Filed by: Whirlpool Corporation
                           Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
                                             Subject Company: Maytag Corporation
                                                       Commission File No: 1-655


WHIRLPOOL 
CORPORATION


           ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER o BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN 49022-2692


JEFF M. FETTIG
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD,
PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                                                          July 22, 2005


Mr. Ralph F. Hake Chairman & CEO

Mr. Howard L. Clark, Jr.
Chairman, Special Committee of the Board of Directors

Maytag Corporation
403 West Fourth Street
Newton, IA  50208

Dear Messrs. Hake and Clark:

         I am writing to respond to the announcement Maytag issued yesterday
evening.

         First, I would like to express Whirlpool's disappointment that the
Maytag Board of Directors was "unable to determine" that Whirlpool's July 17
proposal "may reasonably be expected to lead to a financially superior
transaction that is reasonably capable of being completed". We believe there can
be no question our July 17 proposal met this standard and, thus, we should have
had immediate access to due diligence and an immediate ability to enter into
discussions and negotiations with you.

         As we said on July 17, our proposal is a great opportunity to create
value for the shareholders, trade customers and consumers of both companies. By
your indecision, you have jeopardized this opportunity.

         The transaction that we have proposed derives its value from important
efficiencies and the opportunity for Maytag brand revitalization. These benefits
are uniquely available in a Maytag acquisition by Whirlpool. This transaction
certainly is neither motivated by, nor could it produce, anticompetitive
effects. In order to facilitate your prompt review of antitrust questions, we
asked our antitrust counsel immediately to summarize the basic analysis that
underlies our confidence in the likelihood of antitrust clearance. We provided
that information to you on Tuesday. An initial positive reaction by trade
customers to the proposed transaction, which is the ultimate "market litmus
test", reinforced the numerous reasons why anticompetitive harm is so
implausible.


July 22, 2005
Page 2


         Support by large and sophisticated trade customers, as well as small
and medium size trade customers, the very groups that would be purported victims
of any anticompetitive harm, should provide Maytag with confidence that the
proposed transaction poses no risk to competition and will receive prompt
antitrust clearance. Whirlpool has received overwhelming positive support from
trade customers. We contacted the top 20 trade customers and buying groups,
including the top four retailers and top three buying groups that represent 90%
of retail appliance sales. To date, we have received 17 letters of support and
we expect another on Monday. Two trade customers of the 20 are neutral or
supportive, but as a matter of policy are unable to so state in a letter. The
proposed transaction is also supported by small and medium sized retailers, as
evidenced by the support of NARDA, which represents over 3000 retail
storefronts. We are prepared, on condition of confidentiality, to share with you
the trade customer letters we have received. A redacted representative sample
letter from a major retailer is attached.

         We are making one final request that your Board make the determination
that is clearly correct and clearly in the best interests of your shareholders.
To address any residual concerns your Board may have, we are supplementing and
amending our July 17 proposal in the following respects:

            o     First, we are increasing the total value of the consideration
                  we would provide your shareholders to $18 per Maytag share.
                  This increases to nearly 29% the premium Maytag shareholders
                  would receive compared to the existing transaction.

            o     Secondly, while the enhancement of our already superior
                  proposal is designed to take into account your antitrust
                  concerns, we are also willing to discuss reasonable mechanisms
                  to address these concerns, including a reverse break-up fee
                  and payment of the contractual break-up fee to Triton upon
                  Maytag's termination of the existing agreement to enter into a
                  definitive agreement with Whirlpool, all as a part of the
                  overall value of our proposal.

         As we emphasized in our proposal five days ago, we have a very short
timeframe in which to conduct due diligence and negotiate a definitive agreement
given the schedule established by the Maytag Board. We have now lost a week.
Every day forward is even more critical than before. Accordingly, we expect to
hear from you by 6:00 p.m. (Eastern time) Sunday so that we can enter into a
confidentiality agreement, have our due diligence team on site and working at
your data room and commence discussions and negotiations with you on Monday.



                                                Very truly yours,

                                                /s/ Jeff M. Fettig

                                                Jeff M. Fettig
                                                Chairman, President & CEO



cc:   The Board of Directors
      Maytag Corporation