Front load vs. top load HE?

[talulabelle]

SO my good old washer that came with my house and must have been 35yearsold died 4 years ago. I researched and researched what to get and thought the lovely front loaders would be great. My husband stuck his nose in and convinced me to buy a Fisher and Paykel EXPENSIVE (was as much as any front loader)HE top loader. I dont' remember what sold him on it - but I think he was scared by the reviews on front loaders that say they get mildew build up. I have HATED the darn thing since day one. My old washer got the clothes SO clean. I hardly had to stain treat anything. This fisher and Paykel has been so bad - I had it repaired twice and the cost was outrageous. I feel like i have to hand wash the clothes before they go in if I have any hope of them looking clean, and now just 4 years after purchasing it has died and will cost $600 to fix as parts are so expensive and barely anyone fixes these things. Hate Hate Hate it!!!!

So here I am 4 years later and need to replace again. I have 5 kids and need the hugest capacity I can get. I am between a 4.7 cu.ft. top load whirlpool and a 4.3 front loader. Top loader hold more, but if it is HE I feel like it will be like my last where it is using little water but the since it is all just sitting and swishing inthere - I feel the clothes don't cycle throug hthe small amount of water. That is why I like the idea of front loader because the tumble motion tumbles the clothes through the small amount of water.I feel like this would get the clothes cleaner. However I want bigger capacity and am afraid of the "smell" build up I hear about.

So - lay it on me. What to get? I don't want ot be going through this process again in another 4 years.

 

[ImDMous]

I've had my front loader HE (whirlpool) for 4 years and I don't know what smell they are talking about. It recommends in the manual that you leave the door open to let it dry, so I do. I've never had any problems with the seal leaking or smelling. It also recommends that you clean it every once in a while. It has a self-clean setting, so I set it to that and throw a bleach tab in and let it go. I think if people are complaining about it smelling, they aren't taking care of it.

I love it, when I first got it I noticed that some stains that my previous washer had left for months started coming out just with regular washing.

 

[MickeysAttic]

I had a beautiful top loading HE washer w matching (blue) dryer set...after it wore holes in many of our favorite Disney Tshirts I gave it away to my vets office. Less than a year old and gave it away. I kept track and I did not save any money that I could see on my water bill...but my electric bill did go UP...I found out it is because you can't run a fast load...all loads take a pre-set amount of time. I finally started going so long between using it, that I would have a full days worth of laundry to do..instead of running smaller loads with my old washer throughout the week.
We went to a little mom + pop appliance store, where I could easily ask for an old fashioned water wasting washer, without a salesperson trying to tell me why the new ones are better! I told them I want an old fashoined washer and the owners wife stood there nodding her head up & down as I was complaining about the washer I had bought for waaaay too much money had destroyed some of our Tshirts. ( 1 of them I only wore 1 time..washed it and when it came out of the dryer I held it up a little to fold it and saw little tiny holes, just like out other older shirts!
The owners of the store told me that the top complaints they hear are,
it does not save money because you use more in electric (longer wash cycle), the 2nd is: holes in thinner fabrics like Tshirts...3rd is washer smells. I told them the most crazy thing about them is that when I called the Manufacturer, they told me with a straight face, that you have to "wash the washer"...I said "get out...wash the washer I said??" they said "well, yes you must wash the washer" I said, " I am 60 years old and I refuse to start washing my washer...talk about wasting water and electric !" Then they told me about leaving the door open...I have Cats...I refuse to leave the washer door open for even 2 minutes! Can't imagine doing it if the grandkids were here!
He told me to only buy a washer & dryer with MANUAL knobs...not electronics (or there are pre-set timed cycles with those) So I did...they also said are doing a great business in old fashioned washers for those 3 reasons.
I now have a washer that I bought for HALF of what that beatiful Blue washer cost..and I am Soooo happy when I do wash, I can fill the tub with water or use just a small amount, I wash the clothes and I am done in half the time!
I bought Whirlpool washer + dryer in a beautiful shade of white... looks very Retro (lol)...

 

[LJSquishy]

Front loaders do not have the mildew/mold/smell issues they used to have. You have to leave the door cracked because otherwise the moisture will be sealed inside which is what causes that. Most now have a little door catch that allows you to keep it mostly closed just letting in a little air to circulate.

Front loaders are great...I love mine and it is 4.2 and huge. You can put a comforter in there, huge loads of clothes, etc. They are very gentle on your clothes. I can't comment on top load HE machines because I've never had one, but I agree with you that I can't imagine them getting the clothes as clean because there is no agitator. The machine I have is the LG 3875 (and matching dryer).

 

[bettymae1121]

I have had a GE front loader for a year and so far no problems. Our clothes are clean, the washer doesn't smell (I just leave the door open between uses), the clothes come out almost dry to the touch so we use the dryer a lot less. There is less lint in the dryer trap so I beleive it is easier on our clothing. No problems with holes in our clothes either. I use the speed wash (36 minute cycle) for most items except DD's cloth diapers, then I do two cycles totaling about 2.5 hours but I'm saving on not having to buy disposable diapers so I'm still ahead.

It does have a "self clean" cycle so if I do notice a smell I can run that to clean out the drum but I haven't needed it yet. The manual says to run it once a month though.

1 year into it and the washer works just as well as the day we brought it home so it hasn't need repairs yet, hopefully it won't ever!

Can't testify to cost savings on utilities as our utilities here are so cheap to begin with. But I use the dryer a lot less that's for sure!

 

[jackie101]

hated my front loader, felt like the clothes did not get clean at all...sometime I would find a dry dirty sock, or a shirt in a load of laundry, gross. Just gave ours away and got a top loader, love it

 

[Anne34]

Had a front loader (LG) that smelled horribly after about a year. I left the door open and wiped down the seal in between washes too!! Hated it. We moved two years ago and I got a HE top loader (Maytag). I really like it, but it twists the clothes a bit and they get a little wrinklier than before.

 

[Friendly Frog]

I had a beautiful top loading HE washer w matching (blue) dryer set...after it wore holes in many of our favorite Disney Tshirts I gave it away to my vets office. Less than a year old and gave it away. I kept track and I did not save any money that I could see on my water bill...but my electric bill did go UP...I found out it is because you can't run a fast load...all loads take a pre-set amount of time. I finally started going so long between using it, that I would have a full days worth of laundry to do..instead of running smaller loads with my old washer throughout the week.
We went to a little mom + pop appliance store, where I could easily ask for an old fashioned water wasting washer, without a salesperson trying to tell me why the new ones are better! I told them I want an old fashoined washer and the owners wife stood there nodding her head up & down as I was complaining about the washer I had bought for waaaay too much money had destroyed some of our Tshirts. ( 1 of them I only wore 1 time..washed it and when it came out of the dryer I held it up a little to fold it and saw little tiny holes, just like out other older shirts!
The owners of the store told me that the top complaints they hear are,
it does not save money because you use more in electric (longer wash cycle), the 2nd is: holes in thinner fabrics like Tshirts...3rd is washer smells. I told them the most crazy thing about them is that when I called the Manufacturer, they told me with a straight face, that you have to "wash the washer"...I said "get out...wash the washer I said??" they said "well, yes you must wash the washer" I said, " I am 60 years old and I refuse to start washing my washer...talk about wasting water and electric !" Then they told me about leaving the door open...I have Cats...I refuse to leave the washer door open for even 2 minutes! Can't imagine doing it if the grandkids were here!
He told me to only buy a washer & dryer with MANUAL knobs...not electronics (or there are pre-set timed cycles with those) So I did...they also said are doing a great business in old fashioned washers for those 3 reasons.
I now have a washer that I bought for HALF of what that beatiful Blue washer cost..and I am Soooo happy when I do wash, I can fill the tub with water or use just a small amount, I wash the clothes and I am done in half the time!
I bought Whirlpool washer + dryer in a beautiful shade of white... looks very Retro (lol)...

I am a fan of the old fashioned top load washer for all of the reasons above. Plus I like to be able to add those last moment items to the wash if it is still agitating. The only thing is I do wish someone would make a top loader with a super spin cycle to get the clothes a little dryer.

 

[rock_doctor]

Try to stay away from an HE washer. They are horrible. They use just enough water to get the clothes wet then they rub the clothes against each other. Now i know this sounds like what all machines do, but in non HE machines the clothes are also floating in the water but in the HE machines they are not and each load i find a torn towel or something with holes. I do not overload the machine nor set it for heavy duty. I have a Sears which is whirlpool Cabrio and it has been a nightmare. The last time the repair man came out, he quoted a $600 bill to repair it. I told him to help me carry it out the curb i was done with it. He refused since it was barely a year... He just told me what parts to change and wished me luck. I hate this machine so much i can't express it over the internet. I will say there are tons of class action law suits for these machines. Try to get an non-HE machine, trust me. As far as the smell most of these machines have a clean setting. It runs the machine though a special cycle and you just add a cup of bleach no soap, no clothes. I run a non-load once a week (i.e. no clothes or soap, just water) and i do not have the smell issue. Now my Cabrio needs a printed circuit switch board, you push the button and it may or may not work. That is good for about $200... Thank goodness these machines are super simple and I do all repairs myself. Remember homedepot accepts the 10% coupon from Lowes.....

 

[clm10308]

I had a top loader HE washer that we bought at Sears. I can't remember the brand. I did not want a front loader simply due to the design of our laundry room not having enough room between the washer and the opposite wall.

It was the largest capacity that I could get and was cheaper than similar front loaders.

I did not have any trouble with the clothes getting clean or with smells, but I did leave the lid open when not running to use it like a hamper. I did not have trouble with it putting holes in clothes, but a previous regular agitator washer did make holes.

We had to leave The washer and dryer with the house when we moved out of state.

We now have a front load washer that also came from sears. I am not at home to look up the brand name. It is fine. I do leave the door open for a couple of hours after I'm done so it can dry out. I live in a very dry climate.

My mother's front load washer does smell a bit. She lives in a very humid climate where it would take much longer to dry out.

For us the savings comes from the fact that I can take wet clothes out of the washer and hang dry in just a couple of hours or 15 min in dryer.

 

[ToddyLu]

When we stayed at Kidani in May the Front load washer was out of commision for a couple of days and only 2 top loader "old fashioned" washers were working. Well, when the front loader came back I opened the door to try it out and the smell was horrible. When another guest came in I told him to smell the washer before he put his clothes in and he agreed and just waited on a regular machines. That was a big turn off so I am going for a cheapo Roper-type the next time I need a washer. I currently have a GE top loader (not HE) with a stainless steel drum that is very loud. DH and I just stood there to make sure it wasn't broken the first time we turned it on, it made so much noise. So I won't get another washer with a stainless drum for that reason if possible.

 

[ceecee]

I have an LG Front Loader and bought it a year ago. I have smell issues with it. I wipe it out and leave the door open all the time. If I shut it even after not using it, it smells. I have it in a laundry room that you can see into so I really don't like to leave it open. I love the way it cleans, but hate the smell. I also like to soak and a front loader you can't do that. It also takes longer to do a load that with my old Whirlpool which was close to 30 yrs old. Can't comment on the water savings since we have a well.

 

[paysensmom]

I have a front loader and I despise it!!! It smells horrible, even though we have always left it open in between uses. Our clothes come out dirty and we have had several items get little holes in them. I am just waiting for any little thing to go wrong with it so I can go back to a top loader.

 

[HoosierMomOf5]

I had a maytag front loader and hated it. We replaced it last month with a good old Made-in-America Speed Queen top loader. I LOVE IT! It handles the laundry for our family of 7 just fine, and the clothes come out so much cleaner. Totally worth a look if you don't mind a non-HE machine.

 

[Mickey527]

I also have an HE front loader and although I don't "hate" it I wish I hadn't gotten it. I have to run every load with extra water because when i run it as a regular wash I sometimes take clothes out of the washer that haven't gotten wet. I have a grey disney sweatshirt and I take it out and parts are light grey and dry and parts are darker grey and wet.
Sometimes it doesn't take in the soap in the dispenser so it has run a full load for 154 minutes with only water. then do the entire load over, another 154 minutes.
It doesn't smell because I keep the door open but my de-humidifier turns on as soon as I open the machine. And the de-humidifier uses alot more electricity than the washer.
I can't dye anything anymore. I have a set of drapes that I want to dye a darker color and can't do it in my washer.
I can't fill the washer with water and oxycleanand my whites and let the load soak overnight. If you try to soak a load the washer will drain out all the water.
I can't do a small load, or just run the washer on a certain cycle. I used to turn it to spin if I felt the clothes hadn't spun dry enough or if the load was off balanced and the machine shut down. The other day I was washing sneakers and the machine was off balance. It shut down, said off balance on the front screen and shut down. All the water drained out so I had to run the entire load again.
I have had this washer for 4 years now and I know they don't have a long life so when it dies I am going back to an old fashioned washer again.

 

[Miz Diz]

I have a Samsung and have not had any issues with smell. I leave the door open if it is not in use. My sister has an LG and she also leaves the door open, but she has the smell problem.

My HE washer has a delicate cycle that is 38 minutes long and a rinse and spin that is 20 minutes. There are other cycles that are longer. Just mentioning that because a pp said theirs ran longer than their old one. You can find different models with different settings/cycles just like you can with the top load.

If I had to do it over again, I would probably get the top loader again. I don't like that once I start my washer, I can't throw a last minute item in. I can, but I have to turn the machine off, it has to drain and then about 5 minutes later I can add it. I can not if the machine has already been running for several minutes.

 

[itutorfortravel]

I have a GE top loader HE washer and I absolutely love it! I really like being able to "pause" the load if I've forgotten to throw something in and also that I do not have to bend over to pull things out of it.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have had a front loader for a few months now...so far so good. I didn't really get one by choice, it was pretty much a "have to" situation. Our house is from the disco era when things were smaller, and stackable was the only newer washer/dryer stuff that would fit in the opening (besides the dinky apartment washer stuff).

So far so good...I totally fear the smell that people seem to complain about. The guy who sold us the thing said to NEVER use more than 2oz of detergent, dry it out w/a paper towel when youre done, and LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN. I do all that AND tried the "cleaner cycle" with the Afresh stuff (that is printed on the washer itself).

 

[canadianjovigirl]

I had a LG front load and didnt hate it, but it wasnt my favorite by far. I just replaced my set 5 months ago and bought a Maytag Bravo top load HE set and i love it. No agitator to tear up my clothes and no holes in anything i have washed in it The dryer is super fast as well and they are both large capacity so suits my family of 5 well, especially since they were a lot cheaper then the front load sets.

 

[North of Mouse]

I have a Front Load Samsung VRT with night wash/dry cycle (if you forgot and need a couple items for morning). I love, love it. Is my 2nd FL and have had NO problems with clean clothes or odors. Have always cracked the doors open, even when I had top loaders, which is only common sense to me to let them dry out between uses. It is super quiet and hardly vibrates. Can't say enough good about it I don't manually dry it out, nor do I ever use any kind of "cleaner" - so don't understand the odor problem that some have mentioned.