I have a set of LG Tromm's. I love them but my washer is being serviced right now. I bought them in September of 2003. I have three dogs and I wash their beds every week. So, my washer has seriously had a workout. The beds are very heavy. Regardless, of the washer needing fixed, I will definitely buy this brand the next time also. The repairman phoned a few minutes ago to say that the parts will take 10 days to come in and that the cost is going to be $187 for the parts. When he came today to look at my washer, he said that I'm using too much soap. I have been using regular soap. He said that I should use HE soap but that if I don't want to, that I should use 1/4 of what is normal. I told them that I already dilute the soap by 50% with water. He said that is good but if I was going to do that and use regular soap to dilute it 75% water and 25% soap. He said that if you see the washer full of suds when you're washing, that there is way too much soap and the pumps cannot siphon all the suds and the sensors will get messed up. He also said the top soap dispensing assembly can be removed by taking out the 4 screws and that I could run it through the dishwasher to clean it. My mom was here and she has Whirlpool machines and he told her that for hers, she can hold down a pin and that her soap dispenser would come out and that she could run hers through the dish washer. He told her to clean the top of hers also when the dispenser was out. Finally, he told me to clean the glass once a week. He said that dirt/hair will accumulate on the bottom of the glass and since that sits against the seal, if it's dirty it may start to seep water which will result in a streak down the front of the washer. He just said to clean the glass once a week and to wipe down the seal once a week. Again - I love this washer and dryer. I recommend them to anyone. I don't think anyone who changes from top loaders to front loaders go back after they've had the front loaders. Oh ya - I have the pedestals that raise them up. Definitely love these things too.

I can't advise about the clothes LOL...if it was me I'd wash them in the Cascade. Powdered dw detergent is going to be much much more alkaline than Borax..and to remove the oils you need alkaline. Once the oils are removed the odor will be gone. Let us know what's going on

thanks for the tips. If I am silly enough to replace the perfectly fine dryer- not entirely my call on that one- then I think I am going with Miele as it may be worth the extra money for a vastly superior product. If I do not buy a new dryer then I think I am going with Electorlux and save $1,500 at least if not $2,000 but I will need to be prepared to go down this road in 10 years again. Sears is going out of business in Canada so there may be deals to be had on Electolux. I know of a good developer friendly - warehouse looking like store just north of Toronto and I will check them out and along with Sears and see if someone gets me a very good value for money deal, sticking to the appliances listed above. (If I can get a Speed Queen for $500 more than electrolux - 50% more- then I am buying it all night and all day etc. as that would be the best value etc.)

I have always had top loaders with agitators. Stayed away from FL because of the smell problem (and because the way the laundry room is set up, a FL wouldn't work). I now have a new GE HE toploader. I bought this particular model because they advertise "use all the water you want". I'm guessing they made that distinction because of all the complaints of not being able to use enough water. If I used the machine at HE defaults, I'm not sure I'd like it (haven't tried it) but I override the HE settings to "use all the water you want" and I'm extremely happy with the results. Does it take longer than a FL? I don't know since I've never had one but seems to take a shorter amt of time than the washer it replaced.