Advice On Front-Load Washer

[trappn]

Hello Everyone,

We're finally going to add a front-load machine to our collection.

Pretty sure it will be the LG WM3900 TurboWash 360; however, better half is also considering the Electrolux EFLS627UTT. Any thoughts?

Deep discounts on the LG products right now, so it might make sense to try out the LG Sidekick as a pedestal for the extra-small loads. Any experience with the Sidekick?

Look forward to hearing from everyone. Thanks!

 

[askolover]

I've only had Miele and Asko and love them both.  DH and I were discussing a few days ago what we will do when the Miele dies..."whatever we have to do to get another Miele."

 

[easyspindry]

Mine is . . .

. . . a  Speed Queen front loader.  Great machine.  It does exactly what it's supposed to do and does it quietly.

 

Jerry Gay

 

[littlegreeny]

LG

Several family members have the LG 4370 sets, which are still available. They use the previous generation TurboWash with two jets. They also use a bit more water than the newer generation TurboWash 360 and are gentler on clothes than the new generation.

They have the Sidekick mini washer and both love it. It's great for small loads and delicates, and is very quiet.

The 4370 is made in Korea. The 3900 is assembled in the USA.

LG washers are very reliable and parts are readily available should something break. They are easily repairable too.

 

[agiflow3]

The Whirlpool WFW6620 I purchased last year is a really good washer also. I would highly recommend. Nice assortment of cycles and these new machines have a pump in them to spray water over the load as it tumbles.Very energy efficient also.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

kenmore/lg

My family has Kenmore elite and lg (same machine, different asthetics). They do a great job cleaning and drying and are made by the same company lg electronics. buttons are at the similar layout with the exception of the optins section, and the buttons are different. most of them are either rectangle or square. Both have circulation pumps. My Kenmore elite by lg has a more powerful spray than even my mom's washer with forced recirculation and roller jets. I like how it always reverts to the normal cycle when you first turn the power on and turn the dial so I don't have to spin it around trying to select normal.

 

[tomdawg]

So, is it better to buy the 4370 than the 3900? I’m working in a laundry room/ pantry remodel and will be buying one in a few months

 

[littlegreeny]

The 4370 is a higher-end model than the 3900. The 4370 has a drum light and has two delicate cycles--delicate and hand wash/wool. The 3900 has no drum light and only one standard delicate cycle, but it does have a sportswear cycle which the 4370 lacks. The 4370 is their previous generation so it doesn't have wifi but its control panel is easier to read...The new models do not have backlit control panels, so cycle modifiers are hard to see in low light conditions.

There will be a new version of the 4370 coming out sometime this summer. It will have TurboWash 360 and an auto dose system for detergent and fabric softener. It will also have artificial intelligence to sense fabric types and adjust the cycle accordingly. Model number of the updated version is WM4500.

LG INTRODUCES NEXT GENERATION OF LAUNDRY WITH NEW AI-POWERED WASHER | LG NEWSROOM

CES Innovation Award-Winning Washer Deploys AI and Advanced Fabric Care to Deliver Unrivaled Convenience, Performance and Speed LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2020 — At CES®, LG Electronics (LG) unveiled its adva

www.lgnewsroom.com

 

[agiflow3]

Wasn't there talk of LG offering new models with integrated SS baffles ? Something about them being hygenic? Would be nice if all the manufacturers did this.

 

[tomdawg]

Yeah, I would like a light in the washer. I like to see the action!
I guess I’m concerned about the artificial intelligence of fabric sense. What if I want an aggressive wash action and it senses it to less aggressive action? Maybe I have a problem with being in control of how the washer runs. Haha.
I did have a whirlpool duet with auto dose. It was nice, but it used way to much detergent. It would Suds lock on some loads. Maybe LG will do better?

Any one have AI LG’s in Europe and like them?

 

[appnut]

Tom, from what I have read, you can still override the auto sensing system and select your own cycles.  

 

[gelaundry4ever]

control panel, auto dose and cycle performance

What do the auto dose system look like? Also, how will it do on the normal cycle. Also, will the control panel be touch screen or push buttons? I am legally blind so I require a unit that has buttons I can feel.
As a sidenote, will there be a matching dryer? If so, which one?

 

[trappn]

Original Poster Here.......

Thanks to everyone for their input. Keep it coming.

No mention of the Electrolux, even though it seems to be at the top of most 2020 reviews. That tells us there may be some concern about the long-term reliability of the brand, within this community.

Would love to consider the 4370, but we're not finding any available.

A little concerned about the lack of a light & backlight on the 3900. Not exactly sure how much we would need a drum light, but a hard to read display would probably wear on us. We wonder if this is going to become an LG thing, across their product line? Probably too early to tell whether they will be omitted on the 4370 successor?

There again, Lorain's videos of the 3900 seems to suggest that most folks would enjoy this machine.

Lots of things to consider. We're still interested in hearing what you think.

Nick

 

[henene4]

Though I have an EU model

The AI DD won't run a cottons cycle on delicates or vise versa.
Changes tumbling speeds a little, changes tumbling pattern for soak and heating, changes wash time.
So nothing bad there so far.

My options are printed with LEDs beside them while my temp and spin speed are backlit.
As long as it's not pitch black I can still see everything perfectly.
The cycles were printed on since day one and one could read them perfectly even on the glass front panels.

The DC pumps are verry quiet and verry smooth in operation and - though not sure if they did so for the US - mine has a redone suspension and spins flawlessly without long balancing unless you wash a single pillow or the like.

 

[tomdawg]

Thank you henrik and others that replied

That helps out a lot, nice to know it doesn’t change the cycle completely- I can better understand how it works. Looking forward to the new LG’s coming out!

Yes the new LG’s that have been coming to the U.S. have dc pumps. I installed a 3700 once for a friend and thought the pump was broken. So quiet!

 

[henene4]

On ELux

These machines are verry nice as well. I do think their option selection is somewhat less intuitve, but their wash system is incredible in terms of performance.

Anything with a heater there will be verry nice too, the TOL 627 though has the most advanced wash system with a recirculation AND a pre-mix pump.

 

[littlegreeny]

Black Stainless 4370

Nick,

The black stainless version of the LG 4370 should still be available. I checked Best Buy and they had them in stock in IL. This is the version both my mother in law and sister in law have and they are beautiful machines. I believe it's real stainless steel. The model number is WM4370HKA.

The new version of this washer will have the integrated stainless baffles. Seems like LG is (almost) going all out on the new model. If they had a nice backlit panel and stainless outer tub, it would be a true top of the line machine.

As far as I can tell, all new LG FL models are going to a non-backlit panel which is causing a lot of complaints.

 

[trappn]

Thanks to Henrik, Littlegreeny,

.....and everyone else.

For a number of reasons, we've decided to narrow our search to the LG's.

The noisy Whirlpool TL/DD will move out. The 92-series Speed Queen will move over, then serve as life boat for a new LG TwinWash system. Not a bad back-up washer, eh?

There's a good chance we will wait for the 4500. I made the call on the Speed Queen. Better 1/2 gets final say on the front-loader; so, couple of more questions.

Anyone know how LG's new "Black Steel" color compares to the "Black Stainless Steel?" Littlegreeny showed me where to find a 4370, but black stainless steel SideKick not available.

Also, Littlegreeny's link implies that a SideKick would be included with the new 4500? What do you think about that?

Thanks for your help! Nick

 

[littlegreeny]

Costco

Nick,

Sounds like you have a nice laundry room. It looks like you can still buy the 4370 set with a Sidekick washer through Costco. If LG changed the name to black steel, then I would assume it's no longer real stainless. As far as I can tell, the 4370 was perhaps the only set with true stainless.

Nice thing about buying from Costco is they automatically double the manufacturer warranty and if you use Costco credit card, you'd get a four year warranty.

https://www.costco.com/lg-4.5cuft-u...r-and-storage-pedestal.product.100304113.html

https://www.costco.com/lg-4.5cuft-u...r-and-storage-pedestal.product.100304114.html

The prices you're seeing at Costco is for the four piece set which includes the Sidekick washer and storage pedestal.

The Sidekick is a cool little washer that you'd find will come in handy. All LG front load sets have the Sidekick option.