I recently got the Samsung front loaders and I LOVE Them so glad I chose to go with front loaders they use so little water and detergent. It is only the 2 of us here also. I got them at Lowes they were on clearance since the new model was coming out. I was just at Lowes recently and saw they had more on clearance for excellent prices you might try going to places like that and see what year end models they have and see what kind of deal you can get.
Prior to that I had top loaders that were Speed Queen commercial size and they were absolutely the best. They were still working when we got the new ones so I passed them on to a friend in need.
So from me it would be Speed Queen and Samsung.

Did you know there is a laundry forum here at GW it was very helpful to me when making my decision.

Yes, you need to at least lurk at the Laundry Forum. My current washing machine is a top-loading Speed Queen. No bells and whistles, just a solid, American-made workhorse. I'm very happy with it.

I am a Fisher Paykel fan for my clothes washer as well as dishwasher.

I think it cleans very well. Nowadays they probably all function pretty similar, but mine is a top load and spins very fast. It has no belts and I was told when I bought, it spins at 1000 RPMs. Clothes dry in about 20-30 minutes in a FP dryer.
I bought both W and D about 12 years ago. I have had no problems with either.

But if I had to do over, I would probably get a front load to gain the counter space above the units to fold clothes.

When the time comes, I will almost certainly buy Whirlpool. The reason: my current washer and dryer were made by Whirlpool--they are almost 29 years old and have never needed servicing. They convinced me that they can make a great product.

I replaced my Kenmore dryer with a Maytag, but my 22 year old washer is still going strong. The dryer I might add was a set and the washer gave out after 5 years and the owner GAVE this one away free on CL. So it's maybe not the brand to buy if you need a washer. ? (It's an Atlantis)

I say Whirlpool also. I have had 2 washing machines my whole life and the first was a Whirlpool that lasted 21 years and no problems, the second, the one I have now, is also a Whirlpool that I have had 9 years with no problems. Both are top load.

After 30+ years, my old washing machine began to wear out. (It took 3 kids through grade school, high school, and college while both mom an pop worked jobs ouside the home during the college years.) Two years ago, I replaced it with a plain GE top loader with no frills, no electronics. It has the usual water temperature selections and several cycle choices. Included is an optional 2nd rinse. It is controlled by a conventional clock motor timer and I expect a long sevice life from it.

The washing action is different to what I had before. The new one oscillates the tub and the clothes are slowly turned by an agitator. The agitator is not powered, but turns from the tub action. There is a one-way clutch inside the agitator shaft and thereby the agitator slowly ratchets itself around as the tub oscillates. This gradually turns the clothing.

Its kind of a weird action, but does the job. As I see it, the major wear part is the one-way clutch and that may be replaceable. I have used mine for two years with no trouble, and we have done some very big, heavy, loads. It spins the water out as well as many others and is self balancing.

I have no problem using the machine, but that could be an issue for someone less than 5ft 5in tall. From over the top, it is a long reach to the bottom of the tub. Shorter folks may need to stand on a small platform or stool.

The ex- had a Sears Kenmore that she'd had ... how many years? before she died, and that was up near 8 years ago.

Kids stored some stuff at my place, then landlord took what had been the house washer, from Uncle's time, to lend to an employee for a time, then had it stored in shop for a while ...

... then bought a cottage a couple of hundred miles away ... then took it up there.

So - I've been using the kids' Mom's machine stored with me, for several years.

It's a top-loader, fairly large size, has suds-saver capability.

Used it yesterday and this morning, as a matter of fact - to more or less clean up a winter's worth of clothes (it gets chilly, hanging out clothes in winter).

ole joyful

I've had good luck with Whirlpools in the past, so i'll probably go with them again. My current Whirlpool is 20 years old and the one before that was even older.

Friend of ours has retired from doing appliance service for Sears 35 yrs (now Sears Brand Central) keeps telling us, hang on to and fix your older appliances as long as it makes sense to do so....none of the new ones are made like the old, won't be as service free!

I'm on my third pair of Maytag washer/dryer in 41 yrs, the first pair lasted 27 yrs, the others have needed more attention, work.

I considered one of the highly energy efficient and water efficient front loading pair this last purchase, but unless I want to move my laundry room downstairs to cement floored basement, my repairman friend warned against them. Reason being that they spin at such high RPMs he said I would get tired of them moving every tabletop item in my house installing them on a wooden floor like is in my convenient (no stairs to climb) laundry now...So if you have an older home and a wooden floor, you might want to give that some thought and check into it.

Happy with my 7 year old Fisher-Paykel. Was told that it is very much like a front loader energy/water wise.

The old complaint, "They don't make 'em like they used to," is true of appliances. The old standby, Maytag, isn't even made here anymore.

I donated our then-25-year-old Maytag set to DS and bought new Whirlpools. The appliance company agreed to move the old set to DS's house. Two young men came in to grab the Maytag washer and were both dumbfounded by the weight of the machine. It only took one of them to put the Whirlpool in place.

I've bought two Frigidaire bottom-of-the-line front-load washers in 11 years. I could buy a third and still have spent less than the cost of one washer from other manufacturers. It works until it doesn't. I replace it. I'm not happy about the waste, but seems to me they are all made to fall apart.

I love my front loader (Samsung) and will never go back to top loaders.

Front loaders are not only for people with lots of laundry. They are great for small loads since they use so little water and detergent. I don't feel guilty if I just want to wash a couple of items. No waste. Cleaner and better rinsed clothes too since the dirty water doesn't just get redeposited on the clothes during the drain and rinse.

I had a really great set that was GE for over 30 yrs until the pump finally gave out on the washer. As far as I know the dryer is still working. I bought another GE and I do really like it so far as washing clothes, and drying them. They are now 7 yrs old, and the washer is occasionally shutting off. Something in the circuit board isnt working right, , and is expensive to repair. I just punch the button and it starts right up where it left off. Since it doesnt do this all the time, I am putting up with it, but when it gets a lot worse, I will be buying a Whirlpool, since I have friends with newer Whirlpools, that are very happy with them. Many years ago, I did own a Speed Queen, that was a real workhorse too. I only buy top loaders. Good luck with whichever one you decide to buy.

since we are on the laundry topic, when I got my new Samsung front loaders I also started using this Sears detergent, we LOVE it. And right now it is on a great sale. I got one box and it has lasted me over a year.
Ultra Plus Powder Laundry Detergent w/ Stain Fighter Formula, 180 Loads
it has virtually no smell and cleans very well. I use one little scoop per load. This is an HE rated detergent.

If you want to stock up if you buy 5 boxes you can use this code to get an additional $5 off.
SEARS2012 for $5 off
you can also have it shipped to store for no cost shipping.

I definitely will be getting in on this deal. By the way I found out about how great this detergent is on the GW laundry forum.

Jemdandy, it sounds like we have the same GE machines -- no gears, something called a HydroWave "Smart Drive System."

It takes a bit to get used to the sounds of this machine, but I like mine. Except for the fact that today's washing machines don't have easily reachable and cleanable lint filters. (You have to wait for the drier to do its thing collecting lint.)

I got my set from Sears.

I'm not crazy about front-loaders. Used a friend's front-load washer when I was staying over, and it was OK. Looked to me that it was gentler on the clothes.
BUT:
(1) Spot a few things in the house that you should've put in the wash? If the cycle's started, you can't throw anything else in. (Unless there's some new invention allowing this?)

(2) Be careful about placement so you can make one smooth easy toss into the drier. Altho some manufacturers are making the doors reversible now.

(3) People still complain about a moldy smell in the door (most responses to this is to keep the door open until the smell disappears.)

(4) Unless your Significant Owner or you are skilled in building household things, you still have to buy either the manufacturer's platform (so you're not bending to put clothes in) or what Sears sells as a basic wood platform.

(5) Some of those front-loaders' cycles can be very long. Like the sanitize cycle (two hours?)

Others here are sure to have their own opinions.

Raven- Thanks for the heads up on the detergent special. It is a great detergent. I normally buy the scent free but Sear's regular scents are light enough for me.

Pammyfay - I can pause my washer to add items. Never had a problem with mold or smell and I don't leave the door open. I do hot water loads at times and I do use liquid bleach when I do linens which I only buy in white. My dryer is on the "wrong" side. I don't have a problem but then I'm not a clumsy/klutzy person by nature.

Sears platforms are not wood. They are metal and most have storage drawers. Most will fit other brands of machines. They just don't tell you that. My DD picked up a couple at the outlet for less than a hundred bucks.

Many the gripes on the laundry forum seem to be from peoples' fear of hot water, bleach and real detergent meant for laundry.

Yes my Samsung front loaders do have a pause feature so you can stop it if you need to and there is so little water not like it will come gushing out.

I have only use powder detergent well actually only the Sears, because of the info I have read several places that the liquids including softner tend to create a sticky sludge build up in areas that are hard to clean and that can cause some of the smell issues some people have.

I personally have never had any kind of odor from mine at all. I do make it a habit to wipe my seal with a Mr.Clean wet wipe and then a dry towel when done for the day, I don't leave my door fully open I leave it cracked open so that it can dry out, I just lay a folded hand towel over the door so that it does not lock shut, I do leave the laundry soap drawer open however because it keeps a lot of water in there,
I do hot and cold loads and occasionally one with bleach. I did buy some of the tablets to run through it but have not done that yet.
I am just delighted with them, I can not tell they are running unless I go in there and look or touch them. Mine also have the steam feature which is really nice.
The sanitize cycle does take a long time but I only use it for my sheets generally and it takes very little water. There are an abundance of cycles and settings to choose from so you can get exactly what you want. It also has the silver cycle where it uses silver ions to kill bacteria and germs.

Sears just last week had the Samsung platforms for $99 each two weeks prior they had a big special and had them buy one get one free at $99 that was a great deal. They have other brands also of course for that price.

I do not have the platforms mine are right on the floor which works perfectly for me in my chair, I had them place the dryer on the right and the washer on the left and the doors open properly that way perfect for me to sit and move clothes from one to the other.
3.9 cu. ft. Steam Washer
7.4 cu. ft. Steam Electric Dryer
I have the platinum color.

Sorry - can't recommend a top loader as I haven't had one in years and would never go back to one. There are only two of us here too. Mine is made by Whirlpool. Over the years I've generally had good luck with WP even though they and others don't make appliances like they used to.

AVOID Maytag!!! I have one(new)top loading and although it is big and may actually wash my king sized comforter instead of me having to haul it to the laundromat, it leaves the clothes wrinkled and tangled together! I hate it!!

I love my Maytag. I have had it since around Christmas. I like my dryer too. No center agitator and it uses little water. I am very happy with it. It is a top loader. I like a top loader as it is easier on my back to get clothes out. I had a Maytag set before this one too.

Sue

I hate DDs front loader LG set. It takes longer to wash every load and the dryer takes longer and even then things are still damp, especially seams on everything, everything!

I like my old Kenmore set much better, and so does she. She can't even soak stained clothing overnight in her washing machine.

lol..half the brands you can buy are made by whirlpool....check this out...

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/brands/overview.aspx

When we bought our house 30 years ago, it came with a Speed Queen "industrial" washer in the basement. We used it for about twenty years.It worked great, for a family of four including tons of towels. At one point, it stopped working and our local handyman fixed it with a new "Solenoid" - whatever that is. That's the only repair it ever needed. Then about ten years ago we bought a Sears Kenmore top loader , that's worked well ever since. No bells and whistles.

I've switched from liquid detergent back to 1/3 cup of Tide unscented powder. I never use a 'softener'. In fact, I pour a little white vinegar in that dispenser to help with the rinse.

I prefer the results from my cheapie (Frigidaire) front loader to any top loaders I had after my original Maytag. Little soap. Little water. Spins clothes very dry, so less dryer time. I can add items anytime before the rinse cycle starts. It does have a longer cycle, about 40 mins. I leave the door ajar. Our carpenter built a platform for my set. (I also have the laundry sink raised and have a pull out faucet there -- easier to wash a Westie.)

Chisue- Do you really use 1/3 cup of detergent in your front loader? That sounds like a lot. I only need about 2 tablespoons or usually even less in my front loader. I use Sears Powder. Everything gets clean, even DH's work clothes. I usually do an extra rinse.

We do have softened water though so maybe that's why. But a third cup sounds like a lot.

I went to Sears yesterday and got my Powder on sale, they did not have it at the sale price in the store but he told me to just walk over to the computer terminal in the store and order it with in store pick up then come on over and pick it up and I would pay the sale price. Worked like a charm, they also had the smaller 120 load boxes on for buy one get one free price was $19.99 each so that too was a good buy.
We ended up with a basket full of stuff to buy and all we went in for was the powder! My husband had to have some new tools!

I use one of those tiny cups that is in the Sears powder for a full load, if I only have a light load I use less. I love and use the Purex crystals in the blue bottle and that is added right in with the powder in the same dispenser. It is our winning combination we love the results.