Washer/dryer recommendations?

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

I'm looking for a new washer/dryer pair. Looked at many front loaders today, as well as the new agitator free top loaders. I'm so undecided as I only have experience with my old set. Any advice?

 

[JanaDee]

I have a new pair of Samsung front loaders (stacked). I love them. They were highly rated by Consumer Reports.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I got a new LG front load washer and dryer set in August. I think I paid a little under $2000 for the pair, including the little thing they sit on....can't think of the name of those right now. So far, so good.

 

[tvguy]

I got a new LG front load washer and dryer set in August. I think I paid a little under $2000 for the pair, including the little thing they sit on....can't think of the name of those right now. So far, so good.

Same here, but we skipped the pedestals.

 

[manning]

Mother Nature brand. Life time guarantee. Rock and clothes line.

Have LG

 

[kymom99]

I bought a Kenmore top loader HE washer and matching dryer. My water bill has decreased. Not a lot but a few dollars. Every little bit helps.

@ $1200 for the pair.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

I am undecided on front vs top loader. I always hear how front loaders can get all stinky and icky by the rubber seal, but then again I have read that the agitator free top loaders knot clothes up and don't clean them as well??

 

[havaneselover]

I bought an LG front loader (the one with steam and the largest capacity) and dryer Easter 2009 so mine are almost 5 years old. They are on pedestals which I love. We purchased the floor sample from HD for around $2K (retail was over $3K). After each load, I use a micro fiber cloth and dry the door and the inside and the rubber seal. When not in use, the door and detergent area are left open. I've never had an issue with smell or mold. I love mine and wash my queen size down comforter in it fairly regularly. Another great feature about front loaders is they do an amazing job washing cashmere (which saves me a ton of money not having to dryclean my sweaters.) My washer has the stabilization technology because my laundry room has always been upstairs. You definitely want this if you get a front loader and have a 2nd floor laundry room.

 

[threecrazykids]

I learned the hard way that I'm just old school. When we moved into our newly built house back in 2004 I thought I just HAD to have a high efficiency washer, and wanted to try a top load without the agitator. I'd already tried a front loader and left that behind with the sale of the house. So I was SO excited to have the new and improved top load high efficiency. WHOOHOO!! Um, NO.

I fought that SOB for YEARS before I finally had enough and listed the washer on Craigslist for next to nothing just to get it out of my house. I HATED it.

We have 5 people in our house. I never felt like the high efficiency aka low water washers ever really got my clothes clean. I didn't overload it or anything, but the level of water never actually felt like it cleaned my clothes. One day during one of my fits I decided to do a little test. I took one of my shirts and folded it as if I was putting it into a drawer and laid it right in the middle of the entire load in the washer.

That shirt came out completely DRY on the entire center of the shirt. The neck, sleeve edges, and bottom of the shirt were damp, but the entire center of the shirt was dry as a bone. Everything else around it was a knotted up mess and stretched to smitherenes.

I called my husband into the laundry room, showed him the shirt, and said "get me the camera, I'm done with this piece of crap". Listed it on craigslist for $150.

Turned around and bought an old school Maytag with the agitator - no HE and couldn't be happier. I just never felt my clothes were actually CLEAN with any of the high efficiency models...front load or not.

I know lots of people who swear by theirs...and I'm sure they've come a long way since I had mine...but after listening to people complain about mold and such with the front loaders, I'll just stick to basic, nothing fancy, get my clothes CLEAN, old school washers.

 

[wallawallakids]

I am undecided on front vs top loader. I always hear how front loaders can get all stinky and icky by the rubber seal, but then again I have read that the agitator free top loaders knot clothes up and don't clean them as well??

I have had a front loader machine for over 8 years and have never had an issue with mold or it smelling. You do need to leave the door open when it isn't in use so it can air out. Also, I wipe mine out with a towel after I am done using it for the day. Lastly, they sell machine cleaners. I throw one in every month and run it through the cleaning cycle (Mine actually has a cycle that says tub cleaning). In all, it really isn't much work to keep clean. I have a Whirlpool and I like it fine. As far as top loaders go, I have heard some great things about LG top load without the agitator. My mom just bought the Kenmore one to replace her agitator Maytag that broke and she hates it. Not sure if it is the actual machine or the no agitator but she hasn't stopped complaining about it since she got it. So maybe stay away from that particular one! Good luck.

 

[kymom99]

My top loader says in the instructions to place the clothing around the sides of the drum and leave the center open. There is an agitator that comes up from the bottom to turn things over. I have never had my clothes come out dry or not clean.

I "think" LG makes the Kenmore washers.

Also, I was told by a salesman that the front loaders are now made with a drum that is slightly tilted to help the water drain and prevent the smell.

 

[photos_101]

I just bought (as in last week!) a Whirlpool Cabrio platinum HE topload washer. So far I love it! I had a front load and at first I really liked it but as time went on I realized my clothes would smell musty even after washing unless I used a fabric enhancer. It was such a pain to keep clean around the seal. And even when I left it open all the moisture would still leave build up around the seal.

The top load seems to work better and I can leave the lid up to let it dry out (no more front load door open in the way). And I can soak my clothes in the top load (Which I really missed about the old top load). So far I haven't had any problems with clothes getting tangled or not washed/clean. But as other poster stated it does say to put clothes around the drum so the agitator can work correctly. This one holds twice what my front load would wash. I have the dryer on order but it is back ordered so won't have it till next month.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[wiigirl]

I got a new LG front load washer and dryer set in August. I think I paid a little under $2000 for the pair, including the little thing they sit on....can't think of the name of those right now. So far, so good.

Me too...l love my LG's.

 

[kymom99]

Just looked it up. LG Electronics makes Kenmore appliances. So if you like LG, look at Kenmore and compare prices.

 

[focusondisney]

I just bought a regular, old fashioned top loader Kenmore 2 weeks ago. Love it! It has all the options for water levels & cycles that I need. Best feature: $400 on sale, $10 to deliver $ take away & the old 1.

This replaced a 10 year old Kenmore that was problem free til the motor broke. Repair would have been..... $400!!!

 

[threecrazykids]

My top loader says in the instructions to place the clothing around the sides of the drum and leave the center open. There is an agitator that comes up from the bottom to turn things over. I have never had my clothes come out dry or not clean.

I "think" LG makes the Kenmore washers.

Also, I was told by a salesman that the front loaders are now made with a drum that is slightly tilted to help the water drain and prevent the smell.

I should clarify...i don't mean in the middle of the drum, I just put it in the middle of the load itself (around the sides).

I have heard lots of people who have no problems with theirs and I would be willing to try one again if I knew it would work...but I just have had horrible luck so I stick to the old trusty Maytag with the agitator.

I will say though that every time I walk by the new ones it makes me want to try again...who knows, maybe some day.

 

[havaneselover]

Just looked it up. LG Electronics makes Kenmore appliances. So if you like LG, look at Kenmore and compare prices.

I don't know that this is true. Perhaps LG makes some, but I know Whirlpool makes a lot of Kenmore appliances.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

Well it looks like my old dryer is deciding to go out on me too now! Still wet clothes after drying them for hours! Ugh I am scared to choose top loader because I keep reading that they don't clean as well, but they are so much less expensive then front loaders!

 

[JandJ]

I, too, was really, really super hesitant to go front load. But, DH and the salesman convinced me and about 2 years ago we got the Maytag Maxima W/D front loader - and I love them! The capacity and cleaning power cannot be beat. I never thought I would like it, but I am very happy with it. I was mainly worried about starting a load and then seeing a stray sock on the floor and not being able to add it, but it has a nifty "add a garment" pause feature. I've only had to use that feature a handful of times. Also, I have a friend who has an LG front loader and she hates it; says it smells, but I've only noticed an odor once from my machine and that was because I ran a load, took the clothes out, then closed the door while it was still wet inside, and we left for vacation. Oops! I ran a Tide washing machine cleaner load and it was good as new. Now I just leave the door ajar between loads or at least until the machine is dry inside. The bleach fill area took a little trial and error. I pour the bleach into a little disposable Dixie cup, and use that to pour it in the machine. Before, I was getting bleach on the floor because the pour area is small.

The dryer has a "steam refresh" setting - love it! I throw the clothes that I hang to dry in there, it's a 20-minute steam cycle, and they come out perfect - no ironing required. Even on regular loads the clothes come out virtually wrinkle free (I still iron DH's work button-downs and slacks but I'm a stickler for "pressed" work clothes )

I wish I'd switched to front load long ago!