New Washer and Dryer Recommendation

[srh1031]

I am getting ready to purchase a new set. I have looked at Top Loading machines and Front Loading Machines.
Now I am confused on what to buy. I want something that is good, I do not have kids. It is just me, but I want to be able to wash a comforter queen size. I am in my 50's so I have used alot of machines. I just do not want a nightmare! Some people tell me Sears Elite and then I have heard LG or Samsung is the best. Then I hear Maytag.....HELP!!!!!

 

[joeypete]

Well you have 3 considerations to think about. If you prefer top load, front load, and what is your budget. Being it's just you in the household you can probably get away with either HE or regular. If you pay for water usage I'd probably lean towards an HE machine. I personally prefer top load machines and I pay a flat rate for water so a non-HE machine works for me just fine. I have a basic GE top load and I fit my queen size bedding in it, just fine. If you have a higher budget and want a top loader, I'd say look at the Speed Queen models. Their wash basket is a bit smaller but it's an excellent machine with a great warranty. For front load machines LG seems to have some of the best products. I used a set for 2 years and it worked great actually. If you're a Sears shopper, LG makes several front loaders for Kenmore.

There's a lot to think about, but you can get it narrowed down by picking your preferences.

 

[joeypete]

Oh I forgot! Make sure you go and look at the models in person too. I did TONS of research online when buying my appliances but was surprised that some of the ones I picked, I didn't like when I saw them in person. At least physically see them and check them out, then go back online and find the best deal.

 

[countryguy]

I live alone also and have had a Kenmore front loader for about 10 years. I much prefer it over my previous top loaders (including Kenmore). The cycle time is a bit longer however the machines are much more quiet, clean the clothes better (at least in my opinion) and I can easily wash a queen size comforter whereas in the toploader I could not. I could squeeze the comforter into the top loader but then with the agitator there was no agitation to the comforter because it was jammed in so tight....with the front loader it tumbles easily. I really don't know how the new top loaders without the agitator are even capable of washing clothes.

Gary

 

[srh1031]

Thank you everyone

I want to thank you all for your replies. I have gone back to the stores and looked at them again. This has probably been the hardest appliance decision I have made. I must say that I had a LG front load several years ago that smelled so bad. I ended up giving it to my niece. I am leary of LG for that reason and I now know it was just because I didnt leave the door open! I think I am going to go with a top load. I did find a Samsung and a LG that really caught my eye. The LG looks like a BIG BREAD MACHINE and the Samsung was attractive as well. And my sister told me that Sears is not far from closing their doors.

Then I read all these reviews where these front loaders leak....what is up with that?

 

[washman]

You cannot go wrong with Speed Queen

Either TL or their newly designed FL machines. Sure, they cost, but good quality isn't cheap and cheap quality isn't good.

 

[golittlesport]

LG

If you want to be able to effectively wash a comforter, you really need a front load machine. I've had front load machines for years and mush prefer them to TL as I feel they clean much better and gentler.

I just got a new LG 3570 and am really impressed. LG has a good reputation and Consumer Reports customer surveys show they have least frequent repair rates. Good luck!

 

[lorainfurniture]

I would avoid those top load machines. They are just trying to accomplish what the front load machines already do really well. They go off balance a lot. ( lg in particular)

The lg front loads are a solid machine. Most of my lg customers have had their machines for 7+ years before their first service. Even then it's usually a water pump or something simple.

Use very little soap, and leave the door cracked open and the lg (or most any front loader) will give you many years of service.

 

[combo52]

Best New Washer

Hi , What is your budget for this purchase?, In any event a FL washer is superior for washing large items, no TL machine does a good job with large items, they all end up leaving lint, sand and scum in the folds of large items.

 

Best FL machine hands down if you want a trouble free machine that could be the last washer you will ever need is a Speed Queen FL washer.  It is a little expensive but it is certainly the least likely machine to give you problems, and they now have a 5 year warranty.

 

2nd best choices come from WP and Maytag [ both basically the same ] and further more do you really want to send your money to Korea and China when we make such good machines here in Wisconsin and Ohio ?

 

[brucelucenta]

I am also in my 50's and I bought the Kenmore Elite front load set made by LG. It holds a king size feather comforter and washes it very well. The dryer dries it quite well too. I do have to run it in the dryer twice and occasionally stop it and untwist it from balling up, but it does get good and dry. They hold a huge load of clothes or towels and such. The washer cleans everything very nicely and spins it almost dry with no lint on anything at all. I have never had a front load machine before, but they certainly have sold me on them now. They just do a much better job of cleaning and do it with much less water. I love not having a lot of lint on things too. You will see that your dryer lint will really cut down too because the washer gets rid of most of the lint before drying.

 

[pierreandreply4]

i would stick with a good old fashion top load washer

If i where you i would stick to a good old fashion top load washer because clothes can get much cleaner if they are in water and wash with an agitator washer

 

[BoschExxcel]

Not true, as long as a FL uses enough water,it'll do an excellnt job at cleaning.

Either that or all us Europeans have dirty clothes.

 

[countryguy]

I've used my front loader for about 10 years and I find the clothes are cleaner than when I used a top loader.

 

[yogitunes]

I guess my question would be on capacity.....How big does it have to be?

to wash a king size comforter, you don't need the biggest machine out there, that's non sense...

I have the Neptunes with a 3.5+/- tub, first it can wash 10 king size sheets in one load, never tried that myself, but I can wash a king size quilt with sheets and pillowcases in one load.....but dry them separately

in fact, this past weekend, we washed a king size quilt and a queen size quilt at the same time, dried separately for fluffing, but no matter what machine you have to dry them in, you will have to take out mid cycle and flip them around and continue drying...

many members brought along king size comforters and mattress pads to try out, no problems there.....don't see the need for a 10 cu ft washer.....that's just over kill.....

your mileage may vary.....

 

[irishwashguy]

I like real quality in the things I buy.......I recently helped a Gal pal of mine pick out a new washer and dryer recently. Although I love my Miele and the speed queen for the quality, she did not have the money for it. We looked everywhere and ended up getting a whirlpool duet FL for 728 at Cosco in Portland,Oregon .We took it with us and.The machine is really nicely fully loaded with all the bells and whistles including an onboard water heater. You can't beat it for the price. She loves it

 

[imperial70]

The latest GE Front Loaders built in appliance park are really nice.  Excellent performers and really great features for the money.

 

[washerdude]

We actually just recently switched to a front loader from an old top loader and let me tell you it gets clothes clean even better than our old washer. Not to mension how clothes come out almost dry infact even comforters come out very dry and this makes drying even quicker. King size comforters for my Duet make it seem like a breeze and the entire thing comes out perfectly clean. Also i noticed how you don't need a whole lot of detergent for a large load. I'm hoping to get 5-7 years out atleast. When this goes, I will for sure get another front load.

 

[pierreandreply4]

it depends on the washer

Well this depends on the washer with my duet its not the case and its a very bad cleaner in term of washing worst of all the dryer leaves the clothes damp to wet

 

[mieleforever]

Well, I would definitely go with a frontloader, they give much better results than any toploader any day.

Toploaders are notoriously heavy on consuming water, they don't heat their own water, leave a lot of residue on clothes, that can lead to skin irritations and rashes (believe me I was there).

They take up a lot of space, most are rather noisy, I am not a big fan of Samsung / Lg but they are not that bad, if you keep it simple, (they are usually laden with gimmicks and gadgetry, and are very flashy) and on average they are much more gentle on clothes (frontloaders that is)

My two cents,

Have a good day