AUQuilter

When we sold our home, we left the front loader washer there. It was not my cup of tea. One reason was adding the forgotten item or two to the wash meant the soapy water dripped on the floor when I opened the door. So this time we bought top loader set.

GrammieJan

I have a fairly new set by Whirlpool. Top loader with agitator and real rinse cycle - I would not consider HE at all. Have heard too many negatives with them. I use homemade laundry soap...no suds at all, but gets my clothes clean and much cheaper than detergents.

Weenween

I also do not like the front loaders only the top load for this gal also. My 2 neighbors have front load and they smell, it gets mildew around the gasket of the door. That is one bad smell

CAS49OR

I bought a top loader so I could soak clothes, be aware that some brands automatically drain after 30 minutes -- a safety feature. I bought an LG top load that was a mess, I fought with LG for six months to repair/replace it. They finally allowed me to return it to Best Buy. They have NO contact in the United States, I had to deal with a web site and constantly got different answers and the run-around. I emailed and wrote several letters to every contact I could find, including the overseas head of the appliance department! The washer never did wash a load of clothes correctly and it would take hours trying to balance itself to finish a load. I thought it was just a fluke but read other reviews at Best Buy with others stating the same thing! I also wrote a review, but found later when I went to read it that all the reviews below 4 were removed from the site!

I bought a Samsung WA 50F9A8SP/A2 to replace it and it does actually get the clothes clean. I especially like that I can HEAR the water swishing around during the rinse. In other words, it does use enough water to actually penetrate the clothes and get them clean and rinsed!

What I do not like about the design on the new top load washers is that they take a long time to do clothes.

The basket is too deep -- I'm 5'6" and can barely reach the bottom, and this one was 4" higher than the LG.

Some of them only let you soak clothes for a set amount of time (of course front-load washers do not allow you to soak the clothes at all as they never really fully immerse them, I had a front load washer for years and my clothes all need to come out of the closet and get washed because it never truly rinsed the clothes. I can smell the old fabric softener I used to use).

It also seems that the clothes really pill up and get worn fast from rubbing against each other, much worse than the old agitator models.

They have huge baskets but cannot actually handle big loads, the items get twisted around each other and it gets an unbalanced error code. I can only wash clothes that amount to about half the basket (dry, 1/4th wet) which is painful since I have to struggle to fetch them from the bottom of the basket when they are done (I have neck and back issues, if you do too I suggest a front load washer). The clothes have to be "like" items, if you try and mix towels with sheets for example -- you get a twisted, unbalanced load, if it does manage to run you may find items in the middle that didn't even get wet! With just two of us in the house this amounts to doing many extra loads and taking many more hours to do laundry! I find I even have to separate the pillowcases from the sheets to get a balanced, clean load.

It is almost impossible to get a good old agitator model but most major stores still carry a few.

sewnsewsue

I bought a Maytag Bravos which is a top loader with no agitator. It is HE. I HATE it. It does get clothes clean but it twists everything up and I have incredible amounts of lint. I have to stop my dryer to clean the filter. I am not talking about new towels or clothing. I really miss my front loader, clothes were clean but not beat up. I go to the laundromat with my quilts. Just my experience.

dellareya

I started reading this thread the first day it came out. I was just interested in what people had to say. Our wash machine celebrated it's 18th birthday and silly me thought it had a couple more years of life in it. That very night my daughter came in to tell me "She thinks she broke the washer?" Yes, indeed she did. I went back and reread all the comments again before we added to the store. Thank you all for the great and honest input. Made picking a new washer just a little easier for me. ---- I just couldn't get the dryer to match the washer. Our dryer is only 10 years old.

maviskw

I have a Whirlpool stacked set: washer and dryer, and LOVE them.
Yes you can soak in them. It has a soak cycle.
It's so easy to see into the dryer when it is stacked above the washer. Takes less room, too.
Yes you can add clothes you have forgotten. The little green light stays on for a few minutes. After that is off, you can't add anymore, but you can for a while.
I can do a very large load. The directions say you can add as much as you like as long as you can get the door shut!
I use Melaleuca detergent. Very concentrated, so you use only one half ounce. Works very well.
Melaleuca also has a gentle bleach which works wonders. I put my whites on "Whitest Whites" and can't believe how white they get.
I never close the door completely when not in use. It doesn't have to be wide open, but just don't let it latch. I've had this machine for more than 3 years and never put any Afresh in it as called for and never had any mold or mildew.
I do the same with the dryer door. It shouldn't be latched. Just leave it almost closed, and it stays smelling fresh.
I use no dryer sheets. If there is a little static electricity, it will dissipate in a little while.
I hope this is a thumbs up for front loaders. Three of my daughters have them and love them. The other daughter has a top loader with no agitator, and hates it. She says her clothes do not get clean.
Hope you enjoy your new washer, whatever kind you get.

pahega

Thank you for all of your comments and help. I ended up buying a washer/dryer set 3 days ago, and they were out to install lit the next day. I ended up purchasing a Maytag Maxima front loading washer and dryer. I also got the matching pedestals, but ended up not being able to use them yet until I raise the cabinets above about an inch. I've only used the machines a couple times so it's too early to tell, but I do think they are much quieter than my old Kitchen Aid set. The sales person said that they solved the problem of mildew on these machines by adding drain holes around the door seal and installing a vent fan in the back of the machine. I think I'll leave the door open anyway. This set does not have a soak feature I don't think. It has a steam feature in the dryer you can use if you forget and leave clothes in the dryer. It heats water in the machine to a very hot setting if you choose that. There are other features available that I haven't learned yet. I hope I made the right choice--they don't come cheaply.....