<p>My daughter and I both need new washing machines. I’ve re-read the washing machine thread and still don’t know what to buy. I lean toward the top loaders just because that’s what I’ve always had and I’m not really crazy about the idea of having to crouch down at a front loader. I’ve been considering the Maytag Bravos. Does anybody have this machine? Does anybody have a machine that they’re in LOVE with? I’ve obsessed so much over this decision that I’m about to explode. By the way, we need them ASAP!</p>
<p>I don’t know about Bravos, but we bought a mid-range Maytag top-loader 10-1/2 years ago and I could not possibly be happier. It holds a ton of clothes, gets them clean and it never breaks. Two thumbs up.</p>
<p>(We had similar experiences with our last washer, too, which was a Whirlpool.)</p>
<p>(This is a credible report, by the way. WashMom cooks, I do laundry.)</p>
<p>I’m so in love with my Miele frontloader washer that when the hated dishwasher croaked, H happily agreed to get a Milele one. Man, thse things do a great job and they are so silent! I hardly do any handwash these days since the Miele washer can handle anything from delicate lace to king-size comforters. The only bad thing about them is the price.</p>
<p>I didn’t think I would like my frontloading washer but it has grown on me; I like it.</p>
<p>I had an Asko W & D - had to renovate the laundry room to accomodate them as they went under the counter - they died within 5 years - nope - not under warranty - </p>
<p>now have Maytag neptune bought at HoemDepot or Lowe’s - very happy.</p>
<p>I’m sure I plugged mine on the other thread but I continue to love my Fisher Paykel. Three friends have bought them based on my recommendation and they are happy too.</p>
<p>I didn’t think we’d ever own Kenmore appliances again, but the Oasis high efficiency washer/dryer combo has been good. It’s a top loader using front loader cleaning principles. No center agitator, so bulky items load easily, low water and low detergent, and very high spin speeds which leaves clothes less damp.</p>
<p>Just went through this. Ended up buying a top loader mid range maytag. Looked long and hard at the front loaders but it takes a family of four 5 1/2 yrs to make up the difference in price. Some problems of front loaders I have read about: standing water in bottom of machine that causes mildew smell, long cycle times (some up to 100 min), difficulty getting replacement parts and knowlegeable repairmen, some don’t let you interrupt the cycle, just as many repair problems as regular machines. I also loathe the buttons you have to push instead of the mechanical dial (many complaints on these buttons and electronic boards not working for long).I had a dehumidifier w/these and they quit working in less than a year. I googled complaints/problems of front loaders and read a bunch.</p>
<p>Our first Kenmore washer/dryer combo lasted over 15 years. Dryer still functioned, but washer was on it’s last legs. We bought the Oasis high efficiency combo a couple of years ago. Like you I didn’t want a front loader, but did want something that was water efficient as we are on septic. I really like them. It’s especially nice to be able to wash a super large load of towels (D is a swimmer so we always have towels to wash). Our overstuffed king size comforter also fits in the washer (it’s a bit snug though) which is definitely preferable to taking it to a dry cleaner or laundromat.</p>
<p>Avoid Kenmore! They were wonderful, but now their service is horrible. I have a Kenmore that is about 7 years old - it randomly spews out dark brown junk that stains. I’ve had repairmen out several times to fix it to no available and several times they have simply never shown up. (Right now I’m taking stuff to the local wash/dry/fold which is nice if pricey.) I will get a good front loader - you can put them on a base to make loading and unloading easier. The Whirlpool Duet gets good marks from CR</p>
<p>cartera45, I have a fisher+paykel, too. I like it very much, except for the fact that when using bleach or liquid fabric softener it’s necessary to use the “softener rinse” option (I think that’s what it’s called) which uses more water and kind of defeats the low-water-use feature.</p>
<p>I would check out the Garden Web home site forums. There are some really hard core laundry people. Their recommendations run from the high end Miele’s to the Speed Queen, and everything in between. Look in the Laundry forum, not appliances, as that is for appliances other than laundry. Good luck.</p>
<p>silverlady - that’s a great forum. I consulted it when I bought my Fisher & Paykel and founds lots of good info. I was just reading it again the other day because it’s time for a dryer.</p>
<p>zipyourlips - I don’t ever use softener and rarely use bleach but when I have used the bleach, I didn’t use that cycle - never noticed a problem. I do tend to use more water than the machine calls for - I’m not a good environmentalist in that way. I have found that for a few bulky items, the machine is fooled a bit and doesn’t use enough water for my tastes so I use the manual setting then. A repairman told me once that not using enough water strains the motor more so he advised using the high water setting for bulky things.</p>
<p>Love my front-loader! It’s a Kenmore, nothing fancy. It uses less water and less hot water, it’s gentler on the clothes (no agitator grabbing the clothes), and when the clothes come out of it they are hardly wet - much dryer than they were coming out of my top-loader. Saves electricity on the dryer as well.</p>
<p>If you don’t want to bend over to load/unload it, you could do what my mom did: she bought a rolling stool to sit on as she loads/unloads hers. Nice and comfy.</p>
<p>I have the Sears Kenmore front loader and I completely love it. We bought the stand for it that has a drawer in it (which is where I sort socks) and I have never bent over. The large capacity definitely means fewer loads, which I LOVE. We bought the front-load dryer at the same time. Sears delivered it the next day and removed the old ones. They definitely use less detergent and water as well.</p>
<p>I bought a Whirlpool top loader this year and like it fine. It’s a bit noisy, but if I close the laundry room door, it’s not bothersome. I looked at the front loaders- I’m sure they’re great, but so expensive! Also, since my dryer has several good years left, I couldn’t justify a whole new set.<br>
It’s just the two of us most of the time, so laundry isn’t the issue it used to be with when we had our kids at home. I just didn’t want to spend the money.</p>
<p>We got the Bravos Washer and matching steam dryer in May and so far we LOVE IT! I was like you and wanted a front loader - but our laundry is on the second floor and we heard from a couple different sources that the vibration on the front loader would be too much. Also, our washer sits in a tray with a drain, to the RIGHT of the dryer. All the front loader door hinges are on the LEFT and are not adjustable (you can change the dryer door but not the washer), so it would have been a total pain to pull the clothes out of the washer and around the door to the dryer…</p>
<p>At any rate, it’s quiet as a mouse, uses little water, is gentle on the clothes, the steam dryer is GREAT at de-wrinkling things. We love the glass door on the top - shows how interesting our lives are, that we still are mesmerized watching the clothes spin!</p>
<p>We got it at Home Depot, there were lots of rebates so we feel that we got a pretty good deal.</p>
<p>We have a family of nine and are very happy with our mid-level Maytag toploader–never a problem.</p>
<p>My mom also had a family of nine–her Maytag just gave out after 32 years–She replaced it with another (used) Maytag toploader. She is so disappointed that they don’t make “suds-saver” anymore! I’m not sure why they don’t bring back the suds-saver with all the concern for saving water and putting less detergent into the water system–seems like it would be a big-seller now.</p>
<p>My twin sister (family of eight) bought a front loader last year and she doesn’t think it cleans as well (especially noticeable on whites) as her old top loader did.
I tried it when visiting her–the LONG cycle–more than twice as long as my top loader–is a real negative to me. Mom also said her friends complain about their front loaders not getting clothes as clean.</p>
<p>I had same Kenmore toploader for 20 years- lint problem but otherwise good-
by the way-they are supereasy to fix by a general handyman if you can find such a person- parts cheap- maybe you could get it
fixed? I bought a brand new washer recently - then my 20 yr old Kenmore dryer went and I asked a guy and he fixed it for very little- wish I had tried harder to get my washer fixed…</p>