The great washing machine debate

[CYdTracked]

avoid a front-load washer. As @CYdTracked mentioned, they trap mold and mildew that requires regular cleaning to manage.

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

No matter how dilligent you are cleaning that it still will never be the same than the day you bought it. We even ran the Tide washing machine cleaner through it regularly. The front loaders are just so poorly designed IMO, you can leave the door open to keep it dry and try to keep it clean but just so many nooks and crannies that seem to get mold and mildew in them no matter what. We had other issues with our Whirlpool front loader like some of the hoses and wires were poorly routed that eventually the vibrations of the machine would rub on them and cause the machine to not work properly. Even the people that came out to repair them would mention a lot of front loaders just aren't designed well and cause more issues than most top loaders do.

 

[1100011CS]

Another vote for Speed Queen. A few warnings: 1. be careful with delicate items. They can destroy them if you're not careful. 2. Use a low sudsing soap (H/E works good) or you'll have suds overflowing your drain. 3. They are definitely not high efficiency

 

[ImJustKCClone]

Wet clothes sitting in the washer for 8 hours.

Two to three days...nasty.

8 hours? meh.

 

[spierceisu]

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.

I bought our Speed Queen set at Archer 3 years ago. I have been happy with them. They clean really well and I can get a lot of laundry done in a hurry. I have had a board on the washer replaced shortly after buying it and had to replace a heating element (I did myself with a part off of amazon because Archer couldn't come for 3 weeks and I couldn't wait that long for not having a dryer), It seems like a lot of problems for not being that old, but were under warranty and these were floor models, so not sure if that factored into it. In general super happy with them, just surprised already had some issues. I only bought the floor models because we were moving into a house that didn't have a washer and dryer and it was the height of appliance shortages, so couldn't get anything for a long time without buying the floor model.

 

[mywayorcyway]

Front load washers make no sense to me. It's like putting the screw cap for a gallon of milk on the side of the container instead of the top.

 

[1100011CS]

Front load washers make no sense to me. It's like putting the screw cap for a gallon of milk on the side of the container instead of the top.

the only reason for them is to make loading/unloading easier for shorter people.

 

[matclone]

I asked the family expert, and she likes the front loaders (saves space) and Whirlpool (efficient, 11 years running).

 

[ScottyP]

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.

Front load or top load, I've been told to use powder detergent because of the reasons you mentioned. They said most of the newer machines don't get the water warm enough to break down the detergent very well.

 

[NorthCyd]

My parents ALWAYS bought Maytag appliances and loved them until the last 15 years or so. They have had a ton of problems with the latest ones they bought and swear they will never buy another Maytag appliance. I've never owned one so I wouldn't know myself.

Last home I was in we had an LG washer and drier. We liked them so much we got the same exact models when we built our new home.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

the only reason for them is to make loading/unloading easier for shorter people.

I'm 5'1" and have no trouble with large top loaders...

 

[cowgirl836]

I'm 5'1" and have no trouble with large top loaders...

When I was pregnant it would have been a no go

 

[FLYINGCYCLONE]

I think Speed Queen has the only stainless steel tube used in the washing machine. Also most of the controls are the old dials, no computer boards to go to pieces.

 

[Kinch]

We went with an LG, but would not have a problem with Speed Queen. We have a lot of mennonites and some home schoolers with large families in our area and it seems they love Speed Queen.

 

[BCClone]

Front load washers make no sense to me. It's like putting the screw cap for a gallon of milk on the side of the container instead of the top.

Hey funniest thing I ever saw in college was a dude take the milk bag out of its cage and try to put it in the milk machine. Dude kept trying to push the bag and slam the door shut really quick. He tried for 10-15 minutes and just could figure that bastard out. So sometimes you gotta put stuff in weird places for the stupid people.

 

[BCClone]

I'm 5'1" and have no trouble with large top loaders...

I’m 5 11 and have no trouble with large tops also.

 

[Bader]

I think Speed Queen has the only stainless steel tube used in the washing machine. Also most of the controls are the old dials, no computer boards to go to pieces.

There are knobs to select settings but it’s absolutely a computer underneath

 

[Candide]

We got the LG WashTower for our small laundry room and couldn't be happier. It has all the bells and whistles, but we really don't use any of them.

 

[BCClone]

Get this. Only need an hour to do a weeks worth.

 

[AgronAlum]

We’ve got a Maytag top loader that’s HE but actually still has the agitator inside. It’s going on 5 years now with a family of 5 and zero issues. I can’t even imagine how many loads have gone through it with how often the kids change clothes. I wanna say it was in that 600 dollar range.

 

[cstrunk]

I bought an Amana washer and dryer a little over a decade ago. Haven't had any issues with either of them until recently - I have a broken damper in my washer. Haven't fixed it yet... The last 10 or so loads have been awfully noisy! But it still works... On my list to fix soon.