Recomend me a good front-loading washer

KB

Diamond Member
Nov 8, 1999
5,406
389
126


Can someone with a front-loading washer recommend a good one? I have looked at a variety of sites like epinions and found there is no consenus.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,152
635
126
Best rated one is a Whirlpool that's about $1k at Sears. Don't remember the model offhand. There's also a Kenmore that's exactly the same washer with some different cosmetics.
 

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
7,383
146
Originally posted by: KB


Can someone with a front-loading washer recommend a good one? I have looked at a variety of sites like epinions and found there is no consenus.

L.G. makes great front load washers. $800.00 to $1000.00 at Home Depot. Plus, they have not cut their warranty down to only one year (Maytag, Whirlpool, G.E.) all have.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,152
635
126
Originally posted by: UsandThem
Originally posted by: KB


Can someone with a front-loading washer recommend a good one? I have looked at a variety of sites like epinions and found there is no consenus.

L.G. makes great front load washers. $800.00 to $1000.00 at Home Depot. Plus, they have not cut their warranty down to only one year (Maytag, Whirlpool, G.E.) all have.
Well, if country of manufacture is of any importance,

Kenmore/Whirlpool = Germany
LG = Korea
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,034
440
136
Avoid the Maytag Neptune or whatever it's called.

I've also heard very good things about the Whirlpool and I've seen them for cheap @ CostCo plus energy rebate incentives!
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
The g/f & I bought an LG set about 6 months ago. It was $1400 for the washer/dryer pair.

We've been pleased with them.

If money were no object the Kenmore Elites were very nice. In fact we were prepared to get those until we discovered the Sears salesman was wrong about some deals being stackable.

Viper GTS
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,152
635
126
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Out of curiosity, why a front-loader?
Washes better, saves water, clothes come out dryer so you don't need to dry them as much.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,944
19,184
136
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Out of curiosity, why a front-loader?
Washes better, saves water, clothes come out dryer so you don't need to dry them as much.

Huh. I've never heard any of that before.
 

toant103

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
10,514
1
0
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Out of curiosity, why a front-loader?
Washes better, saves water, clothes come out dryer so you don't need to dry them as much.

Huh. I've never heard any of that before.

it's true. When it's in the spinning mode, the bin can spin between 900 to 1500 rpm, depending on make and model so the water just fly out of the clothes.

I don't have a front loading washer but mine is similar to most front loading. I Just bought a GE Harmony washer and dryer for around $2g. Touch screen LCD control center is pretty nice.

WHen the clothes is done washing in the washer, it will send a signal to the dryer so it will adjust the heat with the type of clothes that was in the washer.
 

J0hnny

Platinum Member
Jul 2, 2002
2,366
0
0
I bought my LG front loader two years ago. My washing has never been better!

We've convinced several people already and so far everyone has given it shining reviews.

Before the LG, I had a whirlpool toploader. I also used a friends whirlpool frontloader and I would choose LG over the whirlpool anyday. The LG has a ton more options and more practical options, such as the ability to switch the direction in which the loader door opens and has enough programming so that you can set it to start a little bit before you come home from work so when you're home, it's all ready for you.
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
costco sells one for something like $800-$900
i am probably going to have to get one in july, our luck with clothes washers sucks. we last purchases one in summer 2002 (or maybe 2001) and it is dying already. i am so sick of buying clothes washers/dryers. i want disposable clothes
 

shopbruin

Diamond Member
Jul 12, 2000
5,817
0
0
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Avoid the Maytag Neptune or whatever it's called.

oh so true. i mean it washes and it dries, but the banging noises that come with the spin cycle is a pain. we always have to shut the door to the laundry room at my parents house so that the noise isn't reverberating through the family room.

but we can't complain, my cousins moved out of the house they were renting and gave the set to my parents. i think my dad wishes he can still use the old set they had - it's just sitting in the garage until someone needs it.

 

TheBull

Member
Feb 24, 2002
57
0
0
We've had the Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer for 4 yrs without any problems. The large openings and load capacity are great for washing bedspreads and comforters (quilts). They really cut down our loads per week. If you're not placing them under a counter, then get the optional pedestals. These raise the washer/dryer about 12 inches. When my wife was pregnant she really loved these. Limited bending to load and unload.
 

CalvinHobbes

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2004
3,524
0
0
Ours is either the whirlpool or kenmore that we got from Sears about 6 years ago. It works great but the spin cycle is brutal. You can leave anything on the washer while it's spinning, it'll just vibrate it off. On our model they recommend leaving the door open so any water in the seal can dry without any mold or mildew growing.
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
i have a front-loading kenmore and it doesn't drain on the spin cycle unless you run it through it again manually. such a fvcking pain in the ass. it also has a buzzer with no volume or "off" function that is so fvcking loud i have to plug my ears, and i play in a rock band. it's only like two years old, so any problems whatsoever are inexcusable. it's also a pain in the ass to get the clothes in and out of it, because the hole is tiny compared to a top-load, and you have to bend way over and manually turn the drum to fish all your socks out. at least with a top load, you just reach in and grab you clothes, and can see at a glance that you actually got them all. also, you have to rub your arm on that seal, and it's all cold and gross. honestly, there is no reason to have a front-loading washer. the seal gets all nasty, and i can't tell that anything gets cleaner or dryer or any of that crap. it's just a fad, like having a pink telephone in the 50's or some other bull that turns on the housewives and makes them consume. the only nice thing about it is that it is quiet (except for the buzzer).

if you want to be a bandwagon-hopping housewife, then by all means drop a grand on a piece of crap that doesn't do anything better than models that cost half the price and are easier to use. of all the things for people to think they need as a status symbol, i never thought washers and dryers would make the list.

edit: and leaving the door open so the seal can dry isn't an option for those of us with pets or children.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
We also have the Whirlpool Duet set and love them. We looked at less expensive models and most of them had tiny little openings that'd make it a pain to load/unload and impossible to wash big stuff like comforters. The buttons on the front of the machine make it possible to either stack them or build them in like a dishwasher, with a counter above for folding, etc.
 

Kenazo

Lifer
Sep 15, 2000
10,429
1
81
My wife and I have a frontload Kenmore set (rebadged Frigidaire). They're great. Low water use, quiet, and they wash a whole lot more per load than top load. They are a bit slower, per load though.
 

QurazyQuisp

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2003
2,554
0
76
My parents just bought some bosch ones... Ever since they bought a bosch dishwasher, they haven't stopped with the bosch appliances. They are dead silent, quick, and do a great job. I'm pretty sure they are also very highly rated.
 

Cristatus

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2004
3,908
2
81
You guys don't get AEG in your country? I think that's the washer and dryer that my parents have at their place, and they lasted us for a very long time. I can ask how long in a week and a half.
 

Old Hippie

Diamond Member
Oct 8, 2005
6,361
1
0
WHen the clothes is done washing in the washer, it will send a signal to the dryer so it will adjust the heat with the type of clothes that was in the washer.
Never heard of it!
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,152
635
126
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
i have a front-loading kenmore and it doesn't drain on the spin cycle unless you run it through it again manually. such a fvcking pain in the ass. it also has a buzzer with no volume or "off" function that is so fvcking loud i have to plug my ears, and i play in a rock band. it's only like two years old, so any problems whatsoever are inexcusable. it's also a pain in the ass to get the clothes in and out of it, because the hole is tiny compared to a top-load, and you have to bend way over and manually turn the drum to fish all your socks out. at least with a top load, you just reach in and grab you clothes, and can see at a glance that you actually got them all. also, you have to rub your arm on that seal, and it's all cold and gross. honestly, there is no reason to have a front-loading washer. the seal gets all nasty, and i can't tell that anything gets cleaner or dryer or any of that crap. it's just a fad, like having a pink telephone in the 50's or some other bull that turns on the housewives and makes them consume. the only nice thing about it is that it is quiet (except for the buzzer).

if you want to be a bandwagon-hopping housewife, then by all means drop a grand on a piece of crap that doesn't do anything better than models that cost half the price and are easier to use. of all the things for people to think they need as a status symbol, i never thought washers and dryers would make the list.

edit: and leaving the door open so the seal can dry isn't an option for those of us with pets or children.
I think you just have a bad one. The first one the gf's family got was riddled with problems. Sears gave them another one and its been perfect since.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
i have a front-loading kenmore and it doesn't drain on the spin cycle unless you run it through it again manually. such a fvcking pain in the ass. it also has a buzzer with no volume or "off" function that is so fvcking loud i have to plug my ears, and i play in a rock band. it's only like two years old, so any problems whatsoever are inexcusable. it's also a pain in the ass to get the clothes in and out of it, because the hole is tiny compared to a top-load, and you have to bend way over and manually turn the drum to fish all your socks out. at least with a top load, you just reach in and grab you clothes, and can see at a glance that you actually got them all. also, you have to rub your arm on that seal, and it's all cold and gross. honestly, there is no reason to have a front-loading washer. the seal gets all nasty, and i can't tell that anything gets cleaner or dryer or any of that crap. it's just a fad, like having a pink telephone in the 50's or some other bull that turns on the housewives and makes them consume. the only nice thing about it is that it is quiet (except for the buzzer).

if you want to be a bandwagon-hopping housewife, then by all means drop a grand on a piece of crap that doesn't do anything better than models that cost half the price and are easier to use. of all the things for people to think they need as a status symbol, i never thought washers and dryers would make the list.

edit: and leaving the door open so the seal can dry isn't an option for those of us with pets or children.

You got a crappy washer. That doesn't mean that they're all like that. You should've done your research before buying. Our Whirlpool has a large opening and the buzzer can be adjusted to off, low, or high. We NEVER have to run an extra spin cycle to get it to drain properly. You're damning a whole category of washers because you made a bad choice in which one to get.

As far as 'status symbol', washing machines are expected to last a good 15-20 years, so if you cheap out and get something inferior, you're either stuck with a machine you don't like or have to buy a new one before the old one wears out.

The thing about a good front loader is that you spend a lot less money on water, detergent, electricity/gas (takes less time to dry the clothes), and clothes since they wear out slower than if you use a top loader. The savings more than pays for the price difference over the life of the machine. Front loaders extract more soap from clothes. What this means is that they look and feel better, and they last longer since the soap can harm the cloth if residue is left. The lack of a central agitator means that front loaders beat up the clothes less than a top loader, which is also easier on the fabric.

If you buy a decent front loader, you can use it to wash things that you normally have to go to a commercial facility to wash, like comforters, pillows, big jackets, etc. You save time and money (and gas) by being able to wash them at home.
 

snoturtle

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2001
1,609
1
81
Personally I like the Asko ones

Downside is that they take a little longer to wash than some other washers
Upside is that you really only need to use a small ammount of detergent and thats all
no bleach or anything else