SusieQOH

I hate my front loader. It gets musty smelling, mold on the rubber seal and I can't soak things in it. What a mistake for me! I thought I would love it but I can't wait till it dies so I can go back to a top load.

Jingle

My washer is old enough (Maytag) to still have an agitator. I would not have a front loader. My Daughter has an LG larger capacity and she loves it. It is a top loader.

Onebyone

My friend hand dyes fabrics and a good washer is a must. She won't touch a digital one. She has an old commercial top loader agitator. It spins so fast the fabric is dry enough to press when it comes out. Jeans and Carhartts come out damp dry. She had four boys on a farm and washing a load of jeans was an everyday thing. All washers should be this way. Less drying time. So maybe that's why they aren't made that way anymore.

Peckish

I am so with you on this one. Hate my front loader. Someone, I thought it was here, was talking about a brand that has started making a top-loading washer with the option of filling the tub, perfect for quilters. Don't remember if a lock was mentioned.

Same thing goes for dishwashers. We recently purchased a new fridge, and while we were standing around doing paperwork, we got into a conversation with the guy who repairs the appliances. Our dishwasher is at least 20 years old, and he said "wait as long as you can to replace it". The longest cycle on my dishwasher is 96 minutes. He said the new dishwashers have cycles that range from 2.5 hours to 4.5 hours. Seriously?!?!?! I asked him how that could possibly be more energy efficient. He replied that they're not drawing power constantly; they pulse on and off instead.

I'd much rather have something like an industrial dishwasher that does a whole cycle in 4 or 6 minutes than these stupid domestic models that take 2-4 hours! I could have my entire kitchen clean, with everything put away, in less than 30 minutes.

zozee

We are on our second front loader. Big mistake. The first one came with the house and my daughter overstuffed it all the time till the bearings broke. But we still believed the hype about how well they clean (and it did seem to clean the clothes). However, as others have noted, there's always mold around the lip so we have to keep the door open when not in use. And if there's one thing that bugs me, it's doors left open (even though this is in the basement, out of sight, until I do laundry again).

The water saver feature is not worth it. I like to see and control how much water I use in a load, based on common sense, not on a computer program.

My small independent appliance dealer also said the best machine on the market is the top loading Speed Queen.

Another thing she noted was that people use too much detergent, which turn into too many suds, which the rinse cycle on HE machines does not use enough water for . She said 1/8 of a cup is all you should use on a normal load, 1/4 cup for large. Do not fill to the line on the cap of your detergent--the detergent manufacturers , of course, want you to use more. But the machines won't rinse it out well enough and will leave a smelly residue.

geevee

When we had to have the lower cabs replaced after Harvey, I opted not to replace the dishwasher we never used, instead had another cab put in it's place and filled it with dividers for all my baking pans, and utensils in the drawer above, so much more functional than a machine that takes forever and uses electricity as well as water. With just hub and me, dishes take no time at all. 2 - 4 hours in the new ones? Oh my goodness!

Ruitzelj - do yourself a big favor and find a non-digital, large capacity top loader, we had to replace the washer left by the former owners 3+ years ago and went with just the basic Whirlpool agitator top loader, hope I don't jinx it but it's been a fine machine. It's not a large capacity so haven't washed any large quilts in it but I also understand Speed Queen is a very well-built machine, look into those first. Their dryers don't get as good reviews for some reason but the washers are top notch.

Stitchnripper

I agree that Speed Queen is the best, and my cousin got one and loves it. Plumber had to fix the drain in her old house to accommodate the force that it drains. About three years ago I got a top loader GE washer. I think it is HE, but, I can push a button to get it to fill to the top. It only locks while it is measuring the load, and then I can open it to put something in. I think it locks when it is spinning, but, never tried to open it, no need. Also, it has a speed wash which is fine 99 per cent of the time for our needs. Got the matching gas dryer and like that too.

Cari-in-Oly

My mom bought a basic Speed Queen set in the mid 80s. She sold them to a friend when she sold her house about 10 years ago and they are still working.

Cari

Maureen NJ

I had a high efficiency washing machine for 2 weeks about 10 years ago and hated it. They took it back and I bought a top loader with agitator, large capacity, non high efficiency. HE had too little water and spun so hard to get the water out that it left wrinkles. Hated it. I also like to soak things and you need lots of water that will stay in the tub to do that!! I can do matellase and large comforters in it. King I would probably take to the laundromat.

Back to about the soaking. FYI. Many years ago we were ready to sit down to eat a holiday meal when someone spilled a glass of milk. It went underneath the table pads. We had to undo the table and put things under the pads. Anyways, since that time, I always put a sheet of heavy plastic under the tablecloth on top of the table pads. After everyone leaves, I take Dawn dish detergent (mixed with a small amount of water) and use an old toothbrush and scrub any stains. Then I put it in the washing machine filled with cold water, agitate about 15- 30 seconds and then let it soak overnight. Works great. No stains and don’t have to use bleach.

dorismae904

Two years ago I bought a Speed Queen top loading washer with an agitator. It works beautifully and we just washed a queen size comforter in it today. No problems. I had to do a lot of searching for a private dealer. the big box stores just don't carry them. Hope you can find one.