Front loading Washers

[FloraFauna]

Does anyone on this board own a front-loading washing machine?

We are in the process of buying one, and we have just started looking. It has been 17 years since we bought our last washing machine and I am consused with all the new types of washers out there.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Annette_VA]

We have a front loader by Kenmore. We bought it last spring.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...&subcat=Front-Load+Washers&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

I love the high capacity, water savings, etc. The only thing I don't like about it is the smell. For some reason, it doesn't ever get fully dry in there & it has a funky smell. I'm washing my clothes to get funky smells out, not put them in!

So, when we move next summer, my plan is to leave the washer & dryer here and get new ones for the new house. We're probably going to get this washer next time
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...at=High+Efficiency+Washers&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

 

[mickeyboat]

Funky smell = mildew in the seal of the door, which never has a chance to completely dry if the door is sealed shut. Leave the door slightly ajar between loads, and the smell should go away.

We have the Kenmore, too, and really like it. I got the pedestals, and LOVE them. The new pedestals are actually tall enough to hold a detergent bottle, inside, and a laundry basket on top while you are unloading. It is wonderful not to have to bend over to get laundry.

Denae

 

[Hercules10]

We purchased a front loader about 6 months ago. Can't really say if the clothes get cleaner and they tell me it uses less water, but since we're in a drought it's hard to tell (I.e. I'm watering the yard like a maniac).

It is a PIA however to get the 'HE' detergent they recommend. I can only find it in the smaller boxes or smaller bottles.

 

[ZuZugal]

I own the Whirlpool Duet front-loader washer/dryer. I like them quite a bit.

pros:
Use less water
use less detergent
spin cycle gets more water out than top-loaders do (3xfaster)
yes, you can add a garment after the cycle starts
much gentler on clothing (no agitator)

cons:
watertight seal on washer does promote "sour" smell if you do not let washer air out after finished w/complete cycle. This is a big issue. After you use the washer just make sure you leave the door slightly ajar so the machine can air out; then you won't have a problem.


If I had it to do over again, I would go one step above what I bought and get the "sanatizing" cycle (still the Duet). The only reason I miss my top loader (with agitator) is because it cleaned my towels amazingly well. Now for cleaning towels, I use the highest cotton setting, hot water, and a second rinse.

 

[lindakmonty]

I have the fancy Maytag Neptune..and love it It has a stain brain and a touchpad like the screen of a laptop...the sensors for small loads are great...it is about like a double loader... absolutely love it. Has the extra extract so your clothes aren't very wet to put in the dryer... I'm only 5'3" and like not having to reach like the top loaders... they're high efficiency. you can either but the detergent that has the HE on it or use 1/2 the amount of reg. detergent b/c they produce more suds... plus I like you can move the doors to open either direction you like!!!Oh, they're supposed to be gentler on your clothes too w/o the agitator(sp)....

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/sear...ag+neptune&vertical=APPL&cat=Washers+&+Dryers

 

[shamrock30]

We have a Maytag Neptune, and it had a mildew problem. We were part of the classic action lawsuit, and they finally did come and replace the seal. It took a long time for the lawsuit to settle, and meanwhile, we were stuck with a terrible smell and mold on our socks if they fell into the seal. Many people also had additional things wrong with their Neptunes. If you do a google search, I'm sure you'll find information on this subject.

They may have fixed the problems by now, but I sure wouldn't buy another one.

 

[lindakmonty]

We have a Maytag Neptune, and it had a mildew problem. We were part of the classic action lawsuit, and they finally did come and replace the seal. It took a long time for the lawsuit to settle, and meanwhile, we were stuck with a terrible smell and mold on our socks if they fell into the seal. Many people also had additional things wrong with their Neptunes. If you do a google search, I'm sure you'll find information on this subject.

They may have fixed the problems by now, but I sure wouldn't buy another one.

Really, I've never heard of that...but then again, I bought mine 5 years ago. I've never had a single problem. Maybe yours is newer than mine?

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

It is a PIA however to get the 'HE' detergent they recommend. I can only find it in the smaller boxes or smaller bottles.

I had heard that it was hard to find, or more expensive, before we bought our front-loader (LG brand), but I get it at Target and it doesn't cost more than the regular Tide. Do you have a Target nearby? Also, I usually get it in the (I think) 300 oz size (don't have that size on-hand at the moment), with a spout, so I just press the button to fill up the measuring cup...no lifting.

We do leave the door on the washer open unless it's actually being used. I know I've read here before that some people who have their washer/dryer behind doors don't have the room to leave it open, which could be a problem.

I agree with lindakmonty about not having to reach into a top loader...very nice for those of us who are height-challenged. AND not untangling clothes from an agitator is nice too (altho, I think some top-loaders don't have agitators now?).

 

[luvdzne]

I have the whirlpool front loading washer and dryer on a pedestal.

Things I like about the washer are:

I can do huge loads at one time

With the pedestal I don't have to keep bending as much

The pedistals add storage

I don't seem to use as much detergent even though I have to buy the HE stuff

Things I don't like are:

The stale smell

cannot wash just one thing (like a sweater)

It shakes and vibrates like crazy when it is in a spin cycle (can't leave anything on top or it goes flying)

The HE detergent only comes in a few brands, not as many to choose from
Things get stuck in the seal

If I had to buy again I don't think I would do a front loader.

I do like the dryer though.

 

[Horseshoes]

I dont have one, but one of the things that turned me off to getting one, is not being able to open it once the cycle has started.

I cant tell you how many times I've dropped a sock or found something else I needed to throw in after I've started.

 

[PaulaSue]

I LOVE mine! Got them in November. I keep the door cracked when not in use. I use regular det.with no problems. (about half of what I would use in the old washer.) I LOVE the storage underneath.

 

[luvdzne]

I dont have one, but one of the things that turned me off to getting one, is not being able to open it once the cycle has started.

I cant tell you how many times I've dropped a sock or found something else I needed to throw in after I've started.

Oh, I forgot to add that one and that is a biggie for me. I always find something I missed. You can pause the cycle, however it makes a huge mess of water all over the floor and if you mess up and hit the wrong button it drains the water.

 

[ZuZugal]

I dont have one, but one of the things that turned me off to getting one, is not being able to open it once the cycle has started.

I cant tell you how many times I've dropped a sock or found something else I needed to throw in after I've started.

With mine (the Duet) and I think with most other models you can do this. You can of course only add during the "wash" cycle, not once it is past the wash cycle. I think this is a big misconception about front-loaders.

 

[ducklite]

I own the Whirlpool Duet front-loader washer/dryer. I like them quite a bit.

pros:
Use less water
use less detergent
spin cycle gets more water out than top-loaders do (3xfaster)
yes, you can add a garment after the cycle starts
much gentler on clothing (no agitator)

cons:
watertight seal on washer does promote "sour" smell if you do not let washer air out after finished w/complete cycle. This is a big issue. After you use the washer just make sure you leave the door slightly ajar so the machine can air out; then you won't have a problem.


If I had it to do over again, I would go one step above what I bought and get the "sanatizing" cycle (still the Duet). The only reason I miss my top loader (with agitator) is because it cleaned my towels amazingly well. Now for cleaning towels, I use the highest cotton setting, hot water, and a second rinse.

Same here, except my model has the sanitizer cycle, which is great for DH's running clothes and the ferrets bedding.

I've always left the washer door ajar and have yet to have a "sour smell" that people talk about. I ahve the pedastals and LOVE not having to bend over to do laundry and the extra storage.

Anne

 

[RUDisney]

Oh, I forgot to add that one and that is a biggie for me. I always find something I missed. You can pause the cycle, however it makes a huge mess of water all over the floor and if you mess up and hit the wrong button it drains the water.

I stop the cycle sometimes with my Neptune with no problem.

I have had no problems with the seal being moldy or smelly.

I don't know why anyone would think that they have to use HE detergent. If you think you need to do that, instead buy one bottle of it. Empty it through use. Go to Sam's, or another wholesale store and buy a huge bottle of detergent. Fill the HE bottle half way with water and half way with regular detergent. There, now you've made HE detergent at 1/2 the cost because all you're paying the same price for is more water in the bottle. Plus, you get the advantage of having it in the HE bottle that evidently you think that you need. Oh, and I refill smaller fabric softener bottles with 1/3 fabric softener and the rest water so I don't have to measure that. I just fill up the reservoir straight from the bottle.

Because of the problems others have had with their Neptunes, I'll probably buy a whirlpool next time.

 

[MareQ]

We have the Kenmore, too, and really like it. I got the pedestals, and LOVE them. The new pedestals are actually tall enough to hold a detergent bottle, inside, and a laundry basket on top while you are unloading. It is wonderful not to have to bend over to get laundry.

Denae

DITTO! I LOVE MINE! I have them in that nice blue color. With a family of 5 - I can now get my laundry done in just a few hours.. ONE LOAD is all our towels for the week AND all of our sheets!! Before that would easily have been 3 loads for me!!!

I don't have the problem with the smell and my clothes always come out dry - maybe just a fluke with the other poster's machine? Not sure.

Best purchase we ever made - expensive as all get out - but the darn things gave me the giggles for weeks because it cut my laundry down to less than half of what it was before

 

[MareQ]

I dont have one, but one of the things that turned me off to getting one, is not being able to open it once the cycle has started.

I cant tell you how many times I've dropped a sock or found something else I needed to throw in after I've started.

You can open the washer mid cycle on the Kenmore Elites. You just have to press the pause button - wait for the load to stop, the door to unlock then wait for any water to settle and you can open it up. It opens after about 10 seconds max after pressing the pause button.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

We have the top model Kenmore (the consumer reports #1 pick). We can open it midcycle (without any mess or water), just by hitting the pause button. I think the not being able to open it and add something is, as another poster said, just a big misconception. We've also never had the smell issue although we always leave the door slightly open after a load. I've never had any issue getting the HE detergent. I buy it at my regular grocery store and its the same price as my old Tide (I use Tide HE). The box is smaller but lasts the same number of washes, since you use so little. I like the washer most since its decreased the number of loads I have to do by more then half since it holds so much. It cleans great. I love that my dryer has the air dry setting. I can take all my teeny tees that I use to have to lay out to prevent shrinking and tumble them (I like the feel better) and I get no shrinking. I only takes about 2 hours too, much better then having to lay them out for a full day.

 

[mickeyfan2]

We have the Whirlpool set with the sanitizer cycle (some do not have this) and we love it. We cut the number of loads by more than half. Most weeks we do three loads and every third week or so we do four loads. We have cut our total laundry time to about 2 and a half hours. DH and I now laugh that we both fight to do laundry rather than doing rock/paper/scissors!