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Whirlpool Ultimate Care II

by J
(Fort Worth, TX)

I have owned the Whirlpool Ultimate Care II washing machine for six years. We have it in solid white.

We received the washing machine as a free incentive when we built our home. I love this washing machine. It is a top loading machine.

There are four wash cycles to chose from, including extra delicate and hand washables. I like the hand washable feature.

It is way better than actually washing clothes by hand in the sink or tub. You chose to have an extra rinse cycle.

I use the extra rinse cycle when washing our baby's clothes to make sure all of the soap gets rinsed out. There are five water levels to chose from. You can wash extra small loads to extra large loads.

We never use the extra small, but that might be a good feature for a single person living alone. I would definitely recommend this washing machine to a friend and would buy again for myself.

I have heard that the front loading machines are better, but I have never tried one. If you are looking for a front loading washing machine that gives you several options, this is the machine for you.

Comments for
Whirlpool Ultimate Care II

Average Rating starstarstarstar

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Nov 16, 2009
Rating
star 		never worked for me
by: Ann

I have had my Whirlpool Ultimate Care II Washer for about 5 years. I absolutely HATE it. Had the service folks out 3 times to fix it but, it was never fixed. It would never spin enough water out of the clothes, so I would have to re-spin them and still it would take at least an hour and a half to dry a load of towels. I also have the whirlpool dryer. Which seems fine. But, hopefully all of them are not like mine. I would NOT recommend the Whirlpool Ultimate Care II Washer.
Sep 09, 2009
Rating
starstarstar 		clutch needs replacing after five years
by: Anonymous

I am disappointed in my whirlpool washer. Only 5 years old and the clutch needs to be replaced. We are a small family of 2 adults so the machine is not subject to a lot of use or abuse. It runs on average 2 times a week. The Admiral I had prior to the Whirlpool was 17 years old when I replaced it and it was still working fine but the dryer had broken so I bought a new set.
Aug 14, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstar 		No plan to upgrade
by: Anonymous

The Whirlpool Ultimate Care II - Imperial Series is a sturdy, reliable washing machine. I have owned it for almost 5 years now, and have never had to have it fixed or parts replaced.

There is a suggestion, however, on the inside of the lid to replace the inlet hose ever 5 years. There are a variety of combinations to use for different fabrics as well as numerous speeds and temperatures.

It performs well as long as the loads are not oversized. Occasionally if I put in too many items the washer will jerk and jump. This is easily fixed by readjusting the clothes within the washer so that they are not all clumped together. I have been able to wash items as large as a queen sized quilt or a twin sized comforter in the machine without having any problems.

I would not go larger than those sizes though.
As for the fabric softener dispenser, I use a fabric softener ball, so I cannot comment on how well the fabric softener dispenser works. The other helpful thing is that there is a list on the inside of the lid that tell you how to proceed for the best stain removal.

It lists that type of stain, whether bleach is safe for the fabric as well as what temperature to use to remove the stain. I have found this list helpful to have right there on occasion.

All in all, I have been satisfied with this machine, and do not have any plans to upgrade in the near future. It has held up well and served it's intended purpose.
Jul 08, 2009
Rating
starstar 		Lint comes back
by: Anonymous

My machine flicks the lint back on the clothes. It's annoying.
The fabric softner sticks to the top of the bowl.
Have to wash the washing machine
Jun 02, 2009
Rating
starstar 		It's the seven year death...
by: Anonymous

I've owned the Whirlpool Ultimate Care II for seven years. The balance is horrible, as mentioned by another reviewer. In fact, the spin cycle stopped working, and even after that was fixed, the balance is still way off. It's incredibly loud during the spin cycle, and it matters not what size load. While this is an inexpensive machine, I would never recommend it. Seven years is simply not an adequate life span for a decent washer.
May 12, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Not happy
by: Anonymous

Our Whirlpool Ultimate Care II washer just died, the plastic tub that holds the water cracked on the bottom allowing water to drip onto the transmisson. In addition the clutch went out so it quit spinning as well. My prior Kenmore went 20+ years, this Whirlpool went 6.....not what I call progress in reliability.
Mar 17, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Washes well, but came with unusual problems
by: Anonymous

We purchased this machine 3 years ago when our old one (not a whirlpool) started leaking after only 5 years. The major reason I purchased it was for the hand wash cycle. It washes all hand wash items, including under wire bras very thoroughly and with no damage to the garments. I do have two complaints. First, the washer keeps tripping the circuit breaker. I have had the technician out a number of times, but no problem was found. In fact, I was assured that the machine could only draw a certain number of amps so the machine wasn't the problem. It was a new house, and I wasn't overwhelmed with the electrician, so we eventually had someone replace the circuit breaker. It still tripped. We have since moved to another new house, and the same problem is occurring. I would have to say that there is something definitely wrong with the machine, but as it's out of warranty, I'm out of luck. If the problem would occur only once in a while, I'd be OK, but when it goes, it goes 6 or 7 times in a row! If I wanted to run up and down the stairs so often, I would have put the machine in the basement! I know it's a silly problem, but it's one which has me considering purchasing a new washer as my dryer has gone kaput. the second problem is that it smells funny now that it's a few years old. I always keep the door open when the machine isn't in use, and have tried running a load with a lot of bleach in order to clean it, to no avail. The smell comes and goes, but is definitely unpleasant. Other than those two complaints, it's a great machine!
Mar 09, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Lasted Five years so far
by: Anonymous

Very good washing machine. We have one with five years of use and, still is working like new!!
Mar 09, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Help reduce number of wash loads
by: Laura

When my large family moved from one state to another it was hard to leave behind my super capacity washer that we purchased from Sears.

I was thrilled to find out the home we purchased came with a Whirlpool Ultimate Care II Heavy Duty super Capacity Plus Washer.

The Washing Machine was two years old when we moved into the home. Five years and loads and loads of clothes later it is still going strong.

The Eight different cycles and multiple water temperatures make cleaning a variety of clothes possible.

We count on this Machine to wash Business wear, College Outfits, everyday things, and our daughters part time bee keepers work clothes encrusted with wax and honey. We've yet to be dissapointed.

When your busy the end of cycle buzzer helps remind you the cycle is over keeping the clothes from staying in the washer too long. The exterior of the washer is comparable to the size and appearance of any other top loading Washing Machine.

I would definitely recommend the Whirlpool Ultimate Care II Heavy Duty Super Capacity Plus Washing Machine.

It has done the work it was built for and helped reduce the number of wash loads a day our family would have to do.
Feb 15, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Recommended for quality and price
by: Claudia

My husband and I bought our house about 18 months ago and needed to also purchase appliances for it. We visited several stores, but everything was so overpriced and since we had just bought a house we were a little over budget.
We visited some of the bigger department stores and even though they offered us financing we decided not to because we had just gotten our first and second mortgage.

We didn't want any more bills... in any case, we ended up at our local store (Larrivas). It's a small family owned appliance store, but with very friendly staff. We decided to buy the whole package that included refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and washer and dryer.

I think this was a very good investment because we found that Whirlpool is a very reliable brand and very well known. I recommend it to anyone wanting a good quality machine that is not priced over the top.

This is my first set of washer and dryer and I love it. I wouldn't trade them for anything. Hopefully they will last us a long time.
Feb 15, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		very reliable machine
by: Anonymous

I bought this washing machine used, about 5 years ago,from a lady that was moving. It had been left out under her carport for 6 months and someone had dumped laundry powder into the fabric softener dispenser so that it appeared that there wasn't a dispenser there. After bringing the machine home and cleaning out the softener dispenser, it has worked wonderfully!

This machine was bought to replace a one year old Maytag (bought from a major home improvement chain of stores) that had been nothing but problems since day one. I only wish that instead of buying a new Maytag I would have bought a brand new version of this Whirlpool.

I have used the Whirlpool daily since I got it. A family of 4, with sons in baseball and a love for any other outdoor sports, means that I generally wash about 3 loads of clothes a day. The clothes always come out looking great. Sure, there's times that I can't get a particular stain out, but those times will occur no matter what washing machine you use.

Sometimes a particular detergent will help you get clothes looking better, sometimes it can't. In any case, I have NO problems with this machine and, although I hope it doesn't have to be replaced for a long time, I will get another Whirlpool.
Feb 15, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pleased to wash large loads
by: Anonymous

We purchased our whirlpool 3 years ago. Compared to other brands that we have had in the past, our Whirlpool has stood up the best so far.

My husband is a mechanic and is always bringing home greasy clothes, and our washer has held up to the various mechanic oils that he comes home with on his clothes. Its settings are easy to comprehend and maneuver.

I am also pleased with the amount of clothes that I am able to wash at one time. We have a large family and it is able to handle the constant washing of large loads.

One of the cons that I would say that it has is the sound. On the final spin cycle, it does get a little noisy, but still nothing compared to the other brands that I have had. Another con that I have found is the build up of fabric softner in the dispenser. I find it hard to clean it out.

On the financial side, I found the Whirlpool Ultimate Care II to be priced just right for our average-income household. It was comparable to other brands out there in price, but the name was the most valuable to us.

Whirlpool has had a solid reputation for years and that in the end sold us on our washer.
Feb 15, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstar 		lacks more convenient advanced features
by: Anonymous

This machine came with my house when I bought it, but I don't suspect it's very old at all. I have read many "bad" reviews of this model which included the tearing of clothes, leaking, failing to rinse, and losing the transmission after only a few months.

None of these issues have happened to me. It's a top-load, standard machine that does a simple task nicely.

The PROS: It is fairly quiet; it has the printing "Quiet Wash" right on the front. The controls are straightforward, with the necessary options for doing all sorts of laundry tasks. I mainly use the standard and gentle cycles to save on electricity and extend the life-span of the machine, but I have used the settings for tough jobs which worked as expected.

This machine is not high-style, but it's stylish enough to remain unnoticed to the casual visitor. It has adequate water settings and soap intakes. It's balanced nicely and does not shake unless I load it sloppily.

The CONS: Since it washes fairly quietly, it is lacking a buzzer to indicate the end of the cycle. Often, I forget I had laundry working for a few hours. It's lacking a few other features compared to the high-end models that I notice while browsing through stores.
Feb 03, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Hard working, reliable washing machine.
by: Heather

My washing machine gets a pounding every day. I usually do between three and six full loads on a daily basis, so it’s often running from 6:00am until 6:00pm. And yet despite the fact that it’s three years old it’s still going strong.

So, what do I like best about this washing machine? First off the capacity. I can get a lot of clothing or towels into this washer. Or I can fit in a full size duvet, mattress pad, sheets and pillowcases. And trust me, that’s important to me given as I have three young children who have been known to wet the bed. To be able to put everything into a single hot wash and have it come out smelling good and clean is absolutely brilliant.

I also really like the different load features. There are four temperature settings – hot, warm, cool, and cold. There are also programs for different types of laundry – a hand wash setting, a perma-press setting, delicates, etc. All of the settings you’d hope for. Key for me as well are the pre-wash setting and the extra rinse setting. For those of you who are using cloth diapers, you know the pre-wash is critical to remove soiling. Well, this does such a great job that more than once I’ve had to say “Wait a sec, I still need to wash these – they’ve only had a rinse!” Trust me, not every machine can get things that clean that quickly. Also, I’ve found that I can really cut down on my detergent usage – a half a dose is more than enough to get things very clean indeed. I appreciate the savings I get that way.

In addition to getting my clothes washed very well, the machine does one other thing for me that some people might appreciate. I knit, and a fair number of the projects I knit are designed to be felted. In other words you’re supposed to put the finished item into hot water and agitate it until the material is a lovely dense fabric. Now, I’ve done a fair amount of felting before, including fulling the materials by hand when needed. But this machine does a brilliant job. I can get the water hot enough and the agitation is strong enough that everything is even and nicely done. And trust me, if you’ve got a washing machine that felts well, there’s a very good chance you’ve got one that will clean well.

For me, this is a very hard working, reliable washing machine. It does what it’s supposed to do and it does it well with a minimum of noise and fuss. I would definitely recommend this machine to people who want a good, middle of the road washer that has to stand up to significant abuse.
Jan 12, 2009
Rating
starstarstar 		A good starter machine
by: Anne

I own a Whirlpool Ultimate Care II, and have had it for nearly 6 years now. On the whole, it’s a pretty good washing machine. We haven’t had any trouble with it. It is, though, comparable to popular models selling right now, as cheaper machine with fewer bells and whistles.

It’s my first machine, so I don’t have much to compare it too. We bought it at Lowes and had their delivery service hook it up. That seemed rather routine, now special assistance needed. Since then, it’s been handling between 3 and 7 loads a week.

I noticed no wear on the machine in the first few years of ownership, when I was doing about 3 loads a week. Since the addition of children to our family, however, 7 loads is beginning to take its toll. About 6 months ago I began to notice that my gentle cycle would not get all the detergent out of the clothes. I have to use the extra rinse every time I use that cycle in order to get clean clothes.

While the extra rinse feature was one of the things that initially drew me to this machine, I that needing it seems a bit wasteful to me. I like it for small loads of soiled children’s things that just need the stain stick taken out of them, but to have to run every gentle load with an extra rinse is weighing on me, and my water bill.

As it is not a High efficiency washer, I do find that it doesn’t require as much detergent as a standard machine. I probably use about half of the detergent the bottle recommends, and it gets the job done. With that being said, other than a few grass stains, our clothes are not heavily soiled.

Another detractor of this machine is the ease with which it becomes unbalanced. More and more I find myself sprinting for the stairs because it sounds as though it is whipping around traveling across the laundry room floor. I do not generally wash super large loads of laundry, just large ones, so I find this a bit annoying.

On the whole, I would recommend this machine to a single person or young couple who are not using it heavily. It’s a good starter machine if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, and just want the basic functions of getting clean clothes. I will probably have to replace it in the next two years, and perhaps I am crazy, but I think a washing machine should last longer than 7 years.
Nov 22, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Nothing but good things to say about this
by: Anonymous

We bought this machine three years ago from a local shop--Strafford Appliance--and couldn't be happier. It's a top-loading machine with a very easy, intuitive interface. It has very few problems with being unbalanced--which was an issue with the old one--and was very easy to start using. It does seem to have some issues with water choice temperature, but that may be my husband hooking it up wrong!

It gets the clothing very clean and accepts all kinds of washing detergent without fussing--which is very important because both my husband and I require a specialty detergent that doesn't aggravate allergies.

It takes both large and small loads without an issue, and the various wash cycles are as advertised-- delicate really is delicate, heavy duty really is heavy-duty.

Our old washer was small and a gift from friends—so it really wasn’t adequate to our needs. While free is nice, I would definitely recommend this washer for anyone who has a lot of laundry to do. Somehow we manage to rack up rather a lot of laundry and this handles heavy loads well and still gets them clean.

Since a lot of our laundry is jeans and sheets and towels, those can be very heavy on a washer but this one has required no repairs or anything in the three years that we’ve had it. Since saving money is a big concern for us, it is very important that a washer work well on a minimum of detergent and also not need anything in the way of expensive repair work, and this has performed well on all counts.

I have nothing but good things to say about this washer—it’s never given me a moment’s worry, so I’ve been very pleased with how it’s worked out for us. I would definitely consider another one, even though the price was a bit expensive for a washer.
Oct 23, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstar 		best i've owned
by: Anonymous

It is the best washing machine we have ever owned. It broke down about a week ago because the teeth that turned the top agitator had been striped. Even then only the top stopped working. One problem in ten years is pretty good. It hold sufficiently large loads, has many setting, most of which we don't use.

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