I am in the middle of buying all new appliances for my place. I've got the fridge, stove and dishwasher picked out.
Having a nightmare of a time choosing a washer. I have had a front loader in the past. Loved it. My wife now wants one of those low water top loaders with no agitator in the middle. The one's that are the same as a front loader but on top.
I have been to five different stores and read far too many reviews. My head is spinning. They are great, they suck, they are good for saving water, no they are not, they clean well, they suck on stains. Fuck me! Things were simpler back in the day. Everyone had the same bloody type and they just worked.
Now these things are $1500 to $2500 and are all over the map.
Does anyone have any experience or advice buying these top loaders? Brands, models that you swear by. Just something to narrow the search.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
it was about 15 or so years ago, they may have gotten better.
Best of luck
The rabbit hole of reviews can be exhausting, most people only review when they're angry, so you'll always see lots more of the negatives.
We were replacing a 20 year old set that finally gave out. Good rebates for energy efficiency but those were local to NY and Nassau County.
Anyway, the LG was top rated by the usual reviewers, Wirecutter, CR, etc. Tbh, the Mrs and I couldn’t overthink this because our dryer was broken and we needed something right away. I bought on my Costco app and the appliances showed up a few days later. They work. Hopefully for a long time.
That said, while the best front loaders are superior there are high quality HE top loader options that do a fine job. The person who does the laundry should probably be the one to choose what type they prefer.
As for price, you can get a quality washer of either type for under $1000. LG washers are top rated for both types.
Cleans better, uses less water, is gentler on fabrics and easier to unload.
The front loader tends to be more quiet, use less water, they can take bigger loads or bigger items with less hassle. Some say that they do a much better job cleaning and are easier on your clothes. The one I have now does do a great job cleaning but needs replaced.
I want another front loader again. The wife is set on the new top loader.
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The front loader tends to be more quiet, use less water, they can take bigger loads or bigger items with less hassle. Some say that they do a much better job cleaning and are easier on your clothes. The one I have now does do a great job cleaning but needs replaced.
I want another front loader again. The wife is set on the new top loader.
x2 plus you can stack them if space is tight.
The Dryer went through heating elements ever year, I had to take it apart and replace it. Then the belt finally broke and that was that.
I went with a Samsung HE top loader for the washer and got the matching dryer. The washing machine will do a way larger load than the front loader could handle, the drum is wider but its not crazy deep, and doesn't have an agitator that sticks up. Overall I really like the top loader much more than the front loaders.
When going through the reviews during this whole process. I ended up at the higher end machines ($1500 = $1100 US) because those were the models that were getting the best reviews.
At one point I even looked at a Bosch washer and dryer for $3900 on sale from $5100, but then came to my senses. I must have been punch drunk from the search. No appliance is worth that unless it comes with someone who does the laundry for me. Now back down to the more reasonable prices.
Depends on what’s important to you in a washer. They are definitely tops in long term reliability. They are also near the bottom in terms of getting your clothes clean.
Nice!! Thank you. I never thought of that. Once I narrow it down to 2 or 3 brands. I will do exactly that.
We were replacing a 20 year old set that finally gave out. Good rebates for energy efficiency but those were local to NY and Nassau County.
Anyway, the LG was top rated by the usual reviewers, Wirecutter, CR, etc. Tbh, the Mrs and I couldn’t overthink this because our dryer was broken and we needed something right away. I bought on my Costco app and the appliances showed up a few days later. They work. Hopefully for a long time.
I was literally coming on here to post the same exact thing - dryer died on New Years Eve and my wife and went out and bought an LG set and are very happy with them.
Lead time on getting them was a few weeks though. Apparently there is a massive appliance shortage due to COVID.
You can add items to LG front loaders. You just press the pause button and after a few seconds the washer will stop and door will unlock. Water level stays below the door opening.
I plan to check them out when it comes time for replacement.
This, we had nothing but issues with our high efficiency front and top loader washing machines in the past. We had two LG’s and both would get disgusting mildew build up that would sometimes stick to your clothes when you took them out of the wash. This is after using Tide washing machine cleaner every month in a well ventilated space and leaving the lid open in between wash cycles. The top loader LG also ripped many of my wife’s clothes. Presumably due to the lack of water they use.
The speed queen models with an agitator, I believe it’s the TC5, is the best one for durability and cleaning your clothes.
It reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where he couldn't get BO out of his car after the stinky valet moved it.
nothing works, it's like embedded in the fiber of the clothes.
Anyway, we replaced our front load with top load, same shit different way of putting the clothes in.
We had LG's that worked at first and then were shitty, now we have Maytag's and they work now but will eventually be shitty.
It reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where he couldn't get BO out of his car after the stinky valet moved it.
nothing works, it's like embedded in the fiber of the clothes.
Anyway, we replaced our front load with top load, same shit different way of putting the clothes in.
We had LG's that worked at first and then were shitty, now we have Maytag's and they work now but will eventually be shitty.
I have the same problem with workout clothes. I think some of it is due to the Dri-fit material, but the reduced amount of water and lack of an agitator in most of these high efficiency washers impacts how clean your clothes really get.
Also, don't overdo the detergent - its one of the biggest reasons why machines breakdown. You really don't need much, especially since the water used is decreased to meet energy efficiency/water consumption grades.
It reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where he couldn't get BO out of his car after the stinky valet moved it.
nothing works, it's like embedded in the fiber of the clothes.
Anyway, we replaced our front load with top load, same shit different way of putting the clothes in.
We had LG's that worked at first and then were shitty, now we have Maytag's and they work now but will eventually be shitty.
It’s the fabric. See linked story.
How to get the smell out of gym clothes - ( New Window )
Also, don't overdo the detergent - its one of the biggest reasons why machines breakdown. You really don't need much, especially since the water used is decreased to meet energy efficiency/water consumption grades.
I completely agree with what you are saying, but this is where some of the high efficiency stuff is a joke. So you probably end up using more soap and water with these machines than an old school washer because you have to run twice as many loads of laundry to get your clothes clean.
Also, don't overdo the detergent - its one of the biggest reasons why machines breakdown. You really don't need much, especially since the water used is decreased to meet energy efficiency/water consumption grades.
Using too much detergent is definitely a problem. Detergent makers don’t help as their markings lead you to use too much. And perversely, too much detergent leaves your clothes less clean since it doesn’t rinse out completely in efficient washers. And neither does the grime.
I fill the detergent cap to between levels 2 and 3 for a full load. And less for smaller loads.
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more frequent loads. Might be a bit of a pain but your clothes will get cleaner, and your machines will last longer.
Also, don't overdo the detergent - its one of the biggest reasons why machines breakdown. You really don't need much, especially since the water used is decreased to meet energy efficiency/water consumption grades.
I completely agree with what you are saying, but this is where some of the high efficiency stuff is a joke. So you probably end up using more soap and water with these machines than an old school washer because you have to run twice as many loads of laundry to get your clothes clean.
I agree to an extent but not if you are using them properly. I used to have a bigger machine and it could take 2 hours to dry 1 load and even then I'd have to sometimes leave some clothes in and give it another half hour.
No my smaller loads which feel/smell cleaner can dry in less than half that time.
Detergent is a big issue though. You should use a fraction of what's recommended. It will accumulate on all the gaskets and the washer will work harder to rinse. Its a bad combo.
One is the SpeedQueen TC-5 and the other is the Maytag Commercial. Sadly, everything else is poorly built and will probably have to be replaced in 5 years.
Haven't had the mildew issues, and I don't even use that clean cylce nearly as often as they say. I just make sure I don't keep a finished load in there too long, and always keep the door open.
A Speed Queen will outlive 3 or 4 competitive washers and will do a great job while you have it. Again, American made, basic and reliable, if a little more expensive. You get what you pay for or something less.
Whatever you do, stay away from the Korean crap. Appliance service guys tell me they routinely haul away one and two year old Korean washers that have suffered electronic failures and aren't worth fixing.
The WiFi stuff has gotten comical. I went to buy a Frigidaire humidifier last summer and saved 70 getting the 2019 model vs the 2020 model that has WiFi. Why would you need WiFi for a humidifier? I set it to 40-45% every spring, connect a garden hose that leads to my sump pump and other than rinsing the air filter now and then I don’t touch it until I turn it off in late September.
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Lg washer and dryer. The washer doesn’t have an agitator in the middle. With all the new technology on these new appliances are crazy. It has a sensor to know how much water to use. Also bought a new in cabinet microwave/ oven. It comes with WiFi. Seriously why would you need WiFi for a freaking oven. Appliances are like cars now, wether you want the extra stuff or not. It comes with it. Of course it’s more expensive. I don’t feel the need to have a confection microwave and also a convection oven.
The WiFi stuff has gotten comical. I went to buy a Frigidaire humidifier last summer and saved 70 getting the 2019 model vs the 2020 model that has WiFi. Why would you need WiFi for a humidifier? I set it to 40-45% every spring, connect a garden hose that leads to my sump pump and other than rinsing the air filter now and then I don’t touch it until I turn it off in late September.
The one that gets me is the fridge with the screen in it.
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In comment 15155328 mitch300 said:
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Lg washer and dryer. The washer doesn’t have an agitator in the middle. With all the new technology on these new appliances are crazy. It has a sensor to know how much water to use. Also bought a new in cabinet microwave/ oven. It comes with WiFi. Seriously why would you need WiFi for a freaking oven. Appliances are like cars now, wether you want the extra stuff or not. It comes with it. Of course it’s more expensive. I don’t feel the need to have a confection microwave and also a convection oven.
The WiFi stuff has gotten comical. I went to buy a Frigidaire humidifier last summer and saved 70 getting the 2019 model vs the 2020 model that has WiFi. Why would you need WiFi for a humidifier? I set it to 40-45% every spring, connect a garden hose that leads to my sump pump and other than rinsing the air filter now and then I don’t touch it until I turn it off in late September.
The one that gets me is the fridge with the screen in it.
Ha ha, I know. It’s like I’m going to get crazy today and set my freezer to 2 degrees instead of 0.
I just went to their website. Closest seller to me in Montreal is in Rome New York. Between the Canadian/ US exchange rate and freight it is not cost worthy.
I convinced my wife to stick with a front loader and it made it much easier to narrow down and finally decide.
We ended up buying the LG 3700 series washer and dryer. The reviews were good and when she saw them in the store she was very happy with them.We got the pair for $1898.
Thank you again
LG3700 - ( New Window )