Haier Portable Compact Washing Machine - XQJ5031
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Haier Portable Compact Washing Machine - XQJ5031
Customer Review: Very Useful Item!
Summary: 4 Stars
I am single and it takes so long to get a full load together for the large washing machines in my apartment building's laundry room that I can't separate whites and colors. I wanted a smaller machine so I could use less water and electricity, and do smaller loads.
I have had this item in my tiny studio apartment kitchen for a year now. I do about 5 loads a month. It does a good job on laundry with a small amount of water and has all the features that large machines have, such as bleach and detergent dispensers, even a timer to start a delayed load. It has a soak cycle, a fast cycle, etc. and handles a regular laundry basket full of dry clothing or linens without crowding. The lint filters are easy to clean and the machine never malfunctions. The controls are easy to operate although I wish the default were for a "large" not "medium" size load.
The only problem I have had is that the drain hose only has one hose clamp, and the flange it attaches to is too short to attach another. This means, if the clamp happens to loosen up and let the hose loose, you will flood your downstairs neighbor's home and a whole lot of expensive repairs will be needed. The landlord will be angry. Therefore I check that hose clamp often to make sure the hose is on there nice and tight. It needs tightening about once a month.
Also, when my cousin helped me install it, we were mystified that the standard installation requires two water connections, one each for hot and cold water, although it is supposed to be a portable unit, getting water from the (singular) kitchen sink faucet, and draining into the sink (don't forget to remove the drain's strainer). We found a quick-connect fitting that allows the cold water hose to snap onto the faucet (only six trips to hardware stores to get this right) and threw away the extraneous hot water hose; this makes setting up for a load quick and easy. Hard to imagine using this portable unit in a spot with a regular two-faucet hookup. Maybe the second hose, etc. could be offered as a bonus parts kit for that situation.
I also had problems with the casters. There are two casters one can install on the front legs. It would be easier to roll the thing up to the sink if the back legs had casters too, but I guess then the thing might try to run across the kitchen during a load? Wouldn't having brakes on the casters resolve that? Something for the engineers to take a look at, along with the glue on all the stickers it is covered with, which don't come off.
One nice thing is the top surface of the washer is pretty flat. I keep a big towel thrown over it and use it for drying dishes, etc. - it serves as useful counter space. A bonus.
All in all, a very nice thing to have in a small apartment, and, depending on how many quarters your laundromat requires, does not take that long to pay for itself, especially considering that it does not need much in the way of expensive laundry chemicals.
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