So far So Good!

I have had my Haier HLP21E for about a week now...I got it online for about $240 (including shipping). The installation was a little bit tricky due to the akward diagrams on the manual. Luckily they have a 24 hour technical support 800 #. The first time I ran the machine it leaked a tiny bit...but that stopped by itself the next day. I have used the machine for about 6 days in a row and it seems to work perfectly now. There are a few quirks with the machine. The water temperature is controlled by the hot/cold handles on the sink. The washer needs to be fairly close to the faucet and sink because the hoses are not that long. I also have to use the handle of a heavy beer mug in order to weigh down the drain hose in the sink. Unless you have a dryer, the clothes need to be hung up to dry (I dry them on my shower curtain rod and most stuff dries overnight). The good part about the washer is that my clothes come out clean and smelling great. I no longer have to haul all my laundry downstairs to the laundromat across the street. I'm also saving 3 bucks a load, which is what I used to pay at the laundromat. So far I really like this little machine! I think it may end up being the best purchase I've made in a long time.

Great Buy!

I am VERY happy with this machine..At first i made the same two mistakes everybody else does..I installed the bottom panel upside down and didn't tighten the hose at the machine end quite enough but when i got those two little kinks ironed out the machine works fine.With the less then 200$ price tag you really get a big bang for the buck from this washer.. I recommend this to ANYONE who is looking to be liberated from a life of slavery to the laundrymat!FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST!

great little machine!

this little washer is excellent!
i checked reviews on several machines before buying this one. wanted the washer/dryer combo from thor, but there seem to be numerous mechanical problems. especially surprising considering the price. also looked at the little "wonder washer" mini portable washer and rejected it for the same reason. it's apparently cheaply made, doesn't work well and got more bad reviews than good.
the haier reviews made me a little nervous, too, until i noticed that all the bad ones said the same thing. it leaks if connections are not tight enough, it makes a horrible sound if the plate is put on upside down, and it mustn't be over-loaded or have too much detergent put in. all of this amounted to consumer error. i really needed the washer and decided to take a chance. it's one of the best decisions i ever made. the only problem i had was with installing the plate. as everyone has mentioned, the holes don't match and the screws are too large. i remedied this by very gently enlarging the holes on the bottom of the machine with an ice pick, being careful not to damage any working parts. got the machine running soon and i've been using it several times a week since it arrived two months ago.
one other thing. in reference to the metal plate being improperly installed, there were comments about instructions not being clear. something may have changed since those reviews were written because the instruction book i have is quite explicit, and the plate is clearly marked. the directions are actually pressed into the metal. there is no way i would have put it on wrong. either people were ignoring this or (more likely, i think)haier took note of the problem and did something about it.
anyway, if you're in need of a washer and short on space, do get one of these. it's well worth the money.
my sincere thanks to everone who wrote reviews, good and bad. you were all instrumental in helping me make this choice.

Wonderful little machine

OK first let me start off by saying that anyone with anything negative to say about this machine must either have a defective model or is using the machine improperly. It is what it is...a compact washing machine. If you are expecting the machine to wash a huge load of clothes the same as a full sized washer look elsewhere...otherwise if you are like me with limited space and are just looking for a few clean clothes this washing machine is a winner.

This little machine is fantastic. I don't know how I lived so long without this. I live in NYC and technically we are not permitted to have washing machines. However after years of schlepping heaps of dirty laundry downstairs to the community laundromat and seeing some nasty things down there (bugs in the washing machines....ewww, mildew inside the washing machine windows, etc) not to mention the loads of $$$ wasted I decided to bite the bullet and buy a small washing machine. I just had a baby and refused to wash her clothes down there and honestly I'm tired of fighting for washers, dryers and spending so much $$$. So I was able to find this fabulous little machine on Craigslist for a whopping $50!!!

I figured what the heck...if it doesn't work it's only $50 but to my surprise this machine is absolutey fantastic. Now with that said keep in mind this is a compact washing machine...DO NOT OVERLOAD! If you use the washing machine correctly you will get sparkling clean clothes in the comfort of your own home. Here are some suggestions:

I prefer to wash with the water set on the medium level. High makes the water rise too much and in my opinion the clothes do not wash as well. Although I have washed a few loads on high with decent results I have received the best results with clothes washed on the medium level.

First with that said do not overload. My husband is a big guy (XXL shirts and size 38 waist pants) I typically do one pair of his jeans and maybe 3 or 4 of his t-shirts at a time. Towels I do one or two medium sized towels and maybe 2 or 3 tshirts. Not a lot but pretty good for a small sized machine. Now with my baby's clothes I'm able to do pretty much 4 days worth of onesies, socks, pj's, clothes etc with no problem. With my clothes (size 12 women) I can fit considerably more than with my husbands...lets say 3 or 4 workpants and a shirt or a few shirts etc. Whites I can do a decent size like 5 tshirts and 4 pairs of socks. Not bad at all.

Second I use high efficiency detergent. A little goes a long way. If you use high sudsing detergent like Tide or Cheer use only a quarter of a cap full. If you use too much detergent it will create too many suds and cause the machine to overflow and not wash as well. Personally I prefer Method detergent. It's HE, Eco Friendly and smells wonderful. I use the regular Method for me and my Husband and the baby Method for my Daughter. I do use fabric softener (again Method softener) I put a little in the Downy ball and it works perfect.

Third this machine washes clothes very clean if you follow the instructions above. I have seen white socks with black bottoms come out looking like new not to mention some questionable stains come out fabulously.

This washing machine is extremely compact...about 17" wide by 17" deep by 2.5 feet high. I am constantly doing laundry so I pretty much keep it stationary in my small kitchen and it fits perfectly. You can purchase castors for it to move it around easily if you wish but for me I keep in one spot and use it about 1-2x a day depending.

I have never had any leaks on the machine. Inititally we had to purchase an extra adaptor piece for our faucet in order to make the hose fit snug enough since our faucet is ancient. Another plus with this machine is that it spins the clothes so well they come out basically damp. I hang them on a drying rack and within a few hours everything is pretty much dry. Jeans and towels of course take longer than t-shirts but that is a given. I make sure to take the wet clothes out as soon as I hear the beep so that they don't get too wrinkled...another benefit is that this machine has a bell type signal to let you know when the clothes are done. If you are concerned about noise don't be. On top of everything else this machine is extremely quiet even on the spin cycle.

Overall I give this machine 5 stars. Hands down this has been the best purchase I have made in a long time if ever. I reccomend this machine to everyone I know without laundry facilities. It's definitely worth it's weight in gold.

very good and durable

giving five stars because I bought this washer 2 years ago from amazon and almost used it every day. Now it still works well.

Why NOT? 2nd time buyer and ECSTATIC!

I had the smaller version for 2 1/2 years and after much abuse it finally stopped spinning (... and I mean ABUSE)! It stopped spinning after I shoved a comforter into it (yes - I should have known better). And that one I bought for $145 delivered. (UPDATE: all the old one needed was a new belt! So my best friend will be getting a few years of service out of it as well!).

This time around I decided to get the larger model and how happy am I? I had it in my house and doing wash 1 1/2 days after ordering (and that was with normal shipping).

I don't have (and did not with the other one) any of the issues others have seen with leaking etc. First of all, I read directions.... There is some small assembly. Pay attention and make sure everything is tight and you wont have issues.

DO NOT USE NORMAL DETERGENT..... BUY HE only and you'll be fine.

As with my previous one, I am happy as a clam. Cannot to this day, 2 1/2 years after buying my one, understand why I put up with laundry mats for so long.

If I hadn't overstuffed the old one (time after time after time), I am sure it would still be working today..... And I dont mind, I was spending $100 a month at the laundry mat, so it paid for itself in six weeks.

This one I got for $245 delivered, so it will pay for itself in 10 weeks. I can live with that.

Go for it. You really have nothing to lose and if you are spending 80-100 bucks a month at the laundry mat, you would still make out even if the thing broke after 2-3 months.

Makes sense to me.


OH - A QUICK TIP FOR THE DRAIN HOSE - I tie it to the water intake hose... therefore it is always in the sink and I never have to worry about it coming loose... I tie them together about 5-7 inches from the end. Then the end of the water intake hose goes to the faucet, and by default the end of the drain hose sits in the sink tied to it

For other great info - clcik SEE ALL REVIEWs from me (there's only one) and its for the other model, on there I have picutres and part numbers for connecting to a bathroom sink (and it all applies to this model as well).... as a matter of fact, the wheels I bought for the first one, fits this one without any adjustments at all.

Haier Compact Washer

Absolutly everything I expected. The Haier HLP21E, 6 3/5 lb. capacity, holds about 1/2 load of a regular sized drum. Washes wonderful and spins out to just damp. I've been using Arm & Hammer liquid with the softener in it and have had no over-sudsing issues. ( I use about 1/2-3/4 capful). It came in about 5 days, much earlier than the esimated shipping date. It hooked up easy and has no leaks, and doesn't play Jingle Bells, (LOL) like previous models! It's perfect for 1-2 people in a small apartment, probably not the most paractical for a big family, but I love it. I think I was getting depression from having to drag my laundry out and up and down my stairs to the 2nd floor, especially during WNY winter, and now I'm SAVED!!!
No, I don't have a dryer, but I have use of a clothes line and bought a dryer rack that fits in my bath tub. So, Love, Love, Love!! And I make everyone that comes over, check-it-out, and they love it too! :D Oh, and I'm going to put it on a wheeled plant stand too, (like I read that someone else did) as soon as I find one with locking wheels.
Thanks for reading,
L.E.
Western NY

LOVE it!

Why didn't I buy this sooner?? This washer spins so well that even towels I wash in the evening are dry before I go to bed (I hang them and have a fan on them). The washer holds plenty and runs incredibly quietly. Loads that do retain more water after draining--towels/sweaters--do tend to make the first spin cycle a little loud (medium hum sound). However, the initial spin is less than 10 seconds, so about the time I notice that the washer is making more sound than normal, it's over.

Some the reviews mentioning placing the bottom tray 'convex/concave' were confusing to me. They may be clear to others, but I wasn't sure what the convex/concave was in reference to (me as I'm installing the tray with the washer on its side, or in reference to the washer when it's upright??), so here's what worked for me: install the tray so that it sets like it should catch water (like the drip pan under your refrigerator) when the washer is upright. Of course, with the holes in it, it isn't really a drip-pan, but hopefully this is easier to understand.

I found the 'quick connect' thing that was included with my washer kept leaking at the sink connection (I really had to make the connection at the washer tight to stop leaks there). I went to Home Depot and got a new connector for the sink for eight bucks & haven't had a problem since. I also tied both the hose & drain hoses together with velcro ties so they hang together in the sink. When I'm not using the hoses, I then use the velcro ties to hang the hoses on a hook on the wall.

I do love my Downy ball, but I think it makes alot of noise in this washer as it floats & rubs against the steel washer basin, so I just add the softener directly to the final rinse (there are 2 rinse cycles).

As another reviewer said--- the lint filter is incredible. I didn't think that little thing would catch much, but I really do have to empty it after every 1-3 washes.

If you're doing your laundry at a laundromat, save your money and time. This little washer is fantastic. I'm a laundry freak---I love doing laundry and I'm very picky about where/how it's done. Not to mention the safety concern in public laundromats. This washer is worth its weight in gold. Really.

How did I live in New York City for ten years without this?

No seriously, how have I been living in apartments for a decade without this machine? Through single and couple-dom life, I've been dragging my clothes to the local (and not-so local) laundromat resulting in frantic minutes scrounging for quarters, two hours of boredom, whites slowly turning yellow in those questionable big machines and a less-than-enthused significant other. Sometimes, I would just give up and wash those needed socks or undershirt in the shower praying they would dry hung up overnight. It was one of those nights that I finally had had enough and the boy started scouring the internet for a solution.

This machine is *my* miracle of modern technology and has significantly improved my life in quantifiable hours - and I bet has saved me money in the long run (if you consider it's five dollars per `big' wash load at the laudromat, and they only have `big' load machines.)

At about 2 1/2 feet high and 17 inches wide, this machine easily plugs into a three-pronged outlet, screws into a normal sink (normal screw-in adapter included - thank God!), and drainage hose hooks over the side of the sink, super easy. And it packs a powerful punch - everything comes out clean and surprisingly lint-free. I did have my doubts about the weird lint collector inside - which completely works, although a bit difficult to remove and empty. It's also surprisingly light - at 5'3" I'm not exactly a brute force of strength, but I have no problem sliding the machine back into the corner easily once finished, although I would have a problem lifting it up entirely. It's also quiet, there's only a slight audible hum when it vibrates - about the same level as a person humming, which you can barely hear in the next room. It's nowhere near as loud as regular machines and doesn't bothers anyone.

Any problems? Well when we first received, like others here we screwed in the bottom plate (there isn't much installation, just the one plate) backwards - curving away from the ground and it did make a weird crunch sound while running - however, it's a pretty tell-tale signal, and we flipped it around (like a cup sitting on a counter) in five minutes. Also, I was so excited about my first wash and over-loaded it - so we had a little puddle on the ground, but not since.

There are three water levels to choose from and at the high level it washes about two pants, a shirt, and three little items (say socks or underwear), or two towels and a facecloth, etc. I've easily fit in four t-shirts and five undergarments plus socks. By carefully ensuring everything is evenly distributed, I've even managed to wash my comforter cover - heaven! Realistically, it's about a half-load of laundry to a normal household washer. You control the water temperature by your sink. Being a girlie-girl when it comes to underwear, I can even throw in my delicates without worry. In two months I've had no problem with lace, silk, cotton or nylon ripping, and I haven't even used a mesh bag to protect them. Horray! The machine even allows for prolonged soaking if needed. Best of all, nothing comes out dripping. The spin cycle on the machine thoroughly drains water so many things dry overnight. After about a half hour wash, everything is ready to hang.

Definitely now part of my *must have apartment appliances* along with a microwave and toaster oven, I love this thing so much that I've actually named it Einstein and joked that should the significant other and I split up - the machine stays with me.