<p>“What do you think of steam? And LG in general?”</p>
<p>I love my front loader Steam LG…love it, love it. </p>
<p>There are two ways to use steam on my washer…as part of the washing process to remove stains, and also as just “steam” to quickly remove wrinkles w/o washing. If I have some wrinkled clothes (from a suitcase or whatever), I put it in the washer, select the feature that only emits steam, and the clothes toss in steam for about 15 minutes to dewrinkle them. </p>
<p>However, I would have been fine with the Whirlpool (or Kenmore version of the Whirlpool) as well.</p>
<p>I have no vibrating either. When the washer is delivered, have a level out and check in both directions to make sure the installer has leveled the feet.</p>
<p>My Frigidares (post 11 above) work so much better than the 30 year old washer and dryer that I am still amazed, years later. They clean better and dry better. No more overflow problems with the occasional blockage in the wash tub, a huge plus IMO. They have mechanical dials, which I prefer. I can stop the front loader washer to add more items. It just dribbles a bit on the floor, so I stick a towel under there before I open it.</p>
<p>If you really want an agitator you can buy a used machine. I sure do not miss the tangles that the agitator caused and the racket it made.</p>
<p>Are front load machines more or less expensive than top load machines? If a front load is more efficient in cleaning what are the drawbacks of a front load compared to a top load machine?</p>
<p>I honestly see no drawbacks to the front loaders and only advantages. One tiny issue is that you really have to bend over to get everything out of them. This can be solved by getting risers, but I have opted not to do that in this house. The risers are expensive and I’m fine with bending over. Sometimes I feel like half my body is in the dryer, though! We happen to have a small stool right by the units (it’s really for the cats to get on the counter for their food) which helps a lot.</p>
<p>I know not everyone feels this way, but I personally think it is irresponsible not to consider energy efficiency.</p>
<p>I love my HE top loader - - It’s a Maytag Bravos machine. I’ve had it for three years, and it has performed very well. Let me know if you have any specific questions.</p>
<p>Most front loaders (and top loaders) benefit from having the doors left open to reduce moisture (and thus mildew). For us, that is a drawback to the front loader as ours is behind bifold doors and those doors would also need to be left open if we wanted to leave the door to the washer open.</p>
<p>Also…how do you toss that extra sock that fell out of the laundry basket into an already filled front loader? I know that shouldn’t be a deal breaker, but…</p>
<p>The cost of front loaders has come down a lot. But the really good ones with extra features are more expensive than top loaders…at least that is what we have found.</p>
<p>Many friends have gotten the bases for those front loaders so you don’t have to lean over that much.</p>
<p>My front loader has a magnetic latch that doesn’t seal the door and lets the moisture evaporate but doesn’t need to stand open. It’s pretty much the same as being closed, but is not sealed and prevents that issue of the door flapping around open.</p>
<p>I bought a Samsung HE top loader at Christmas based on the good Consumer Reports reviews. It stopped working last week, eight months later.<br>
In trying to figure out how to troubleshoot the error code, I started reading all of the terrible reviews online by other people with the same issues this machine is having…not enough water to really clean, machine designed so that water level is not manually adjustable, terrible customer service and fragile electronics. The replacement will not be a similar machine.</p>
<p>We have a 20 year old Maytag washer and dryer. The owners of the appliance store told us to fix them as long as we could! This thread is convincing me that is the right thing to do!</p>
<p>Also…how do you toss that extra sock that fell out of the laundry basket into an already filled front loader? I know that shouldn’t be a deal breaker, but…</p>
<p>“already filled front loader” gives the impression that there’s a bunch of water in it. </p>
<p>I’m able to open my washer after it starts because the tub is tilted downwards so the water sits back there when I open the door. I press pause, the turning stops, the water settles down, the door unlocks, and I open it.</p>
<p>as for leaving the door open…I do leave my door ajar, but if I couldn’t, I would do what some others do and that’s keep a clean old dry cotton towel in the washer between uses to absorb any humidity/moisture.</p>
<p>However, many people with bifold doors, just keep the washer door open while the last drying cycle is going…and then close everything up at the end.</p>
<p>We had a Maytag Neptune from 2001 to 2005 when it died on us and required a crow bar to open (read ‘wax seal failure’). Thankfully we had a 5 year warranty (first and last time :)) and that got us a free Siemens front loader. Incredible, but lengthy wash cycles and far less beating on the clothes than a top loader. </p>
<p>A few years ago I heard horror stories from repairmen about some of the Korean brands only because there was no support network established… Now it’s OK i guess…</p>
<p>Our first front load washer was a Frigidaire that Lowe’s replaced after multiple service calls. The replacement was a Whirlpool Cabrio top loader (the kind with an impeller instead of an agitator) that we had for about six years; I was so happy to get rid of it. The Cabrio did a poor job of cleaning; it was noisy; and it twisted up bedsheets, jeans and other items. The dryer sensor never worked well, so I always had to add extra time.
When it needed service again after the extended warranty expired, I replaced that set with a very basic GE top loader with agitator and its companion dryer. The GE has its own peculiar noises, but once I got used to them they didn’t bother me nearly as much as the load airplane engine sound from the Whirlpool. </p>
<p>We have a second laundry space in an area that’s undergoing some repairs now. Once I’m finally rid of all the workmen, I’ll put a washer & dryer there for the first time and have an Electrolux front load pair with pedestals on order.</p>
<p>I leave the lid open on the top loader and plan to leave open the front loader’s door as well as wipe the door seal after the last wash of the day. We have a vent fan in that space which should help prevent any possible mold problems, too. </p>
<p>As far as getting laundry really clean I add Borax to any loads containing sheets, towels, socks & underwear, or clothes worn for gardening and other dirty work. It seems to really help.</p>
<p>I’ve had my Kenmore Elite top loader high efficiency washer for about 6 months and I LOVE it. I like that it’s easy to add a garment, and everything comes out clean. I hope it lasts.</p>
<p>We have a Maytag HE top loader and so far it’s been fine. Maybe I’m not as picky but my clothes seem clean. The only complaint I have is that the design of the machine allows for coins to fall under the tub and get sucked into the discharge pump and break it. We had the pump replaced once and quickly learned how to remove the tub to get the coins out before they caused a problem.</p>
<p>We had originally wanted to get a front loader, but there actually WAS a drawback for us. Our washer/dryer is on the second floor in our master bathroom. The washer sits on a tray (with a drain in the bottom, just in case) on the RIGHT hand side, adjacent to the wall where it is hooked to the water supply / drain. The dryer is on the left. The front load washers all had hinges on the LEFT side of the door, which would have forced us to lift the wet clothes up and over the door. The dryer door hinges can be reversed, but you can’t change the washer door hinge. Maybe we didn’t look hard enough, but that did it for us.</p>
<p>I am almost tempted to just go for an old fashioned agitator machine. It was what I was planning to do before I went to Lowes and discovered the new ones without the agitator. The salesman did say that people either love them or hate them. Seems like he was right.</p>
<p>And they are about half the price which would be a good thing as our water heater dies right before last pay day and now the washer died 3 days before this one. And I just got new glasses for the first time in 8 years. (which I can’t read my computer screen at work with)</p>
<p>“Also…how do you toss that extra sock that fell out of the laundry basket into an already filled front loader? I know that shouldn’t be a deal breaker, but…”</p>
<p>My front loader has a small “grace period” during which one can hit the pause button (machine pauses without pumping the water out), open the door, add the sock and hit the pause again to continue the washing. I thought about it - why is the “grace period” so short, just under a minute or so? Because after the start of the wash cycle, you would be adding a dirty piece to the load that has been through a part of the wash cycle, and the added piece may come out less clean than the rest of the load. My front loader uses so little water that theoretically the door could be open mid-cycle and nothing would spill! I love my Miele washer, but I know that the OP is looking for a less pricy option.</p>
<p>When a friend who grew up in overseas came to the US to do a postdoc and moved into her apartment, her reaction to the washer was priceless. “Wow, I’m supposed to wash my clothes in this gigantic meat grinder?!” :)</p>
<p>fyi, my HE top loader has the same “grace period”. There’s a light that says “add a garment”…you can pause the cycle to add that extra sock but you’re not supposed to add a garment after that light goes out (because it’s dirty)…</p>
<p>Being the rule follower that I am, I’ve never tried to add something after the light goes out, so I don’t know exactly what would happen. ;)</p>
<p>I love my Kenmore Elite Oasis top loader. Love it. Have had it for 3 1/2 years now. Only problem is the dh and kids leaving things in their pockets. Coins and small parts can get caught in the pump. It cleans lots of clothing well. I mean large loads of towels and big bedding. I do use the second rinse cycle on most loads though. Once in a blue moon I will find that it didn’t drain the items well. This happened recently with a large load of bathroom rugs. The thick foam ones. I just used the rinse cycle again and they were very dry. Also if you ever have stinky towels use vinegar on them. Those of use that have kids that swim will have some stinky towels that we don’t get to right away so just had a cup of vinegar to the water before washing. </p>
<p>I had a LE front loader that I threw out after only 3 years because it broke and I hated it so much that I didn’t bother to have it fixed.</p>