[rnorton61]

I need to replace my wash basket for the 2nd time in 4 years due to rust forming on the wash basket around the holes in the basket. We have a well and use a water softener which is what I think is causing the problem. The washer is still under warranty but I have to pay a tech to come out and verify the drum is rusty at the tune of $80. Does any one know if a plastic or stainless drum is available for this machine or another solution to my problem ?

[kayakcrzy]

You obviously have some hard water. Have you thought of a filtration system on the inlet water line to the house. A stainless tubor plastic tub are not available for that model. If you need me you can reach me at my web site at ApplianceEducator.com Tom

[AmpDraw]

You don't have hard water in the house if you have a water softener unless the water softener isn't working, is your softener using salt, do you find little tiny plastic looking beads in your sinks? Either of which would be an indication of the softener not actually working. I live in the desert, but have lived all over the country, no body has water as hard as we have in the desert, and I mean nobody. Very few people use water softeners and don't have this problem. The porcelain paint will not rust unless its being chipped off to expose the metal surface under the paint. Hard water will not eat away the porcelain.

This problem happens from items in the washer banging into the drum and chipping the porcelain paint off. Metal buckles or fasteners on your clothes, or even those plastic fabric softener or soap dispenser "balls" have been known to cause this problem. The plastic balls have been known to bang around so bad during the spin cycle that they will cause the paint to chip. If you do use these stop, if you don't use these take a closer look at the clothes you are putting into it for pieces of them capable of chipping the paint. This is whats causing your problem, its been a known issue for years.

No different style wash basket is available

[bettyboop]

There's one thing I've learned since they started making direct drive washers,
if the spin basket is white, the porcelain coating (is not paint like most techs think)is thin around the holes and BLEACH, eats away at the very thin area around the holes.
I always replace rusty white baskets with tried & true blue-grey ones! Very rarely rust. Porcelain is a ceramic material that is fired in a kiln, like a coffee cup

[AmpDraw]

Right at the holes is where its the thinest for sure, and the first place it starts chipping off at. Soft water and even bleach is very aggressive and loves to eat metal at expedited rates so once the metal gets exposed unless you catch it right away it doesn't take long. They sell small bottles of a touch up paint you can use on chips when they happen.

Not as pretty as the factory finish, but it works...
Partselect.com - Whirlpool Appliance Parts And All Brands of Appliance Parts

or in the spray can...
Partselect.com - Whirlpool Appliance Parts And All Brands of Appliance Parts

The bottle is probably better, you can get a better coating from the brush.


Whirlpool and Sears issued a service bulletin to all authorized service agencies a good 10 years ago about the fabric softener balls being known to cause the porcelain to chip and that customers should be advised not to use these. It doesn't take a very big chip to expose just a little metal. Once the metal gets exposed at all (even hairline) behind the porcelain the rust causes it to flake off just like the paint on your car will do.

Amana top loaders and even some of the Whirlpool front loaders had the right idea when they went with the stainless steel baskets, unfortunately they dropped the ball and still have problems with the outer tub. If they would make the tub and the basket out of stainless steel it would have been better thought out, then again, bleach loves to eat stainless steel, so the thinking behind that plan is kind of out the window for a laundry appliance. I've never heard of anyone making a plastic basket, just the tubs. I don't know how long that would hold up either. Maybe the future will hold carbon fiber baskets in the designs?

[bettyboop]

If you go to a maytag store or home depot and look at the new maytags and Admirals ect, they are now made by whirlpool, with maytag printed on them. the maytag version made by whirlpool has a shiny stainless steel basket that would fit your whirlpool, but it would probably cost you 200.00$ plus labor not worth the cost. Your rust problem was not caused by softner dispensers or any thing banging around, as the little holes are counter sunk and rust from the out side in not the other way around. the white baskets have a thin coating of white porcelain, the blue-grey baskets have two layers of porcelain, first blue, the then splatered again with grey, They hold up very well. putting a hundered little dabs of appliance touch up won't cut it.you have a guarentee ask for the better standard blue-grey spin basket.Betty Boop

[bettyboop]

Ever heard of GE,Hotpoint, or performa, frigidare? all have plastic baskets!!

[AmpDraw]

I guess I just don't remember them having plastic baskets, just tubs. Shows how long I've been out of residential appliances as well, I had no idea Whirlpool was now making washers for Maytag, that's certainly interesting, how long has that been happening? Do they still have the same age old plastic Whirlpool pumps and couplings then even on these Maytags? Interesting!

[bettyboop]

Almost 2 yrs ago whirlpool bought out maytag group,admaril, magic chef, norge, amana, ect. now they all have whirlpool inards.neptunes are now made by samsung. but they still make those dog performas.

[kayakcrzy]

I have actually had service calls on Whirlpool refrigerators, that had whirlpools name on them, and were a frigidaire product. Blew my mind. Put the same crummy evaporator fan motor in it too. It was totally a frigidaire, with Whirlpool's name on it. I actually was looking in the freezer, and I had to close the door, because my wife, the dispatcher said it was a whirlpool, just so I could see what name was on it. I sure would be mad if I bought a Whirlpool, and it was a Frigidaire. Tom