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 ... :-) ...
“
==
That would be a washboard in my case.
.
We living on the economy in the Middle East. Most of a Saturday was spent waiting for a washer or dryer on base to do the laundry. It was awful.....well, we learned of a program, that if you applied, you *might* get a wringer washing machine to use while you were deployed. We applied and got one! It was one of the most joyous days of my life.
I don’t think I ever mastered the wringer well, and would pop the buttons off husband’s uniforms regularly.
And it would overflow....if I forgot I was filling the tub. LOL
But I never stopped being grateful for that machine!
Yes! We had a front loader when we lived overseas. Within six months many of my kids t- shirts were getting holes in them.
The smell problem isn’t one if you just keep the door slightly ajar when you don’t have clothes in it. And once a month, or so, run a load of just hot water, a little detergent, and bleach to fill the dispenser.
Suds is not what gets your clothes clean. It’s a byproduct of the actual detergent action.
On a more general note, I have never had any problems with the HE front-loader machines I have owned. No smell problems, no gasket issues. Leaving the door open a crack is all it takes, and the one I bought for myself after my divorce had a steam-clean mode that would do wonders for keeping the interior fresh. It really reduced my water usage, and did a great job cleaning my clothes. The trick, I found, was to actually use all the different cycles it had, so whites were washed in Hot, with bleach, and jeans on the jeans/heavy cycle, and bedding on the bedding cycle etc. If you wash everything on the same setting, you’re not getting the full benefit.
Actually, I found the opposite: Top-loaders with mechanical agitators tended to put a lot more stress on my clothing than the tumbling action of my front-loader. My jeans in particular lasted longer when washed in the FL than the TL. Pant legs and socks in particular have the opportunity to get wrapped around the base of the agitator under the plastic paddle, and get torn up. The front-loader has nothing for them to snag on.
I agree with almost every comment posted on this thread — and it’s a pretty long thread at the point at which I’m responding. But there’s one huge advantage of the front loaders, depending on your height. If you’re height challenged, top loaders are sent from the devil. You have the following choices in removing your clothes from a top loader: climb onto a ladder or step stool; rig up a clothes hanger and try to snag that sock; throw out your shoulder. I’ve tried all three. So I live with a front loader and when I bemoan all the problems associated with it (yup, had the guy here today to replace the gasket, which of course wasn’t in stock), I just remember to count my blessings: no thrown shoulder, no fall from ladder, no holes in clothes from rigged up hanger.
Merry Christmas!
Top loader with agitator. It would most likely be the cheapest.
You only need one setting... “wash the clothes”.
I’ve never had an odor problem with my top loaders. The lid stays shut all the time. We do a lot of laundry, so a top loader has a bigger capacity than front loaders.
There is no good reason for there even to be a “front” load washing machine. (and yes, I have owned them before)
When I do a white load in my front loader, I pull out the detergent/bleach tray, fill it carefully to the “maximum” line with clorox, which takes one ‘glug’. Then I keep pouring for another ten glugs or so. Its the only way I can get any bleaching effect. Also, I run my laundry sink hot water until it is hot before I start the load. The front loaders use so little water, they’ll fill up using the cold “hot water” that is standing in the pipes. I always push the “extra rinse”, and I always select any more vigorous options available on the control. “hottest”, “longest”, “dirtiest”, whatever. Then I wait for the TWO HOURS the cycle takes to finish. Finally, I never put in more than about a third of what I used to fit in my top loader.
I recommend you do NOT get a front loader; they are Eurojunk.
My front loader, a Samsung, gets my laundry clean. I leave the door open after using and then the machine does not have that moldy odor.
Had a Fisher-Paykel top loader for a number of years and liked it. However, went up a couple of months ago and repair parts not available. Understand F-P no longer sold in USA. Replace with American made Speed Queen-of laundromat fame-and pleased with results so far. Understand only difference between home and commercial model is lack of coin machine.
Not unless your name is Alice Kramden.
Maytag Atlantis Series. Top loaders, reliable as all heck.
We have had a F-P for about a year and have been very happy with it.
As far as not being sold in the US here in Kansas City and Omaha they are available from Nebraska Furniture Mart. It appears that they have a number of units in stock.
http://www.nfm.com/default.aspx
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Nice post.lol Can you elaborate what brand and model? lol
I’m thinking it’s the low water level that is damaging the fabric. Even in the front loader my clothes get twisted and worn - yes, pant legs in particular but also sleeves.
My solution is to use the delicate setting and add a lot more water. A lot. It’s extra work but I want the clothes to smell clean. I use a little borax too and give them an extra rinse.
BTW, I know someone in clothing manufacturing who said they know the new low water machines destroy the fabric but there’s not a lot they can do. People will just buy more clothing.
Whirlpool HE from Home Depot.
Wow! That was fast. Thanks.
Screw a buncha world crises .. this is stuff you can use !
Our 9 year old Kenmore Elite Duet (aka Whirlpool) just had a bad failure of the spinning basket. The stainless steel basket is attached to the shaft by a cast aluminum “spider”. Over time, the basic PH detergent corroded the aluminum and the casting cracked at the shaft causing the basket to wobble and destroy the front lip of the plastic fiberglass drum.
$500+ in parts to repair. We have a stacked set with the dryer and didn’t feel like spending $1500+ to replace the set. If I had the space, I’d go top load.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.