Opinions of front loading washer/dryers

[lupi]

Keep door open when not running, wipe out front lip after use, and do a bleach clean run couple times a year and haven't had a problem after 7 years or so.

 

[ControlD]

It seems to me that HE front loaders and HE top loaders probably work about as well as one another don't they? One real benefit to the front loading models is that they can be stacked. If I was tight for space in the laundry room I would have no problem going for the front load model. I simply prefer top loaders to that's what I went with, but I'm sure either type will get the job done just fine. I also save $200 a pop for those "high tech" stands that the front loaders need.

 

[Number1]

We bought a front loader Kenmore 4904 a few years ago. What a mistake. We leave the door ajar in between uses and it still STINKS!

anyway, lot's of information out there:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/washing-machines.htm


http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/institute/a24026/types-of-washing-machines/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/...ate-are-front-loaders-really-better/17204535/

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/front-loader-or-top-loader-which-is-better-022615.html

 

[richardycc]

avoid Samsung, I had one and it broke after 3yrs. The spider that holds the tube cracked, it's a common problem. I replaced it with a GE front load with the built-in stand and made in the USA! Clothes are much cleaner, but takes closer to 2hrs per wash.

 

[clamum]

Never have had to do this in ten years of owning Front Loaders. Just leave the door open a little between uses. No mold.

I live in an apartment complex and we have a front loading washing and drying machines in the basement. Like you said, we just gotta leave the washing machine door open and there's no mold.

 

[steppinthrax]

Front loader mold issues are pretty well know. There were\are even a few lawsuits over it.

Anandtech is the land of perfection. Everybody makes 6 figures, is hung like a horse, and front loaders never mold.

Well,

I make 6 figures,

I'm not sure if I'm hung like a horse but my wife and previous lovers were happy,

When i get a front loader I'll let you know.

 

[paperfist]

Can't really soak anything in a front loader.

 

[Markbnj]

My opinion? Make sure your kids don't start the unit with anything caught between the door and the seal. My kids did that, and Samsung covered it, but the wrecked seal required literally a complete teardown of the machine to replace it.

 

[NutBucket]

Front loaders lock until to the water drains. You can't open the door once the cycle starts.

You can hit pause, the door unlocks and you throw in more clothes. Obviously this wouldn't be very useful after the first few minutes of the wash cycle but at any rate it's definitely possible.

Our LG front loader has a 5.2 cu ft drum. I LOVE how much it washed at once. Well worth the extra money for the capacity. I think Samsung is now selling one with an even larger drum.

Also, I think many of the newer units have a "cracked open" position for the door. Ours has a magnetic latch that holds the door open maybe 3/4"...just enough to let things dry out.

 

[paperfist]

avoid Samsung, I had one and it broke after 3yrs. The spider that holds the tube cracked, it's a common problem. I replaced it with a GE front load with the built-in stand and made in the USA! Clothes are much cleaner, but takes closer to 2hrs per wash.

Have had mine for the same amount of time. Generally happy with them, but the latch did break that kept the door closed already. Glad I bought that extended Lowes warranty.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I recommend a top loader with an agitator. If you don't have the agitator, the clothes don't get as clean...unless you're using a front loader. (which uses gravity to generate friction) Thanks to the bigger cities like NYC and LA with their water shortages, it's affected the rest of us! Not a bad thing, but it's kind of like the low-flow episode of Seinfeld.

My recommendation, if you have a real choice is to check out Speed Queen. I have a AWS542: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evqfPHLLx3g

The newer model does away with the knobs and uses an electronic controller instead of the old-style manual timer. I don't mind replacing a timer if I must in 10 years. The stainless steel tub is nice, it's not the most quiet unit, but is sturdy and cleans very good for about $700-800.

 

[MarkXIX]

Do it all the time, water level never goes above the bottom lip of the door. Never used a front loader, I'm guessing.

This. Most wash machines use so little water these days compared to the old "fill up for 7 minutes" top loaders I grew up with.

We have the largest capacity LG front loaders on the market and we love them. Make no mistake, we paid a handsome sum for them, but we got some pretty good discounts too.

If you go front loader and you're not stacking them, I recommend getting the pedestals if it's in your budget. That is unless you like bending over or squatting moving laundry from one to the other. Also, please, PLEASE go ahead and reverse the doors on the washer and dryer so that they open AWAY from eachother. The doors are almost always reversible on them and I can't tell you how many people I see who don't do that and then bitch about having to lift their washed clothes over the dryer door to put them in. Then I point out that they just have to remove a few screws and turn it upside down and screw it back into the holes on the other side of the drum and they look at me like I'm fucking Gandalf the White.

Finally, I've owned two sets of LG front loaders in the span of over 13 years and if you simply leave the washer door open, even a little bit, between loads and clean out that lip at the front once in a while you should never have a problem. I've begun to use the cleaning cycle tablets they sell now as a precautionary measure, but I've never had an issue as long as I leave the door open to let things dry out.

 

[NutBucket]

My recommendation, if you have a real choice is to check out Speed Queen. I have a AWS542: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evqfPHLLx3g

The newer model does away with the knobs and uses an electronic controller instead of the old-style manual timer. I don't mind replacing a timer if I must in 10 years. The stainless steel tub is nice, it's not the most quiet unit, but is sturdy and cleans very good for about $700-800.

I still stand by my claim the Speed Queens in my apartment building beat up my clothes much worse than the average washer. I got so many holes in my shirts it's not even funny.

 

[MetalMat]

Front loaders are easier to work on which I guess is not a great selling point if you are buying a new one because you should not be needing to repair it anytime soon.

 

[dtgoodwin]

I and my parents both own a set of Whirlpool Duets. My set is 10 years old, and my parents, 12. My parents, for a couple of years, were doing laundry for 9 people. Basically at least one load every day, if not more. Mine is just my family of 4. The only thing that has been required for either of them is my parents door seal got a tear in it. The repair was quick and relatively affordable. We live in a dry climate and have never had issues with the smell. My slightly updated version offers the drum clean cycle which I use on a monthly or so basis. My parents was the very first generation and lacks it, but keeping the door slightly open has prevented any issues. I can imagine in some hot/humid climates the water can't evaporate and can be a problem.

I will never switch back to a top loader. My clothes are quickly clean, dried, and have noticeably less wear (lint on the lint trap), that with the older top loaders.

 

[Murloc]

Front loaders are notorious for mold growth. It requires a cleaning ~monthly via vinegar or some other front loader cleaner.

no need, just avoid closing the door.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Well, don't buy one of those shitty Whirlpool's that had the problem

Even then it's not really a problem with common sense practices that, IME, generally also apply to top loaders.

I have one of the Whirlpool's that supposedly has the problem (2007/2008 Duet)...and still it doesn't become a problem so long as one leaves the door cracked open when not in use, doesn't leave a wet load shut inside for more than a day, and cleans it just a couple/few times a year. Been working fine for about 7 years now. I also live somewhere dry, so maybe that helps.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Front loaders generally have a lot less capacity than top loaders.

Really? I figured they would have more capacity. I kind of want to buy a set at some point so I can do my comforter too. My normal sized top loader will not take it as the agitator takes up lot of space. I can shove it in there, but it's so squeezed that it wont really clean properly. The only place I can clean that is at the laundromat which is kinda a pain, and expensive. Those washers remind me of the Street Fighter pin ball machine we had in college "INSERT ANOTHER QUARTER! YOU CANNOT WIN IF YOU WALK WAY!" except with loonies.

Though the front loaders do have the mold issue which kinda makes sense as by design some water will sit in it, but leaving the door open takes care of that I believe.

What I wonder is why nobody invented a washer/dryer combo yet. Basically the washer would be on top and when it's done it dropes the clothes into the dryer compartment and starts it, then you can go load a new wash load at your own leisure while the other load is drying. I should patent that. I guess it's a cool idea in concept but in application it's a disaster waiting to happen. Top heavy, etc.

 

[feralkid]

What I wonder is why nobody invented a washer/dryer combo yet. Basically the washer would be on top and when it's done it dropes the clothes into the dryer compartment and starts it, then you can go load a new wash load at your own leisure while the other load is drying. I should patent that. I guess it's a cool idea in concept but in application it's a disaster waiting to happen. Top heavy, etc.

Already available in Europe, don't know about other markets.

Washes clothes, drains, switches to dryer mode, voila.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combo_washer_dryer

 

[Ketchup]

We have had our Whirlpool front loader set for 5+ years. They are great for getting the kids to help! The clothes dry much faster than with the traditional unit we had (due to the high spin speed on both units).

 

[Red Squirrel]

We have had our Whirlpool front loader set for 5+ years. They are great for getting the kids to help! The clothes dry much faster than with the traditional unit we had (due to the high spin speed on both units).

That's really cool. Had no idea.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Already available in Europe, don't know about other markets.

Washes clothes, drains, switches to dryer mode, voila.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combo_washer_dryer

I used one of these combo units during my 3-week vacation in London last December. It could only handle small loads and took 2.5 hours to dry anything. I mentioned this on TripAdvisor UK forums and people said they just start it before leaving for work in the morning and it is done (4.25 hours later) when they get home.

But that meant doing laundry every damn day of the week. I have a pair of LG front loaders I bought ~12 years ago. No smells from mold/mildew. We leave the door open when not in use and wipe down the inside of the door and the gasket of any remaining moisture.

We did have a sensor go bad in the first four years. Couldn't find the paperwork to cover the repair and that thermocouple repair cost us $350. That was the icing on the sucky weekend cake since we had to go find a laundromat to wash the wet load.

Anyway, we are still using the pair of front loaders, but have thought about buying a top-loading washer for the basement for soiled items we don't want in the set up on the second floor (e.g. yard soiling, etc.).

 

[NutBucket]

The combo washer/dryer combos sold overseas are much smaller then us Yanks (and Canucks) are used to. Plus, they are condensing (I think that's the right term) dryers that are quite inefficient compared to what we are used to.

And yes, the front loaders do an excellent job of getting excess water out of the laundry. I wonder if the agitator-less top loaders now have improved compared to the "old days".

 

[Howard]

Been running a 4.6 cu ft LG front load for about a year. Works great. No mold issues yet. Quiet.

 

[Meghan54]

Really? I figured they would have more capacity. I kind of want to buy a set at some point so I can do my comforter too. My normal sized top loader will not take it as the agitator takes up lot of space. I can shove it in there, but it's so squeezed that it wont really clean properly. The only place I can clean that is at the laundromat which is kinda a pain, and expensive. Those washers remind me of the Street Fighter pin ball machine we had in college "INSERT ANOTHER QUARTER! YOU CANNOT WIN IF YOU WALK WAY!" except with loonies.

Though the front loaders do have the mold issue which kinda makes sense as by design some water will sit in it, but leaving the door open takes care of that I believe.

What I wonder is why nobody invented a washer/dryer combo yet. Basically the washer would be on top and when it's done it dropes the clothes into the dryer compartment and starts it, then you can go load a new wash load at your own leisure while the other load is drying. I should patent that. I guess it's a cool idea in concept but in application it's a disaster waiting to happen. Top heavy, etc.

First, yes, the claimed capacity of top loaders is a bit larger than front loaders, sometimes. There are extra large front loaders, but remember, with a front loader, the entire drum capacity is useable, unlike a top loader. Fill a top loader with clothes to the top and you probably have clothing that won't wash properly.

We have a Whirlpool Duet Steam set of front loaders and love them. Cleans extremely well....surprisingly, in fact. I threw in several pairs of jeans I had almost caked with grease (playing in the junk yard does that sometimes) and figured, before I throw them out, I'd try washing them. The grease came out with our regular detergent, nothing special added.


As for the mold and water issue. The mold problem stems from the door sealing when closed. As you may already know, all washers retain water in the pump. But typical top loaders don't seal the door like front loaders do. We just run a cup of bleach through ours every 3-4 months on the clean cycle.....runs about 20 min. No mold. Leaving the door cracked also stems the problem, but we have a Siamese that insists on sleeping inside the washer drum if left open. C'est la vie.


As for adding clothes to the washer after its started, ours allows you to do that, as do most front loaders, but only when it makes sense, like at the beginning of the wash cycle. Hit pause, the door unlocks, add clothes. However, further along in the cycle and it won't unlock unless you cancel the wash cycle completely. Then again, why would you want to add clothes to the washer after it's already beyond the wash cycle?


BTW.....they've been making all-in-one washer/dryer combo units for decades. They tend to be small, though. More for singles. Washer on the bottom, dryer on top.