I agree that Speed Queen is the best, and my cousin got one and loves it. Plumber had to fix the drain in her old house to accommodate the force that it drains. About three years ago I got a top loader GE washer. I think it is HE, but, I can push a button to get it to fill to the top. It only locks while it is measuring the load, and then I can open it to put something in. I think it locks when it is spinning, but, never tried to open it, no need. Also, it has a speed wash which is fine 99 per cent of the time for our needs. Got the matching gas dryer and like that too.