We bought a pair of Electrolux stackables to go in our new laundry closet, replacing side by sides. I have to say I was skeptical ( a luandry room to a closet was a big change) at first, but now I love them and the whole set up. Less detergent, large loads, gets the job done efficiently and quickly.

There's a difference between "stackable" and "stacked."

Pretty much all frontloaders (with controls on the front) are "stackable" ... meaning they can be installed side-by-side, or optionally with the dryer atop the washer.

A "stacked" set is built as such, with the dryer atop the washer, and cannot be separated for operation. Stacked sets are available either with a toploader washer or a frontloader washer.

Which do you have?

Yes. I have a Bosch pair in a closet and it's been great. The washer has a heater. Dryer is ventless so it can be installed anywhere. Both units to a great job. I had a Miele pair for many years and that was outstanding. This pair has fewer options but I cannot say that, in comparison, the Bosch set is lacking. This is my second Bosch set -- was happy with the first one several years back as well. If anything, this one is an improvement.

I redid our laundry room and installed Electrolux stackable set. Love them. They do a great job getting things clean. DH and I will down size in a few years and we will get the smaller Bosch stackable rococcogirl mentions.

We have a very basic side by side (GE) at our real house, a fancy stacked pair (lg - with lots of lights on the dials) at our lake cabin.

They both clean and dry the same. The side by side is much easier to throw clothes in and go. the dial mostly stays on 'regular wash, cold wash-cold rinse'.

The lg cycle dials have to be reset every load. The lights are pretty.

I like having the tops of the side by side pair to temporarily put stuff on. Like laundry baskets, or folded towels.

We had a stackable Bosch set (the small ones)in our last house and I was quite happy with them. I think Miele makes a similarly sized pair that can be stacked. Do you have size constraints? Because as pointed out above most of the frontloaders can be stacked. (You may need a stacking kit.)

Maddie...I can almost guarantee your GE could do a much better job of cleaning than it does now.

Funny, I have a Frigidaire stacked set, probably like your crummy ones. It was the ONLY set that would fit in the laundry room I have, stacked or side x side. When my house was built, washers and dryers weren't as deep and now are too large to fit in the space designed for them -couldn't open the back door. No way to expand the room, no other place in the house. There is no warranty service (or authorized service) for Bosch or Miele in my town, so they are not an option.

I love the stacked option and have really had good luck with the Frigidaire, as basic as they are, but they are too small. I have a king size bed and end up doing 3 loads each time I change the sheets, etc. Can't wash my comforter without going to the laundromat. Ugh.

I'm looking at moving them (getting new, larger ones) into the space where I have a shower stall in the main bath, but venting is a problem I haven't been willing to tackle yet. I'll take out a tub and put in a larger shower, leaving the other shower space available. In the bath won't be ideal, but better because I can get a larger stacked set.

I had a stacked LG full-sized pair that I liked very much, and lasted for just over 11 years (actually, when I replaced them earlier this year the dryer was still working well). I like my new stacked pair even better (but it could be just because they're newer?). They're a compact set, which is a better fit in the laundry closet, made by Gorenje, a European appliance maker. I wish I had space for a full sized stacked pair, but I have no reason and wouldn't want to go back to a side-by-side pair. I suppose if I had a baby with dirty diapers and such, it would be good to just dump them in - but I have no issues with using a stacked washer and dryer.

I inherited a stackable whirlpool duet set from the PO of our house, in a hall closet by the master bedroom. They work great, I’ve never had a w/d with such fast cycles. Even the dryer is really fast. Conveniently located, too. I’ve had Electrolux in the past, like these better.

I have Miele at home, not stackable, top of the line. I have a "stacked laundry center" outside the master in Maine and I like it just as much and it was like $1000 or something. I had terrible issues with Bosch here in CT. I won't touch a thing they make, moreso because of their response to the issues than the actual issues.

I think it's all a crapshoot. I have to admit zero issues with Miele (think I've had them 2 yrs) but I see no difference using that or my Kenmore. Lots of options but IME not needed.

My house was built in 1954 and the machines were originally in the garage. At some point, someone moved them into a large closet in the hall. But the closet has sliding bypass doors, which means that if you had the units side by side, you would have to slide the doors over one way for the washer, then the other way for the dryer, and you’d lose the remaining storage space in the closet. It seemed so silly. So I measured v.e.r.y carefully and went shopping for a stacked set that would fit.

I wound up with a Kenmore set that I picked because the control panel on the dryer could be moved from the top to the bottom front of the machine - no craning my neck to see the controls at the top of the dryer. It’s not a true “set” because that convertible-front dryer has some different contours, but I’ve been really happy with the set-up. And I can store a stepladder, the ironing board, all brooms/mops, AND a five-piece drum set in cases on the other side of the closet. Boom!

Knock on wood I’ve had zero trouble with them. The only problem was with the order — I had ordered them specifically to have both doors open the same direction. But that wasn’t what I got. My ex didn’t realize it and let them install them and go on their way. When I got home and noticed it we decided it was workable and we decided to live with it.

This is an interesting discussion as I am planning to redo a kitchen/laundry room and stacked would solve a lot of problems. I just assumed the stackable were terrible and didn't look any further.

Jakabedy: Most appliance doors can be easily switched from L to R or R to L. Is that not possible with yours?

I have a full size LG pair we bought with plans to later stack them. We needed them right away and stacking would require changes to the cabinets in our laundry room. We still have them side by side, but we are very happy with them. They clean well, are quieter than any machine I've had and they are efficient. Takes a little more to get wool to felt if you want it to, but I've done that only a couple of times. On the other hand, I've washed comforters, sleeping bags, band and choir uniforms, quilts and countless loads of clothes, bedding and towels (2 large dogs and a swimming pool at least double that towel load) and they do it all well. When my son needed a washer and dryer, we bought him an LG pair.

Does anyone whose years are creeping up on them (read: getting old) have a stackable set? I keep going back and forth on stacked vs side-by-side when I re-do the laundry room, but middle age will soon turn into old age, and I question whether the physical bending and reaching required with a stacked set, especially with wet laundry, will make doing the laundry more difficult over time.

Is it a big issue for repairmen to work on the stackable units?

"Is it a big issue for repairmen to work on the stackable units?" No, but if they are in a closet you have to be able to either pull them out if needed or have access from the side or back (lots of repairs are made from the front - sometimes to access the plumbing parts, they are too far back to reach from the front).

"I question whether the physical bending and reaching required with a
stacked set, especially with wet laundry, will make doing the laundry
more difficult over time."

You can get them placed on pedestals (I wish I'd thought of it then), but I actually find pulling wet laundry forward out of a front loader to be easier than pulling laundry up out of a top loader. There's definitely less stretching and reaching with a stacked W/D.

"lizbeth-gardener: Is it a big issue for repairmen to work on the stackable units?"

A stacked frontloader pair (that are otherwise separate machines), yes it can be. Any repair to the washer requires that the dryer be taken down from atop it, which requires two servicers, or one can sometimes do it with a special type of cart.

A washer/dryer set that is built as stacked often is designed such that the washer and dryer mechanisms can be accessed for majority of repairs without separating them.

Olychick & Dadoes: Thanks, that info is a help with deciding which way to go.

Sorry for the hi-jack, SueB.

Mine are stacked in a closet. They would need to be pulled forward. But can't see a need to unstack.

Bending has not been a problem at all. Lighting is key.

I have had my washer repaired several times and NEVER had to remove the dryer. All the workings of the washer are accessible from the front or side.

Olychick, that depends on the design of the machine. What specific brand and model do you have? As I said, a "stacked" set that essentially has the washer and dryer built as a unit typically has provisions for service access without removing the dryer. A frontloader washer and dryer pair that are separate machines but are "stackABLE" and can be installed with the dryer set atop the washer is an entirely different thing.

Some Whirlpool and Maytag frontloaders for example, don't have a lower toekick panel for access to the pump. The entire front is one piece, which requires the top panel be removed first, then the control panel comes off, then the front panel is removed. The top panel must come off to reach the water inlet valve, the dispenser drawer, or the control panel and board. The top can't be removed if the dryer is sitting on it.

I have a stacked Asko w/d in a closet. After 8 years, the control board died and needed to be replaced. In addition, the door to the detergent compartment didn’t close properly due to a broken hinge. The repairs required removal of the top panel of the washer. Pulling them out of the closet wasn’t too difficult since I have them on sliders, but removing the dryer required two service people.

"...but I actually find pulling wet laundry forward out of a front loader to be easier than pulling laundry up out of a top loader."

Never thought about it that way. Good point.