I agree with dadoes on the front load recommendation. If you do plan to replace later take a look at the widths and depths of the larger capacity machines. They are getting wider and deeper. Many front loads - those in the 4.5 cu ft are still 27” wide but depths do vary. GE has a 4.8 cu ft front load that is 28” wide and the machines that have 5.0 and above capacity are at 30” wide and perhaps wider. Just make sure you plan space for a larger footprint than you current top loads. I just replaced a topload pair that were approaching 30 years in a second home. The width of the replacements were still 27” but the depth was several inches deeper, and it is noticeable in the space.

Thank you both. The space issue is indeed one of my concerns. We can leave space but that may mean our set-up looks odd now until we do replace the current washer/dryer.

I have some questions if you don't mind.

We have some comforters that barely fit in our current washer - I can do it, but I have to really cram them in there, to the point that I probably shouldn't. I've read different suggested capacities for washing large, thick comforters, from 4.5 to over 5 cf. Do either of you wash bulky queen or larger comforters or duvets and what capacity would you recommend, based on your experience?

I've also read that your dryer capacity should be double your washer but don't see many 9-10 cf dryers, and certainly not at prices I'm willing to pay. What is your dryer capacity and has it been an issue (again with the comforters)?

How much hassle is it to keep the front loaders clean and avoid mold and odor? Salespeople have hand waved at this, but they are salespeople... I don't mind a quick dry of the door gasket, leaving the washer door open to air out while the last load is drying, and running an occasional machine clean cycle but I honestly don't see myself regularly deep cleaning my washer.

I know if I get front loaders I'm going to need either pedestals or to put them on a raised drawer set of some kind. The pedestals add significantly to the cost of the washer-dryer set, so I need to look into cabinetry and drawer bases (not that those will be less expensive, necessarily, but worth looking into). I am worried about the vibration, though - would the vibrate so much that they could come off of a cabinetry base? Any experience with this?

Thanks!

Think about how you will service the units if you put it on some sort of cabinetry. Also when you need to pull the dryer out to clean out the vent pipe. With pedestals you can still pull the units out.

I have been very happy with my LG front load washer. My dryer is an electrolux.

Get a front loader (more efficient, lots of space, better on your fabrics, and I recommend an LG set - they make some of the best rated dryers and front-load washers available.

If you current set still has a little life in them, sell them or donate them to a women's shelter or something.

Don't overthink the capacity. A 3.5 to 4 cu ft frontloader can handle a queen and most king-size comforters. Your regular loads (sorted properly) don't need that much capacity (unless maybe there are 8 to 12 people in the family!). Small loads in a huge drum present more difficulty for the machine to balance for spin.

Thank you for the insightful comments; they are very helpful. To the point dadoes raises, if I have occasional small loads do I need to look for a washer with a setting for that?

Our current washer is about 2.5 cf capacity. Helps to know that!

Frontloaders automatically adjust the fill level to the load size, no need for a setting specifically for small loads. Most of them have a Quick cycle which is described as intended for a few items but it's oriented toward a minimal soil level which entails a shorter wash period and rinses, sometimes with no spin before and/or between the rinses to save time.

My 14 year old front load is 3.8 cu ft. - largest capacity available at the time. I wash all my king bedding wihtout an issue. Most full size front loads (except Bosch/Miele) are at least 4.5 cu ft. Capacity should not be a problem for you. I wipe off the inside of the door to avoid water deposits forming. I sometimes blot or wipe the bottom of the gasket. I leave my door ajar with a towel draped over it and I also leave my detergent dispenser drawer open. Washers now have a clean cycle and will let you know when to run a clean cycle. Some such as LG have a filter accessed from the front that should be cleaned occasionally. I clean mine once or twice a year. I have never had an issue with mold and I am in florida.

Thank you all for the very helpful comments!

Replace your 20-year-old laundry duo if:

• Bigger comforters won't fit (dust mite concern!)
• Efficiency and features outweigh appliance age.
• The budget fits new models and potential layout adjustments.

Front-loaders: More capacity, gentler, and efficient, but require bending or venting.

Top-loaders: Easier access, less efficient, can be harsher on clothes.

Decide based on features, budget, and space. Repairs might be an option too!

Five Star - your first item is my main reason for considering new. I do have dust mite allergies and some of my bedding does not fit well into my current 2.5 cf capacity washer. They are also, I realized when doing the math, at least 24 years old. So while they still work just fine, I suspect they won't for long. Everything on your list is a check for me, and for these reasons plus the other advice I've gotten here, I will purchase new machines.

I'll almost certainly go with front loaders on pedestals (to avoid the bending issue). If I'm replacing, I want to capitalize on energy efficiency and the related energy bill reductions. Venting isn't an issue; we vent now. We already have a 220 line and a gas line available, so I can go either way on the dryer, but will probably go electric.

I can never understand the concern about ensuring that machines handle large items such as comforters, king blankets, etc. Just take them to a local laundromat. They're probably going to be more thoroughly washed and dried in a laundromat's jumbo machines compared to cramming them in a home machine anyway.

My best advice about the comforters is take them to a local dealer and stuff it into a floor model. That is the only way you will know. When we had a 3.5 cu ft FL, the queen comforter was too puffy to fit into it. Current FL is 3.0 cu. ft. I usually just send these out to a laundry/dry cleaner and pay to have it laundered. I think there are duvet/comforter covers made of allergy-proof materials that might be a good option; they can be laundered in a regular washer.

If you look at one of the enormous cu. ft. FL washers on the market, it might help to determine if your weekly laundry will fill it up. We are retired and don't have large laundry loads. A FL that is 5 cu. ft. wouldn't move our clothes around well enough to wash them, IMO. For a family of 4+, it is probably perfect.

" I can never understand the concern about ensuring that machines handle large items such as comforters, king blankets, etc. Just take them to a local laundromat. "

For most people/households, it's something that comes up maybe once or twice a year. Perhaps in a home with infants or an incontinent pet, I can see the need to toss them in a machine immediately, maybe in the middle of the night, but I think for most people it's a seasonal thing.

"...but I think for most people it's a seasonal thing"

Exactly. Which is why I don't understand the concern about sizing machines to ensure that these large items fit -- if it's only a couple-few times a year, just go to the laundromat. Fit the machines to your everyday needs.

Unless you purchase a 24” model which are around 2.4 ish cu ft almost every 27” front load is at least 4.5 cu ft. The 24” models are as much or more than the 27” models.

I believe that if you desire a large capacity washer, that is what you should buy if it is in your budget and it fits. Whether you only wash a king size comforter once a year or many times a year, if you want the ability to do that in your own time and in your own home, you should have that choice if it will fit in your home and budget.

What is the filling in your comforter? If it is down then it will be 25% the volume once it is wet. No problems then. If it is polyester or some other synthetic then a bigger drum is needed.

All of ours are down and we have no problems washing them in our Miele compact. I avoid synthetics, but that is our family preference.

I replaced my 17-year-old Bosch FL in November with the top Electrolux pair. They are 4.5 for the washer & 8.0 for the dryer. The premixing of detergent that I thought was overkill really works great. I love them so far. Yes, I had to play with settings because of dumbing down the water temp settings, but I have found my combinations to get a perfect warm or hot load & also use sanitize & allergen once in a while. I know the popular FL is LG right now, but I would buy these again.

mxk3 - I wash comforters frequently due to dust mite allergies. I know for most people it is seasonal or less frequent but for me it’s every week or two.

luna123446 - We have a mix of comforters. Some down, some thinner / less fill, some duvets and comforters that are thick and not down.

Cadyren - Thank you for the tip. You are right that it’s LG everywhere but I have heard good things about Electrolux too.

Oh my gosh I couldn’t disagree more about washer size not mattering! I moved into my current house with a 3.34 cu ft washer in 2019, and while I eventually got used to it I felt like I was finally untethered from my laundry room when I recently replaced it with a 4.5. If I had the space to go larger I would. While only technically a third bigger, actual load size is close to double. We’re only a family of 3 most of the year now, and I would not want smaller even when the second kid leaves.

@Cadyren - I am glad to hear you like your electrolux set. I recently purchased the same set for our second home as I needed a washer with a reversable door and wanted an on board water heater. I have only done a few loads but it did do a great job cleaning an old polo shirt that was found under the old dryer that had been there for several years! There are 3 items I would want changed. I upgraded to the top level set to get a stainless drum in the dryer. Even with that the back of the drum is still painted. At that price point I expect the entire drum to be stainless. The cycle completion sounds are very faint and cannot be adjusted. Given this set is in a lower level of the house - I have to set a mental timer and go check when I think it should be done. The thrid is the lack of a wifi app to let me know when loads are done given the previous issue. They are one of the few that do not have a wifi app. My clamshell filter seems to do a good job trapping lint as I know there is another thread about filter concerns.

My daughter recently bought the newer FL LG 4.5 cu ft model and matching dryer and is very happy with it. The set is in her garage so she very much appreciates the wifi app.

Interesting thread. I moved into a house last year and there is an LG 4.5 cu. ft top loader washer and I can't figure out how old it is. If I knew, I would probably feel less guilty and replace it in a flash because the dark clothes come out loaded with white lint, sometimes patches 2-3 inches long. I have cleaned the machine a million times in one year and nothing works. I do not use too much soap and I don't leave kleenexes in the pockets. I am remodeling my bathroom with the w/d in it, and I think I'll be very sorry if I don't replace it now, but I want as small a unit as I can get. I know it won't match the dryer but who cares? I go through one of those sticky lint rollers every few weeks and they make your knits pill. Thanks for any ideas (except use less soap or don't put tissues in your pockets :>)).

You can determine the age of your washer with the serial number. I found this on the web:

“To determine a LG appliance age you need the serial number. The first digit is the year, the second and third is the month”

Post the model number and folks might be able to help you with your lint issue.

Remodelling is a great time to replace appliances, and you can sell the ones you have if they've still got life in them - but I would replace both at the same time so they age together.

There's no reason to replace a washer and dryer together on point of service life. Dryers are much simpler mechanisms than washers and repairs are often low-cost when needed. A family member's 12yo dryer developed a squeal. Simple replacement of the belt idler, whopping $16 for the part.

Luckily, i do not need to wash my comforter often as i do not use it , it gets folded down and i just use a blanket. blankets are easier to wash at home in a smaller washer

I am phytsically challenged and it would be impossible for me to take my comforter to a laundromat. My 5.0 cu. ft. LG handles it very well.