Ratings Chart
Product Features
Appliance and Manufacturer; Color or Type; Price Range; Types of Controls; Comments.
Stoves
Whirlpool; All colors; All price ranges; Tactile surfaces; Predictable settings, resets to default predictably, tones with button press. Many participants and others find these controls useful; direct observation of the temperature setting is not available nonvisually.
GE; all colors with black control areas; low-to-moderate price range; Tactile surfaces; Predictable settings, defaults predictably, tones with button press.
Dishwashers
Whirlpool; All colors; All price ranges; Bubble-like molded tactile control; Predictable settings, easy-to-feel control action, includes Clear button.
Bausch (a higher-end German brand); All models, all colors; High price range; Latching mechanical controls or easy-to-feel electronic controls; Some models use a LED indicator with no Clear button.
Sears Kenmore; Some models or units, including D22M16264L, Kenmore Elite 13752, 13763, and 13793 ($650 to $1,150) are manufactured by Whirlpool and Bausch; All price ranges; Reflect the characteristics of features of the Whirlpool and Bausch models.
LG; Some models, all colors; Mid to high price range; Mechanical controls; Easy to feel.
Miele, such as model 8663; all colors; A turn knob with a subtle raised pointer.
Entry-level models from several brands; Turn-knob mechanical controls, some mechanical buttons; Easy to feel, can check progress of washing cycle by touch.
Fisher and Paykel DishDrawer models (also available under the KitchenAid brand); High-End; Up-Down cycle controls inside the unit, beep tones indicate the top and bottom of the cycle menus.
Conventional Top-Loading Washing Machines (typically the least expensive models)
Whirlpool; All colors; Low to moderate price range; Conventional knobs with pointed ends; The main timer control creates click sounds and provides feedback as cycles are changed.
Whirlpool; Cabrio (high-efficiency top-loading; High price range; Turn knob with distinct pointer, electronic controls; Click stops indicate cycle selection, bubble controls beep as settings are changed, shares controls with the front-loading Duet Sport.
Sears Kenmore; models including the 700 series; Low to moderate price range; Conventional knobs with an embossed dot indicating the pointer marking; The main timer control provides good tactile feedback, clicks interrupt smooth turning as cycles are changed.
Maytag; Insignia Series; Low to moderate price range; Conventional knobs with a textured pointer marking; The main timer control clicks interrupt smooth turning, provides tactile feedback as cycles are changed.
Fisher and Paykel; Echo Smart (high-efficiency top-loading model); More expensive than many top-loading units; Embossed tactile controls, beep tones; The menu settings are accessible with changing tones when the top and bottom of the menu are reached, Up/Down button pairs for menu selections, cycles selected by a single button press.
Front-Loading Washing Machines
Whirlpool; Duet models, all colors; Mid to high price range; Turn knob with distinct pointer, electronic controls; Predictable up/down changes with button press, no tones with button press.
Whirlpool; Duet Sport; Mid price range; Turn knob with a distinct pointer, electronic controls; Click stops indicate cycle selection, bubble controls beep as the settings are changed. Shares controls with the Cabrio top-loading machine.
LG Tronn; Super Capacity, all colors; Mid price range; Unique circular button; Five cycles selected at the edge of the large button, a tone sounds with each button press when making adjustments to settings.
Sears Kenmore; Some models, including the HE3 and HE4; Mid to high price range; Easy-to-feel electronic touch controls, cycle selected with a single press from circular button array; Predictable menus with the Up/Down button press, no tones with the button press.
Sears Kenmore; Models manufactured by Frigidaire; Mid price range; Turn knobs with the tactile pointer, distinct buttons to adjust settings; Predictable Up/Down menu selections.
Clothes Dryers*
Standouts include the Whirlpool models, Fisher and Paykel basic dryer, and Whirlpool and Sears Kenmore mates for front-loading washing machines.
Microwave Ovens**
GE; Profile 7543, stainless, Textured touch controls contrast with smooth background, some may find controls crowded.
Panasonic, model 1085, stainless; $209; mechanical buttons, number pad and function controls use differing button shapes, well regarded unit by owners had been unavailable.
Hamilton Beach, talking microwave, $169; Unit announces functions as buttons are pressed, digits for time entry are not announced, a rotary knob with clicks is used for number entry.
Whirlpool and Whirlpool Gold (over the range); All colors; Textured surfaces on smooth background.
Wall Ovens
Whirlpool; All colors; All price ranges; Tactile surfaces; Predictable settings, defaults predictably, tones with button press.
KitchenAid double and single, such as models 28479 and 28403 (a midrange brand); All colors; All price ranges; Subtle tactile surfaces, uses keypad for entering temperature and time, predictable settings; Predictable defaults, tones with a button press. Earlier models featured more distinct textures on the button surfaces.
GE Monogram, ZET2PLSS $4000, double wall oven, stainless steel; Large rotary knobs with clearly identifiable pointers, the knobs click into position for options, such as broiler and convection; Subtle but identifiable clicks for temperatures in 25-degree increments starting with 200 degrees.
Frigidaire; Black and stainless with black controls; Tactile surfaces; Predictable settings, defaults predictably, tones with button press; Textured regions more distinct than some other brands.
*Dryer controls reflect the design of their washing machine mates.
**Microwaves are generally inaccessible, with the exceptions listed here, because of controls that cannot be identified by touch and complex visual displays that do not provide access.
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