New front loading washer/dryer?

[nexttrip4us]

We need to replace our 12+ year old Amana top loader set that we have...just not keeping up with our family, looking for something bigger, more efficient.

We are looking at new front loaders but having a hard time sifting through all of the reviews...we went and looked today at a Whirlpool Duet...he was trying to sell us on the 9200SQ (year-end close-out) but we found a lot of mixed reviews on-line about it...I think the 9400 is the newer model. Samsung seems to be getting good reviews too as does Bosch.

Anyone have any good advice they can share on this? The set we looked at today was going to run about $1700...not a small purchase which I'm OK with if we can get good quality. It is a good, local company with their own service dept, so I'm sure we could get service if we need too--I'd just rather not have to call them .

TIA for any help!

 

[bamamom]

I am looking for a new washer and dryer as well and thought I wanted the front loaders because of size. After talking to several friends that have them about half hate them and hate love them. The ones that love them haven't had them but for a short time. The complaint I seem to have gotten is the rubber seal holds water and then its makes your clothes smell. My friend said she has tried leaving door open and etc... I am interested to see what kinda of results you get here. I also looked at the large capacity that are top loaders today that don't have the agiator in the center but don't not sure about reviews for them either.

 

[nexttrip4us]

It is crazy isn't it? We've talked about the top loader with no agitator too...it is a major purchase and I just want to make sure it's a good one!

 

[ceecee]

The Samsung and LG got the best reviews. We just got the LG Steam washer and dryer and I really like it. The rubber seal on it didn't seem as "deep" as the others, I keep an old dish towel and wipe it out after I'm done doing the laundry, also if you keep the door open a little the air will dry it out.

 

[thistle922]

We've got the Whirlpool Duet Sport HTs, and love them. In the two years we've had them, we have not had problems with any kind of smell, though we are vigilant about wiping the seal down when we're done using them, as well as taking the detergent holder out and leaving the door slightly cracked. It takes me all of 2 minutes to do this and quite honestly, it's worth it to me. I'll take the bit of preventative maintenance needed to keep them "funk-free", they've saved us a TON of money on our water bill, and were well worth the money we paid for them.

 

[nexttrip4us]

Thank you for your replies...it does seem like a bit of prevention will help with some of the complaints with the seal/musty smell issues...

 

[deva]

I have the Maytag Bravos. It is a TOP loading HE so you don't have to worry about water getting stuck around the door (or kids getting into it). It holds a ton - I believe at the time we purchased it was the largest capacity HE you could buy - and does a good job getting things clean with very little water. (It has a clear lid so you can watch it work). Sometimes lots of sheets or lots of towels get "balled up" but it tries to rebalance itself and is easy to interrupt if you need to unwrap them yourself.

 

[TnTWalter]

We have the Samsung VRTs....LOVE them.

My old Frontload was a Frigidaire Gallery. HATED HATED it. It made so much noise especially during spin cycle. Things would fall off shelves.

These are GREAT. They play music too.

My SIL got the LGs and loves them. Similar.

We both did black friday deals. If you can wait, you save a BUNDLE.

Trish

 

[Melrosgirl]

My advice on front loaders is to stay away from the Maytag brand (for Front loaders). I had to replace my Maytag FL after a few years. I went with a Sears Kenmore Elite front loader and have been happy with it.

 

[muscarello4]

Your mileage may vary. We've had Maytag Neptunes (no longer made) for around 10 years now and LOVE them. No issues whatsoever. I have my eye on the top loading Bravos, as well. As soon as these poop out, (later rather than sooner), that is what we plan on buying.

Spend the money on a good quality set. You won't be disappointed!

 

[Swimalie]

One thing to keep in mind is that with any washing machine, to avoid mildew, you are supposed to keep the lid open. Which means, with a front loader, you have to keep the door open. Personally, I wouldn't want to keep a door open on the front of a washing machine all the time. That would drive me crazy. But that's me.

My parents have this one http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=SpecPage&Sku=WPGT9150HWW and it's awesome! It is the same as a front loader but is a top loader. Use high efficiency detergent and not much, too. My husband and I are going to get this one in a few months as ours (an Amana as well) is almost 9 years old and we want to upgrade.

 

[Mom3girls]

I bought a Whirlpool Duet two years ago and have never had any smell or mold. I leave the washer door open after almost every load and haven't had trouble at all. You can wash huge loads and hardly use much detergent at all!!

 

[RachaelA]

We have Whirlpool Duets we got about 2 years ago. We love them. But I do agree with the other poster that said the cycles are load. We find the end of the wash cycle to be somewhat loud, but our laundy room at our old house was in our basement and at our new house our laundry is all the way on the other side of the house by the garage so we never hear it unless we are pretty much in the room with them.

They are cheaper than the LGs and the Samsungs which was a deciding factor for us. The Duets do their job great and we only do 2 loads a week total for 2 people.

 

[mikmouse]

One thing to keep in mind is that with any washing machine, to avoid mildew, you are supposed to keep the lid open. Which means, with a front loader, you have to keep the door open. Personally, I wouldn't want to keep a door open on the front of a washing machine all the time. That would drive me crazy. But that's me.

My parents have this one http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=SpecPage&Sku=WPGT9150HWW and it's awesome! It is the same as a front loader but is a top loader. Use high efficiency detergent and not much, too. My husband and I are going to get this one in a few months as ours (an Amana as well) is almost 9 years old and we want to upgrade.

Have Maytag and absolutely love it. My top loader also smelled of mold ALL THE TIME. Doing research before purchasing front loader, noticed to keep it cracked open and dry window and rubber with a cloth. I do that, and have never had a problem. We leave an old dishtowel on a suction hook on side of washer and we're all trained to just wipe after a load. It only takes a second and I've had it for more than 1 1/2 years now and absolutely no foul odor.

Probably should have done this all those years with my top loader as well, but who knew. Front loader cleans so much better I will never go back to a top loader. Also, water bill is much lower.

 

[Swimalie]

Also, water bill is much lower.

The one I posted is a top loader but it does the same as a front loader as far as water usage. It barely uses any water and the clothes come out almost dry. I was amazed watching it at my parent's house during Christmas. My mom's is about 18 months old, she keeps the top open and no mildew issues and no having to wipe it dry, either. It is dry when she takes the clothes out. Oh and this one shifts the load for you so if the load is not even, it will move it around so the washing machine doesn't get off centered and rock.

So just know there are top loading options out there for those who don't want a front loading one but want the high efficiency part.

 

[Mic]

After researching for weeks, we purchased our first frontloader on Black Friday. We went with the LG brand based on consumer reviews and talking to friends who owned frontloaders. Several owned Samsungs and were happy with them. One good friend owned the Whirlpool Duet, and she was happy with hers, but consumer reviews were mixed. We replaced a Maytag top-loader with our frontloader; I will NEVER purchase another Maytag. I know many people swear by the brand(which is why we purchased ours), but we had nothing but trouble with ours. An added bonus to our frontloader saving us money is the fact that it "sings" to me when it is done...I don't miss that buzzer from my older dryer one bit! Good luck with your search.

 

[mjkacmom]

My duettes have not had any issues, and they're about 6 years old, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! So much wash fits in them, and they do such a great job (and I do at least 2 loads a day).

 

[kleubanks]

After a lot of research, we too bought the Maytag Bravos.. a high efficiency top loader. Ours does not have the clear lid but it does clean well. A couple of shirts with previous "stains" have now come clean.

I am pleased with how much the darn thing holds. Even though the cycles are 10-15 minutes longer than my old machine, I am able to do twice as much stuff at a time. It also spins them MUCH dryer so my drying time is much faster.

Hope that helps.

 

[nexttrip4us]

Thank you everyone! This is a lot of good information to read. Our Amanas aren't dead (yet!) but from what it sounds like, we can get cleaner clothes, more laundry done in LESS loads and save on our water bill too by upgrading...just need to make the choice!

 

[battricia]

I got the samsung (219) w/d set. They are very basic (and there for they were relatively cheap) but they are GREAT. i think it's a 4.0 cu.ft. tub for the washer. They fit so many clothes.

2 years ago i had a kenmore elite oasis canyon capacity top loader (the one w/o the agitator), i loved it but if i put too many clothes in the clothes on the top wouldn't get wet. we only got rid of them because we sold the house. I hadn't realized how great the front loaders were until i got these samsungs.

I think a good tip is that the mold/mildew smell comes from using too much detergent. I use about 1.5 tbsp of tide HE soap and I never use fabric softener (it gives my SO a rash). I've read that if you use too much of either it leaves a residue and the mildew clings to it.