After a used Kenmore flooded her laundry room, one Pittsburgh woman decided to invest in a brand new washer. But less than eight hours after her $748 Maytag Pet Pro arrived, she already wanted it gone.
TikToker Malaeja (@its_toogs) shared her frustrations in a video that drew attention from others who felt the same way about modern washing machines. Her video got over 65,200 views.
Woman Points Out What’s Wrong With New Washers
“I got my new washer; we know the debacle that happened,” she says, referring to her previous machine, which overflowed after failing to recognize that it was full.
While that experience forced her to upgrade, the new washer didn’t bring her peace either.
From the start, Malaeja explains what’s wrong with her Maytag Pet Pro, and with most new washers in general.
“I need agitator, I don’t care what none of y’all say,” she says. “Don’t nothing feel clean without agitator.”
Instead, she demonstrates how the machine moves the load back and forth gently without turning in one direction long enough to pull things down.
The motion makes it harder for all the fabric to pass through the center, where the cleaning power actually happens.
“I don’t feel like this outside part is clean,” she says, watching the towels flop around half-heartedly. “That’s not cleaning it, rubbing back and forth on the ridges.”
Though the drum has soap and water inside, she says the rotation never allows everything to get washed evenly.
$748 For What?
Even after switching to the heaviest cycle just to see more water and suds, Malaeja still wasn’t convinced the washer was doing its job.
“I damn near about to return this,” she says. “It just came today. It’s not even 8 hours old.”
She pauses the cycle and sticks her hand inside the washer to reposition the towels herself. “These are my towels too, and if you know, like I said before, the towels had to soak up the leak that happened.”
Frustrated, she moves things around manually just to make sure they get touched by soapy water. “I don’t give a [expletive] what nobody say. I’m gonna hand wash in a minute.”
While she originally chose the Maytag Pet Pro for its hair-trapping filter, a helpful feature for pet owners, it didn’t make up for what she saw as weak performance.
“I don’t like this,” she says in the video. “Whoever was in the room when they decided this—fire.”
Are Modern Washers Actually Worse?
She’s not the only one asking that question. According to First Serve UK, vintage washers used to last far longer and break down far less.
Older models had stronger motors, sturdier drums, and simple controls that didn’t glitch. Repairs were cheaper and parts weren’t outsourced. “I have seen brand new machines break down after 13 months, one month after the manufacturer’s warranty had run out,” one technician wrote.
In contrast, many modern machines now fail faster. The article warns against models with Wi-Fi or complex digital features, since more programming often means more bugs.
Even if newer models look better, the reliability just isn’t the same. One expert even tore apart an old and new washer side-by-side, showing how materials and design have degraded over time.
Which Washer Does TikTok Recommend?
Commenters shared their recommendations under Malaeja’s video.
One person wrote, “Speed Queen is the way to go.”
Another said, “I found an old GE washing machine from the ’90s at an estate sale. It fills to the top. You can soak your clothes and add throughout the day. I can really tell a difference.”
Someone else said they use a newer washer only for big items like comforters, but still rely on their old one for everything else. “I don’t care what anybody says, these new washers are trash!”
@its_toogs @Maytag I seriously need someone to step away from the drawing board and go back to the old faithful way of the agitators.. this is ridiculous #maytag #laundryday #washermachine ♬ original sound – its_toogs
Others thought the issue might be the load size.
“It appears overloaded,” one user said. “These new washers can’t handle too many clothes.”
In response, Malaeja posted another video where she washed just four blankets. But the results were the same. The drum still couldn’t agitate the load properly, and certain areas of fabric remained untouched by detergent.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Malaeja via TikTok and Instagram messages. We’ve also contacted Maytag via email for official comment.
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