I just wanted to add my two cents' worth, since a lot of the comments come from people with fairly new machines. When we moved cross-country a year and a half ago, we left our 17-year-old SQ TL and dryer behind. They were still functioning perfectly. The only repair in those 17 years was the timer knob on the washer, which was inexpensively and relatively easily fixed by my husband. We replaced them with GE appliances at our new location. The GE TL washer needed repair within six months (wouldn't agitate or spin). At the one-year mark, I received the extended warrantee info in the mail but opted out of it, figuring an unreliable washer isn't worth repairing. That old SQ served me faithfully for 17 years, after all. This week, the GE washer broke again and I just replaced it with another SQ and I couldn't be happier (other than the financial pain of having to buy two machines in a year and a half). They are hard to find--mine came from 30 miles away. Use the SQ website and find a dealer in your area. There are some false leads in the website, but just keep making phone calls until you find one. Don't worry about service--you won't need it, and they're simple enough machines that it shouldn't require a "factory-trained" technician to repair one anyway. You can find a washer with more bells and whistles, but if it konks out on you, there you are at the Laundromat. And that, to me, is a fate worse than death. Buy a SQ.

We are having the exact same leaking issue with out new front load speed queen washer. Purchased it in Nov-2015 and after doing a few loads of laundry noticed a small dribble of water leaking past the rubber gasket and door and onto the floor. It's pretty small (a small drip) but it's definitely noticeable. And it's completely unacceptable (especially given the cost of the machine). A service technician came out and replaced the rubber gasket/boot but it didn't make any difference. I haven't called him back yet but based on what I see here maybe they will try to replace the front panel next. Either way it definitely seems to be a manufacturing and/or design defect. Other than the leak I am very happy with the machine. Does anyone have any additional updates on this leak situation with their machines?

I just bought the front loader and dryer and I really like them. I did extensive research. I could have gone with a pretty looking machine with iPhone compatibility etc...but it would end up in a landfill in about 6-7 years so I opted for the speedqueen and as mentioned earlier about size being smaller than the big plastic ones? well...it cleans just as great if not better than those bigger ones. This has ceramic inside I stead of plastic so it won’t mold as easy either. I went for quality over looks and I’m very happy that I did! Yes it cost a little more but it makes so much more sense in many ways! It’s a serious machine not a trendy puffball. I have the newer version with electronic buttons and the watrenty covers EVERYTHING for 10 years...the other machines only cover a few things. very happy

Baking soda is alkaline and vinegar is acid. The soda will neutralize the vinegar, negating any effect the vinegar might have. Hot water and ten cents worth of chlorine bleach. Done. If you're really paranoid, get a quaternary disinfectant and run a hot water cycle without clothes, stopping the washer for about 20 minutes to give the quat time to work. But I just don't have a mold/ mildew problem in my TL that is in the basement in Central Wisconsin (where fighting mold, mildew, moss, algae & rust everywhere is running battle.) I routinely wash in hot water, seldom use chlorine bleach, use mostly powdered detergents and never use liquid fabric softener and, once or twice a year, run a hot water cycle (no clothing) with a glug of bleach just for good measure. (During the summer, we run a dehumidifier in the basement because the air conditioning is seldom turned on.) Oh, and depending on how old your Whirlpool is and where you live (Southern California vs Duluth), you may discover that 'warm' washes are best described as 'cool'...because of energy regulations. Washers now mix more cold water w/ hot than they used to. The work around is to start the fill with hot water and switch to warm.