Speed Queen TC5

C Colder's Furniture Appliances and Mattresses Colder’s Appliance · reviewer · Apr 2026

This is the machine you want if you have a household full of kids playing sports, or if you work a job that leaves your clothes covered in grease and dirt. It uses mechanical-feel switches that provide a satisfying click and a straightforward user experience.

H Harper & Knowles Harper & Knowles · 96.7K subscribers · Jan 2023

Why the TC5 is better for dirty, heavy-duty laundry

T Tony’s Appliance Tony's Appliance · reviewer · Aug 2026

The TR5's variable-speed motor and adaptive agitator run noticeably quieter than the TC5's traditional two-speed motor, which makes the TR5 a common pick for laundry rooms located near living spaces or upstairs bedrooms.

I quite like the reputation of reliability that Speed Queen has, and the TC5's simplicity, but the tub size and cycle options are disappointing (no water level dial in particular).

N Nytimes Article

In our testing, the Normal Eco cycle was not effective. We tried it with different load sizes, with different temperatures, and with and without the Deep Fill option, and no matter what, our stain strips barely looked any different when the cycle ended. On the plus side, the Poka-Dot test strip (which shows wear on fabric) came out almost entirely undamaged, but that’s a hollow victory when the machine is barely cleaning your clothes.

D DylBuilder1 DylBuilder1 · 1.4K subscribers · Jun 2025

Unfortunately, both machines were a huge let-down, and I’m extremely disappointed in Speed Queen for doing the bare minimum when it comes to repairs, customer service, and standing behind their so highly rated products. After having both machines last less than 2 years before having major breakdowns, and living with no working washer nearly 5 months including all through the holidays, I can no longer recommend Speed Queen or their products. It’s really sad to see how much Speed Queen and their products have declined over the past 7 years, using bad quality electronics, foreign parts, and in-between-the-lines policies that leave owners with expensive repairs, all of which runs counter to what they built their name on.

I hate this TC5 machine. Not quite 4 months old. Clothes are not clean, wash rags are dingy. Now, not even 4 months old and it has stopped chiming when it’s done. Google and everything else says to press the “extra rinse” button to enable it. Well, we don’t have a button, it’s a knob.

S Steel Cod Steel Cod · 910 subscribers · Mar 2026

But that doesn’t mean it’s the better washer.

A Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers Mick90 · reviewer · Jan 2026

A 6 year old Speed Queen shouldn’t already need a bearing replacement. I didn’t overload it and I don’t think I’ve had it get off balance before.

The TC5 is the residential version which will provide you a warranty for home use. I don’t know the fill volumes on either but I don’t think it would be bad to use the eco mode. Especially for smaller loads. And the TC5 has no lid lock if you want to add citric acid on the second fill! I didn’t write this out properly in my last comment, but if eco mode isn’t clean enough, you have the option of a higher fill volume which is specifically why many people look into SQ.

R Reviewed David Kender · reviewer · Oct 2025

The Speed Queen TC5 is a traditional pole agitator washer built for durability and simplicity. We’ll show how these washers stack up in cleaning performance, capacity, how well they handle delicates, reliability, and more. By the end, you’ll know the strengths of each and which one best suits your family’s needs.