<p>My old washer went out this year. I got a LG front loader at Home Depot for about $500 once you account for the gift card (for starting a credit card, which I immediately canceled), tax credits and rebates. I really like it, it uses much less detergent (you don’t have to use the special detergent, just much less of your usual kind), less water (it too weighs the load) and drys the clothes much more which reduces dryer time. It is gentler on clothes and has a great hand wash cycle. I think the tax rebates may end soon, so you might want to check into that.</p>
<p>As I continue to research machines, I have come into info about some front loaders having issues with mold(I guess since you can’t leave the door open to air dry like top loaders). Can anyone comment on this?</p>
<p>I ALWAYS leave the front door ajar when the washer is not in use. I am vigilant about this. No problems with mold.</p>
<p>I have had a Whirlpool frontloader for about a year. It works great! I do at least 20 loads per week and have never a problem with mold. The local appliance store I purchased the washer at suggested that an occasional load with bleach and leaving the door slightly open when not in use will avoid the mold problem that some people have had. Also, I use less water and less detergent.</p>
<p>Can anyone provide me with more info about the Bosch 500 series front loaders? I have read and been told some info about them and right now, it seems to be the frontrunner.</p>
<p>BunsenBurner- my mom has a Whirlpool top loader w/matching dryer–it is now almost 20 years old. She may have had the repairman at her house once-they just don’t make them like they used to!</p>
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<p>I am gobsmacked. I’m the laundry serf in our family, but I don’t think I’ve ever done more than eight – and that was when I’d skipped a week. We have a Maytag washer and dryer that we bought new in 1997. They rule.</p>
<p>How do you do 20 loads? Fourteen children? Do you wash for a whole football team?</p>
<p>I do a load of clothes a day (usually towels)-and on cleaning day, probably 5 or 6 loads. I would like something that can handle this, as well as blankets, jeans, etc. without flooding!</p>
<p>fyi - Most of the Sears Kenmore washing machines and dryers are made by Whirlpool. So are the Costco ‘Kirkland’ ones unless they’ve changed recently and so are a lot of other brands that don’t make their own appliances.</p>
<p>Paying a bunch of extra money on a washing machine usually pays for ‘features’ that just boil down to things like having 10 cycle choices rather than 3 or 4 although you’d probably only ever use the 3 or 4 so it doesn’t necessarily buy higher quality or cleaner clothes. There are some features that are probably worth it though like the moisture sensor on a dryer so it can shut off when the clothes are dry rather than just based on time.</p>
<p>Whirlpools are actually usually rated fairly highly and I’ve had reasonable luck with them. The few repairs that have been needed I’ve done myself so they were quite inexpensive.</p>
<p>We only have the top-loaders. They want a premium for front-loaders that IMO seems out of line with what you get. The water savings are generally insignificant in terms of cost - do the calcs. Nevertheless, the next time we need to buy new machines I’m pretty sure my W will want the front-loaders although this may be more due to the aesthetics than anything else.</p>
<p>We have the Whirlpool Duet set. I love them, but after the first year we began to get the dreaded mold in the gasket problem… smelly and gross. Another drawback is the little drawer-style place for putting in the detergent bleach and fabric softener… it gets messy and seems kind of flimsy. We can’t leave the door open all the time because our laundry room is also the only narrow pathway to the garage (only a man could have thought this was a good floor plan!) Now I have a great new burgler alarm - I leave it open at night if we’ve done laundry. If someone tries to get in that door they’ll make all kinds of noise!<br>
There is a benefit to front loaders other than water/detergent savings; they are much easier on your clothes.</p>
<p>UCetcDad: the savings in front loaders is partially in water but hugely in a) clothing wear and tear and b) dryer time/money.</p>
<p>^ Exactly! Instead of schlepping wet sweaters in a tub I’m reading posts on CC (with a glass of Yellow Tail in hand).</p>
<p>Now I do not feel so guilty about my fancy washer ;)</p>
<p>dmd and bunsen:</p>
<p>What you say about the wear makes sense given the mechanism. It probably doesn’t make much difference with the type of clothing I wear but I guess it could with the clothing of the females of the house. </p>
<p>Why would it make a difference on drying time?</p>
<p>Front loaders spin at faster rpms - regular wash clothes come out nearly dry. Of course, I still have to spread my “cashmere” 
sweaters on towels to dry.</p>
<p>Females have weirdest clothes, don’t they?</p>
<p>I still have the Sears dryer, the brother of the deceased washer, and it has the stupid moisture sensor - I am not a fan of that feature.</p>
<p>Family of 9-- I have a middle-of-the road Maytag top loader. Never a problem. I am very conservative on water (septic) and energy–I only do 4-6 super-large loads a week. </p>
<p>Mom had “laundry for 9,” too. Her Maytag is over 30 yo and still going strong-- no repairs yet.</p>
<p>UCetcDad… as BunsenBurner said, the amount of water spun out by a front loader is far in excess of that spun out by a top loader. I’m not sure if that’s a fundamental limitation of front loader technology, or just a difference in design. I find many things do not need to go into the dryer at all.</p>
<p>I would LOVE to get a new front loading washer, and dryer to match. BUT until my current Maytag dies, I’m not buying anything. Two kids in college= no funds to replace appliances that are working. Everyday I pray to the Appliance Gods to keep all of my appliances working just until my kids graduate from college. We bought all of our appliances 13 years ago when we built our house (oh…bad number) so when they go, they will probably all go together.</p>
<p>If you want the advantages of a front loader in a top loader though, you really should consider the Fisher & Paykel - the agitator is different and is much easier on clothes, uses very little water and spins like no other machine I have seen. I bought it mainly because of reliability and I like that it has a stainless tub. When I bought a new dishwasher, I asked the installer which washing maching was the most reliable and he said the F&P hands down. He didn’t recommend spending so much on a Bosch.</p>
<p>I’ve had the top of the line super capacity Kenmore top loader for a number of years. I like it for its capacity (it also fits a king sized comforter) and it’s very quiet, however even as a top loader, it’s prone to mildew (and I do use bleach and leave open) and once in a blue moon it is rough on an item of clothing. I’m planning to replace it at some point, so reading this thread with interest. This is going to sound dumb, but does the height of the frontloading machines bother anyone at all? I’m used to taking clothes out of the dryer and doing some folding on top of the machines.</p>
<p>Roshke, I think the height depends on whether you purchase the additional storage unit that fits under the machines. I may be wrong, but I think this adds more height to the machines.</p>
<p>^^^ Right - I get the feeling that the pedestal base shown on most of these machines is also to reduce the need to bend down, so it may be one issue if you do opt for that base and another if you don’t.</p>