Anyone own a front loader washing machine?

**MOMMYDEAREST** · 01-22-2008, 06:43 PM

we are thinking about purchasing one with our tax check. we need a reliable washing machine & dryer. we would probably buy them as a set. any info on these would be greatly appreciated

**mom2matty** · 01-22-2008, 07:59 PM

We recently purchased the Whirlpool Duets.....front loader washer and dryer. I have only had them for about a month and I LOVE mine. It washes everything beautifully and they come out of the washer almost dry! My dryer dries everything including heavy towels or jeans in a very short time. I don't think it has taken more than 40 minutes to dry my heaviest loads.

**CoCo** · 01-23-2008, 12:04 PM

I have had my Kenmore for over a yr, and love it!!!! I bought the HE3 so I can wash bigger loads, I wash in cold water, and use little soap. The best deal on soap in the ALL mighty HE laundry soap, I only use 1/2 of what the bottle says to use, and my clothes come out clean and the spin cycle is wonderful!!! I have cut my electric use for laundry by almost 1/2 since I bought this machine. In the summer I hang clothes but in the winter I run my elec dryer.

The only problem I have had with mine is , It gets smelly sometimes, at first I though water was not draining properly, but I ask another person who had one and she said I needed to clean under the door seal at least 2 times a month with some bleach water, dirty water collects in there that causes the smell.

I highly recommend the front loaders, they will save you a ton of money over the yrs. And I didn't purchase the extended warranty, and I have had no problems ( knock on wood) I just make sure I keep some money set aside if I should happen to have to call out the maytag man. I know some that had to have theirs fixed and it can cost around $200 for the house call and the fix. So set some $ aside if you should need a repair.

**nessarowdy** · 01-23-2008, 12:14 PM

I have the whirlpool set, too, and LOVE it! I agree with the previous poster about the washer being smelly, though. You do have to clean out that front area. But it really is wonderful. I wash my stuff in cold, and sometimes run it on light soil, and my stuff comes out amazingly clean. I highly recommend it.

**halloweenfreak** · 01-23-2008, 01:09 PM

i think mine is the he 2 super capacity. i love it so far. i can wash several items at once so it has cut done on the loads i have to do a week, and things come out almost dry.

**dianne9106** · 01-23-2008, 01:13 PM

I love mine

I have a GE and it's a larger one! I don't even own a tumble dryer - prefer to hang my clothes and it's not as hard on them. I would just get the washer if your dryer is still running. Unless a matched set is important for some reason. Your clothes will be super clean!! But I have read that using homemade washing detergent can mess it up. I sometimes the regular kind - just less of it. I have used a front loader for 5 years - we lived in Europe so I am soooo used to them. But the good thing is they are much larger in the US. Good luck!
Dianne

**Kris B** · 01-23-2008, 01:18 PM

[QUOTE=CoCo;837343]
The only problem I have had with mine is , It gets smelly sometimes, at first I though water was not draining properly, but I ask another person who had one and she said I needed to clean under the door seal at least 2 times a month with some bleach water, dirty water collects in there that causes the smell. QUOTE]

I have a front loader and I love it too! The only time mine gets smelly is when someone closes the door after doing a load. I let the door stay open a crack to get the air in it because to me it just seems like it seals so well that it needs the door cracked to let the dampness out after a load.

Kris B

**Mom23boys** · 01-23-2008, 05:57 PM

I have a GE set and love it! The washer's spin cycle just about dries the clothes so if you use the dryer you don't have to have them in very long. I wouldn't trade another set for mine!

**KatieInLa2** · 01-23-2008, 07:22 PM

I have a bosch set and I love the way they clean my clothes. But I have had to put a new pump and seal in the washer that was very expensive, so you may want to consider getting the extended warranty. I leave the door open on my washer until it dries inside to prevent the odor problem.

When the repairman was here I asked him what was the best brand of washer/dryers and he said the whirlpool duets. He had a very low opinion of the bosch brand.

**eyrehead** · 01-25-2008, 06:15 PM

I have my Kenmore Elite set for a little over 6 years. I love mine. We did have to replace the drain pump on the washer last year, but that was because some mason's sand/tiny pebbles got through, and ruined it. We ordered the part through repairclinic.com and Brian replaced the part saving us a bundle of money. I too, leave the door open after I'm dong doing laundry for the day, so it can air out.

**Telephus44** · 01-26-2008, 10:42 AM

I used my in-law's Whirlpool Duet for about a year before we bought ours. I really didn't like the Whirlpool Duet - it smelled moldy, and the count down timer was way off - it always took about 5-6 minutes once the timer hit one minute remaining (we always called it "the longest minute" LOL). I also could never figure out how to use the add a garment feature - it would stop and lock up.

We purchased the He2T - and I love it! We always leave the door cracked a little and have never had any issues with a moldy smell (I suspect this was the problem with my inlaw's Duet - they always shut the door). I can work all of the control features without having to consult the book. The add a garment feature works. I also like the stain boost option - great for kids clothes. The model we got also has a soaking feature and a sanitary cycle, good for cloth diapers if you're using those. We paid about $1530 for the set on tax free weekend and got a $75 EnergyStar rebate as well. This is probably the best purchase that we have made since we've been married.

I would make sure that whatever model you get, you check on the recommended maintainance. We were looking at an LG model initially, but a big turn-off for us was that you were actually supposed to run a cycle and manually drain the water, and there was a lint filter that also had to be cleaned in the washer - on our Kenmore we just run a special "cleaning" cycle with bleach once a month.

**enkmom** · 01-26-2008, 11:17 AM

I got an He3 (Kenmore) for Christmas, and I am loving it! My advice to you is that if your dryer still works, keep it. The clothes come out of the washing machine with so much water already spun out that my old dryer takes almost no time to dry them. I expect my old dryer to last several more years - buying a new dryer just to match would have cost me $850.

I didn't buy the riser, either, and haven't had any problems. My mom, on the other hand, found it VERY uncomfortable to bend down to get the laundry out.

**Katybird** · 01-26-2008, 11:39 AM

This has been an enlightening thread. Thanks for starting it. We are also looking at purchasing a front loader soon so this has been great information for me also.

**Dolores** · 01-26-2008, 03:55 PM

After a lot of research, we bought a Frigidaire HE washer and Hotpoint dryer. If you do your homework, you will find that buying a matching set is rarely a good deal. The matching dryer to our washing was smaller and more expensive than the Hotpoint we purchased.

We bought ours at Lowe's using their card for free delivery, 0% apr and 10% off.

**KFinTX** · 01-26-2008, 04:03 PM

I have a Maytag Neptune w/d set that I bought 7 years ago. I love it. Not only do you save water & electricity, your clothes will come out cleaner AND last longer (since they aren't beaten to a pulp by an agitator). Enjoy your front-loader!