Front Load Washer/Dryer?

[yennyfire]

Ya'll are NOT making this decison any easier for me!

 

[mrscushion]

In my experience, top loaders do not remove stains particularly well, particularly at low temperatures. The one I used to have was a Maytag TL, and my friend had one with the same problem, though I am not sure of the brand.

I've never had that problem with front loaders. I have an AEG FL washing machine and an Electrolux dryer and they've worked issue-free for the past two years. In Europe; I think most people have front loaders.

 

[justginger]

I see a cultural difference at work here. In Australia, they don't even offer toploaders anymore. You have to SCOUR the shops to find one model. Australia is a very green country in comparison to the area I grew up in the States. In fact, for the last 6 years I've been roughing it down under...with NO dryer! Gasp! It's true, you can live without a dryer! Saves electricity and your clothes last much longer. Who knew that you could actually use the SUN as a heat source to dry clothes?? In winter they just go on a clothes airer in front of the fire and are toasty in less than the length of an evening.

Anyway, I've had frontloading washing machines since I moved here. One was in my rental house, no problems except a loose seal ("allegedly" my fault for pushing too many clothes in the door at once!). Then when DH and I bought our house together 4 years ago, we got a new Electrolux frontloading washing machine. Not top of the line, in fact a model that was being discountinued. No issues at all...and I've not cleaned it ONCE in the entire time we've had it!! Didn't even cross my mind. We use powder for frontloaders only, and about once a year I run a cycle with vinegar.

I think frontloaders are certainly the way of the future. FARRRR less water consumption and good on your power bill as well.

 

[yennyfire]

Good feedback justginger. I actually only use my dryer for sheets/towels, socks and hang everything else on drying racks. Since we don't have a fire on a daily basis, it takes a bit longer for the clothes to dry, but like you said, it's kinder to the environment and easier on our clothes.

 

[Pandora II]

It's funny. People either love them or hate them (i.e. have had probs or haven't). There doesn't seem to be much middle of the road "they're ok"....

DF, I am not replacing my existing dial controlled machine until they refuse to work anymore. I agree that they don't make 'em like they used to and that all of these "newfangled" sensors/gadgets open the door for trouble.

Pandora, what do you mean by "integrated"? I've never even heard of that???

I know that these are "only" washers/dryers, but I really don't know what to do. I'm a risk averse kind of person and FL machines seem prone to issues that the TLs don't have, but it sure would be nice to have a counter on top of the machines for folding, etc. Aesthetically, I prefer them, but I'm not sure that's a reason to "gamble" that I'll be one of the lucky ones who gets one that works as expected. Grrr....

They fit into the kitchen cabinets...

If you looked at my kitchen, below the counter it looks like a run of cabinets, if you open them you will find that it a cupboard, a dishwasher and a washing machine.

I didn't have space to put the drier in the kitchen as well, so I just had a cupboard built for it in another room.

Ditto justginger - I have NEVER had to spend time cleaning my washing machine (nor have I heard of people doing this). I put Woolite in when I'm doing woolens, otherwise I use Fairy gel tabs. I'll put conditioner in the dispenser thing, but otherwise all powders, woolite, tablets etc go straight in with the clothes.

The only thing I have ever had to do is to turn it upside down to get my husband's silver collar straighteners and some 2p coins out of the filter. It's a PITA and takes a good 20 minutes unscrewing things and putting it back together again, but is very easy and saves the £100 call-out for a plumber to do the same!

I guess it's what you are used to - I've never even seen a top-loader!

 

[Sparklelu]

We have Maytag front loaders and love them. The week we got them the seal in the washing machine split and we had a wee flood, they replaced it and all was well. Just last weekend my son was doing his clothes and for some reason peeled back the door seal and found 4 socks a bathrobe belt and a cigarette lighter! Never made a sound that they were in there!
Love that we use so much less detergent and fabric softener and I Use some concoction they sold us to run through the machine once a month instead of the vinegar. When that runs out I'm going with vinegar.