Washers

[leebee]

I've had my top loader Whirlpool forEVER... 20+ years, for sure. It's the old kind, before HE and all that stuff started. Center spindle (where you add the fabric softener), bleach dispenser, 5 load sizes, 3 or 4 temperature choices, probably 5 different wash settings (regular, perm press, hand, delicate... can't remember), optional extra rinse cycle. I know it was pretty bottom-of-the-line as we never spend a lot on an appliance. I bet we only spend $500 on the set. DH has repaired it twice. Can't remember what it was the first time, second time he replaced the agitator dogs. Cost about $35 (and DH has a PhD in chemistry- he's an egghead, not a handyman type of guy, but he could do it!) When this one needs to be replaced (although if I can get another 20+ years out of it, it'll probably outlive ME), it'll be another cheap model, none of this HE low water stuff for us!

 

[BCV2003]

I was against front loaders when we were looking but ended up with an LG front loader two years ago. It's the one with the largest capacity and steam cycle. I couldn't be happier. Our clothes are always clean and we have never had a problem with smell. I never leave the door fully propped open but it has a magnetic catch so if you don't close it hard, it keeps it open about an inch or so which is enough for air flow.

I've heard that sometimes the smells comes from liquid fabric softener and we have never used that in the washer but have used the liquid detergent with the fabric softener in it.

 

[havaneselover]

I was against front loaders when we were looking but ended up with an LG front loader two years ago. It's the one with the largest capacity and steam cycle. I couldn't be happier. Our clothes are always clean and we have never had a problem with smell. I never leave the door fully propped open but it has a magnetic catch so if you don't close it hard, it keeps it open about an inch or so which is enough for air flow.

I've heard that sometimes the smells comes from liquid fabric softener and we have never used that in the washer but have used the liquid detergent with the fabric softener in it.

Mine is the largest steam one as well and I've never had a problem. I don't use fabric softener and use very little detergent--maybe that helps. Love that I can wash a king-sized down comforter at home.

 

[Eureka]

The smell comes from it being sealed off when the door closes. The moisture doesn't evaporate and causes mold and mildew to grow inside the machine. You have to leave the door ajar so the water has a chance to evaporate.

Top loads don't suffer from this problem because the door doesn't seal air tight.

Any machine is going to vibrate if not properly leveled and balanced. Make sure all 4 feet come in contact with the floor.

I beg to differ. We have a whirlpool top loader HE washer and it smells if we leave it closed. Even when we leave it open, I need to run a Tide washing machine cleaner packet through it once every few weeks.

 

[arminnie]

I've bought 6 washers in the past decade (multiple homes). Most recently our LG washer (left when we bought our home) started having grease stains on our clothes. It was a nightmare trying to get someone who would even come out to look at an LG washer - one wanted $250 just for a service call. One person came out and said it would be a little over $500 for a repair - he recommended that we not do that, that we did not do LG, and that we go with a top loader. He recommended Whirlpool.

I ordered a new Whirlpool washer online in the afternoon from Lowe's, and it was delivered at 10 the next morning. It's a top loader with no agitator and is HE. It also has the steam cycle. I love it. It was about $500 - less than the repair on the LG>

Every salesperson and service person has said to avoid LG as it is too hard to get parts. My favorite washer/dryer was the Whirlpool Duet with steam, but it cost a fortune - almost $3000 with the pedestals a decade ago. I gave it to my sister because it would not fit in my new condo. It's worked for a decade with no issues.

 

[CaterFamily]

Every salesperson and service person has said to avoid LG as it is too hard to get parts.

That's a shame - my company (appliance repair/service company) has a contract with LG and we can get any part at any time - often with free next day shipping too.

We also have contracts with basically all major consumer appliance manufacturers.

Duets were always regarded as great purchases. Most often thing we have had to repair on Duets were drain pumps from foreign material in the impeller.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I've had my top loader Whirlpool forEVER... 20+ years, for sure. It's the old kind, before HE and all that stuff started. Center spindle (where you add the fabric softener), bleach dispenser, 5 load sizes, 3 or 4 temperature choices, probably 5 different wash settings (regular, perm press, hand, delicate... can't remember), optional extra rinse cycle. I know it was pretty bottom-of-the-line as we never spend a lot on an appliance. I bet we only spend $500 on the set. DH has repaired it twice. Can't remember what it was the first time, second time he replaced the agitator dogs. Cost about $35 (and DH has a PhD in chemistry- he's an egghead, not a handyman type of guy, but he could do it!) When this one needs to be replaced (although if I can get another 20+ years out of it, it'll probably outlive ME), it'll be another cheap model, none of this HE low water stuff for us!

It sounds like we have the same washer! Ours has started to leak, but my DH thinks he knows what it is and is going to order a part for it.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

Advice from our friend who has been in repair business for55 yrs.....stay away from LG and Samsung.& front loaders....spend the money and buy Speed Queen...!

 

[havaneselover]

Advice from our friend who has been in repair business for55 yrs.....stay away from LG and Samsung.& front loaders....spend the money and buy Speed Queen...!

I have LG as do several people I know. Love my machine. And CR ranks both LG and Samsung very highly.

http://www.consumerreports.org/washing-machines/least-and-most-reliable-washing-machines/

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Our washer and dryer are old and the wssher is dying. We would like a top loader because I want to be able to put clothes in a few minutes after I start the wash....i always forget something!

The process for looking is overwhelming and not pleasurable. Any recommendations for a top loader? I don't want cheap but I also don't want to pay more than 1600ish for both washer and dryer.

 

[dreiwhit]

My wife and I bought the cheapest top load washer and dryer we could find when we were first married. 16 years later, the washer, dryer and our marriage are all still going strong!

My mother has a front load washer and with all the problems she has had with mold and also having to use special detergent, I'm very leery of ever buying a front load washer. If our top load washer goes out, and we can't repair it, we'll go with another top load washer!

 

[Dashzap]

I struggled with a Magtag Neptune front loader from 1999-2010. That thing was always breaking...resulting in expensive circuit board replacements when the warranty ran out. And it smelled and had a moldy door seal. (It wasn't in a place where I could leave the door open).

The last 6 years I've had the cheapest GE top loader. It works well and hasn't needed any repair. However, it also smells a bit musty. I don't use fabric softener, but I do run cold washes more than anything, so maybe you need to run more hot water with bleach washes to have no odor?

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

What we have now came with the house...Kenmore 80 series. It's been fine but it is falling apart. We had to disable the safety a few year ago to keep it working and yesterday had to duct tape some other part to get it to work again (it was going crazy, running on and off for hours!).

I am concerned that everything seems to have digital displays.....they break! I have a Crockpot that had a complete display failure after a year. I still use it, but the display is useless and I have to set my own timers.

 

[CaterFamily]

Advice from our friend who has been in repair business for55 yrs.....stay away from LG and Samsung.& front loaders....spend the money and buy Speed Queen...!

Some would disagree.

Lg and Samsung both are very good brands. It's all about personal preference.

I would quite easily recommend Samsung/Lg top and front loaders just as fast as I would recommend a Speed Queen.

I am concerned that everything seems to have digital displays.....they break!

Digital displays don't break that often with laundry units. Just from my experience.

 

[herdtoDisney]

I havent been happy with a washer since my 1997 model kennmore top loader with agitator. I left that set with the house when we moved in 2005, and the house was recently on the market and they were in the pictures online!

So I got talked into (by the smooth salesman) a kennmore front loader and regular type dryer in 2005. I was going to be miss-water-saver! I had 5 kids at the time (now 6 but only 4 live at home still) so we do tons of wash. That thing weighed a ton-getting it into the basement was interesting. Getting it out a year later was just as fun! Anyhow, it sounded like a jet turbine and if it had not been downstairs on the concrete, would probably have shook the sheetrock off. I didn't have stink issues but I left the door open. And I never thought it washed that well.

So after dragging it to another rental, then our current home when we bought it, it proceeded to have the computer brain of it go nutso. Sears informed me that the part was like $400 and just getting the repair guy in was over a hundred (my dh is handy but not an electronic guy) and I was like NEXT.

So we got a Maytag Bravos top loader HE in 2012. I liked it for awhile but first I wore out a belt (dh fixed) and now an expensive bearing froze up, dh freed it but it's wearing out. Not happy about that. And when something goes wrong, it is locked shut with your laundry inside!

Next washer I get will be the cheapest thing I find, because apparently washers these days last less than 5 years. Oddly enough, the 2005 dryer is still going strong!