Washing Machine Help!!! What Brand and Kind to Buy.

Updated on March 03, 2010
J.R. asks from McKinney, TX
13 answers

My GE topload machine is standing on its last leg and Sears is having a good sale this weekend so I need some feedback on what kind of washer to buy. I have been researching this for 2 days now and still cant decide Top Load or Front Load and what brand to buy. Our budget will be under $800.00 and I'm looking for a washer that will hold up to 2 loads of heavily soiled (3 little ones) clothes a day. My priority list is
1. Durability (get our moneys worth)
2. Clean Clothes (gets out as many stains as possible with 1 wash)
3. As little noise as possible as our laundry room is next to the babies room
4. Water and Electric Efficiency.

Please give me some feedback on what you like and don't like about your washer. Thanks.

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E.J.

answers from Dallas on

Do NOT buy a Whirlpool Duet front loader. I have been having a problem with mine for 2 yrs and not much support from their techs. They finally replaced the piece I have been complaining about but I still have problems with it. All the people I have been questioning on what type of washer they bought they usually go with the LG washers from Home Depot. I would really love to get a new washer but my husband is too cheap especially since we have only owned it for 3 yrs.
Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful

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D.B.

answers from Dallas on

We have a whirlpool duet and we LOVE it. It works great, it's pretty quiet (I think) and has never had a problem. We've had it for about 1 1/2 years. It's easy to use and the kids can help me do laundry because it's a front loader (they load and unload for me) and they think it's a game. I think we got ours for about $600 or so - I don't remember for sure though because we got a fridge and dryer at the same time. I've never had a problem with stains unless I don't treat them at all. My husband is very much into getting the best in quality while still saving money and we researched a lot of washers and dryers and the Whirlpool Duet was the one we decided on. A nice feature is it gets a lot of the water out during the spin cycle so drying doesn't take as long. The clothes come out of the washer feeling much drier than I've ever felt from a top loader. After using laundromats for so long, this washing machine has been AWESOME!

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E.G.

answers from Dallas on

We had Sears Kenmore washer and dryer for years but bought Whirlpool toploader washer a couple of years ago. We have been happy with both brands. I recommend either.

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T.S.

answers from Dallas on

I have a Bosch front load and love it. I can stop it and add the one thing that got left out. It not only saves money on our water bill but also a laundry soap, you don't have to use as much. There are five of us and I can put 16 pairs of jeans in our washer at one time and they come out clean. I have a king size bed and I am able to wash my comforter in it. I have had mine for three years.

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S.W.

answers from Dallas on

I would go with a traditional washer. I have a Kenmore (made by Whirlpool) top load regular washer with nobs instead of the electronic panel. I had one of the fancy washers for about four years and when I had the repair guy out for the second time telling me I needed a $400 part replaced, I asked his advice. He said to go with a regular washer and forget the fancy kind. He said that they have a lot of problems with the electrical panel and with other parts. The first few years with a eco-friendly front loader are great, but I need a washer to last longer than that.

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I have a 6 yr old Maytag Neptune frontloader. I love it. It is great and has never given me any issues.....HOWEVER

Maytag's quality has gone WAY downhill in recent years. I was so sold on Maytag products. I bought a top of the line fridge and dishwasher. The dishwasher died within 3 yrs and the fridge gave us issues from day one and I replaced it within 5 yrs. i went with Kitchen Aid and LOVE it.

IF I had to buy another washer, I would still go for the front loader. The only drawback for me is that if you forget to put something in, you can't just raise the lid and add it. Whatever got left out waits until the next time.

We purchased our newest appliances from Best Buy. THey have some good products and the staff at the Plano location is knowledgable.

I don't know about the $800. I know we spent around $1500 for our washer at the time.

Good luck finding one!

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S.R.

answers from Dallas on

I love my front loader. We have a GE and haven't had any problems. The only thing I can caution you on is the ring in the front. Make sure your washer is level and you wipe the ring down and the leave the door open after washing. If not you will get a funky mildew smell. We saved money in month 1 with our water bill. Look at it this way-a top loader takes approx 38 gallons of water to wash, a front loader takes about 18-eco friendly!

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

Home Depot alao has a sale on now. The GE washer is $699-10%. I have been shopping around also and that is the best deal I could find.

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C.D.

answers from Amarillo on

I have a washer and dryer. They aren't brand new but they are about 1 year old. It is a Whirlpool and they are in great condition. I could sell them to you for $400 for both. They work great!!! I only am selling them because I moved into a new house where the washer and dryer are in the kitchen. With that said, it is a small kitchen so it came with the washer/dryer stack that was already in here since they are space efficient. I am sooo sad that I have to get rid of my W/D because I haven't had them for very long and they are in such great condition.

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L.T.

answers from Lubbock on

Hi J.,

I have a Whirpool Duet Steam front loader. I love it. The interior is wide and no adjitator is easier on clothes. Mine is very quiet and uses a lot less water than a top loader. You can still soak and add garments. There is a lock botton so you do not have to worry about little fingers starting a load. I like the steam series because you can choose any kind of wash you need. I have several dry clean only items that I wash rather than taking to dry cleaners. I pre-treat spots and they usually come out in one wash. There are some stains that are difficult no matter what kind of washer you have. I don't know if it falls in your budget. Check the Sears Outlet store in your area too.

Hope you find the answer you are looking for.

PS-Ask your husband to help with laundry for a week or so and see if his opinion doesn't change ;o).

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V.T.

answers from Dallas on

My LG front-loader smells and has water in it after each cycle and it is only 3 months old. I never had this problem with a top-loader. I was warned against the front-loader by my sisters who had them, but against my better judgment, I let my husband talk me into the front-loader. Big mistake. You can get the same size capacity in the top-loader with out the water and smell problems.

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J.C.

answers from Dallas on

My husband just went to the repair shop to buy a part for our old washer. He asked the guy what kind of washer he would buy. He said a top loader direct drive Whirlpool. He said that the electric panels go out on so many of the washers and it cost up to $300. to fix so to get one with nobs. This was from the guy that has run this part and repair store for years.

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C.S.

answers from Sarasota on

We have a front load stacked whirlpool. Tech came yesterday because it seems to shake a little too much. That was a bust BUT he did say (if you get this model) run the clean machine program every other month and be sure to wipe out the inside of the door each time and also the rubber collar around the inside (otherwise it starts to smell funny). Check the collar to be sure there are no golf tees (we live on a course) or baby socks (reproduction is just a distant memory) and that you can take off the bottom panel and open the little pump thingy (bottom right-put a cup under it!) to see if anything has migrated into it. Seems to get things clean and the spin gets a LOT of water out. Take out the dispenser part and clean it ESPECIALLY if you use liquid bleach as there is always a little bit left in the tray. That's all I can remember. It isn't the quietest machine on the block but ours is next to the kitchen and we don't do it when we have company so it didn't matter to us but may to you. We got ours at DeSears and they are now out of business. Don't ask me my opintion of them either! Good luck.

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