Is there any kind of consensus on what the most reliable FL washer is today?

[Caruso]

Hi all, my family (wife, one year old baby, one dog) will be buying our first washer and dryer soon. We can't decide between getting a Speed Queen TL or one of a million different front loaders out there. For top loaders, it seems the SQ is a very, very safe bet. For front loaders though, the choices seem endless and I can't find one or two or three that are heads and shoulders above the rest in terms of online reviews and feedback.

Our budget for both washer and dryer is no more than $2,000. Our last two homes had washer/dryers in place already, both TL and FL, and we were fine with both types. We are not especially picky or knowledgable about this stuff, and just want something that is a good value and reliable for the long term. Any advice?

 

[midcentnurse]

My 3 cents, LG has shown to be a very high quality machine in construction, materials, design, value, and of course cleaning ability. If you don't try to out smart the machines cycles and let it work the way it was designed to work, it cleans amazingly well.

Yes I run the sink next to it to flush the cold water in the hot tap, I use a scoop of baking soda in the prewash cup, without the prewash cycle, the proper amount of detergent by the cup's measurement and usually add a second rinse with a single or maybe double upgrade on soil level. 2 tablespoons of bleach for whites in the bleach dispenser is all it needs to clean unbelievably well.

I didn't spend any more than I had to and bought the more basic model for about $600. It's missing the chrome trim and steam cycle which would probably be nice to have but it's no different inside (are any of us?!)
Hope this review helps, and remember some Kenmores are made by LG and Samsung is the same company.

 

[midcentnurse]

Ps it usually doesn't make nearly that many suds and I usually use warm/cold temps.

 

[combo52]

Most Reliable Front Load Washer

Get a SQ FL washer PERIOD, and get a good used dryer [ hopefully gas ] if you don't want to go over budget.

 

John L.

 

[dascot]

Samsung and LG are rival companies, not the same one.

The UK and European markets are very different to the US one, though you will generally find that Electrolux group machines are seen as being pretty reliable, as are Bosch. LG tend to come out slightly behind them in reliability surveys, but only a couple of points.

SQ seem to be built to last - keeping it pretty simple and hard wearing. That's not to say people still don't have problems - after all even the best companies can produce the odd bad machine.

I'd recommend setting out your "must have" things, defining your budget and seeing what falls into both those categories. With a small kid and a dog, I'd definitely recommend getting one with a heater. You potentially don't need the massive capacity of some machines, but that's up to you if you'd prefer to pay more to get bigger capacity, or get smaller capacity and use the laundrette occasionally for the likes of big duvets etc.

You should be able to get a Euro-sized Bosch or Electrolux set for your budget.

 

[Caruso]

We hadn't considered an SQ FL because the price seemed prohibitive, but as a (hopefully) one time expenditure for 10 years, could be worth it I suppose. Hadn't thought about buying a used dryer either, and will probably irrationally reject that option. Unfortunately we are limited to electric for dryers. Would spending $900 on a SQ electric dryer be a waste of money? I know it's silly, but seems weird to have different brands or even different lines/vintages of washer and dryer - that too is irrational I guess.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Why I need to consider Today's HEFL Washin' Machines

I'm more and more thinking of getting one of these fancy front loaders,myself...

 

I'm satisfied w/ my '90's K-M Top Loader, but get a little lost when I have to wash blankets, towels and bed sheets, if for no reason than to see what will fit & stay balanced...

 

Front-loaders are a lot less fussy w/ unbalanced loads & it's very rare for them to really occur...  And rising water costs (let's face it--water shortages, too!) constitute a machine that can wash more & in terms of water usage, wash with less...

 

And another thing is capacity & how well the washer can treat our mattress pad, which is really long-overdue for getting replaced but it along w/ a few blankets and bed spreads, have a few holes punched in them from our top loader, that even one of these literally fill the entire tub of... (And much of it remains over the top of the agitator throughout the washing cycle, so I experience a rather dubious, if not late roll-over, from the albeit over-worked agitation...)

 

 

-- Dave

[this post was last edited: 7/4/2015-21:30]

 

[appnut]

My suggestion is a SQ front loader and a Whirlpool or Maytag dryer that has the lint trap access on top of the dryer (and not inside the door) and also has electronic sensor (Maytag's is IntelliDry). Those dryrs are the design that's been around since mid-1960's. 

 

[launderess]

Front-loaders are a lot less fussy w/ unbalanced loads .....

Well yes and no.

Much depends upon the washer in question in particular build quality and how it has been programmed (for partially and or fully electronically controlled) to deal with out of balance loads.

My older electronically controlled but with a mechanical timer will try to adjust unbalanced loads to a point, however when the timer says it is time to spin that is what the machine will do banging and clanging away. Since one is never far from the machine when in operation am there to stop and sort the machine out.

The newer AEG is totally computer controlled and will deal with unbalanced loads in a variety of methods. These range from not spinning, slowing down the spin, aborting a spin and then attempting to redistribute the load...

Problem many complained about with early SQ front loaders was the vibration and other problems as a result of unbalanced spins. Alliance IIRC basically took their quasi-commercial OPL laundry machine and resold it for domestic use. However those machines are happiest on rock solid flooring. Anything less and there maybe objections from the washer such as vibration issues and so forth.

Large bulky items such as some types of blankets, duvets, pillows, and so forth can either be fine in some front loaders or cause all sorts of issues. I no longer even try to do heavy cotton Peacock Alley cotton blankets in my Miele. They always ball up and or create a mass that sends the machine into a "bang" as it starts spinning. Either do them in the AEG, take to the Laundromat or simply wash in the Miele without interim or final extraction. For the last bit sopping wet blanket taken into a tub and put through the mangle.

 

[ea56]

I purchased an LG WM3170CW approx 6 weeks ago,it is very similar to the LG FL in Midcentury Nurses post. I totally agree with what he has to say in his post. I've found that it cleans very well, uses much less water than the GE TL that it replaced. It does take a little longer to wash, but this is more than made up in the decreased dry time, Also, our electric bill was $26.00 less this last bill than for the same time period last year. I wash almost every load on Hot. I have washed our king size down comforter, king size quilted bedspread, 2 king size pillows at once and the king size mattress pad using the bulky cycle, all with no problems. So far I'm very happy with this purchase. Over the last 45 years I've owned every type of washer, wringer, twin tub, portable TL, full size TL and FL's. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. I would make my choice based upon what your needs are at the time and what you are willing to, or can pay.

 

[launderess]

Pets and their hair

You may find some front-loading washing machines not best for removing dog or cat hair. This may or may not be a bother especially if you tumble dry things afterwards, but that still will leave you with a washer that needs cleaning out.

Even commercial front-loaders in Laundromats aren't that much better. Have seen either service wash or persons doing their own loads with pet hair sodden laundry. The tub and glass porthole is always covered in hair afterwards. Worse you can see all that hair when the next load is being done covering the glass and clothing.

The attendant if he is in the mood will run a cycle to clean out the washer after doing a service wash full of pet hair.

 

[frigilux]

Maytag MHW5100 and its companion dryer should come in at around $2,000. You can also mate it with the model 3100 dryer which is less expensive. 4.5 cu.ft. capacity will handle king-size comforter. The washer has an internal water heater and a sanitize cycle for times when truly hot water is required. Cleaning performance rated excellent by Consumer Reports. Made in the USA. Reliable.

 

[henene4]

Only downside about those Maytags is the even longer wash time on some cycles. I think, Reviewed clocked the PowerWash cycle at 2:03h. That is about usual for n EU machine, but pretty darn long for the US. However it seems to be the best cleaning cycle.

It is indeed a hard choice about FLs by now. Quality seems to increase again overall, and the offers get closer and closer.

With a dog, there are some things one dosen't think of at first.
To remove pet hair, a lot of water flow is needed. Thus a recirculation spray like E-Lux and in respect Frigidaire as well as LG have might turn out to be helpfull. In that matter, LG offeres a water plus option and the option to add 3 addittional rinses onto most cycles.

Further, one knows that hairs (no matter of which species) tend to clogg drains. Same can go for washer pumps. LG is one of the few to offer a pump filter acessible by the user.
So, if the hair blocks the pump after a few years of use, you just darin the water and remove the blockage. A bit of a mess, but your washer is ready to go again in less then 30 minutes.
On the Maytag, your laundry would be locked in the drum with no way for you to drain the water. You'd have to eiter call for service or open up the machine your self. Makes even more work and mess and eventually service costs.

But, then again, LGs are known for balancing issues. The cycles all do not include more then 5 minutes of balancing time. If you wash a dog bed for example (of course, one should either wash 2 at a time or add some towels to aid distribution), a 1h cycle can extend it self by up to 1h on top, if balancing is really bad.

Elux machines have a big spectrum of advantages. They offer lots of cycle (which, if you use them, can really help; for example, their TOL machines have a dog bed cycle), can add a heat boost to any cycle, offer as one of few last even a warm rinse, and are average for balancing, though they claim to be the most silent washer on the market (or something like that). They are the highest rated dryeres by reviewed.com.
However, they are expensive and there seems to be a bit of uncertanty about reliability.

Samsungs generally are problematic about water temperatures (probably the most dumbed down brand) and service seems to be a problem as well.

 

[washerdude]

We have the WFW72HEDW which has worked wonders for us. We have washed all our comforters and they all come out clean. The Eco sanitize with oxi i find works the best with comforters as it fills with hot water (no dumbing down) and offers higher water levels as the cycle continues throughout the main wash. It also thrashes the comforter around with no issue, like you would see in a laundromat washer. This washer also offers 2 rinses on ALL cycles (but i think that's common now). One rinse is the bleach rinse if added any, if not then it's just the first rinse. Then the second rinse is where it fills up the most. Even on the normal cycle, the final rinse fills up with lots of water and swishes the clothes around. The normal cycle is dumbed down but all the rest give true hot washes when hot is selected. That said vibrations are at the minimum (This washer is on the second floor). I find that the computer on this washer seems to be well aware when its off balance and fixes the load based off it. I hope this was some help into making your decision easier!

 

[mayken4now]

Let us

know which machine you, the dog, wife and baby decide on. Good luck!

 

[Caruso]

Thanks for all the input everyone. Regarding FL's, I'm amazed at how much more washer you can get for your money if you go with a Maytag, Whirlpool or even Electrolux compared to a Speed Queen. We could get three of the Whirlpool EWFLS70JIW model that washerdude recommended for the price of one Speed Queen. The SQ five year parts and labor warranty speaks volumes though...

 

[midcentnurse]

I'll admit the next set we buy for the new house in a couple of months is either the SQ FL which I'm leaning about 75% towards or going back with the same LG FL. The door openings would be correct for the SQ too... But yea the dog hair does need to be wiped out after washing their bed and blankets. I wipe it with a damp cloth then rinse it in the sink. Idk what else to do about that but everything else is great so not a big deal for me.

 

[launderess]

When Alliance Put Speed Queen Back Into Domestic

Laundry they never said it would be the most feature/frilled packed things in the market. Rather they point to the commercial heritage and construction which bodes for a long product life.

From what one has seen SQ front loaders are not much different than when Alliance first brought them out; on premises laundry (OPL) machines with slightly different styling and perhaps features geared to the domestic side.

If your way of doing laundry is up this street then SQ washers are probably good value. OTOH if you want something with twenty thousand cycles, can do profile washes from -32F to 212F and so forth, then perhaps not.

 

[appnut]

Bear in mind, some of the cycle comments from anyone outside the US may not be applicable due to Energy Star regulations here.