Faintly Artistic

I gave up on front loads with all the bells and whistles. The computer is always the first thing to go and usually runs about $400...I opted for a commercial grade Speed Queen, like the ones in the laundromat but doesn't take quarters . There are still 6 people in my household and I do a minimum of 12 loads/week, so needed something that would last. Bought it over 5 years ago and haven't had a single problem with it.

I use white vinegar in the rinse cup as it gets out excess detergent. We have very hard water here...

carol45

I had a front loader and hated it. I have a Kenmore top loader without an agitator (the salesperson said that agitators in the new machines are just there for people who like the idea of an agitator, but they don't agitate). It cleans beautifully. I could actually wash 2 queen size quilts at the same time. There's a bulky/bedding setting that provides a higher level of water, if you want. It is somewhat slow, but does a great job.

cashs_mom

Mine is huge, too. I've washed car covers in it and they come out great.

cashs_mom

I just realized that I was wrong in my previous post. I don't have a Kenmore Elite washer. I have a Whirlpool Cabrio. I bought it at Sears and my other appliances are Kenmore Elite. Sorry.

maviskw

You want ideas so here are a few.
My daughter has a no agitator top loader. She hates it. Whenever she washes anything dark, she needs to run the washer a second time to remove soap scum. Black pants have white streaks all over if she does it only once. I suppose on the white clothes, you can't see the scum.

I have a Whirlpool front loader and I love it. Never had a repair, gets clothes clean, and spins a lot of water out of the clothes. Don't notice wrinkles. I hang most clothes on the line if I can, and they dry very fast.

I never close the door completely when not in use. The door looks closed but is not latched. I do the same with the dryer and my dishwasher. I have never used any "cleaners" in anything in 20 years. They stay sweet-smelling and look fine.

mengler

A couple years ago our washer died right before the kids showed up for thanksgivings. I got the top rated Samsung recommended in consumer reports. Sears had an amazing sale. There was a larger one I looked at but it was so huge I didn’t think it would fit in the space for it. It’s been amazing. Works great and has a custom cycle you u can set up as you like. It has a little sink in it for soaking. Inthink this is the larger one. It’s 6.2 cf. https://www.samsung.com/ca/washing-m...r-wa54m8750av/. Good luck 🍀

frannella

My understanding is that you should never wash your quilts in a front loading machine because the reduced volume of water per load is hard on your fabrics and stitches, esp. your stitches. I follow the recommendation that you should only use top loaders where you can control machine agitation, which is to say don't allow machine agitation at all on a quilt. Instead, the prescription is fill, soak, hand agitate, spin, rinse, hand agitate, and spin.

I bought a so-called heavy duty GE top loader that didn't have a center agitation paddle--hated it and took a real bath on it in my efforts to get rid of it. Next bought a heavy duty Speed Queen top loader. I still have it and it is large enough to wash my queen-sized quilts. I must say, though, that it doesn't seem to me to be as well made as older model Speed Queens, and I have had to replace the belts twice in 8 years. I am careful with this washer and I don't believe I overload the machine, although my husband may very sporadically. According to the ratings, this is the largest and best-performing top-loading washer on the market. All I can say to that is that it ain't what it used to be, but it is definitely better than most alternatives.

Austinite

I had a top of the line Kenmore that died after 14 years of hard use and extremely hard water, I was so upset cause everyone said the new models were awful. We love our LG top loader!! It was recommended by a friend who had one and she gave it five stars with a newborn and a toddler at home and that was all the recommendation I needed. It gets the clothes so much cleaner and they are spun so dry, most of the time the dryer is done is less than 30 min. I think my old washer was dying for awhile and I didn't even realize it! Uses very little soap and everything comes out super clean, no trouble with my quilts or anything. I use white vinegar in the rinse cycle with all my washers cause of the hard water. It does have a more water button you can use and we tried it but we couldn't tell a difference and water is very pricey here.

Fizzle

My repairman also told me Speed Queen. My husband had already purchased a Whirlpool. Front load. Plus they are stacked. As we age it is harder to unload the dryer up high and get clothes out from the low washer. Oh well, they seem to clean. And I do like Whirlpool.....

JustAbitCrazy

I don't know what brand it is, but a friend hates her new washer because the lid locks until the entire cycle is finished and you can't do any partial loads with it, like hand washing something and just spinning it out in the washer. You can't soak something, you can't just leave the lid open so it won't agitate, etc. She says the lid also stays locked too long once the machine stops, which is really frustrating if you are in a hurry. Just be careful of the features on the one you buy to get what you want.