Fisher & Paykel's agitator model is a full-feature machine that can soak the way you want. It also has a Soak option that adds a 2-hr soak to any cycle (or 1-hr if Time Saver is selected, or you can manually advance it after a shorter desired time, or shut the machine off and soak for hours or days).

The current model is WA42T26GW1.

Whirlpool still produces a few traditional deep-fill agitator machines under their budget brands - Roper, Estate, Admiral, and possibly Amana and Inglis - but they may not be around for much longer.

Frigidaire.

Speed Queen.

There are *many* Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag, and other "old-style" toploaders on the used marked. Trick is finding one in good condition ... or you can get one that's in less-than-pristine condition and refurbish it, if you're mechanically-able or have an able friend or know a professional servicer who might take the job.

Thanks much. Will check out F&P. Kenmore, whirlpool, maytag and GE all make conventional washers, but they drain if paused.

I agree, there are times when a good pre-soak for whatever reason is nice, but that option those days are gone, mostly.

If shrinkage and color runs/bleeding are not an issue for your soaked laundry, a front-load washer with internal heater can get the water much hotter than what you're accustomed to, and many (if not most or all) have an "Extend" feature for most of the cycles. I use it often on certain things, like sweaty summer clothing.

The "Sanitize" cycle on my FL runs for two hours and heats the water to 70C/158F. It is possible that pre-soaking may no longer be necessary. Just a thought . . .

Soaking simply involves the items being saturated/wet for a period of time, with minimal agitation action. Items don't necessarily have to be floating in gallons of water for the duration. Some frontloaders do have a soak cycle or option, which fills and tumbles a few mins to saturate the load, then sits stationary for the most part but making a brief tumble every few mins to flip the load over and keep everything wet.

Some HE toploads also have a soak option, which fills more than a regular wash and probably works similarly as frontloader soaking ... alternating periods of resting and agitation to keep the load mixed/wet.

We recently built a new house in the mountains of NM, on a well. We lived in a little trailer for several summers during construction. I tried the laundromat once and said, we have to get a washing machine. Trick was, it had to be outside the trailer.

We went to Albuquerque and bought the nicest used machine I could find, a Kitchen Aid with manual controls and extra rinse option, for $200. DH made wooden pallets for the washer to sit on, I covered it with a big tarp when not in use. I used Calgon for both wash and rinse cycles, to overcome the hard well water. I could just stop the machine to soak really dirty items.

The washer worked just great for 3 years, never a glitch. I hung everything on clotheslines strung around the forest. We gave the washer to one of our construction workers and he recently told me it's going strong, and cleans much better than his previous washer.

So, yes, I would definitely recommend a used washer. If you live in a metropolitan area there should be several used appliance stores to shop. Honestly, even though I bought a new Bravos 850 set, I think older washers are much better made and more reliable. I wouldn't dream of buying a W/D now without a maintenance contract. Used might very well be the way to go.

OP, one of the reasons I bought my Maytag Bravos washer is because it has a Soak cycle. You can set it for more than an hour and a half, but I commonly let the laundry tumble for a few minutes, then hit Pause. The water does not go out.

Thanks, Mara. I'll check out the Bravos with the soak cycle. Hope it ends up being trouble-free for you for years. If I can find a "certified" used washer and dryer (maybe my Lexus dealer carries them???) I might go that way. If I get new appliances I will definitely be getting the extended warranty (5 years total) as 1) I'm in the mountains and getting repair people here might be costly; 2) I'm of the opinion that with the economy in shambles, makers are cutting corners; 3) I don't think the computers/electronics of the new washers are fully worked out yet - purely my opinion based on reviews I've read.

The extended warranties on washers and dryers are variable and some quite costly. Lowes has the Fisher-Paykel (and the rep at F-P assures me it's pronounced "Pie-kel", as in "ow much did ya "pie" fuh that wosha, mate?") The extended warranty is $180 for both the washer and dryer.

By the way, read the fine print on extended warranties. In the case of Lowes, it's based on what the original manufacturers warranty covers; if the original covers on-site repairs, then the extended does, and if it doesn't, it doesn't.