Need help choosing a new front load washer (and dryer)

13 years ago

I have just entered into the confusing world of choosing a new washer and dryer. My focus is to get the best front loader washer that won't mold (what's that about anyway!), isn't going to require repair 3 months out, and will clean our cloths well in a normal cycle in less that 90 minutes without using tons of water. I hope a quality dryer companion will go with it.

Should I instead consider a top load to get what I want?

Having access to only apartment washer and dryer for years, I am excited to not have to share any more. Help me figure this out. Please!

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Comments (3)

michelle_phxaz
13 years ago
Love love love my LG. I bought it from Sears Outlet store so it was half off the full price, just with a few nicks and they have us the blue touch-up paint for that.

We got a steam set, didn't want or need it but we loved the deep blue color and it was exactly what we wanted, just with steam. I tried the steam and it doesn't do much.

But definitely check out the outlet stores for better deals, and LG is the way to go!
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michelle_phxaz
13 years ago
Oh, to prevent mildew and mold, leave the door and the detergent drawer open for a day or two after the laundry is done so it fully dries. No stinkies.
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@Chris Powchuk I don't agree with that at all. I had an Electrolux front load. Crappy machine. Bio-stink built up on clothing. You would think after running a 2 hour cycle with warm water, on heavy cycle with extra rinses would result in clean clothing. Nope. The machine was also clean as a whistle inside and out. I kicked that machine to the curb and got an LG. Much better machine. Clean clothes and clean smelling clothes. So I do not believe they are all built the same or operate the same. I used to dry the boot and leave the door open on my Electrolux. Never any mold. I have gotten lazy with my LG and do not dry the boot but do leave the door open and again no mold. I run affresh on the tub clean cycle every now and then and that's about it. And top loads are not exempt from mold. I had a Fisher and Paykel top load at my previous house. That machine built up mold all around the outside of the tub where you couldn't see it but boy could you smell it. We had to take the whole tub out and drag it into our shower to clean it.
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I have the Speed Queen top load washer and dryer. I have been extremely pleased with them and have no intentions of ever going back to a front load washing machine for my main laundry. My Speed Queen gets my clothes way cleaner than my previous front loaders, actually rinses the detergent out, has not ruined any of our clothes, the clothes always smell fresh, and the washer never stinks. A lot of people think their froint loaders rinse well....put them in a top load washing machine that actually gets water in it and you will see soap come out you never thought was on your laundry. The reason we picked the Speed Queen was because there are no computer boards, and I can select my own wash load size and water temperatures. I don't want some computer board making that decision for me, and when I select hot, I get truly hot....straight from our hot water tank. We did rebuild my Whirlpool Duet front load washer (an older Geman made model) for the sole purpose of washing quilts and large throw rugs. Hate laundromats. We have pets so I wash those items frequently.
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Well ... As the saying goes "The old grey mare ain't what she used to be".. The same goes for top loading washing machines, the ones with agitators. There are new "Government" regulations and the new top loaders do NOT fill up like the old ones used to. I forget exactly what the limit is, something like 14" of water. That seems like it would be hard on clothes and you would have to break the loads up into smaller ones. I have Samsung from loaders and I am very pleased with them. Someone here said theirs takes 2 hours to wash a load... I have never used a cycle that took that long. Mine has a "quick wash" cycle and you can choose from light, normal and heavy. The light takes about 27 minutes, the heavy is 33 minutes. I have not found anything that does not get perfectly clean on the 33 minute cycle. At any point during the wash I can "pause" it, open the door and add additional clothes. Also, if it doesn't have quite as much water as you think it should, or want all you do is push pause, when the door unlocks open it, then shut it and push the continue button and it adds more water, you can do this as many times as you want. I rarely add more water unless it is a bigger, bulkier load such as my mattress pad. Picking a new washer is a huge headache....
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gr8daygw
9 years ago
Never close the door completely, dry the rubber seal and wipe the window. I also turn my detergent drawer upside down and empty any water left in it and sometimes I'll leave it on top of the washer to dry completely but usually just dump the water and put it back in the drawer and leave it cracked a little bit. The idea is to let air into the machine. They are air tight and that is the reason for the smell if left closed all the time.

I passed on LG because there were just too many unhappy stories of people who had a problem and had lousy experiences with their customer service. I have very much enjoyed my GE pair and have on order now a Whirlpool duet pair. The reason is because I got a small set in the GE when I first moved into front loader machines and it is too small to get large loads done and I can't even think about doing a king size mattress pad or comforter. It's been an excellent set but there were other reasons I wanted to go with the Whirlpool this time.

One of the neatest things with the Whirlpool is that it has a "fan fresh" feature that blows air into the machine to dry it and circulate air. If you forget your laundry for two days no problem with the fan feature. You can also completely wash and dry small items just in the washer. The fan feature in the washer allows you to wash and dry your favorite nighty and undies all in one fell swoop. I run almost every day and I have a bit of laundry regularly of just certain delicate items such as running stretch leggings or shorts and shirts that I could do with this feature and not have to wait until I have a full load. The Duet also has a "Load and Go" feature which allows you to load 12 loads worth of detergent at a time in a cartridge and it dispenses it for you so you don't even have to mess with measuring detergent except every two weeks or so. But one of the biggies for me is that it spins at 1400 rpm which should get the clothes spun pretty dry before going into the dryer.

I have used a couple of new top loading washers of late in vacation condos and at my mom's in her brand new set and what I notice with the top loaders is that they don't wring out the clothes very well. They are also so cheap feeling and they are not the machines our moms enjoyed for 20 years before going on the fritz. Be sure to get a water heating feature on whatever machine you chose. You won't have to depend on tap hot water to do all the work because the washer has it's own heating element. Of course many of them have the same features but I have not seen all of the features I want on one machine like the Duet. I don't have it yet it's on order and I will get it in November. I got the Chrome Shadow color and am wondering if I did the right thing there. It cost more than plain white and maybe I will change that before they arrive. Can anyone give me some feedback on that? I'd really like to have the Black Diamond but I don't want to spring for the extra money to get it. It seems dumb to pay big bucks for the exact same machine mechanically and have to pay $200 or $300 each for a special color.

Right now I noticed that Costco has the Duet for a great buy, you might want to check it out. They sell the washer dryer pair with the pedestals and a two year extended warranty, free delivery, install, needed parts and haul away for as much as you would pay for just the washer and dryer at other places. I would love to take advantage of that great deal but I wanted to take advantage of Home Depot's 24 month free financing that I received for having my credit card with them for one year. Not to mention Home Depot is right down the street from me and I didn't want to hassle with some third party delivery service at Costco even though it was included in the price. I didn't need the pedestals either so I went with Home Depot.

Need help choosing a new front load washer (and dryer)

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michelle_phxaz

michelle_phxaz

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