<p>Okay…the 15 year old Maytag washer is giving up…and my husband is actually in the mood to write a big check. Haven’t bought a washer and dryer in so long and they have changed so much…I need help!</p>
<p>DH wants to buy the LG front loaders on a pedestal (I believe merely because they are all ‘techy’ and have a Euro look). I’m leaning toward the Whirlpool Cabrio series because of the HUGE 4.5 cf washer capacity and the cost savings over an LG. (Cabrio washer is a toploader.) My sister has the LG washer/dryer and says they are fine, but the washer tends to get smelly and she has to run vinegar through it pretty frequently. I don’t DO smelly. Is it a frontloader thing?? Does anyone have experience with frontloaders?</p>
<p>I’m flexible on this…but if we are going to pay hundreds extra to look at a big honkin’ ‘wall’ of appliance, I really do not want to have to hold my nose.</p>
<p>Our 20 year old Maytag was about to pass on, so we got the Cabrio recently. No problems with strings stuck to the tub (someone posted this issue on CC) for us.</p>
<p>I have a Miele frontloader on a pedestal and haven’t had any issues with it being smelly! I think the key is leaving the door open between loads, which I’ve always done anyway, even with toploaders. I find a few big advantages with the frontloading machines: far less water and detergent used, large capacity, and probably the biggest advantage is that they are very gentle to your clothes and do a great job of getting them clean.</p>
<p>I’ve had a Kenmore front loader for several years, and I love it. I think it’s the HE3 or HE4. I echo alwaysamom’s comments on the minimal water and detergent use. When I switched to it from a top loader, the clothes were noticably cleaner. They also come out almost dry, and take less time in the dryer. The large capacity means that you can wash huge comforters.</p>
<p>I just bought a new gas dryer last week, when my 10-year-old dryer died. I don’t care about the washer and dryer matching. I bought an old-style Whirlpool dryer with large capacity and automatic sensing for $525 from a local appliance store. </p>
<p>If you’d like to read a lot of consumer opinion on washers and dryers, go to <a href=“http://www.thathomesite.com%5B/url%5D”>www.thathomesite.com</a>, and read the laundry forum.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link! I know the Cabrio uses the HE detergent and I think about 45% less water than a normal top loader, but I’m not sure it is as water efficient as the front loaders. (I guess I’m really attracted to the idea of doing all the towels in one load in that Cabrio 4.5 cf drum. I see, before my very eyes, my life opening up to a myriad of new non-laundry opportunities…lol! Like even MORE time on CC… )</p>
<p>But then the front loaders seem like they are the next big thing. And I like that the height hides all the ugly plugs and hookups. (Yes, I have feng-shui’d my laundry room.) I can get a 4.0 cf capacity in the LG which is almost as big. </p>
<p>I think it will all boil down to reliability in the end…and odor.</p>
<p>We have two smaller washer/dryer sets (one up, one down), a Bosch and an Asko. They stack in very little space and require no external venting (meaning no external vent to clog and start a fire). They use little water and tiny amounts of regular detergent. I can wash sweaters on the delicate cycle. They will grow mold if the door is not left open between loads.</p>
<p>i have the miele front loader. It doesn’t smell and I usually leave the door closed. In addition to what everyone else said about the advantages of front loading machines (less water, detergent, large comforters…) I like that the load is never unbalanced like in a top loader where you have to space the clothes around so that it doesn’t dance across the room making clunking noises.</p>
<p>I have a front loader (6 year old Maytag) and love it - less detergent, less water and it does a super job getting very dirty clothes clean (I have big boys who can find the big dirt). However, it does do that smelly thing that requires some regular attention as a bit of water gets left in the bottom, but the water at our place just gets funky if it sits around. I know, not a pleasant thought which is why we have a filter installed for drinking water. Anyway, I don’t mind the occasional maintenance because the results of the washer make up for it. Seriously reduces drying time, too.</p>
<p>My sis has a brand new front loader which apparently has addressed the lingering water factor. I think it might be the LG, but not sure. She is thrilled with it, her first front loader. </p>
<p>This is what I’ve come to - happiness is a nice washing machine! I’m sold on the front loader concept and would absolutely buy another one.</p>
<p>mobert, I’d forgotten the unbalanced loads with the regular washers! All those times that I had to re-distributed soaking wet, heavy garments and towels. </p>
<p>My laundry tip: white vinegar instead of fabric softener. My sons both have allergies, so fabric softener or dryer sheets are not used in our house. Vinegar removes all traces of detergent and leaves the clothes fresh and soft. And they don’t smell of vinegar.</p>
<p>I’ve got the front-loading Whirlpool Duet…LOVE 'em, but yes, you do have to leave the door open between loads, especially in the summer (I live where it gets very hot and humid). For those occasional times when I “forget” to take a load out, I re-wash with the Febreeze Odor Eliminator for laundry…it works great. The capacity is amazing, and it feels good to use so much less water.</p>
<p>I am the one who returned her top-loading Cabrio because the agitator caused problems. Some of the Cabrios don’t have them.</p>
<p>The Whirlpool Duet frontloader I bought turns out to be the “Sport” model which is why it wasn’t more expensive than the Cabrio. The Sport holds 3.3 cu ft instead of 3.7. At first I was bugged, but now we are happy.</p>
<p>The front loaders spin the clothes so much that the dryer cycle often takes less time than the washer cycle. My Duet has a Quick Wash that takes 28 minutes and does a great job with not-filthy stuff. The heavy duty cycle completely cleaned a beige skirt that was soaked with leaking take-out spaghetti grease. I like the fact that it uses 2/3 less water and still gets everything clean. On the permanent press cycle it rolls the clothes both ways before it stops and they don’t tangle or get extra wrinkled. </p>
<p>It seems like you can’t put much in but you learn that it compacts a lot once it is wet. I can put a traditional hamper size load in with no problem.</p>
<p>Get the drawer that goes underneath and lifts it higher.</p>
<p>I think I’m becoming sold on the front loader which will make my ‘boys’ happy. However, I still have a mental picture of my son hanging on both open doors swinging his legs…and the assorted repairs bills that will inevitably accompany this activity. (Yes, he was doing this in Bestbuy…buying appliances is boring. ) </p>
<p>Hopefully he will soon become too tall for this…</p>
<p>Also, IDmom. About 5 years ago, we replaced a dying Maytag w/ another Maytag top loader. I was TERRIBLY disappointed…the new one was extremely loud, and shook my entire house when it spun. Had 4 different repairmen come out, and finally Best Buy took it back under their lemon clause. That’s when I got the Whirlpool Duet (see my earlier post). I found out from the Maytag guys that Maytag changed their design…(cost cutting)…and the components that made my old Maytag be so sturdy are no longer part of their design. Ye, Gods! I’m turning into my mother being excited about household appliances. But, yes, I’d get the duet in a minute. We initially did not get the pedestal, but later added it…having the doors up higher makes a big difference.</p>
I think the key is leaving the door open between loads, which I’ve always done anyway, even with toploaders. I find a few big advantages with the frontloading machines: far less water and detergent used, large capacity, and probably the biggest advantage is that they are very gentle to your clothes and do a great job of getting them clean.</p>
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Ye, Gods! I’m turning into my mother being excited about household appliances. But, yes, I’d get the duet in a minute. We initially did not get the pedestal, but later added it…having the doors up higher makes a big difference.</p>