Which washer, LG 3670 or 3770? FL virgin!

[natness]

Hi! I'm Natalie, and I'm new. My ancient Kenmore Series 80 has given up the ghost. I have never had a FL before, but the water savings seems like a good deal if it doesn't mean giving up clean clothing!. I believe I have narrowed it down the the LG 3670 or the 3770. We are a messy family of three, and we also have an Airbnb which means a LOT of sheets and towels to wash.

Is the water plus feature more useful than turbowash? Is the "clean" different?

Are either of these washers less prone to mold in the dispenser area? How do I avoid this?

What would you choose?

thank you.

 

[henene4]

TurboWash would win it for me; the recirculation system makes for incredible results even at low water levels.
Spray rinsing is nice too; 2 deep rinses and 2 spray rinses (so Normal TurboWash with 1 extra rinse) will mostly rinse out anything you throw at it.

 

[laundromat]

Turbo Wash hands down. Mine have it and it not only gets clohes cleaner but rinses them out better too. The drama you get watching it is also a bit more severe. Because it's direct drive, it spins either clockwise or counter clockwise depending on the way it's moving when the load is balanced enough to increase the rpm and go full throttle. No other washers do that. They are set to spin one way. Normally counter clockwise. They also have an accessible button catcher to help keep the pump working properly. The Whirlpool/Maytags have it but no access to it. You have to either call service or remove the entire front of them to get to it. Not very convenient. LG is my absolute favorite laundry machine manufacturer. Their repair frequency is best rated by CR for the past seven years!! Fewer than anyone else. I dye shirts and scrubs on the Sanitary cycle because it heats the wash water up to around 175°F and makes the color "fast" on to the fabric and no bleeding or fading after three cold rinses.the washtub and rubber boot don't get stained from the dye either. Also, using bleach works great on White loads that have yellowed or stained. All in all, great machines. I have six sets of them with the 8000 being my favorite. 5.3 cu ft in the washer and 9 cu ft in the dryer. They are wider (30") but can hold around thirty pounds of dirty clothes. All but one set were purchased at a local used appliance and furniture dealer ,Smith's, who I have known for around eleven years as is for fifty dollars a set. The worst ones being completely overhauled costing around $250 for parts including brings and mother board on the washer. The rest were a lot easier from a mew rubber boot to a new door lock assembly. Love the self diagnostic feature too. You will be impressed.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Having used other machines with a recirculating jet, I would say go for the 'Turbo Wash'.

The load will be saturated quicker, and detergent more thoroughly mixed.

 

[nmassman44]

I have the LG 3570 washer and I love it. I use TurboWash all the time since it does quite well and shaves off time for the cycle. It holds a ton of laundry as well...but that said be aware that if you get the matching dryer and you load the washer to capacity, you will have to split the load for the dryer so the dryer can give you great results. You can always go with the 9 cu.ft. dryer and avoid the splitting...just a thought.
One thing you will have to get when and if you purchase the washer is if you high water pressure coming out of your taps, you will need water hammer arrestors for both the hot and cold sides. They fit right onto the washer and the hoses connect to them. This washer "pulse fills" meaning it opens and closes the water valves rapidly and it will cause water hammer in your pipes. Those arrestors will save you from the noise and your faucets and toilets will thank you.
The washer also has great rinsing as well as it uses a final spray rinse at high speed spin during the final spin. The spray will last for about 2 mins and the jet reaches from front to back of the load in a wide fan jet of water. I think you will love the washer. I have had mine now for 3 years now and no issues at all.
The plus side too is as you said is the water savings . Here in Mass our water bills are a tad atrocious. I had a Speed Queen top load washer that was a water hog. Our water bills every quarter ran about $400 or so on average. I got the LG washer and the water bills have dropped down to $190 a quarter and the washer extracts quite a bit more water than the SQ washer and that has saved money on electricity bills as well. The dryer also helps as well. We were about $56 a month down to $28 a month now.
You will also notice that your clothes will last longer too....

 

[nmassman44]

As far as mold goes...make sure you dont wash exclusively in cold water. Cold water washing, meaning straight out of the tap cold will lead to mold. I do one hot wash a week, namely whites and everything else gets washed in warm. This washer also has a door magnet at the bottom of the door so when you are done doing laundry leave the door open by using the door magnet plug, it looks closed but it isn't and pull the dispenser drawer open to let the air circulate thru the washer. I never have mold issues with any front loader I have used.

 

[golittlesport]

recommend turbo wash

I have the 3570 with turbo wash like Mike does and recommend it. Does a fantastic job at anything I throw at it. The spin-spray rinses are very effective and you can add up to three more deep rinses if needed.

I have never had a mold or odor problem. I believe mold problems are user error. Take the time to read the machine's instructions and follow them and you will be fine. Like Mike mentioned, most LG FL washers have a door magnet that allows the door to stay open a crack and let air circulate to dry out the insides after use. The door looks like it is closed, but it is not sealed tight. This is especially a good thing if your machine is in an area where there is not space to leave the large door completely open after use.

 

[combo52]

I would Get A SQ FL Washer

Why buy a Chinese machine when you can buy a Wisconsin built washer that outlast 3 or 4 LG washers. Also keep in mind that few people want to work on an LG washer, you may be waiting a long time for service or even replacing it the first time it breaks.

 

If you have a service guy you use now ask them if they are happy to work on an LG machine.

 

A SQ FL machine is the only commercial quality sold for home use, it does not fool around when it is time to spin, it gets the job done every time in the same amount of time.

 

John L.

 

 

 

[golittlesport]

While it has been said that Speed Queen front loaders are built like tanks, there is one good reason why I'd buy an LG over a Speed Queen front loader (while you can still get them, as they are being discontinued this year) and that is the lack of a water heater in the Speed Queen. Speed Queens may otherwise be excellent machines, but that one item is a deal breaker for me.

Front loaders use less water and unless your water heater is right next to the washer and you set the water heater temp high, you're not going to get what I would call a "hot" wash when you want one. By the time the hot water in the heater reaches your washer, the machine will have filled with cool or luke-warm water that has been sitting in the line.

I like being able to set the machine to heat the water for whites or sanitize a load when needed. I wouldn't buy a dishwasher or a clothes washer that lacks the ability to heat the water.

If I ever need service on my LG washer, I'm not too concerned. After all, LG manufactures Kenmore front loaders -- I'm sure Sears Nationwide Service can handle a service call.

 

[joe_in_philly]

Do LG FL washers heat the water on cycles other than sanitize?

 

[henene4]

As far as I understand, it does come on on certain cycles and option combinations, but I couldn't confirm that.

You can check the temp in °C at any point during a cycle via holding a button combination.
Forgot what the combo was though...

 

[appnut]

Joe, I think for Whitest Whites and Heavy Duty.  If you add steam option on Normal.  Adding Steam on any of the cycles that do offer steam as an option will also engage the heater--which I think is also an option Bulky.  Steam is not an option on Permanent Press or Towels, which I am interpreting as the heater is not engaged at all .  Which I think is very stupid for towels, no hotter water.  So, I wouldn't use Towels cycle to wash my towels or bed linens wanting hotter water.  Look up an online manual and you'll see the control panel markings where the cycles with steam option are grouped together and non steam cycles are grouped together.  And I have instances (white dress shirts) where I want hotter water and or steam for Perm Press items  (which I can get on my Normal/Casual cycle.  Current Maytag models have a wrinkle control cycle that offers ex hot water and steam option. 

 

[nmassman44]

The water heater is engaged during Normal, Bright Whites and Sanitize/Allergene. Towels I normally wash on Bright Whites since the spin and spray rinse is longer in the final spin. Towels cycle can take forever it seems. The thing with my washer is that with Bright Whites cycle is that the washer does a "profile wash" meaning the temp starts out as warm and the heater kicks on and raises the water temp to hot which is about 130F. Plenty hot for what I need. My tap is 140F on the hot side so the washer does dumb down the temp a tad. The Bright Whites cycle does quite well and its a bit more intensive than Normal/Cotton cycle.
I have used the Steam feature maybe once and I found no real difference in performance so i rarely use it now. Plus it adds another hour or so to the cycle. When the steaming is done, the washer adds cold water to tame the temp some. I am very happy with this machine. Its well made and durable despite what others may say here.

 

[natness]

Washing waterproof mattress pads?

Thank you for all the thoughtful, informative replies!

I downloaded the manuals to these washers and they both say not to wash waterproof items. My son is a bedwetter and I don't know what I would do if I couldn't wash his bedding! Is this the same for every FL or just the LGs? Is there a way to safely wash these items in a FL? They also say not to wash clothing that has been in contact with cooking oil, but I assume that doesn't apply to normal kitchen splatters, otherwise I may have to rethink this entirely.

 

[henene4]

It's the same for any washer

You should never wash water proof items, ever, in any washer.

The danger is that these itens can collect water pockets. If the washer then commences to spin, these water pockets can rupture, suddenly drasticly shifting the weight distribution.
In any washer, that could cause dramatic failure.

The only way to carefully wash such items is to start with no spin or a verry low spin on the bulky cycle.
Then manualy redistribute the load, checking for water pockets, respinning at medium, repeating until desired dryness.

 

[joe_in_philly]

Thank you for the responses! It is good to know that it is used on multiple cycles. My washer is almost 15 years old, so I like to have an idea of what to consider if it needs to be replaced.

 

[henene4]

The general rule for a FL should be a heater and if possible some recirculation system.

LGs are pretty decent.
Whirlpool&#92Maytag machines are generally well recieved as well.
ELux machines are pretty good value and are verry well recieved as well.
SQ is praised for its reliability, but they don't have a heater and supposedly are being phased out.

TLs got really tight.

The new SQ TL design has rather mediocre reviews.
Whirlpools HE TLs are meh as well.
GEs design is decent and pretty cheap.
Maytags commercial for home models are well recieved and close to old school.
For HE the Fisher&Paykel are tried and tested and still verry good.