Just my two cents worth - I already hate reaching into my dryer because I'm very tall, the last thing I need is to bend over to put stuff in/out the washer too. Regardless of the pedestal bases, they're still not high enough.
I'll keep my top loaders too.

Sorry, but I have a HE front loader and love it. It has a soak cycle and you can add clothes during the inital wash. It has a light that signals how long you can add clothes. You can also stop or pause it just by pushing the pause button. Never used Retayne so can't speak to that.

I have a Whirlpool Duet HE front loader. Had it for at least 6 years. LOVE IT! It has a soak cycle and cleans my DH dirty factory clothes like a dream. I put the Retayne in the bleach dispenser and it works fine.

What's RETAYNE? Is that the color catching sheets? If so, I've used color catching sheets in my front loader and it worked...actually I threw 2 sheets in because it was all red flannel fabrics.

I LOVE my front loader and I sit on a chair to sort and load it...no straining here! It's extremely efficient with water and detergent and has a soak cycle but I never use it. It has a rinse/spin cycle and I use it A LOT!

I use Retayne - washing/soaking in the kitchen sink. I haven't used it in the HE - but earlier post had really good luck.

A quote from http://www.prochemicalanddye.com/store/home.php?cat=323
"Please note: The new front loader energy efficient washing machines do not supply enough water to properly treat your fabrics with Retayne. You will need to use the Hand wash method below or a top loader in your local laundromat."

retayne is NOT color catchers. it is a liquid additive to 'set-color' usually used when hand dyeing fabrics. Total different animal from a color catcher.

Jane, thanks for the definitive answer! I did end up doing it in the sink, worked fine.

that is a good question

We have a top loader HE washer. It also does not soak like a traditional washer. When it was installed, the appliance repair guy told us that they will no longer be manufacturing the old style washers after the first of the year. The new "water saving" machines will be the only ones made. If you want the old style, buy one quick! lol

He said the number one complaint for the HE machines is that you cannot soak and that the tub doesn't fill with water.

Our machine does have a soak option but it doesn't fill with water and you cannot stop it in the soak cycle to let it sit overnight. It is only about 10 minutes and it just sprays water on the clothes and lets it sit. I am not a fan. But, it works and our last one broke. lol So, I like it because it works.

I agree. I hate my front loader, plus it stinks!! Always needing to run a cycle with the unstink stuff. So far I know of three different brands you can buy for this, so they can't tell me this isn't a problem. As soon as I can, it's going out the door.