I absolutely love my Maytag Bravos washer/dryer set. The washer is an HE toploader. I have the best of both worlds -- low water usage, huge capacity (I can wash a king-size comforter and 2-3x the laundry I could wash in my former washer), I can soak clothes (very important to me), the high spin speed spins so well, laundry dries quickly, and I can add clothes as long as the Add A Garment light is on. Because of the huge capacity, I only wash 3-5 loads max per week, whereas I used to wash 7-10 loads per week. This has made an appreciable difference in our utility bills.

Since no one else answered you I will give you my two cents worth. There are a few ASKO lovers here but they have older machines - the new ones are iffy and service is even more so. Same for the Mieles - older is better, new may not be so good. Way too much money for me. Their gas dryers are being recalled - not a biggy but quality may be an issue. Kenmore is not a brand, exactly. The top end FLs are Duets with a few more bells and whistles. The "new" Maytags are also Duets or Duet Sports - renamed to Maytag. Many of the horror stories with the mainstream machines are caused by unrealistic expectations, bad installation or operator error. My Duet Sport is 1 1/2 years old and I am very happy. There are many happy Duet owners here, also. You need to figure out what you need - price, size, capacity, special cycles, fancy colors, steam, location, etc. then go shopping. See what feels good to you, then buy it and learn how to use it properly. Be sure you can return it if you have vibration or other problems. Check to see if service is available in your area. Don't believe much of what the salespeople tell you. Good luck with your purchase.

I just purchased the front loading KENMORE ELITE HE5t series washer & dryer. I had the original KENMORE ELITE and a Maytag Neptune. I LOVED the upper dryer of my Maytag. It was huge but had the top "dryer" that worked perfectly for sweaters and delicates. After several repairs the bottom regular dryer was starting to cost too much to repair so I gave in and splurged on a new one. It took a lot of searching and I ended up with Kenmore's from Sears. The pedestal units work great with this new batch...they don't vibrate. There are a lot more choices for laundry, as well. The washer and dryer drums are huge. I am still in heaven with the fact that my dryer is keeping pace with my washing machine...the clothes are drying so nicely. I still miss my Maytag UPPER dryer...but am learning to hang clothing again.

I read lots of both professional and personal reviews before buying any appliance. The professional reviews, like those done by Consumer Reports, compare new machines and give pros and cons. The personal reviews can provide extra detail, but too many are either "works great" or "worst ever" with no detail as to why they love it or hate it. Having said that, I have had my LG washer for several years and am very happy with it. On some loads the machine shakes during spin, but that's rare and minor. Mold is a continuing threat, so I leave my washer door open for a couple of hours after a load, and you do have to perform cleanings regularly. The thing I most like about this washer is the delightful tune it plays at the end of the wash. My washer is 4.0 cubic ft which does a queen set of sheets and four pillowcases, or the queen quilt or spread easily. However, a twin size comforter can be too much for it. So buy the largest size you can afford if you don't want to have to take stuff to the laundry.