The great washing machine debate

mustangcy

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Apr 11, 2006
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We've got Maytag and love them. Samsung is the brand you will constantly hear to stay away from. I've never had Samsung but 5 minutes of research online will tell you that.
 

ScottyP

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If you regularly work or play in a way that your clothes actually get dirty, I think Speed Queen is the way to go. Every farmer, mechanic, etc I know that has them says they are amazing.

We have an LG front loader that's almost 10 years old and, knock on wood, has been reliable. It definitely struggles getting things as clean during the parts of the years that I'm in the field but that seems to be the nature of HE machines. Never had the mold issues others mention, but we leave the detergent drawer and the door open whenever it's not being used. I've been told that getting somebody to work on them if needed is next to impossible though.

Not sure if the agitator-less top loads have improved, but they used to be absolutely awful.
My aunt and uncle ended up buying a speed queen washer because their HE washer couldn't clean my uncle's farm clothes.

I have a Maytag Centennial washer and dryer set. The washer is a basic HE top-load. When I had my dryer vents cleaned a month ago, the company I used also repairs dryers. They said that the Maytag Centennial dryers are some of the best and they hardly have any issues with them.

If you don't go with Speed Queen, Maytag is probably your best bet.

Avoid Samsung and LG because not all appliance repair places can fix them or find parts.
 
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viking63

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Aug 28, 2010
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Wife and I purchased new Maytag Bravo XL MCT model MVWB835DW0 HE top loader with matching dryer about 7 years ago. Not a single problem yet. Only complaint is that if the clothes are not distributed evenly in the washer drum the spin cycle does not remove water efficiently. Have to redistribute and run another spin cycle.
 

Stewo

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Oct 29, 2008
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Appreciate the responses so far. I should have mentioned that we're not interested in front loading washers due to the never ending molding issues. At this point, it seems as though Speed Queen and the Maytag's still lead the way. I do like LG stuff, too, so I'll probably need to check into them a bit more.
 

Pat

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The top TEN washers in Consumer Reports are all LG. IMO Maytag is coasting on reputation at this point.
 
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BillBrasky4Cy

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We've got Maytag and love them. Samsung is the brand you will constantly hear to stay away from. I've never had Samsung but 5 minutes of research online will tell you that.

We bought a Samsung washer and dryer about 7 years ago. The first washer crapped the bed after 2 months and had to be replaced. Getting it replaced was a freaking nightmare. Since it was still under the manufacturers warranty Nebraska Furniture Mart had me work through Samsung as their hands were kind of tied. I spent DAYS going back and forth between reps and they wouldn't just replace the unit, they were going to send me a gift card for the amount I purchased it for. The unit we bought was on sale and it had actually just gotten discontinued so there was no way I could get the replacement unit for the same price. Finally NFM hooked me up with the washer and they were like "we will figure it out with Samsung" because we had been without a washer for over 2 weeks. Our Samsung dryer hasn't been any better. I've had to replace the heat element at least 4 times now. Fortunately I can do i t myself otherwise the repair bills would have been huge. DON'T buy a Samsung! 1.) they are garbage and 2.) good luck finding someone to work on them. Our first washer was repairable but there weren't any authorized repair companies in the Des Moines metro.
 
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cowgirl836

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Have had a maytag front load set for 8 yrs now no issue, no mold. I've heard if you use liquid detergent the animal fat is what causes mold. We use powder and never an issue and we were cloth diapering for a year too.
 

wxman1

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We have mixed feelings about our Samsung Washer/dryer. I like the top load of the washer, it just becomes unbalanced a lot. The dryer seems loud and obnoxious. Outside of that stuff has held up so far.
Might try looking at replacing the dampers. Basically they are the things that support the tub and keep it in balance. Very easy fix with parts readily available and YouTube videos to show how to do it.
 

MeanDean

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All those blinged out stainless steel front loaders have always struck me as one of the more colossal wastes of money out there. We have an old school top loader Whirlpool with matching dryer that were half the price and have had zero issues. I just wish they still came in avocado.
And don't those also require you to purchase the base thingie separately? At a significant price? Like buying a new car and tires sold separately.
 

NickTheGreat

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I am a member of Team Speed Queen. We've had our about 5 years and it works great. Nothing fancy, but it does wash your clothes.

I thought I'd heard the prices of them had gone up a lot (compared to others) and the quality down. But I'm not in the market, so I don't know.

At the time we got ours, the dealer (Archer) said they sold more Speed Queens than the other brands combined. Or something bonkers like that.
 

BryceC

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Don't buy a front load washer. Don't care what people say, they are a PITA to keep from some kind of mold or mildew buildup even if you leave the door open when not in use and regularly clean it. The last one we had didn't last long either, so poorly designed seemed like something was always breaking on it and finally just replaced it after the warranty expired and the repair was going not going to be worth the cost.

I just thoroughly cleaned that ring in my front load washer and was effing disgusting. Never again.
 
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4theCYcle

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Jul 14, 2013
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Might try looking at replacing the dampers. Basically they are the things that support the tub and keep it in balance. Very easy fix with parts readily available and YouTube videos to show how to do it.
Well they aren't very old and it is more obvious with washing blankets and towels how it can happen. But thanks for the tip.
 

CtownCyclone

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Bought a Maytag top load set about 8 months ago. Thought I was going to get a Speed Queen, but opted for the larger tub.

The sales guy was kind of trying to push me towards a front loader, since that's what he had and liked it ok. I then asked him which ones must of the staff had. He pointed me to the Maytag.