Posted on 12/16/2013 5:38:50 PM PST by mykroar
Brother and I will be moving into our house at the end of the month and have a washer question. We've heard that front loaders have issues with smell and continual cleaning, so we're looking at top loaders. Anyone have opinions on the new HE washers versus the older agitator models? Thanks up front.
Hey ... what worked for my grandmother is good enough for me ... :-) ...
if you choose HE look up how to make homemade laundry soap. will save you hundreds per year.
Got burned on the front load machine. Was the most infernal machine ever invented. Now we’re afraid to try the “agitatorless” machines. So we bought a conventional machine.
Yes!Front loading washing Machines do give off an odor after awhile if you allow them to build up Mold.
One way to prevent that is to make sure you keep the washers door open following the use of the machine.That allows the machine to dry out naturally where if you keep the door closed the humidity has no where to go and that allows for the growth of mold.That’s something you don’t want.
By the way you should run a gallon of white vinagar through that machine every few months and it will work like a champ.
I despise that HE soap. It has no suds. When we go to my inlaws’ beach place, I don’t use their front loader...I just wait till I get home to do laundry. Even my MIL says it doesn’t get things clean.
I love my front loader. Just leave my door open to dry on the last load, and no smell.
I grew up in Spain where my mom always used front loader washing machines, so I was thrilled when I finally got me one. I leave the door open and I have not had any trouble with smell but, after 3 years, I am considering replacing the door gasket because it is stained. I use HE detergent, but I buy it at WalMart, their brand, and it is very inexpensive.
Look into the Fisher-Paykel top loaders.
Suppose to be very robust. One of my daughters has had one for several years and really likes it. Supposedly the only tool that you need to work on a F-P is a #2 Phillips screwdriver!
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
God and physics decree that front loaders are incorrect.
My Maytag died at age 19 this year (transmission shot, tub heavily rusted at the joint).
Heard so many horror stories about US makes I went with Korea (LG). So far so good.
I have an LG Front loader. Had it for 6 years no problems.
3 tips...
Turn Spin Speed down a notch or so.
Always leave the door open.
Don’t over fill or it will vibrate.
They are really pretty cool.
Do they even make washers with the old agitators? I’d love to have one, preferably one that actually fills with water instead of washers that spin around with a minute amount of water. I was sold a “Calypso” some years ago and I hate it. I have to run the laundry through 3 times. Doesn’t rinse properly.
And top loader for me. I want to be able to stop the washer and open the door, if necessary, without the clothes falling out.
I got an LG top loading agitatorless model. Had it for about a year and a half and like it fine. Cleaning is good and it really gets the moisture out during the spin cycle which speeds up drying.
Several hundred dollars less than a front loader. Saves on water as well as it only uses enough water to cover the clothes (automatic sensor).
HE detergent is not that expensive. You only use a couple Tbls. per load.
Buy the cheapest top loader you can find.
One without all those printed circuit boards and fancy doo— dads.
You are washing clothes not going to the moon.
You can save water and electricity using a wash board. Or use the creek and pound the clothes on large flat stones to get those hard to clean stains out. Plus you get a real workout when done right. You’ll thank me later.
Our old 1979 made Maytag died about six years ago so we bought a new Maytag, one of those HE agitatorless machines. Hated it, didn’t clean as well with the water saving feature, clothes came out all wrinkled, then it died last year. We bought a used old fashioned Kenmore agitator model. Works great!
Sales lady tried to sell me a HE front-load washer. Told me how much water I’d save per load.
Went home, figured out how many loads, gallons of water that would be saved, $$ saved in water not used per year. Worked out it’d take 10 years to hit break even versus a new, but conventional top-load washer.
If you’re doing three loads a day (I do three loads a week), you might hit the break even point soon enough that it’d be worth going with a front loader over a conventional top loader.
No trouble so far, after several years, with our front loader from Sears. We just leave the door open when not using it, and I check the drain filter regularly, which is right inside the door. Good way to find loose change.
Daughter has a top loader no agitator and loves it. I have a front loader and love it. Just leave the door open so it can dry out. I make my own laundry soap. Can make enough for a year for $20.
Don’t buy an agitator whatever you do. I got rid of mine because it kept tearing up clothes when they would get wrapped around it.
If you leave the door to a front loader open a crack you won’t have problems with odor. But mind the cat. They’re curious.
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