Front loading Washers

[mickeyfan2]

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.

The one we have you can open it after it starts to add additonal items.

 

[mickeyfan2]

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.

We don't have this problem either. I guess the newer model (ours is about 6 months old) must have solved this problem.

 

[puffkin]

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.

I agree I can't believe that they actually dupe people into buying the HE detergent. It is the same stuff, just watered down to not suds as much

I just use half a cap or so of my normal detergent (Tide Coldwater) and half a cap of fabric softener. I have NEVER had a sudsing problem and my clothes have always come out clean. You won't save money on detergent if you buy the HE, but you will if you buy the regular detergent and just use less.

I had Duets at my old house and LOVED the washer, but the dryer was just ok. At our new house the Duets were too deep to fit into our second floor laundry closet (please check dimensions if you have a tight space as front loaders are really deep) so I got the Neptunes instead. They are fine, but I preferred the Duet.

 

[sacall]

We have the Kenmore Elites - bought them two years ago. I love them I had them stacked because I have a small laundry room. I'm short (5'3") and have no problems getting things out of the washer or dryer. I think they do a wonderful job cleaning clothes.

I buy my Tide HE at Costco, costs the same as the other Tide. I have no problems opening up during cycle, no water mess or anything. I have noticed a smell, but I didn't realize I should leave my door open when not washing. I usually wipe the ring after a few loads. I'll try opening the door.

They were expensive, but well worth it to me.

Stacy

 

[Zandy595]

We have a Kenmore front load washer (4 years old). It's just a regular size one though. I really like it. The only con, in my opinion, is having to leave the door open after doing a load so it doesn't get musty smelling inside. I've never had a problem stopping it to add something I forgot, no water coming out at all. I usually buy All HE or Wisk HE detergent and it doesn't cost anymore than the regular kind for the same amount. It's as thick as the regular kind so I don't see how it could be watered down.

 

[FloraFauna]

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.

Tink&SquirtsMom,
When you say top Kenmore, do you mean top of the line Kenmore or top loading? I am sorry if this is a stupid question.

What were some of the reasons Consumer Reports gave it the #1 rating?

 

[Hercules10]

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.

Good suggestion...only I prefer to use the powder.
And the gripe is (as another poster said) that not all brands offer HE (Tide and Gain are all I've seen). Cost is usually not the gripe factor for the stuff.

 

[belle&beast]

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

This happened to us at first and we found that it was not balanced right on the pedestal. We had to have a serviceman come out to set it up.

I have the Whirlpool Duet and have been very happy with both the washer and dryer. I love that the cycles finish at the same time and we use way less detergent. When we had the repairman out he told us to play with the amount of detergent used because you really only need 1/3 of the measuring cup. He was right! So now I get 3x as many loads out of a bottle and the same goes for the fabric softener. I have not had any trouble finding he detergent around here, so that was not an issue for me. I hope you enjoy!

 

[shamrock30]

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?

I bought ours in Dec 2000. You're very lucky that yours has worked out so well!

 

[DaisyD]

We have a set of Kenmore HE4t that also sanitizes and they are great! We have them on the pedestals which I love. I have never had the funky smell and I never keep the doors open either. Also around here the HE detergent is the same price as the regular detergent. I've never seen a price difference.

 

[clarabelle]

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?

Maytag Neptunes have a really bad reputation. I have had major repair work on mine twice and I have a moldy seal and a smell if I don't wipe the seal and around the door area.

It is so bad that there was a class action law suit against maytag that was won by the litigants(? is that the right word -I mean the people that participated in the suit. Google it -I bet you can find some info.

I am sure they have improved them by now -but I certainly wouldn't buy one.

 

[DaisyD]

I agree I can't believe that they actually dupe people into buying the HE detergent. It is the same stuff, just watered down to not suds as much
.

It's the same price so who is getting duped?

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

When you say top Kenmore, do you mean top of the line Kenmore or top loading? I am sorry if this is a stupid question.

What were some of the reasons Consumer Reports gave it the #1 rating?

Sorry, that is confusing. I meant the top of the line of the Front loaders. Kenmore offers 3 versions of its front loading machine and we got the top one (has the sanitizing cycle and some other extra features). To be honest I don't recall why it was number 1 on Consumer Reports. My dh did most of the research and I knew people who had and loved both the Whirlpool and the Kenmores so I felt comfortable with either (they are essentially the same machines with slightly different features), so I let dh choose. It really came down to the sale price was better on the Kenmore's on the day our old washer happened to crap out.

 

[Poohnatic]

I've had the front loading LG/Tromm for 2 years and we love them. DH is the research guru and he insisted on the top of the line with sanitize cycle. I hardly have to bleach whites anymore.

At work, boss bought the same brand, just the next model down. It is also good, but in our business, we could have definitely used the sanitize cycle.

I get the Kirkland Signature HE and I find it lasts a long time. Can't use powers here- but thanks for the tip RUDisney. Yeah, price is the same, but it makes more sense to buy the non HE and get twice as many loads by putting less in the cup!

Suzanne

 

[puffkin]

It's the same price so who is getting duped?

Example: You buy a bottle of HE that is the same size fluid ounces as I buy in the regular TIDE. We both pay $10 for that bottle. You use a cap of HE for each load and I use 1/2 a cap of regular TIDE for each load. You will spend $20 for the same amount of wash as I spend $10. So I come out ahead. Yes HE is the same price per fluid ounce, but you use more so it is really more expensive. Plus, you get better variety using regular detergent.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Example: You buy a bottle of HE that is the same size fluid ounces as I buy in the regular TIDE. We both pay $10 for that bottle. You use a cap of HE for each load and I use 1/2 a cap of regular TIDE for each load. You will spend $20 for the same amount of wash as I spend $10. So I come out ahead. Yes HE is the same price per fluid ounce, but you use more so it is really more expensive. Plus, you get better variety using regular detergent.

Actually the caps are smaller on the HE bottles and Whirlpool said to only use 1/2 cap of the HE detergent. So we use very little soap. Also a relative of ours only used the regular detergent and the Whirlpool washer stopped working after about 2-3 years. The repairman told her to NEVER use the regular detergent. It gums up the system and is a leading cause of repairs. To me the $10 (in your example) difference, which amount to about 10 weeks of laundry, is not worth the risk of damaging a $1250 washing machine.

You can all do what you want to your machines, but ours only drinks 1/2 a single load cap of HE detergent.

 

[ducklite]

I do a lot of smaller loads with my front loader and only use about half as much detergent. In all honesty because you're using significantly less water, and a lot less drying time, the extra detergent cost is by far outweighed by teh water and energy savings.

Anne

 

[Hercules10]

Actually the caps are smaller on the HE bottles and Whirlpool said to only use 1/2 cap of the HE detergent. So we use very little soap.

BINGO! Once again it wasn't the cost of the HE detergent that is my gripe (to me it's about the same). It's that there are only a few brands that that offer it right now. But with more and more folks buying these types of washers hopefully that'll change.

 

[DaisyD]

Example: You buy a bottle of HE that is the same size fluid ounces as I buy in the regular TIDE. We both pay $10 for that bottle. You use a cap of HE for each load and I use 1/2 a cap of regular TIDE for each load. You will spend $20 for the same amount of wash as I spend $10. So I come out ahead. Yes HE is the same price per fluid ounce, but you use more so it is really more expensive. Plus, you get better variety using regular detergent.

Caps are half the size in the HE then the regular. It doesn't cost anymore. I have a family member who fixes appliances for a living. He has told me over and over that isn't just half the strength but also the rest of the stuff used to make HE detergent. He is adamant about using HE in washers that require it. To do otherwise, in his words, is foolish, and in the long run, costly.

 

[WhoopyPie]

I have the Fridgidiare front loader and love it. I don't use the HE detergent just less of my regular. Mold or smell hasn't been a problem but I do leave the door open a slight bit to air out.