Let's talk washing machines.......

[Trax 2 Treadz]

So our friendly neighbour hood washing machine repair guy told us our 10 year old front load LG is about to chit the bed. It needs a new back bearing to the tune of $600.00 and a cold water valve which runs about $80.00 plus tax and labour fees. It makes no sense to fix this machine. Therefore we are looking for a new washer. We have looked at a furniture store downtown, Home Depot, Sears, The Bay, Leon's and Ashley's. I refuse to go to the Brick and have see about a bazillion washers today. Right now I am sooooo confused I don't know what I want. I thought I wanted to stick with the front load then I saw the new top loads without the agitators in them. Then I came home and read some online reviews about them and think that may not be what I want.



Looooooooong story short.......what do you have? What do like about it? What don't you like about it? If you were replacing your washing machine what would you get?

Jan

 

[MACHINE]

i got a maytag Bravo xl {top load |}washer /dryer so far so good HE

 

[zal]

We have a front load washer. I changed the rear bearing on it. It was a chore to do. Bearing on cost me about 30 bucks and I think I changed both of them. Would I do it again? Probably not. Paula doesn't like the front loads. Says it doesn't clean as good as our top load. Only benefit IMO is the fact you can add more laundry or a quilt in the washer. If they added a grease nipple to the bearings, they would last longer but I'm sure they know that. Once the bearing seizes up again, its out the door.

 

[the_real_wild1]

Had a set of front loads that we really liked. Sold the house with them. Had to buy a new set around christmas time and basically went with the same set but a top loading HE washer. I like this set even more. They will hold a crapload of clothes. Like about twice as much as the other set and do just as good of a job. They are samsung.

 

[mathrulz]

Still wouldn't go away from the top load with the agitator. I haven't seen anything wash as good as them yet. And I'm not a big fan of how the front load machines seem to hold so much water around the rubber seals by the door. They're always 'musty' sorta.

 

[MOMMA]

I had bad luck when I had a Front Load HE3T.. It was throwing Codes like a mofo.. The computer board was cheap and seriously flawed in design.. I washed many loads by hand. As I searched for solutions, I heard more and more horror stories. When it worked, I loved my washer and Dryer.. I loved the stacking option to save space.. I loved the sanitary cycle for doing bedding too.

I think I'd go front load again but maybe Samsung, like my friend Dean has. They're pretty sweet and seem to do a great job.

 

[kbrunlees]

Ever since we went with a front load my clothes have lasted longer, my work pants would last 6 months with a top load whereas with the front load, a G.E. pants lasted more than a year plus. I wear cotton as I can't stand polyester. as for cleaning i really don't find any difference.

 

[zal]

Front loads are a PITA to take apart and fix. Thats another reason why I like the top loads.

 

[gibsons]

we have a set of front load duets from sears, so far so good. been very happy with them.

 

[Sofa king]

Just replaced my 25 year old top load with front load with steam dryer. I'm not sure if the steam dryer was necessary but the front load washer works WAY better then my ancient old one. It's really great for carharts and bedding/towels plus it holds a ton of clothes and rinses really thoroughly. Now I just have to get used to all the weird noises it makes compared to the old school one.

 

[DaveB]

Still wouldn't go away from the top load with the agitator. I haven't seen anything wash as good as them yet. And I'm not a big fan of how the front load machines seem to hold so much water around the rubber seals by the door. They're always 'musty' sorta.

I agree. I have a LG front load (about 5 yrs old now) and although it works 'ok-ish' it won't take the gooood garage stains outta a pair of jeans like the old school top load that actually gets the clothes wet. Plus, if you don't leave the door open on the front load all the time, it gets musty. I understand the whole "HE" thing, but I believe that actually soaking the clothes in water and swishing them around works better.....

 

[imdoo'n]

I agree. I have a LG front load (about 5 yrs old now) and although it works 'ok-ish' it won't take the gooood garage stains outta a pair of jeans like the old school top load that actually gets the clothes wet. Plus, if you don't leave the door open on the front load all the time, it gets musty. I understand the whole "HE" thing, but I believe that actually soaking the clothes in water and swishing them around works better.....

thought you still used the ol wash board dave,

 

[ferniesnow]

Jan, we have replaced a 23 year old set of MayTags (that were flawless) with the MayTag Maxima's. All I can say is WOW!

The difference is amazing! Power consumption is down, water use is down, and the clothes are much cleaner not to mention the quiteness of the process.

My wife did a lot of research. She decided she didn't need the fancy steam, loved the thought of the machine being able to tell if the rinse water was clean enough, and so on. After we talked to many salesmen, Home DePot, Sears, Leon's, the Brick, Best Buy, and Ashley's it was Ashley's and the MayTags she decided on. A comment she heard from one of the salesmen (and you can take it as you like) was that the Samsung are great but the lower end ones not so great!

Yes, the MayTags are a little on the expensive side (we sort of believe that we get what we pay for), extra warranty we didn't get, do we expect them to last 23 years? Plain and simple, NO but we can hope! Ashley's were great and we had an excellent salesman. As we were comparing apples to apples (MayTag Maxima's at all those outlets), Ashley's was the cheapest. We found that it wass not cheaper in the USA for washers and dryers (just had to throw that in also).

One thing we noticed with most places was the fact that they did not have the units in stock. We had to wait for 7-10 days for them to be delivered and with a washer down that wasn't feasible. We fully intended to pick them up that day in Lethbridge but couldn't, so we arranged a pick-up in Calgary at the warehouse; a sixteen hour day but they were up and running the next day and the smile on my wife's face was, to say the least, "priceless!"

 

[sirkdev]

Ok heres a little tip for all you folks that I heard on the radio the other day. Do your whites with bleach first load and then your colors next load after your washer has been sitting for a while. No stanky.

 

[eclipse1966]

we went with front load Kenwood. We are very happy with them especially considering the amount of water they save compared to the top load (we have a Biocycle septic system and need to be cautious how much water we put thru it). Also, clothes dry faster in the drier as the top loads dont seem to remove as much water from the clothes.