The Speed Queen AWS51NW top-loading washer was built with durability in mind. As a leading manufacturer of commercial-quality washers, Speed Queen prides itself on building reliable machines and backs them with a very impressive 3-year warranty.

Similar to the less expensive AWS17NW, the Speed Queen's AWS51NW offers the addition of an extra rinse, a pre-wash and more cycles designed to handle the most delicate of fabrics. The key to this model's ability to wash hand washables and delicates is the addition of a second, slower and more gentle motor speed.

Like most of the washers in Speed Queen's line, the AWS51NW has a 3.3-cubic-foot capacity tub that easily accommodates extra-large loads of laundry. Filling this large tub takes a hefty amount of water -- about 36.7 gallons per average-size load. At one time, use of this amount of water was commendable, but by today's high-efficiency standards, this usage is excessive.
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This Speed Queen relies on an agitator system, which is the traditional method of moving clothes through water. It's quite thorough, but not nearly as gentle as some of the newer methods used to clean laundry. A stainless-steel wash tub is offered in this model, which is a desirable feature that promises to be durable, yet gentle on your fabrics. Equipped with three water temperature selections and 17 wash cycles, the AWS51NW offers plenty of traditional settings to customize loads to their specific needs. A particularly useful feature is the extra rinse option. We recommend using it if you've put in too much detergent or if you have an especially dirty load. We also like the automatic pre-wash cycle that can give washing these dirty loads an effective head start.

The AWS51NW has the features that we have come to regard as standard in recent years -- nothing more. Bleach and fabric softener dispensers are included. Water levels can be manually set. An automatic balancing system keeps the machine running smoothly and quietly. An attempt at noise reduction has been made with the addition of Speed Queen's Hush Pak, which dampens the sound output of this model's operation. Although slow to adapt any of the available new technology in the industry, this Speed Queen model does have an impressive maximum spin speed of 710 rpm. While not the most powerful spin speed on the market, it is remarkable for a basic, traditional model of this type. We find the spin speed sufficient enough to shorten required drying times.

An veteran manufacturer of commercial machines, Speed Queen has built this model to be particularly heavy duty. Where the AWS51NW falls short is in keeping up with the innovations in the industry.


Pros: 17 wash cycles, durable, large capacity, high spin speeds, two-speed motor, extra rinse, simple, basic, reliable
Cons: Uses lots of water and energy, not Energy Star compliant, lacks new technology

Warranty
3 years, parts and labor; 5 years, motor and cabinet; 10 years, transmission