like a roller.  Waiting so long to just get to use this dryer, I didn't want a technician saying we'd have to get another one, so we just let it be.  To this day it still makes a racket when drying, but it started sounding horrible with the thumping sound.
  Seeing as the drum broke and thinking Samsung would stand by their products, I called them around May or June the first time.  Before I called them, I thought I had read somewhere in the owner's manual that the drum had a lifetime warranty.  Of course this was not the case as they promptly said the dryer was out of warranty, but they referred me to an authorized repairman.  As I see it, since there's no warranty (Samsung repeatedly made sure I knew this), I don't need an authorized repairman, as I can replace a drum.
  After finding the replacement drum for this dryer, the cost just for the part is over half of what I paid for the dryer.  I realized at this point the problem is with the design and quality control at Samsung.  This is the first and last stainless steel drum dryer I will ever buy.  The reason is that this is the first drum I've ever seen break.  I've never seen or heard of a steel drum breaking, and I've had 6 dryers in my lifetime, not including this one.  So I called Samsung again today and asked if there was a powder coated direct replacement drum so this won't happen again.  I told them how this is ridiculous that the drum is broken.  The two people I talked to just apologized, but couldn't help with the part.  They once again referred me to a parts store, and I couldn't get anywhere with them either.  So I threw my hands up and said since I have all Samsung appliances and this dryer is the only thing that I'm having problems with, I'll just not buy anything Samsung anymore.  Of course they said,"ok that's fine with them".  What has the term customer service come to mean.
  So just like you reading this, I did find the direct replacement drum and on just the Sears repair site it says there's been over 1400 repairs done just to replace this drum.  Now I'm not sure but if 1400+ steering wheels fell off of one make of car,  I'm sure a recall for that part would happen.
Hey Samsung, make this right and fix this problem, or stop selling.

Update:  I have found a direct replacement for this stainless drum.  It's part number:  dc97-07520k
This is a white powder coated drum.
I found mine at Parts Dr. Com, but you can just do a search on Amazon or Google.
I have been using it in my dryer since early December 2015 with no problems.  I hope this helps.


piece of crap...
I bought it on 9/5/15 and in December, not even 3 months later it was having problem. First it started making micro ice, that is what I call it, where it is super tiny and melts very fast. Then in January 2016, it started reading as Ice Full, all the time. I would open and close the lid and it would work for a while.
Then it completely decided not to work. So on 2/3/16 I called Curtis, because it was still under warranty period, and the extended warranty I had bought told me to do it this way. They told me to reset the ice maker. I did. It was a pain.
It  did start to make really tiny ice,even smaller than before, but the ice full light was always on and I had to empty tray each time it made ice for it to make a new batch.
On 2/5/16 it totally died... nothing. so i went to drain it, and the stopper on the bottom broke off in the unit causing water to shoot all over the counter tops... yay!... and once emptied it was left to dry.
On 2/8/16, today, I called Curtis, to let them know, the reset didn't work. I called at 9:10am, Sam hung up on me. I called at 9:12 am, Paul hung up on me. I called at 9:17 and finally Daisy, did not hang up on me. She was very nice, but I am still not happy with the way they go about their repair process:
I had to pay $7, right then, for their insurance, for after the repair to ship it back to me.
I have to pack it in a safe box, and pay to ship it back to them. Included all this info, plus sales receipt. Describe the issues in detail with all the previous calls and issues also in detail.
After all that, they will repair it and ship it back to me.
I will update after I get the unit back.

*** UPDATE****

2-8-16... so I just found out it will cost me $65 to ship it back... I can't believe a company can get away with this kind of customer service.
I am so disgusted with Curtis International ltd.  I am shipping it back and will update again when i get it back.

****UPDATE****
11-2-16

Update********************************

So after I paid the $7 insurance, the $65 to ship it, Curtis Int. did ship me a total brand new one. It was an Igloo same design, same color, same buttons, same Issues, Just with Igloo instead of RCA... It lasted 2 months and totally died.
I had to wait till Sept 2016 to use my extended Warrenty.
They didn't even want this turd back.
They told me don't bother shipping it back and they just refunded me my purchase price, not shipping on an Amazon Gift Card.
So to sum it up. This Ice Maker is crap. Save your MONEY, and just buy the bags of ICE.
This unit costed me $127 the first time, $8.99 Assurion Extended Warrenty, after it died (RCA) $7 insurance to Curtis International, $ 65 to USPS to ship it back to get repaired, they just replaced it... and a grand total of $207.99 and I am right back to buying bags of ICE...
Save your $$$$$, RCA and the Replacement IGLOO, both are crap and both died.
HOpe this helps.


I'm not sure where to start. Possibly the downsides? Why not.
1. There almost isn't any with the machine
Sorry, I have been trying to find them, and apart from just being nit-picky, and my own self, there really isn't anything bad I can say. That being said, the couple of things, have simple fixes right after that. Now, I will explain the couple nit=picks: The manual is not very clear on the customization of the cycles, but are straight foreword., The lid slams shut if not careful and scares you, simply add some small rubber/foam pads to it., wouldn't mind having a little drawer to help dissolve detergent, but just run it under the water., and, maybe, you can't have the lid open for more than a few seconds when filling.

Now, on to the good. This washer is simply awesome. Enough said. Seriously. why?

Well, to start, it's incredibly cute. It looks like a toy, that would be for kids. In all honesty, if the kid is old enough, it would make a good toy if they like doing laundry! lol. But, don't let those looks fool you, it's actually a fully functioning washing machine, and it works remarkably well. Which is the second thing, it really does wash well for what it is. It has all the cycles one would need: Heavy, Delicate, Normal, Quick, and Soak. On top of that, most of them can be customized for your needs. You can add time to wash, spin, and add another rinse, or several. The only cycles you can't change at all, apart from water level, are Normal and quick. Which, was a surprise as I like to do 2 rinses for normal loads. Before you ask, if your the same way, simply select the Heavy cycle. The Heavy cycle is the same as normal, just with an extra rinse. Otherwise, they all prove well. The only other thing would be I sometimes reduce wash time for delicates, and take away the extra rinse (Delicates normal cycle is 15min wash, and 3 rinses) Another feature that is a nice touch, it has a lint filter in the wash tub, and another for the pump. The one in the washtub actually works, and collects a lot of lint. The one down by the pump, helps keep anything from clogging the system, but I have yet to clean it, as the couple times i went to check it, it was still clean.

As far as performance goes, it is very good. It's not too rough on clothing, and cleans them very well. The delicate cycle is actually delicate as well, maybe not like a front loader would be, but more than adequate for this machine.  Most definitely use a good HE detergent. I recommend either Persil ProClean, or Tide He Turbo. However, I also like using Foca laundry detergent, found at walmart. On top of that, I also like using downy. I find these work best as they rinse very easily, but, use anything you like, just remember, you don't need much. So, in a way, for me, spending the little extra always last longer than what the bottle says.

Otherwise, I honestly can not think of anything else to really say, it simply just works well and has been awesome. I plan on updating and hopefully making this review better soon, things have been crazy around here. P.S., so far, the machine has not complained much at all, it just powers through and cleans, truly love this little monster.