Posted on 01/29/2014 7:47:36 PM PST by servo1969
I'm planning on buying a new washer and dryer in the next few months and my wife has always wanted a front loading washer.
Everyone I talk to including my mother, my sister and my best friend's wife tells me whatever I do DO NOT get a front loading washing machine.
I have been told they get mildew-y, they leak, they tear up easily and that they just don't clean your clothes as well as a good top loader.
All my washers to date have been top loaders and, excluding a part here or there, have each lasted more than a decade. I have never paid to have a washer repaired because I do the work myself. This has made me pretty familiar with their inner workings but I've never owned a front loader and have no personal experience with them.
So, my question is to anyone who owns or has owned a front loading washer. Are they really as bad as people say? Because the impression I keep getting is that they start out fine but end up being way more trouble than they are worth.
The rubber on our whirlpool front loader has torn twice in the 9 years we have had it. Fortunately, my husband was able to do the repair work himself. It has leaked water when the rubber started to tear. Good thing we dont have the laundry room upstairs. One thing i dont like about it is that my window of opportunity to put something in the wash if i initially forget to do so is about 5 mins.. After that, forget it.
We spent way too much money on big beautiful lg front loaders in 2007.
No matter what we did there was a persistent mildew smell. Lg had us try things like using non HE detergent, wiping the gasket after every use, and keeping the door open.
On top of that, every load of towels smelled like they sat in the washer too long, even if they were put in the dryer immediately.
When we sold the house in 2008, the young couple demanded the washer dryer stay with the house. They thought they negotiated well. I said, thank god.
We ended up getting GE profile top loader with stainless drum. It isn’t as pretty, but my towels smell clean.
we’ve had both, and like the front-load W/D, especially since they are stackable. Give me more room in the laundry, and easy movement from one to the other.
One thing, leave the door partly open to air out and wipe the rubber seal when you’re done. OTT F/L’s are great, use less water and are easier on your clothes.
Hubby was gonna take ours into the desert and use it for target practice, and then he was gonna go dump it off a cliff about a hundred times.
Ours started out fine. And then when it was no longer fine, it was a pain in the rear. But we learned a lot about repairing them and saudering wires on them.
so your washing machine doesnt have an agitator and you dont care give me a sec to let that soak in
We bought a front-loader from Sears (Kenmore) several years ago, and it has worked just fine. It cleans the clothes very well—my wife is very particular about that. And no problem with smell.
But I make a point of following the instructions. In particular, you should leave the door open when not in use to avoid mildew or smell. And you should fish around the drain at the bottom of the door opening after each wash to remove any lint or dog hair. Also any coins or other items that were carelessly left in pockets. That’s a minor chore, but hardly worse than other daily household tasks. And I suppose you could make it a rule that he who cleans the filter gets to keep the loose change.
No I just need smaller thumbs. ;)
If you need the space, the stacked front loaders are a good choice. Mildew smells can also affect top load machines if you don’t leave the lid open to let it dry between washes. I would stick with a basic toploader, but that’s just me.
More can be found by simply going to Google and entering Free Republic: Washing Machines.
By the way, and FYI, this post/thread was on Google 39 seconds after you put it up.
The wash cycle seems to take forever in the front loading type.
I bought another top loading washer and I’m very happy.
My washer is to the left of the dryer. The door on the washer opens to the left and the dryer opens to the right. No problems.
“Are front loading washing machines bad?”
It doesn’t matter. Your wife wants one. Who’s going to sleep with you, your wife or your mother or your sister or your friend’s wife? (This is a conservative forum, so your public answer is kind of limited.)
If you want to get a top loader, it has to be your wife’s idea to change her mind, not yours.
By the way, I’ve read that new top loaders aren’t as good as they used to be because of the “environment friendly” compromises they have been forced to make to them.
Love my front loader, had it for about 7 years without a single problem. For the smell issue, that usually happens if you use too much soap. Front loaders only need a few tablespoons of high efficiency soap. Be very careful measuring!
If you use too much, the soap builds up in your clothes and in the washer and they get a sour locker room smell. Since we eased back on the soap we have never had a single problem with the smell, we don’t even clean the gasket. Once in a blue moon I run the clean washer cycle with bleach for good measure. I will never use a top loader again. First its quiet. 2. Mine uses only about 7 gallons of water for a cycle. This seriously helps with the water bill. 3. Clothes come out clean every time. 4. These washers run with less force so there is not a lot of vibration or load placed on the machine and motor so I think this cuts down on wear and tear.
In my experience they are better at cleaning clothes than top loaders, and much more gentle on clothes. They also use less water. I think it depends on how much you want to pay - to some extent. If you buy a good (but more expensive) front load machine you will probably be happy. If you want to buy an inexpensive machine, then you might be better off with a top loading washer.
Disclaimer: I do not own a front-loader. What I tell you is 2nd hand.
Pros: Cleans as well as a top load. Seems to use less water.
Cons: The door breaks easily. Mildew and mold are a problem. Can’t wash as much at one time as in a top-load. Noisier. Expensive to replace and/or repair.
they look cool but they are terrible at getting clothes clean
We had a Kenmore with an extended warranty. After 1 year, the control board fried, but it was under warranty so we didn’t have to pay $1400. A few months after the warranty had expired, it happened again, and locked a set of king size bed sheets inside. I replaced it with a GE top loader with an agitator. The guys that brought the new one, hauled away the old one and put the pedestal from the washer under the pedestal of the dryer. Now the dryer is at the perfect height for throwing clothes in and for taking them out. The top load washer hasn’t failed for 3 years so far.
I’ll be most interested in your decision!
I’m also trying to make the same decision...lol.
Problem: Busybodies at TLA's
Solution: Knowing how to create control systems from scratch!
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