FRONT LOAD WASHER Some Q's

[a1tinkfans]

I am looking to get a front load washer (atleast I thought I was)
would like to cut down on water consumption
DO larger loads
replace an older model top loader
BUT

I did some research on consumer reports and read some info that I need clarified:

I have heard that the front loaders only last Average 7 years???? Is this accurate? Anyone have one for longer than that currently??

I have read many reviews on the LG (my first choice) Maytag and Samsung and MANY reviews said that unless you are willing to
drain the filter
leave door open
and use the special wash stuff every 6 weeks,
one should avoid the front loader as it will get mold and musty smelling....I am thinking that is the LAST thing I want, potential for Odor AND all the extra work

The water consumption is 14 gallons...But I thought 3-4 gallons...is that dependent on the load size one does?????

I am so overwhelmed with all the hype and the rep at both Home Depot AND Lowes did not freely give this info until I asked specifically about the issues, then they both said, Yeah, basically accurate!

Why should I get the front loader??? And not a top loader like the maytag bravo (16 gallons)

Can anyone educate me on this washing machine situation?????
ANY help is greatly appreciated.

 

[wld]

okay, I can't give you all the technical stuff, but I have had mine over 8 years. I do not have a musty, moldy odor and since I am allergic to mold I would know. I do leave the door open until the dryer is done but I left the lid up on my old one too. You would not believe how dry your clothes are, when you use a top loader after you have been using a front you can't believe how wet they feel. My clothes dry in half the time so I use much less energy with my dryer. I'm happy with mine.

 

[edandcolleen1995]

Sigh.. So much about the front loaders is people that are slobs and don't care for their machines.

We have LG front loaders we got from Home Depot. They are amazing. You use a ton less water, less detergent (use HE when you buy it), less gas/electric to dry.

There is a very simple tub wash cycle that you can run with bleach or vinager once a month if you like. A very simple wipe down of the rubber liner in the washer helps if you think you have any junk trapped there.

Honestly it takes 10 seconds to wipe it down. Run the tub wash 1x a month. That is literally the amount of maintance we run on them

Let me tell you about the true savings. In the same home, same rates, doing same amount of loads, we saw 15% savings on our electric (dryer is electric). Tons of savings plus they are super quiet, and run the loads based on weight so many times a quicker wash.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Mine lasted 2 years repair would have costed close to what I paid for a new water saving top loader.
Frigidaire, and yes sometime had musty smell.

 

[doxdogy]

I have the LG front load washer and I love it. I do wipe it out after use and keep the door opened to finish drying. We have had it for six months and so far no musty smell.

 

[PurpleSurfer]

I have not found a smell.

There is junk trapped in clothes (soggy golfish etc.) that gets trapped in the rubber gasket that needs to be wiped out.

I have not done a water consumption study just took them at their word that it was less than a top load.

I do feel I can do two loads in one and that they are so dry when they come out I can dry for half the time I used to with twice the amount of clothes.

The downsides I have noticed are the price for the HE detergent and not being able to toss a discovered piece in with the load washing because the door locks during the cycle. With the small children I have they constantly are pushing the buttons that are right there on their level where with the top loader I had they couldn't reach them.

 

[ahutton]

I found a deal for HE detergent in my area at Costco. They have Kirkland Brand, HE, "Free" that is freey of dyes and perfumes. I can't use regular and it is MUCH less expensive than anything I've found in WalMart or the grocery store. I love it!

We have an older pair - Maytag. There was a recall on the unit about the smell. We do leave the door open, in fact, I leave it open most of the time because we can - no inconvenience there. I have 3 kids, so I'm doing launry a lot. Not sure how much water I save, but I like it.

 

[ZachnElli]

I got the Whirlpool Duet in 2006. The only time I've had a smell was when a lost sock got stuck under the seal. My youngest was only 1 year at the time and it was always his tiny socks that did this. I learned to check the seal for socks. But I also got the model with the sanitize cycle and I run that usually once a week, so I don't have to worry about it molding or smelling, but I do leave the door open.

 

[Doe]

I love having a front loader. We don't get the musty/moldy smell at all. I always make sure not to leave a load in and when I'm not using it the door stays open.
Pluses are clothes get cleaner, dry faster and use a lot less water. I do not find the detergent to cost any more than regular detergent. I use All HE and always stock up on it when it goes on sale at Safeway for $3.99. Walmart usually has the big size of All on sale for about $10-12.
I've never found it to be any extra work owning a front loader.

 

[rie'smom]

Use only HE detergent. Using liquid will lead to the awful smell. Front loaders also do not drain as well as top loaders, so there is a better chance for mold to grow. I leave the bottom front off of mine and every so often, I unscrew the filter and let the water drain. You'd be surprised at the water that just sits in the filter. Honestly, if mine breaks, I'm going back to a top loader. The fact that it holds the water is gross to me.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I have an HE3. It is about 6 years old. No smells at all. This washer has taken a beating and it is still going strong. If I told you how much laundry I do you would pass out. Let me just say that it is almost constantly going every day. I love it and it works beautifully. I can also wash every single blanket in our house with no problems at all. No need for a trip to the laundromat or dry cleaner for the comforters. We have allergies so all the blankets get washed at least once a week and sometimes more. It was one of the best investments we have ever made. I believe it used 17 gallons of water as opposed to a top loader that uses about 55.

 

[kellydizfan]

I have a kenmore - never buy another Sears product again in my lifetime - will go back to our local fridadaire dealer next time. We learned a hard lesson last year in July. We purchased our front load washer in February 2008. By 4th of July 2008 it stopped working. We fought with Sears for a month, they were out several times and each time they told us they ordered the wrong part. After a month of no washer - what a pain in the butt that was with 3 kids and no washer, we finally got them to replace it but the overall hassel - left a very sour taste in my mouth for Sears. They told us we could rent a washer but they wanted $500 deposit and I think it was close to $100 for the month rental. I don't think so - didn't have that money at that time to do this. We went to the laundromat and my parents house to do wash but what a hassell that was. Overall I love the front load washer. More towels per load, and it doesn't go off balance like my old Maytag used too - I only had that 8 years before it died. yes it can get musty smelling but you leave the door open between washes to dry out and clean out the rubber section in the front. I think we have only used the cleaning cycle once since the 2nd washer was received from Sears. It does use much less water but I can say on mine, the normal wash cycle takes forever to go thru its routine. I think I do use less detergent as I am not buying it as much but we do stock up when it is on sale. I recommend them but not Sears products

 

[Jewel1310]

We had a front loader for 20 years before we replaced it with another front loader. We never had any issues with smells or mold. We keep the door open with a towel and I do wipe out the gasket with the towel after I put the clothes in the dryer.

I love my front loader and the amount of clothes that can be washed. Good luck with your purchase.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences, really appreciated!


I am looking again this weekend to make final decision............

 

[Sammy]

I love the idea of a front loader....I love that it takes a larger load, and that it spins the clothes pretty dry. However....I HATE my Maytag Neptune!!!!! It has broken down 3 times over the past 6 years of owning it. Water pump one time, drum off balance another, I forget the third one. And we have not had a good experience with their customer service at all. I would definitely get another front loader, just NOT a Maytag!!

Oh, and I do not use HE detergent. I just use less of my regular Gain powder and have had no problems at all. Just don't use liquid detergent...it does not drain completely and can "gunk" up in the dispenser.

 

[mzzbuzzlightyear]

Mine didn't have a moldy,musty smell problem, but when I read about it, I realized that water remained in the filter area. I put a cloth to soak up excess water, and then put the cloth on the door to hold the door opened for a while.( I've been doing this for several years!)

I do think that the clothes get cleaner in the front loader without the dirty water going back through the clothes like when the upright drained.

June Love my Frontloader!!!!!

 

[Pin Wizard]

My sister had a Bosch front loader...briefly. It filled with water on its own overnight. The next day she went to do a load, opened the door, and the water spilled out all over the carpeting. Next night her husband told her...I'll show you how to do laundry, you're not doing it right. He did the laundry that evening. Same thing...filled up overnight and out on the carpet when the door was opened in the morning. (Wouldn't you look first after the first experience with it?) It was so bad that they rolled back the carpet, put sand down to absorb the water, and ended up having a carpet guy basically reinstall the carpeting and pulling it tight. She called Lowe's and told them to come back and take it!!

 

[acourtwdw]

I sell appliances for Best Buy so I feel that I know a lot about front loaders. Here is a quick rundown:
Front loaders or high efficency washers use 15-20 gallons of water opposed to traditional top loading that use 40-60

The average life span of any appliance manufactured in the past 10 years is
7-10 years

The spin speed on HE laundry average is 1000 rpms. Regular washers average about 600 rpms. The higher the spin speed the more water is extracted out of clothes= less time for drying.

If you don't use the proper detergent, it will cause a smell in your machine. The soap also will not rinse completely out of the clothes

All manfactuers recommend that you leave the door open whenever possible to let the gasket dry out

We sell 60% front loaders/high efficeny washers to regular top loading.

If you need any more info, please let me know.

 

[smiley]

If you need any more info, please let me know.

My dh and I were telling our friends that we were thinking about purchasing a top load washer and he told us he thought a better purchase would be a top loading Maytag Bravos. Like a front loader it does not have an agitator and it is supposed to conserve on water as well.

Do you have any information on this washer?

Thank you for your information and knowledge.

-Julie

 

[Sorsha]

I have a Whirlpool Front Loader, and I love it!

I have had it for almost 5 years, and its still going strong. No repairs yet.

It DOES get a musty smell. I wipe out the rubber gasket, and have run the special cleaner stuff in there on a really hot cycle, but nothing seems to help. I know it would probably help if I left the door open, but I don't, because I can't stand the smell. That's my only complaint.

It gets the clothes really clean, and saves on wear and tear because the clothes aren't being beaten around by that agitator thingie in the middle of a top loader.

I also really save on soap and softener, because it uses way less than my old top-loader did. I don't buy the HE stuff either, just use my regular liguid. Its also very convenient because it has that nifty little pre-measured spot so I add the soap and softener at the beginning of the cycle and never have to think about it after that. I remember the days of listening intently for that last rinse cycle so I could get the softener in at the right time. LOL