If you had to choose...

[aubrey]

What front load washing machine would you choose that was available right now but only as brand new? I've heard great things from many different brands such as Miele, Speed Queen, Bosch, Electrolux, and even LG. I already have a Speed Queen top loader that I love and works great. I want to buy an additional washer that's front loading. Big family, lots of clothes and bedding and bulky things. Would love to here all of your input. Thanks for the help!

 

[qsd-dan]

Miele, if you can afford it. LG with turbowash, if you can't.

 

[chachp]

Miele

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Gets my vote.  I love mine.</span>

 

[aubrey]

Thanks! Do the Miele's hold up well? Even the new ones? Do you have a specific model that you like the most?

 

[lakewebsterkid]

LG manufactured Kenmore 41982

Just purchased it within the last month. Loving it despite the learning curve. I recommend trying to get your hands on one! Of course Miele is great too!

 

[appnut]

Erinn, what types of things are you wanting to wash that don't fit in the SQ TLer? That would give me an idea of the volume you need. The SQ FLer volume is 3.5 cu. ft. My current Whirlpool Duet is 4.3-4.5 cu. ft. I have a very thick queen size bed spread and it fits in just barely. I used to have a 3.0 cu. ft. direct drive Lady Kenmore and with me adding extra water all the way to the top of the tub, it really didn't move much. I had to stuff it n the washer.

Otherwise a 5.0 or 5.2 cu. ft. LG with Turbo Wash 360.

 

[aubrey]

Primarily big blankets and our king bed duvet/cover/sheets. But I also like that front loaders wash more delicately for when you need to wash certain items more gently. So overall we need a tub that's a bit bigger than our Speed Queen.

 

[appnut]

Given that, one of the jumbo 5.0 cu. ft. or more LGs would be a good fit. The Kenmore suggested above is getting very rare as it's showing up out of stock. Sears began selling it December 2016. I imagine Sears will be updating their LG-produced Kenmore Elites.

 

[aubrey]

Thank you for the helpful advice!

 

[vacerator]

The tub bearings

only last the 20 years on the most expensive Miele's. Otherwise they are as durable as a Samsung or an LG. That Miele will set you back about $4,000.00 U.S.

 

[tomdawg]

I agree with appnut

With your speed Queen being smaller, Miele are smaller front loaders when you are comparing cu ft.. however I’ve heard you can get a lot in there and it will clean well.

LG will do well with your big bulky items- with turbo wash, the jets will help saturate the load well.

I have a 4.5 cu ft lg washer and I am able to put my big fluffy king size comforter in it. It’s full, but with turbo wash, it has no problem getting it clean.

 

[eurekastar]

If you want something that will wash bulky comforters, go with the LG's 4.5 cf tub or larger with Turbo Wash.

 

[panasonicvac]

We have an LG WM8100 that was bought new last year. I like using it, it's been quite nice so far. However I were to buy a front load washer and dryer again today, this time I would get the Speed Queen FR7.



https://speedqueen.com/why-a-speed-queen-front-load-washer-is-right-for-you/

 

[combo52]

Best 2nd Washer For You

Hi Erinn, I would get a Speed Queen FL machine, you all ready have the best  current TL option why not get the best FL washer EVER sold for homes in the United States.

 

The SQ will let you wash King Sized conformers easily, yes there are even bigger FL washers out there but you can not fill them up like the SQ and have them last very long.

 

 

I got a new SS SQ FL washer last November and love it, the only problem is not being able to generate enough laundry to fill it very often.

 

John L.

 

[cfz2882]

reply 13 is a good answer...

...for reasons of "coolness"quality and utility.If a used large FL is something you would consider,and you can do DIY repairs on an old machine,I have had very good luck and results with a 2001 vintage KM HE3/WP Duet.

 

[gansky1]

Speed Queen front-loader, hands down the best built washer on the market now.  

 

[aubrey]

The Speed Queen FL has me very convinced! And nothing better than having a matching Speed Queen FL and TL and dryer as well! The only thing I wish it had was an internal water heater, but my water gets close to 140F and have been getting clean just fine without scorching temps. While the tub sizes of the LGs are very tempting, I do love a simple but superior quality machine that will last for a long time.

 

[panasonicvac]

I've used the steam setting on our LG a few times, I honestly didn't find much of a difference between that and having straight hot water coming from our hot water tank. Plus I think it's just an extra thing that could break in the washer from over time, that's one of the reasons why I would recommend SQ over LG.

 

[bradfordwhite]

about $800

Is there some reason not to consider a Duet?

 

[bradfordwhite]

or

the Amana Version ?

 

[bradfordwhite]

Would you get a matching pair or are we talking just washers?

---

Cfz2882/ Brendan - no used items. The rules as stated in the opening statement were that it had to be a NEW machine. Those of us who are thrifty, practical, and can make repairs are apparently damned.

 

[appnut]

The Amana version doesn't have an onboard heater, among other shortcomings.

 

[bradfordwhite]

did I miss a zoom meeting on this?

What are we doing with an on-board heater? Is that a thing now?

This is the U.S. not an EU country.

 

[aubrey]

Yes as much as I like to think I am thrifty and practical, I did say NEW because I cannot repair washing machines. Unfortunately I have no experience whatsoever. So as much as I would like to find the best old school washing machines that still kick butt to this day, with proper maintenance and DIY repairs, I just can't do it. And my location prevents me from finding really awesome stuff like that anyway. (I live in the middle of nowhere). So naturally my best option was to find something new AND reliable.

Also bradfordwhite to answer your other questions, I'm just looking for a second washing machine. And I only mentioned these brands of FLs because I've heard great things about them. I have no clue about the quality and efficacy of Amana or Whirlpool.

And the on-board water heater is-for me just an added luxury for truly cleaning/sanitizing things without the need for any bleach. (I'm not against bleach or anything but would be nice to have the option to use heat to sanitize if I wanted to).

 

[bradfordwhite]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with asking the question you did Aubrey. The more specific the better. If steam will work better than or equal to bleach than yes, that's a good thing.

I did not see the note about the internal water heater.

Bob is there with the facts and I so appreciate that. He updated me in another thread about Maytag Fabric-matic washers earlier today, Thank-you.

I've heard of the steam washers and dryers but never used. I will need to get up to date on that.

That being said: I'm partial to the Duet mainly because that's what I've always had. And the new one above has a removable drawer where one can access the pump filter which was my only real complaint in the past.

However, Bob is going to tell us about the other "shortcomings" and he will be correct and won't even be smug about it. Bob why are you GOALS?

 

[appnut]

Well, having lived with my Duet 9 years and 3 months featuring stain treat, steam, Allergy, and Sanitize cycles, I have come accustomed to NOT having to use LCB, I no longer have to search each garment for stains and treat said stains (which usually took me the time the DD LK completed a cycle). My first FLer was a Frigidaire without a heater. I have an all-electric house and it gets so expensive to have that set above 120-125F at the most. The Frigidaire didn't deal with stained aundry much better than the DD top loader. Now, I've enjoyed the "luxury" of selecting cycles and options that effectively deal with a variety and types of stains that when needed can heat gradually from lukewarm to Hot, Allergy, and Sanitize temperatures. I'm still trying to wrap my head around not being able to deal with my very difficult stains and having a washer that doesn't have an onboard heater. To me, it's uncivilized. I'd hate to spend $2000 for a Speed Queen front loader and end up miserable because it won't effectively deal with my stains and sanitize items when appropriate. And I don't believe garments can be "sanitized with Oxi". Laundry cannot always be done via wham bamb thank you mayam speed. If I had to resort to soaking, I'd much rather have a machine that was maintaining or increasing water temperatures and tumbling than just sitting and soaking (been there done that for 25 years. to put it bluntly, have someone from Speed Queen get their butt down here to my house with their front loader and prove me 1000% wrong with the constraints/guidelines of my life/laundry. I don't experience any "stink", smell, odor that I hear people complaining about with their HE washer. But then again, I don't wash in cold water. I wash with top notch detergents and select wash times and temperatures appropriate. I've used my "Normal" (energy star certified cycle) and opted for hot water and normal soil level. This is the only cycle that I smell a dirty laundry smell coming out of the vents in the back of the washer during the spin after the wash cycle. I've even checked fabric temperature after wash water drains. IN the 10-12 minutes of wash for this cycle, garments are tepid temperature at best. I don't experience this issue when I use cycles with heater maintaining water temperature and similar 10-12 minute wash.

 

[aubrey]

I'm curious about the Duet you mentioned. What are your thoughts on it?

 

[appnut]

Whirlpool no longer uses Duet as a brand name for their front loaders. I still personally think they are the only front loader with the degree of flexibility of fabric/garment cycles coupled with being able to select steam and or sanitize with all those fabric cycles. 60 years ago I learned to do laundry the Whirlpool/Kenmore way. Fabrics deserve the appropriate cycle for regular, wrinkle free (wash & wear) and delicates with agitation (tumble) and spin speeds as appropriate, along with flexible water temps. The Duet I bought at the end of November 2011 met those needs. I'm extremely picky about doing laundry. Unless SQ could prove me wrong, having a SQ would be like going back to my old Frigidaire, but better quality. I always select cycles whereby the onboard heater is used. Generally delicates don't need it, but I have had times where I've still needed it for those garments and selected a cycle with a mediu9m speed tumble pattern. Like a pair of tan kakhis that had a significant blood stain that sat for 2 weeks. Tide with bleach alternative and stain treat with steam, and warm wash temp the stain was totally removed. Similar results with cloth napkins and kitchen cleaning rags, but selecting stain treat and sanitize temp--heating from luke warm to extra hot by the time it gets through steam phase.

 

[aubrey]

Very informative appnut, you have me wondering.. is there ANY front loader you would recommend that is brand new on the market right now that would live up tp your expectations??

 

[appnut]

Whirlpool WFW8620 and the LG WM4200 or WM4500. I have a sneaky suspicion Whirlpool may be updating their product line sometime this year. the Whirlpools were brought to market November/December 2018.