I don't think lack of electronics has anything to do with SQ reliability. By the way, I have read that the timers in the SQ residential top loaders actually have a HIGHER failure rate than SQ's electronics, which they use in ALL their front loaders as well as their commercial top loaders. They are confirming this by REPLACING the timer with electronics in their new residential top loaders coming out next year that will replace AWN412, AWN432, AWN542. Why is this the case? Speed Queen uses high quality electronics, just like all the other high quality parts they use. Electronics aren't the problem. CHEAP, CRAPPY electronics are the problem. How often does the "board go out" in your car? Rarely if ever, because the electronics in cars are high quality. The mechanical parts go out first, which is also what happens in a Speed Queen and is exactly how it should be! All that said, no matter what the brand, we don't hear about washer electronics failing too often anyway. It tends to be more common in appliances where the electronics are exposed to harsher conditions, like ovens and dishwashers. This post was edited by hvtech42 on Wed, Aug 27, 14 at 21:39

I guess the question is why would you use them? Sometimes there's the old that's the way we've always done it! philosophy and I avoid that policy often. My reasons for not using are the same reasoning as above. I don't use them because I simply don't need them. Why waste the money, time and effort? Plus I don't like my clothes to smell. When clothes smell,that's when I think they need to be washed. Most detergents now have a water softening agent in it so the "softening" aspect is moot. Dryer sheets do build up on the dryer sensors and why cause more maintenance? Save money, save labor. Static cling is occasionally an issue but I never found the sheets to really do that much. A can of Static Guard or it's frugal counterpart, a spray bottle of water to mist the clothes, is more effective. I have several poly blend and poly t-shirts and now in the winter, yes there's some static. So I give them a shake and all is well. Plus if I don't dry as dry, or "over dry" as some call it, that helps too. Don't want damp clothes but a bit of humidity in the air in the fibers is fine and deters static. I haven't even used vinegar for a long time. I'm just so happy with the way my clothes come out now, and simpler is better. Don't need the extra cost or labor.

Thanks so much to experimenting, Minnie! Don't be too discouraged... you would probably be putting the embossed dryer sheet on a piece of card stock (as in a greeting card) when you actually use it anyway, so it would show up then. Did the image look appreciably better before you washed it? Did any of the embossing 'wash' off? Do you think it is necessary to wash it after embossing? Frankly, I think they look GREAT! I'll have to get to "The Store" and get some embossing stuff/.

Mizan, yes it does ... lol. And thank you for your tip! Were the squirrels gnawing the bark? Whatever the problem, that's an ingenious solution and easier than installing a metal collar which I've seen recommended to keep squirrels out of mature pecan trees. NMM, Linda M started using the dryer sheets on a whim remembering that sticking a couple in your back pocket had been recommended to keep mosquitoes away when outside. I've tried that and it works. She looked further into the subject on line this morning and sent a couple of LINKS. The second links refers to research showing why some brands work better than others depending what it is in dryer sheets that have the repellent qualities. Linda says the inexpensive HEB brand is what she's using and finds to be working. I hope it works for you. Let us know.