Thanks Cattknap, I've been drooling over your transferware!

Oakleyok, love your wreath and here are the close-up pics of the mason jars. The second pic has the lights on our maple tree out back shining through the window. We put a ton of lights outside this year because of the party, my neighbor called tonight to say it looked like a winter fairyland! Since my husband nearly froze putting stuff out he was happy to hear that!

These jars were really easy, but I would recommend using LEDs if you decide to try it, or put less regular lights in them. The one on the far right has a tendency to go off and on as it heats up, but only the bottom inch or so of lights. We like to say that it's my dear departed Mother saying hello by making the lights blink since they are the only ones that do it, and my sister swears that her window candles go off and on whenever she enters a room and only started doing it after my Mother passed away 5 years ago!

Kat :)

Like so

I *love* them both! They are far superior to anything I've had before (GE and Kenmore). The washer capacity is HUGE; at the time I bought mine, no frontloader was as big. Yet it uses less than half the water and energy my old traditional washer used. It cleans very well and I like the different cycles which enable me to wash everything from hand washables to king-size comforters; I also appreciate the soak cycle. The washer is ultra-quiet; I can barely hear it running, if at all. The laundry does not come out tangled, even sheets. Thus far, I've seen nothing but pro's, no con's. HTH

This means that it has all of the advantages of the high end Cabrio, and in addition, has the deep filling capability that you want.

Also, one other thing to mention is that you may notice that the Cabrio HE washer is rated at 4.5 cubic feet, while the Cabrio agititor washer is only rated at 3.8 cubic feet. This is actually quite misleading because the only difference between the two washers is the agitator and the impeller. They are actually about the same capacity, it's just that the Cabrio HE is rated with IEC capacity, and the Cabrio agitator is rated with DOE capacity. IEC capacity is the standard that's used to rate front loaders, and it inflates that real capacity to try and compensate for the fact that you can stuff more clothes into a front loader than you can with a top loading agitator washer. The problem with this is that there's lot of opportunity for confusion, and I'm betting that the 4.1 cubic feet GE washers you mentioned are actually rated with IEC capacity, which would mean that the Cabrio Agitator washer has quite a bit more capacity than the GE, if you measure actual wash drum volume, because 4.1 cubic feet IEC converts to about 3.6 cubic feet DOE.

I did start out with the Cabrio HE. I had it for 6 months. I personally was not pleased with cleaning performance and other features. I did trade it in for the Cabrio 6200 and have been very pleased for nearly 2 years now.

Hope this helps some.

-Fisher & Paykal agitator versions, and actually, even the impeller versions. Very popular machines.

-Any of the Whirlpool basic machines are great value machines. These use multiple names (Maytag, Whirlpool, Roper, Estate, Inglis and probably more) and are all the same basic unit. Let's face it, for a couple hundred dollars and up, the investment isn't something to be scared of.

-Whirlpool Cabrio agitator version. Has some HE features but you can set water levels too.

-GE Harmony is made by LG and a very popular, large, HE machine. Expensive, but a reliable unit.

Difficult decision to make, I know. Glad I don't have to make the decision yet!

It has a HUGE capacity - 4.6 cu ft - which means I can wash at least twice as much in one load - sometimes 3x as much. I love it that I can wash so many sheets at once - and that I can wash queen- and king-size blankets, comforters, even sleeping bags!

All our clothes come out very clean, and the dryer does a great job of drying them.

The cycle times don't seem long to me - usually less than an hour to wash, and less than an hour to dry.

Because I can wash so much more laundry at once, I don't have to wash nearly as many loads per week as I used to in my conventional washer (and it was the largest on the market).

HTH!

In my opinion, you're best bet is to get the Bravos MVWB800VQ model because that model has the built-in heater. I had a machine with a built-in heater (Danby) and another one without (Maytag compact FL) and I feel that the favor definitely goes to the one with the heater in terms of cleaning performance! I had old stains that I though would never come out on some clothes and they did when I washed them in my Danby when I would crank up the heater in it, sometimes without any pre-treatment! I ALWAYS have to pretreat any stain when washing in my Maytag 2400 FL and sometimes the stain STILL does not come out.

As for the lids on both models, I don't think that should be an issue you need to worry about for either machine, at least in my experience.

And based on what you are describing of your family, in terms of capacity the Bravos will very much suit your needs as it is the largest capacity washer on the market as of today. My grandmother has the older Bravos 6600 model and even that holds a TON of clothes!

And I've seen some reviews of the newer version of the Bravos with the built-in heater and so far they are glowing!!

Another machine to consider is the GE Harmony, which is also an HE TL, has a built-in heater and also holds an ENORMOUS amount of clothes. We use the Harmony in the classroom I work in and it is wonderful!

And as far as extended service plans, Home Depot offers a 4 year plan that covers everything as far as I know. I bought one along with the Amana refrigerator that I got for my grandmother for Christmas. Honestly, I did not research it as much as I should have but I knew I wanted to get an extended service plan for ANY appliance that I was to purchase nowadays.

But if I were shopping for a washer today, I would want to buy at Lowe's because I have heard mostly positive experiences from shoppers from Lowe's and I myself had a bad experience with Home Depot in the past but had no choice to shop at HD this time because they were the only ones who had this fridge (of course I found out later I could have the same fridge in Whirlpool format at Lowe's.......oh well!)

Anyhoo, I do hope this info helps! Let us know what you decide to purchase! :o)

Here is a link that might be useful: Maytag Bravos MVWB800VQ at Lowe's

I also wonder if installers are not installing them correctly, ir people are not reading the booklets thoroughly, or what. I would like to know what the returnees are saying about them. The reviews online and the ones I've heard IRL are overwhelmingly positive.

Got them on sale - about $1600 for the pair BEFORE rebates b/c they were on sale (Maytag offers ongoing rebates, so we also got a 2-year supply of Tide HE detergent and $100 back, PLUS Home Depot rebates - got delivery charge back and got a $225 gift card)
WHERE PURCHASED: Home Depot

WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT THEM:

Washer: Everything! You mentioned washing for a large family; I do too. The washer capacity is 4.6 cu ft (largest on the market); it has no agitator which means I can wash king-size comforters, sleeping bags, etc; the settings are extremely easy to use; I like having many cycles, including Soak, Hand Wash, Bulky, Whites, Jeans/Colors, plus others; it uses far less water and energy than my old traditional toploading washers; and it spins laundry so well, it's not nearly as wet as it used to be when I put it into the dryer - unless I use the slow spin, as I do for delicates.

Dryer: Big capacity! 7 cu ft. Settings are very easy to use, and I like being able to use Wrinkle Guard on any cycle. Laundry dries in MUCH less time; the dryer usually finishes BEFORE the washer, so I can unload the dryer and then put more laundry into the dryer.

Hope this helps.

We have seen a big drop in our electric bill since we got these appliances in May. I highly recomend them.