Advice on Front Loader Washer/Dryer

I just looked in my Consumer Reports buying guide, and the Frigidaire Gallery front loading washer was rated a Consumer Reports Best Buy. It costs only $650 and scored as well or better than way more expensive models on washing perfomance, energy efficiency, water efficiency, capacity, genteleness, noise, and cycle time.

I don't have front loaders, but my sister does. She is single and does not have the amount I do but she is very happy with hers, Maytag or Whirlpool. I do not want them as I wash daily and it seems I am grabbing one more item or two to add to the load. Can't do that with front loaders. Just my personal preference but something I did not think about until used my Sisters.

This is not my opinion, just a relay of what a repair man told my hubby and I this weekend. My washer died, and I asked his advice on getting a replacement. He said DO NOT get a front loader. He said they are still working out the kinks, and that the shocks are not built to support the tub for more than a few years. He also said that they leak moisture which molds, and then makes the laundry stink. He said to wait a few years on that, and if you buy a new one, make sure it is made by Whirlpool (they now make Maytag) and not an overseas company b/c NO ONE will fix them when they break (ie Electrolux). So, that is all I have. I bought a used top load for now, and thought that was all very interesting. I am sure some other moms can give you a better perspective after owning one, and I am sure there are good brands out there.. I am interested to see what you find out. Good Luck

We have a LG that we bought 1 1/2 years ago and I have not been happy that my towels never smell good anymore. I use Downey and have started using white vinegar in every load, but still not real happy about the smell. Also, the rubber gasket at the door is very hard to keep clean. Although I am thrilled to be saving all that water, I really miss my top loader. Drying time is shortened, due to the high spin cycle.

i have GE brand front loaders and i love them we had traditional ones until last week they were going out so we had to get new ones..the washer and dryer that i just got is great the clothes come out really clean and the dryer cycle is only about 20 to 30 minutes depending on what we wash. the washer spins out water to the point that the clothes are damp not wet

We have a Bosch set. We've had it for almost 2 years and we love it. We were going to get LG (they were the highest rated at the time, with Bosch being #2), but we got a better deal on the Bosch. Home Depot right now has an Amana set on sale for $998 for the pair. I have no idea how the Amana compares, though.

As for the odor, keep the front door open when you are finished with your final wash. Let it stay open for a couple of hours so it can dry completely. We always leave our door cracked open all of the time so there's some air flow in there.

Hi Shelley
If you are considering a front loader you are making a wise choice.
There are many on the market- but here are the two i would recommend.
I have a fridgadre set that I have had almost 8 years now and have not had one service call. They still operate wonderfully and only use 4 gal of water per load.
the next one would be the kennmore (sears) best service plans and they will meet or beat any price you find.
Good choices-
good luck and blessings
I know you will enjoy your new machines.

Hi Shelley,
Yes, I went to consumer reports. They recommend the LG models as number 1, then I believe Samsung came in 2nd. We bought ours after Hurricane Ike blew through. We didn't want to spend the $$ but our top loader went out and it was just too old to fix again. It was time. I went to Bestbuy.com and read all thr customer reviews on various brands and then I started looking for the best place to buy. We bought ours at Sears. I always buy the extended warranty too.. I absolutly love my new machines. At the time we bought them, we had 3 extra people living with us and they got quite a work out from Sept - Nov. Now it's just my husband and myself. We didn't buy the top of the line LG, but we did buy Model WM2455H which for our budget was well worth the $$. If you want color expect at least 100.00 more per machine. We got the set, the pedestals, extended warranty, tax and also free delivery for about 2400.00 I hope this helps you in your search.

Blessings,
G. G.

I owned a Maytag front loader for 7 years now and the Samsung front loader for over 2 years now

The Maytag does a wonderful job cleaning. The only problem I experienced was mold on the door seal. I started wiping the seal after each use and leaving the door open to make sure it dried out completely, and that helped.

The Samsung has the silver care that is supposed to be effective in killing bacteria (developed for the the space station). Samsung does not recommend using bleach or hot water when using the silver care option. I found my whites did not stay 'white' using the silver care so when I wash whites, I turn off that option, use hot water and bleach, and have been able to keep my whites bright.

Neither has given me any mechanical problems. I am currently using the Samsung with the Maytag in storage but will have both in my home when I finish building an extension.

I have a Maytag Neptune, and have had no problems, BUT they have terrible reviews.. I think I have been very lucky. We didn't do any research, just bought the most reasonably priced one. I have had it for 3 years.. My Mom bought a Maytag at the same time but I higher end model and she had to repair it last year, it was under warranty but it took forever to get the piece replaced.. So don't get a Maytag....

Thee top 2 brands are LG and Samsung. Yes, Samsung makes washers and dryers. I didn't know that either. I went with the Samsung Steam washer and dryer and love them. No problems. I think paying a little extra now for steam was well worth it. I also went with Samsung because it has cold water sanitize. None of the other brands have that feature.I've yet to have that smelly washer smell that you hear about with front end loaders. I wipe down the door after every wash and I leave the door open for at least 2 hrs.

When I was looking on Consumer Reports a few months ago, the LG was their pick. That's what we ended up getting, and so far we've been very happy with it.

Our family has a Bosch set. We've had it for about 6 years and its great--just like brand new, we have never had any problems! We got it at A&A Appliance in Austin on Burnet Rd. My husband got the Bosch set because they have been making front loaders for over 80 years and they are the most efficient in the industry.

Good luck!
D.
http://www.4myhappyhealthyfamily.com

Also, if you're in Austin, the city gives rebates for lots of front loaders. Go to their website for rebates and that'll help you narrow down your search.

LIke the way the front loader washes and uses less water and detergent. Would not pay full price. Got mine on scratch and dent aisle at Lowe's with full warranty.
But Google front load washer and odor and read what comes up. I have had trouble with the odor thing. Have to run bleach or vinegar through it occasionally to get rid of sour smell and the clothes never smell just washed. This is all brands from what I gathered from googling.

I just went through the process of buying a washer and I debated and researched. I ended up with the GE 6800 front load for several reasons. 1. Consumer reports listed it as the best dryer available. 2. price was competitive. 3. has one of the best ratings as to repairs. I love it and I have had it for 2 weeks now. The only downside is that you have to leave the door open after you do a load of clothes otherwise it will begin to smell inside. I also bought it online so I received an additional discount from Home Depot...the discount amounted to the taxes that I paid but it evened out in my opinion. It saves on water so that means less drying time. I have cut out about 20 minutes of dry time on my clothes. You do need to use the HE detergent and it does not smell as pretty as the other detergents but the clothes look cleaner.

We bought the LG at Best Buy and got the service warranty because their warranty includes an annual check up. We have been very pleased with our units. We keep an old towel on top of the washer to dry out the unit when we are finished washing for the day. We haven't had the musty smelll at all. We run the tub clean on odd months which seems to work as well. We bought the steam dryer and love it! Good luck on your search!