Front Loading Washers

No idea which model you should buy. But I wanted to ditto what a Rosebud said about leaving the door open when not in use. That is a must! Those places are perfect for mold.

Definitely get the pedestals. We didn't, and it is rather annoying to be bending over so much to load and unload.

Whatever you get, remember to leave the washer door open in between use. That way you won't get mold.

Next time around, I am DEFINITELY not buying a front loader again. I think as they break, people will go back to the old ones.

The front loading washers SMELL. I have a top of the line one, and I keep it cleaned out with all the expensive products designed to keep your washer from smelling (which costs money to run empty hot water loads and cleansers every month). And ick. It goes right back to smelling. I have to leave the door hanging open to keep the smell away which is annoying because kids will sometimes shut it and then it really smells. My friends have the same complaints with theirs. And you can't soak stuff in the washer which is a missed convenience. And even though they supposedly take tiny amounts of the concentrated detergent...meh..my detergent runs out just as fast as it always did.

Thumbs down.

I have had a set of Samsungs for about 9 years, couldn't tell you about their service, never had anything go wrong with them.

I'm interested in the responses because I'll be in the market soon.

Just a reminder when you look at things like Consumer Reports and so on, that individual retailers sometimes are assigned their own model numbers by the manufacturer. So a Maytag or Samsung sold at Home Depot might be exactly the same model as a Maytag or Samsung sold at Lowes. So check on the other features if you get a better deal at one store rather than another.

We have a local Sears outlet that marks down floor models or things with a scratch or dent. I'd absolutely by a washer to put in my laundry room (that no one sees) if I could save $700 due to a scratched door! If you have a place like this, don't be afraid to negotiate. They want to get rid of that machine so make them an offer.

ETA: I keep seeing where people are saying the front loaders smell and other detergent drawer gets stinky. That has never happened to me, even when I had the horrid Maytag. My Samsung door does not seal tightly when it is pushed too therefore allowing airflow. I also run a hot vinegar wash through it about once a month. I use a spray bottle with vinegar to wipe down the area around the door after I use it as well. It is no more work than regularly maintaining the fridge, dishwasher, etc.
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I have a high end Samsung set ( not positive of the model #) that's a little over 2 years old that I LOVE!!

Got it from home depot during a memorial day sale.. No tax, no delivery. I spent about $2700. I got the pedestals and love them as well.... Extra storage!!

No issues whatsoever with this set up. I'd buy the same machine again.

I've had my Whirlpool for a few years now and I love it. It is the base model. Big capacity, very energy efficient, gets clothes clean and spins really dry. We did get the pedestals, so lots of extra storage. I do have to remember to leave the door open and run a wash cycle once a month or so.

I miss being able to soak things that are really dirty or have stains. I can't dye fabric any more and my clothes are more wrinkled with a front loader.

Also, you have to leave the door open all the time it is not in use or it smells moldy...even then you have to run a clean cycle every month at least with a cup of bleach to clean out the tub and rubber gasket system.

The wrinkled issue is that it spins the clothes so dry they are a tight wrinkled mess. and I hang a lot of things to dry and they have no water weight in them to pull the wrinkles out as they dry.

Other than that I love my front load elextrolux...

I purchased an LG almost 2 years ago. Several repairs later and finally the bearing went out (on a machine less than a year old!) and LG finally took it back and returned my money. So, I purchased a Samsung front loader. I don't love it and if I could I would return that one as well. The pull out for the detergent/bleach are always getting mold and they retain water between uses. Ugh.

I had a Maytag Neptune that I purchased 14 years ago (when front loaders were getting popular) and I wish I had it back. I washed over 11,000 loads with it before it finally died. I sure miss it (but I also realize that machine really doesn't exist anymore - if it did, I would have re-bought it).

I do always leave the door open on my Samsung to avoid the funky smell/mold issue, and now I am going to have to leave the pull drawer open after every use as well (to avoid the new mold problem there).

If I didn't have a billion kids and have to wash a billion loads of clothes, I would definitely buy a Speed Queen top loader - as soon as the last kid leaves home, I am running to the nearest appliance dealer and purchasing one!

If you can live with a top loader, I would totally think about getting one. Front loaders are a pain, and for the "occasional blanket" - the Laundromat is a good option.

Good luck!!

I have a front loader. It came with the house that we built. If I had a choice I would go with a top loader. With in a month our clothes and towels were coming out really stinky! I did some research and found out that after every single load I have to totally dry every speck of the rubber tube part (inside and out and in between), I have to dry the door, and keep the door open at all times when it's not being used and keep the tray open. I also just started making my own laundry soap (I was using all free and clear) and since making those changes, my clothes finally smell clean but it is a pain to take care of after every single load. I also read that I have to run a machine cleaning cycle with bleach each month. It's just adds so much more time and work

My mom has the front loaders, Kenmore brand. She says it's okay but she liked her old machine--top loader. She doesn't soak anything anymore since no little kids at home and my brother doesn't bother to soak anything. She also has had moldy smells and my bro always closes it. When we go looking for a new washer (hopefully not for a while) I am insisting on top loader.

I have a LG top loader. I prefer the top loading HE over the front loader. My mom & sis have front loaders and they seem smaller and smell like mildew.

My fridge died recently and in the process of getting a new one I saw a lot of washers/dryers while going through appliance stores.
I was surprised and delighted to find out that top loader agitator washers are making a come back!

Hi D.,

I had a front loader for several years and HATED IT. The soap cup would gum up and collect mildew over time, it was so low to the ground (no we didn't get those little risers they charge more for so you can actually get into the machine), it was loud and the large loads took forever.

It finally broke down and we replaced it with a Samsung large capacity top loader that I love. We still have the previous dryer but that one never gave me much of an issue. If you're looking just to replace the washer....I highly recommend against the front loaders.

and don't forget that warranty. :-) S.

http://www.speedqueen.com/

I have a top loader, but they also make front loaders.

FWIW, I have heard that if you don't leave a front loader open, it will mildew. Might be a consideration around pets and kids. Ours is a top loading Maytag Centennial, if you have room for that. Otherwise, friends have been reasonably happy with their Samsung, but I don't know what model number it is.

I had a Whirlpool Cabrio high efficiency top loader. It lasted 5 years to the date of purchase. It worked well, no problems repair wise. The clothes didn't come out as clean as I wanted many times, so I used Oxi Clean in the loads. This past February, I returned to buy an old style agitator GE. ..love having clean clothes again without having to use too many chemicals in the wash. Love my old style machine more than the high efficiency Cabrio, that's for sure.

We have a Maytag and I HATE it. We have had nothing but problems. The rubber seal tears every few months and leaks water everywhere. We have had electrical issues and mechanical issues and pretty much any other issue you can imagine. Avoid Maytag like the plague!!!
And I agree with others, I am getting a top loader next time for sure!!