Front loading washer

[DotAndBuzz]

MIL has decided to buy us a washer and dryer for our housewarming present.  I am to disregard the price (LOFL, right, I know how that game is played, but whatever).  So while I'm not going to buy a $2k washer, I am going to get a reasonable one that I like.

I like the reviews of the front loaders, and LOVE the front loader we have now (just wish it was bigger), but our friends told us to avoid them like the plague because they don't ever dry out and end up smelling musty.  But, isn't that kind of the deal w/ all washers?  You have to leave them open so they dry out when not in use, right?  My dream of a front loader isn't about to be crushed, is it?

Please say no.

[papie]

I like my front loader.

[DotAndBuzz]

no musty smell? what kind do you have?

[lucky513]

My front loader doesn't smell musty and Ive had it for over two years now
its a samsung

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Actually, if I could justify a new washer right now, I'd get one like this by LG

www.sears.com/lg-4.7-cu-ft-ultra-large-capacity-high/p-02635562000P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5

They are supposed to be even better than front load. I know at least four people who have them and all love them.

[tacokick]

I have a Electrolux and it doesn't smell weird. We keep it closed all the time. It was expensive (a gift) though.

[muffin0]

I love ours. The clothes have gotten stinky (because I forgot about them) but one run on sanitary and they are fine. We haven't noticed a musty smell on things normally.

We do leave the washer door open normally though as well.

My parents leave it open for a little bit and then close it, it has never smelled either.

Edit : ours is samsung with the steam option - We don't use that option very often on either the washer or the dryer, which is something I basically demanded  *-)

[TrickyBob]

I have a top loading HE one with no agitator, I love it! The idea of having to remember to leave the door to a front loader open is too much work. Plus my cat would climb in and take a nap if I left the washer door open.

[Deleted]

I hate my LG front loader. Always wet, the seal is ruined, musty, etc. HATE!

[Deleted]

You have to leave it open between washes. I also keep a towel next to the washer (recommended by the guy who I had come to replace the mildewed seal right after we moved in) and I wipe the seal and under the seal down after I'm done with the wash. There's no smell. Also, there are some cleaning solution things you can buy for the washer. I use that once in a while. It's by Tide, but I'm sure you could use vinegar and baking soda or some such thing that everyone on Pinterest probably knows about. Ha.

But ours is REALLY FREAKING LOUD and I wouldn't recommend this brand. I'm about to embark on renovations where we are moving our laundry room from the main floor to the upstairs and I'm going to be in the market for a new front loading washer because that noise just won't do. Whirlpool Duet. Don't get them if you like your eardrums.

[DotAndBuzz]

May 1, 2013 20:38:44 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

Actually, if I could justify a new washer right now, I'd get one like this by LG

www.sears.com/lg-4.7-cu-ft-ultra-large-capacity-high/p-02635562000P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5

They are supposed to be even better than front load. I know at least four people who have them and all love them.

I was looking at that one too.  Friends parents have (at least, I think it was that one) that at their beach house and I was all "Oooh, aaaah, this is niiiiice."

I have a bunch pulled up on consumer reports right now.

This is way less fun than pinning chandeliers and creating a "vision" for my foyer/dining room.  *hmph*

[daisybuchannan]

I absolutely hated my front loader. You're supposed to leave the door open to prevent the moldy smell on the inside. Who wants to leave the door wide open? The smell was impossible to get out- I tried everything.

[DotAndBuzz]

I do leave our door open all the time on the one in our rental house right now. It is just habit, so it wouldn't be a big deal to do.

Good to know about the Duet. That got great ratings, but our laundry room is really close to the kitchen and I don't want to hear that all the time.

[Deleted]

I have a top loader without an agitator, and it's 100 times better than my front loader was. I'm glad I made the switch.

[TrickyBob]

May 1, 2013 20:46:06 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

Hmm, well now I want that LG one, lol. Fancy! I'm assuming there is no agitator?

We won't be buying a new one for awhile, though. Hopefully.

The whole drum spins as the agitator. Mine is like that one only not clear top. It cleans clothing very well and works wonderful! 

[papie]

I have an LG and have had it for about 3 years. No smell. I do a tub clean every once in a while and wipe the seal when I remember. I leave the door open sometimes.

[retardy4thaparty]

I have the LG with no agitator. I LOVE it.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

I haven't looked at them in person, but for that price I would assume it does not have an agitator. LG gets excellent consumer reviews on consumer reports. We have a front load LG and it has been excellent. No complaints. I would just like to have a top load because I hate bending that far to find the stray socks.

[DotAndBuzz]

ok. I'm going to check out this magical LG washer as soon as I can get to the store w/out kids in tow. Excellent.

[TrickyBob]

I lied, mine is a Maytag 4.0 cubic foot





That's a hand towel, to just do a first cycle when we bought it new. 

[2boys2danes]

I love the looks of them...so sleek and nice but I have always heard about the bad smell and mildew but have no personal experience. We have an old as the hills Kenmore that wont die!

I was hoping to come in here and everyone would say "oh all those problems are fixed now" -- get one!

[cereal K]

i wanted to be like cville so much that we bought the maytag bravos top loading HE and matching dryer. i was hesitant on the front loader due to issues like those stated above. i love, love, love it.

[vallarta]

We bought a HE top load. We heard really bad things about the front load.

[blackcat]

I have a Samsung front loader and dryer, they are 4 years old, never had a single problem. After each wash, I wipe the inside of the door with an old rag, the rubber "lip" at the bottom, and then I stick the rag in the door jam so that it stays open overnight. NEVER had a problem with mustiness. It is a very efficient machine.

The only thing I do not like about having a front loader is that because there is no agitator, I have to be very careful to pre-treat every stain, otherwise it doesn't totally come out.

[Deleted]

May 1, 2013 21:08:40 GMT -5 cereal K said:

i wanted to be like cville so much that we bought the maytag bravos top loading HE and matching dryer. i was hesitant on the front loader due to issues like those stated above. i love, love, love it.

best washer evah!!!!!

[Deleted]

I'm reviving this b/c our 13 yr old washer died this weekend so I'm in the market (why does this happen when I've put off laundry until the last minute and now have a mountain that still can't be done?)

I had no clue there are now top-loading HE washers--this is what I want! Any issues with these in general? Any brands to avoid?

Also, do you generally get a better deal to get the matching dryer at the same time? Ours still works but I'm sure it will die as soon as we decide against replacing it

[azurely]

I like my front loader. It's an LG. We leave it open between loads.

[tripleshot]

We have frigidaire affinity front loaders with the fancy steam settings. I've had it about 10 months and haven't had any issues with smell or mildew. I leave the door open a crack when I'm done with laundry. It also prompts you to run a clean cycle with bleach every so many loads. It's made by the Electrolux people but cheaper with similar features.

[kristie]

My front loading LG is one wash away from being set on fire. I leave it open, I run washing machine cleaners through it, I have scrubbed every little surface of the seal, I have done vinegar rinses, and bleach rinses and nothing makes it go away. I always wash my towels with vinegar and remove them immediately, but after one use they stink. Granted, I have had my front loader for about six years. I liked it for about the first 3-4, but never again will I buy one.