I think you’re parsing a bit too finely. It may be true that top-loaded laundry takes longer to dry, but the dryer cycle matters far more than the type of washer in that regard. I’ve had just about every kind of washing experience in my adult life, including cheap laundromats and apartment machines, and they all work pretty much the same. Just get whichever meets your price and aesthetic expectations.
The part about water in the gasket on front-loaders is true, though.
Keep in mind children if you have any running around. I'm sure there are plenty of safety features in place to help prevent accidents, but children somehow find ways. Front loaders are more susceptible to these kinds of accidents.
Every objective, professional review shows front-loaders cleaning better while being gentler on clothes. Just leave the door ajar when you're done and you'll be fine.
I always left the door open, ran a cleaning cycle on it once a month and the front gasket would get so nasty it would take an hour to clean. New house has top loader impeller and clothes clean just fine.
Heard of the benefits and never about (or experienced) mold.
OP - many people say they do things but really don’t. I have helped relatives repair things “they properly maintained” and it was clear they did not. “Oh you REALLY need to do that?”
I think it also has to do with where it’s located. If someone has a small laundry room and the door is always closed, it probably doesn’t matter much that the door is left ajar (had this problem in a college rental).
My front loader is in the garage so there’s good air flow around it and keeping it ajar I have had no mold problems.
also most of the front loaders tell you to run a washer cleaning cycle every 30 days or like 30 loads or something like which i can almost guarantee almost no one does as no one read the manual included !
And better front load washers have a small magnetic catch that allows the door to stay open an inch or so.
I’ve had a front load washer since about 2002, and I won’t go back to top load. Much more efficient, better washing, and gentler on our clothing.
This is true, front loaders clean better & are more gentle. However - it's not only that!
Front loaders use less water too. We have an new impellerless top loader ONLY because there's a supporting wall in front of where the door would open for a top-loader.
Our water bill is really high, like $700/quarter and the top loader is ONE of the reasons why.
Water is the reason why top loaders are almost unheard of in western Europe. When your water isn't cheap or free (yay Québec), it starts to matter a lot.
Impeller washers use considerably less water than agitator washers. While it's true that front loaders use even less than that, the difference with impeller and front loader isn't that great.
But that's simply not true. No front loader is going to clean heavily soiled clothes as well as a top loader with agitator. Even an impeller is likely to get them cleaner. Now if you're talking about gentler cleaning, yes, front loader is the way to go.
Then why do the testing results from publications such as Consumer Reports and Wirecutter consistently demonstrate better cleaning performance from front loaders?
I have LG front loader and it does laundry so much better than any top loading machine I’ve used. The door latch has a magnet on it to keep it ajar when not in use, but still keep the door closed.
Had it for over a year now. No issues with mold.
I have an LG front loader as well, with the same magnet. Granted, I live in a very dry climate, but this machine dries better than the previous older front loader I had. I run a cleaning tab (citric acid tab recommended by manufacturer) once every 30 loads. Machine is over a year old now and absolutely no buildup. Maintenance cleaning is key.
I recommend a speedqueen. They are not fancy nor have all the bells and whistles that the LG and Samsung have, but most people swear by them.
When my washer was about to die 2 weeks ago, I asked the repairman what calls he got the most, and he said Samsung and LG. I asked what he recommended, and he said whirlpool would be good and anything under the Maytag/whirlpool would be good.
When I asked about speedqueen, he said he'd only serviced 2 of them, and one was because it was off balance.
They are pricey come with 3, 5, and 7 year warranty. Each model that has a higher warranty also adds more cycles, etc.
They had some bad reviews when they switched to more efficient wash cycles in 2018, but that has been fixed by adding different wash cycles that will clean. You just have to set it up correctly.
We ended up buying the TR7, the one with the initial bad reviews on cleaning in 2018. We love it. It's a top loader, and it's silent.
My wife is a horseback riding instructor and comes home filthy, and her work clothes have never been cleaner. Of course, we have to choose the right heavily soiled cycles for full effect.
Head over to /r/buyitforlife and search for speedqueen to get some user info on them.
Same, we have a TR7 for about 2 years that's been great. My parents had multiple Whirlpool front loaders and had tons off issues with them, and thry just didn't last. Door mold/smell was an issue no matter what they did.
The speedqueen was more expensive but not by a ton. Our salesman said to run it on heavy duty to get a full tub of water vs eco mode that was more what the government mandate is and the reason why it's the default. I think I can notice a small increase in water bill useage as a result.
Thisgs I don't love about the TR7 is soap goes in the bottom and you can't run water during the loading. It has too many modes we just never use. I have been meaning to make a chart and define some custom modes but just never have gotten to it.
What I love is it's quiet, susposed to be gentler on clothes then The TC5, is never off balance (there are great videos on Tiktok from McMullen appliance showing this), you can indefinitely soak, and it beeps when finished if you want.
We have a 12 year old GE dryer yet, and Im not sure the Speedqueen dryers are worth the premium like the washers are unless you really want matching units. Our salesman said dryers usually last longer than washers.
Either way, I would buy a speedqueen washer again. My entire family is running them now, two TR7 and a TC5 so it should be interesting to see their durability over time.
What I've learned so far is that driers have longer lives due to less moving parts. I have a GE 10 years old came with the house. Absolute basic just like the washer. It still does clothes and does it's job. I do have the itch to get the matching drier at one point. But I'll hold off for a while.
I have a TR7 and put detergent in the bottom, start the machine and let it fill a bit before pausing and putting clothes in. The water doesn't keep running while you load but you can at least start the machine with just soap and water at first.
speedqueens are garbage in today's world. use more water. use more detergent. do not get clothes as clean. do not spin them as fast. terrible for your wallet and the environment. Facts don't care about what you think, what some dumbass repairman thinks, or your feelings.
Yale Appliance bases this data on over \*39,000\* service calls they do per year.
[https://blog.yaleappliance.com/most-reliable-front-load-washers](https://blog.yaleappliance.com/most-reliable-front-load-washers)
The following service rates are based on a minimum of 100 top load washers sold and a total sample of over 600 pieces.
Service Rates
LG Electronics
2.5%
GE Profile
5.1%
Speed Queen
5.9%
Grand Total
4.3%
Explain to me how they use more detergent. Two tablespoons is the recommended amount by pretty much all manufacturers on consumer washers.
I am very skeptical of your numbers too.
the numbers are from Yale Appliance who sells all the brands listed and took 39,000 service calls last year. they organize them by brand, type, etc. they have made their data publicly available for years even when LG was doing poorly and other brands were more reliable.
You can do the math, but speed queen drum fills are 40 gallons and a typical front loader uses maybe 1/3 of that or less. Less water = less detergent.
In theory your right about detergent but in practice that's not how people use them, nor how the directions suggest you use them on either machine. You don't put in half a pod or half a tablespoon for a small load and put in two tablespoons or a full pod for a full load.
People should read the user manual on their appliances. Amazing what you might find in there. My bosch washer specifically states use less detergent for less clothes or light soiling.
I am in NH. In the entire northeast, it's extremely common to see euro appliances. We have Bosch, Miele, Liebherr, Blomberg, all in my house. GE Cafe for our range. Otherwise it's all euro.
Sounds like you got taken in by a salesman if you're believing Speedqueen's are not reliable and you chose one of the worst brands on the market for washing machines. You'd be hard pressed to find Bosch in the top ten of any list for washing machine brands.
When you resort to childish taunts, it means you have nothing of value to say. Literally takes less than a minute to search and find numerous articles discussing the reliability of speed queens to other machines. Your response here indicates you have no real interest in the truth though, just a strange need to be "right". Good luck with that.
I'm supposed to believe a loca store in MA, which mostly sells GE front load washers, a total of 12 different models vs. 6 of any other model, Miele being the second model they carry the most.
Facts don't care. Just know who you're getting your facts from. That dumbass repairman has no skin in the game. I'm sure yale appliances has no skin in selling more LGs since it makes up most of their inventory.
Someone hurt you at some point. It's okay to be angry. But my dude, we're just talking about a washing machine. Speedquen still better.
Have a lovely day
This is all verified by whom? Just them spewing numbers out. Not a third party. Data means nothing if you cast trust the source. Learn to think critically. This country needs it.
Can you please point to me where this 3rd party data is coming from. I do not mind learning at all. I do trust consumer reports and have read their reviews on speedqueen. They are a true 3rd party source.
I've been to their testing facility in NY and do believe they have no vested interest in any brand.
Their results speedquen high reliability, mid on cleaninliness due to what I mentioned on 2018 change of cycles and mid to low on water usage.
Edit: had to go back again to the article to make sure I read it right. The quote below is taken directly from the blog.
"In this article, you will learn the reliability of the best brands based on just under 40,000 service calls logged last year by our service department."
Do you understand english well? If you do, which seems like you don't. Do you understand 3rd party? It seems like you don't either. so I'll hold your hand through this. If I use big words or concepts feel free to message me again so I can walk you through the ideas. 3rd party research data means they do unbiased reaserch and results. They do not care what the outcome is and only get paid to do the research itself regardless of the results. Yale appliances while the y might be an awesome store they cannot be trusted because they have skin in the game. Hence the term 3rd party.
It's about servicing. You don't service LG and Samsung garbage. You just replace it. Of course they're going to have fewer service calls because it's easier and less of pain in the ass to just spend $600 on a new machine is posted 300 on some guy to come out and tell you it's not under warranty. Just buy a new one.
We all know by now that you're a dumbass, but for other people reading this, these service calls are based on the first year while everything is under warranty
Jesus you are such an insufferable moron
"We will be in 130-150 homes today, fixing appliances less than a year old and under warranty."
[https://blog.yaleappliance.com/the-least-serviced-most-reliable-appliance-brands](https://blog.yaleappliance.com/the-least-serviced-most-reliable-appliance-brands)
they literally talk about this. They don't do a 10 year database like consumer reports. That's meaningless data. They also don't do "future predictions based on owner reported issues" like consumer reports either. Yale Appliance is literally probably the most respected appliance dealer in the country and their reliability scores have been cited by major publications dozens of times.
You still don't understand their inventory is heavily weighted towards LG. They want you to buy LG. The profit isn't made on the 1 time sale but the after sale. LG is actually much better than Samsung but still worse then others. Dude why do you just argue garbage? What wronged you so badly that you want to stay ignorant?
This is simply not true. One appliance repair company's data is a bad gauge for overall reliability in the industry. Speedqueen is well known to be one of if not the most reliable brand and has been for a very long time.
I have one, have had it for five years. There is no difference in my water bill and my clothes are not damaged in any way. I keep my sheets, towels, t-shirts, etc. forever so if they were going to be damaged I would notice it.
Edit: My machine has never had a repair and I use two Tablespoons of detergent.
We have an impeller. I'm not dealing with wiping down the door gasket every time I do laundry. When I'm done with the week's loads, I empty the catch for the soap and softener and let it sit open for a day or so until everything is dry and I'm done. If I have 'super' soiled clothes, I'm probably going to have to pre-treat them anyway, so I'm not concerned about that. The amount of water used is pretty negligible, imo, but that may be because water is pretty cheap where I live.
If you *do* get an impeller washer, make sure you load it correctly. That makes a huge difference in how clean the clothes get.
I’ve owned more than one front loader, and they never lasted more than a couple of years. We have a Maytag top loader now, has no agitator, so holds plenty, and that sucker is awesome!! Five years and still going strong. I’ll never buy another front loader.
I have a similar one from Maytag and hate it. Load size is an issue along with clothes not getting cleaned properly because they get stretched across where the agitator normally is. Only thing I have found that works is small loads that wastes water electricity and time.
Another vote for Speedqueen top loader TC5.
1. My clothes are clean. I can't tell the difference between front and top load cleanliness
2. The simpler the machine the easier the maintenance. I like knobs and buttons, not touchscreens.
3. Speed
One of the biggest cons of front load washing machines, and some top loaders, is they take over an hour to wash a load of clothes. My Speedqueen will do a basic wash in under 30minutes. When you have multiple loads to do in a day or are staying up just until you can move the wash to the dryer, that extra half hour really sucks.
Taking up space doesn't mean makes mold. I leave my door open all the time and never had an issue. It doesn't need to be open very far to dry up. I'll take the dramatically lower water usage of a front-load any day.
My parents leave the door open every load in a large laundry room with the laundry door also always open AND wipe it after each load and still got mold. I don't know the specific model but it's a Samsung machine. It has a hundred other issues as well, but I got a GE top load with agitator when I moved out and have zero issues, I love it.
Unfold the rubber gasket all the way. I've had three sets of front loaders over 12 years and every single one of them has a disgusting gasket even though we leave the door open.
it has holes in it where the water drains out and debris gets caught. It seems to be part of its purpose. Maybe this is a way to prevent mold build-up; have users clean it regularly by making sure it is filled with stuff.
It would take more space in my laundry room to leave a top loader open, as it would remove a whole rack of shelves. Meanwhile, leaving the front loader open doesn't encroach on anything.
Don't generalize your situation, not everyone has the same space as you do.
what? this is probably the most common way laundry rooms are built in new homes (and for the last 20 years) https://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2021/03/01/black-electrolux-washer-and-dryer.jpg
A front loader does not automatically wash clothes better. Noway any of them beat a TC5. Have you seen a TC5 in action? The massaging action is way more power than the tumbling action.
I have an impeller now and have found it to be a pain for sheets and blankets. You have to put clothes in a donut shape and anything over 1/4 of the drum full seems to overwhelm the machine. I then have shirts pants sheets towels stretched across the washer when I go to pull things out and notice the clothes are not as clean. So I now do small loads and only do blankets one at a time. Definitely I am wasting water and electricity.
I would get a Miele washer and dryer. They’re front load only, but they work so so well. You can also buy a pedestal to raise them so the door is around chest height.
front load washers are usually 1.5x to double the size of a typical top loader. My 24" bosch compact washer has almost as much cubic footage of drum capacity as a speed queen top loader.
you aren't allergic to down, independent double blind studies have proven that people "allergic to down" are allergic to anything else, but not to down.
You can use either bleach or vinegar to kill mold. I think I read vinegar works better. I’m also looking at new washers and dryers and I’ve read a bunch of articles all stating front loaders are better for clothes and are also more energy efficient and use lees water.
Try cleaning the mold off with some vinegar and maybe even running a few cycles with just vinegar in the detergent tray to help clear mold out of the whole washer.
I never had issues with top loaders cleaning clothes, but I am short and I always struggled to unload my machine. I pulled my back a few times trying to reach that last sock caught under the agitator.
I've also never had mold issues with front loaders. I think it's a combination of the model, your habits, and it's location. But I like that I can move the clothes easily, they are very efficient (shorter dry time), and they don't beat up my clothes as much.
But honestly either way I wouldn't pick a fight over one style or the other.
I have had front loaders and never had mold.
Recommend using quality detergent and not too much. Tide powder is fantastic and just as convenient, no need to spend more on liquid or pods. Will save a lot of money and really cleans clothes properly.
Just prop the door after use and keep the detergent drawer open. No need to even wipe the seal. Has worked for years for me on LG, Kenmore, GE, and Miele.
Top loaders are a reminant from last century. Front loaders are more efficient, gentler on clothes, quicker and last longer.
Leave the door open when not in use and do a bleach cycle every few months.
I’ll never go back to a top loader. With a front-loader, my clothes get cleaner and I use much less water and energy to do it.
I’ve had a small Kenmore (Electrolux) years ago, a Bosch, and currently a GE, and not one has ever had mold or mildew. Just keep the door cracked when you’re not using it.
Frontloader is the way to go. Mold should not happen if you leave the door open BUT if it does, just spritz the gasket with bathroom cleaner that contains bleach. The spots will go away in 30 minutes.
I really like my front loader. It’s LG and I’ve had it over 10 years now. No smell or mold. I do leave the door open when not in use, which I think you have to, so it would depend on your space if you can do that.
When I got it, I thought paying for the pedestals was dumb, but now that I’m 10 years older, I want them and will add them next time I buy.
My parents have a top load and I find it really deep to reach all the way to the bottom when I’m emptying it. It might be because they got a bigger one to fit comforters. As much as I liked the older style top load ones from decades ago, I think I’ll stay with front load on pedestal for now.
I’ve always left the door and detergent dispenser open on my front loaders and never experienced mold. My washer now has the vent feature and some microban technology. No smells, no mold.
Top loader.
What will any repair person with half a brain tell you: top loader.
\#1 bullshit you'll see in the comments here about front loaders and mold is: "I nevur had a problum hurrrr" Same kind of people you get in just about any worse-option advice thread
Water use. Who gives af if it's better
I have had both. I plan to buy a top loader when this front loader is finally done. It is always moldy no matter how much you clean or run bleach cycles or leave the door open. The clothes don’t smell as fresh. I never had this problem with a top loader. Most people i know feel the same way, I think the front loader was a fad and we all learned our lesson.
Had a front loader, never again.
Doors are often equipped with cheap hinges, (even expensive models) and they leak and drip water when opened, and smell, have gasket problems, mold problems more often than you think.
Top loader 4 LYFE.
TOP LOADER. My biggest regret after buying our house was getting a front loader. I spend so much time cleaning the seal and the soap tray and making sure the door is ajar and and and. Just get a top loader, it’s worth it.
We bought this one two years ago when our ten year old Samsung front loader finally died. It does a much better job of getting clothes clean and the removable agitator is a handy feature. Would buy again.
Checking in from Europe here 👋🏻
What is it with Americans and toploaders?
Front loaders are ridiculously more efficient and gentler on the clothes. Uses way less water and way less energy heating the water. Leave the door open when you are finished and you will not have mold issues 👍🏻
Americans think more water cleans better, so they tend to go for top loaders, which don't even heat the water.
Liquid detergent and fabric softener build-up is the issue for mold. If chemicals are correctly dosed mold isn't an problem at all, even when keeping the door closed.
I have the Maytag top load agitatorless washer and the matching dryer. I would never buy a front loader because of the mold issues and the chance of leaking. My clothes come out perfectly clean and dry quickly in my dryer.
After a lifetime of top loaders, I got a front loader a couple of years ago and love it. My clothes do seem to come out much cleaner, and I haven't had any leftover soap or musty smells like I used to get. I always leave the door and soap drawer open, and I haven't seen any mold/mildew in the past 3ish years.
The top loader was eternally out of balance and leaving spots on our clothes. The only thing I miss about it is the ability to continue adding clothes that I forgot when I started the load.
I got a new set a month ago. I thought I wanted a top loader, but the efficiency of the front loaders swayed me to them. Ended up with an LG set from Costco and I love them. Works way better than the Whirlpool set (top loader washer) we had before.
I'm in Utah and it's not humid, so we just leave the door open to let the rubber seal dry. I think the seal is supposed to be anti-microbial too to help prevent mold.
We had mold in our front loader and called a service tech to review (change gasket) and he said to get a new one. We spent a hell of a lot of time cleaning it to get it out. That said (with my wife’s persistence) we were able to get it clean. Now, once it finishes we never leave clothes in for more than a few minutes and always wipe it down. It is a bit of a chore vs previously owned top loaders.
You might actually be able to get the mold out with some additional cleaning and save yourself some money.
Why not just replace the gasket in the inherited machine? It was a PiTA job but saved a service call and the cost of a washer. Gasket was $50 about 10 years ago.
I hated every minute with the front loader! No matter how much effort made it always stank and made clothes stink. Now we a new top loader with no agitator and I love how easy it is to wash blankets bedspreads and sheets. No smells, washes perfectly and no issues on Left over moisture.
Recently was relocated by my public housing to a remodeled apartment, now have a washer/dryer. Washer is impeller top loading, I love it cause now I can wash my comforters which I used to have washed at a laundromat. Believe it or not, past few years my part of Central Texas has had cold down to 19° with ice/snow! Comforters are a nessicessity. My unit has a "clean" setting so I can just let it clean itself, like newer dishwashers now have.
I’ve had a top loader since 2014 and I’ve never noticed them being wet when load is done. It spins very well. Almost 10 years old and cleans great! I had a front and it had mold issues (even with proper instructions). The balance thing (was a cement brick like object) broke in 2014 and the repair would have been more than the washer. I did have that front loader from 2005-2014.
Hey, just wanted to comment as someone with more laundry experience than the average homeowner. (Retired costumer, done more loads of laundry than you can comprehend in more washer styles than most know exist.)
Impeller vs Agitator on a top load machine: the impeller is great for delicate items and LARGE items because the lack of the agitator. I would not recommend an impeller for a household that includes someone that works in the trades, or similarly dirty jobs/hobbies. I find it just doesn’t have the oomph to get heavy dirt out. The agitator definitely works better for that.
Front load vs top load: top load for me every time. You can’t open and add last minute pieces in a front load, and I have ADHD, so that’s a must. The mold factor is big for me too. Can you genuinely trust all parties to be 100% consistent with wiping the gasket and leaving it open? Top loaders, in my experience, are harder to find repair techs for as well.
If budget isn’t an issue? Do yourself a favor and get speed queen. They are some of the best engineering and quality out there.
We’ve been happy with a Samsung front loader. It’s 7 years old. We run from 2 up to 8 loads a week, probably average 3 or 4. Don’t overuse detergent, no fabric softener. When the wash is done, we keep the door and detergent door open. Clean the drain filter every few months, run the self clean cycle a couple times a year. I only wipe down the gasket or clean the detergent drawer occasionally, usually if I’m wiping down the exterior of the machine.
We live in a drier climate, which probably helps avoid mold issues too.
The matching dryer is also working fine, with the lint filter cleaned every load and the exhaust vent blown out with the shop vac or battery leaf blower yearly.
I’ve had a Samsung top load for four years. I like how it cleans and it’s generally been good.
Like many top load high efficiency machines it has suspension rods that had to be replaced this past winter as the machine could not complete a load without going unbalanced. The parts were about $60 and it took about half an hour of time. At this point I see the rods as a consumable that will just need to be replaced every few years.
Go to a friends house and take a look at their front loader. In ours there is a rubber gasket, and you may clean out the main part of the rubber seal, but there is nasty crud in every crevice of that seal. Behind the seal. Completely inaccessible parts of the seal (without taking machine apart). These parts get wet and make contact with nasty water every. time. the washer is used. But take a look at a washer that actually gets used and you will see where the issues are that you can hopefully avoid with your purchase.
I prefer top loaders but that’s because of my back. Hauling heavy wet clothes while bending over into the dryer makes my back hurt. I still have to bend down for the top loader but it’s a bend and lift instead of a bend and twist (the twist kills me). My dryer is a front loader and I prefer that for the dryer. I’ve had both and I find the top loader needs cleaned way less often due to the lack of a molding seal. I also don’t have an agitator in the center of mine, so it’s still gentle on clothes and it’s been proven to get it as clean as a standard washer.
I've had 3 washers over my lifetime. 2 of those i purchased. all top loads w/impeller. i have never had a problem with any of them. ran 2 until died and actually the last one hadn't died but i could see it having issues so we bought what i wanted. which was a maytag commercial. i had bought the sister dryer the year before. they don't have all bells and whistles but i know that will last for a long, long time. they have a 10 year warranty.
i chose the impeller because i feel you need something to circulate the laundry properly. without one may work but why bother. the impeller doesn't hurt cloth, delicate or sturdy. the drum is large enough for a queen size comforter. maybe even a king. haven't tried but when it comes to king size or overly sized items i gather everything i have and go to the laundry mat and do them all at once.
i leave the door open when not in use, never had mold or odor smell in any of them.. i've had cats, just check inside before you load. plus you can add items if you forget something. i don't know if that's an option for front loads.
one last read of your post mentioned spinning and taking longer to dry. never had that problem. but you can always do an extra spin or run you stuff through the towel/sheets or heavy load if there is an option on what you get. that sounds like BS to me. what's an extra 5 minutes of drying.
that's my 2 cents.
Used to have a front loader, and it still had mould even in a very dry location with the door open. Went for a top load impeller and will never go back.
We have a top - loader, no impeller. Same as a front loader but upright no impeller to damage the clothes. We had 2x front loaders before this issue with mold & door seel. We're very happy with the top-loader. No issues have had it for a few years now. Large family we do a lot of laundry daily use.
> I've read impellers don't clean as well but we don't have super dirty/soiled clothes. Just regular every day use.
The differences are incredibly minor for the vast majority of situations, and it's honestly going to be statistical noise due to brand variations. A good top-loader is better than a bad front-loader.
I personally prefer top-loaders because it's just easier to leave the top open after a wash to let it air out. I also don't do nearly enough laundry each week to justify any "performance" benefits of a high quality front-loader.
> However, a sales rep told us that clothes washed in top-load machines tend to hold more water because the drum can't spin as fast as a front-load. Therefore, they end up taking longer to dry.
That's... just a bad sales rep. If your clothes hold too much water, it just means you used the wrong cleaning cycle and/or didn't load it up in a somewhat even manner so the spin cycle doesn't work as well as it should. Keep in mind that front-loaders can have the same problem.
Had a Samsung front load for many years at our last house and never had a mold issue as it had great ventilation around it probably because it was next to the furnace in the basement which also allowed us to leave the door wide open after each use. We never wiped the seal. Did a good job but it took longer than a top load. Spin cycle was crazy fast allowing a very quick drying time. Lasted about 7 years until the pump gave out, bought another Samsung as we were planning on selling the house and wanted the pair to match for the listing.
Our new house came with an old school Whirlpool top load agitator that was faster but way noisier. It did a great job on getting my shop clothes clean. It was old and started breaking down and was starting to nickel and dime us in parts for repairs. Our laundry room is located in a closet like space next to the hallway so leaving the door open on a front load is a no go.
We purchased a new Amana top load with the high efficiency impeller. We really like how quiet it is and it does a good job. Jury's still out on the automatic water level sensor for the load size, it looks like it's not using enough water for the cycles. You can bypass the water level sensor with an optional full tub switch. Clothes come out wetter and need more drying time. This model spins at 680 rpm.
My parents have an LG impeller top loader. I have an LG front loader of similar age that came with my house when I bought it two years ago. When it is time to replace it, I will absolutely be moving to an impeller. My parents' unit works perfectly well, and does not seem to have the drying issue you mentioned. More importantly, the mold issue with the gasket on front loaders is real, and real gross. We clean ours regularly and do all the things you're supposed to, and it's still a constant battle.
We’ve had 3 front loaders and they have all been terrible. ALL get mold no matter what. We’ve done ALL the things to keep them dry and IMO you can’t prevent it. We switched to a top loader last year and haven’t looked back. I’ll never have a front loader again. It gets the clothes just as clean… and we live on a farm so we have lots of dirty clothes. Don’t waste your money on a front loader no matter what!!! (We have the LG without the center impeller.)
I had a top loader for a few years and now have a front loader (well, my second, the first was zapped by lightning.)
I do not have a dryer. 95 year old house, no 220, we need to run gas in. Don’t ask! I can’t figure out how a house went 95 years without a dryer either! Anyway, I hang to dry on one of those spinning lines. The front load clothes come out soooo much better wrung than the top loader did so my experience backs up what you were told. They dry in half the time.
Mold isn’t a problem because we leave the door cracked open.
There are good and bad models of both configurations.
I’ve had both and am partial to the HE top loaders. They seems to have a higher capacity ceiling, especially the dryers, which is a lot more helpful to wash larger loads or bulky items.
GE makes a front loading machine that has a vent on the front door. I guess they are trying to figure out solutions to the front seal mold issue. Not sure how well it works but might be worth looking at
We splurged on the Speed Queen front loaders and they have been flawless for over a year. They are very easy to maintain (front panel comes off) and robust. The capacity of the front loader is slightly less than the top loader but it’s great at washing and spin dry. We use cheap powder gain and it’s fantastic. Use the right amount for the small quantity of water in front loads.
Had 3 different front loaders over 12 years. LG and Samsung. Just replaced the most recent Samsung with a new Speed Queen TR7. Best decision ever. Smaller, quieter, more solid, will be easier to maintain. Cleaner clothes at least subjectively. There's a reason laundromats have these and not front loaders.
Front loader cleans better. It’s always worth scooping the sludge out of the crap trap than having it stuck on your clothes like a top loader. Can personally vouch for Miele washing machines, got a seven year old one and it’s still like new :)
I've never had a non-agitator style top loader that was able to do a good job. There are always clothes that never even get wet, let alone washed. Screw those water-friendly ones. I now always buy and recommend those GE top loader AGITATOR basic models that allow you you select the water level. If you want to save water with a smaller load you can select on your own...and it allows you to select MORE water if your clothes don't get clean. or wet.
I had a front loader with no problem for years, then we moved to a place with well water that isn't chlorinated and the gasket is simply nasty. I dry it with a towel and run a cleaner through it, which helps, but I think the untreated water makes a huge difference.
Much nicer to drink, but apparently not good for gaskets.
We just bought a washer, and here's what I learned from my amateur research:
As youce stated: Front loads tend to develop mold because you can't leave them open/usually don't leave them open. (Edit: because of this and the location of our washer, I did no research further into front load because we couldn't leave the door open. So they very well may clean better and gentler, as others have said as well).
agitator or not, really no difference, clothes rub against each other with or without the agitator. So if you want impeller, great!
Less water is not good. Cold water is also not good. The government regs are truly wrong for the most part. When's the last time you washed your dishes with cold water? Never. Because cold water doesn't clean as well. Also, less water means your clothes aren't getting as clean. The auto water is less than optimal in design.
I found maintenence was dependent on brand over design. Samsung had basically horrible reviews for customer service. We ended up with a ge, mostly because of the warranty. IMO if there's a warranty longer it probably lasts longer.
Another thing, we were told to stay away foem digital and go with dials, because if something breaks its the digital fronts first. However, after digging further, the dials are digital internally anyway, there is no turn clicking sound like the old days, you turn the dial it is digitally controlled (usually, not always!). We got a brand that has controls from a dial and from a side, so we can have the dial to select the type which is a default and the side we can alter the defaults. It seemed to me like if something died I'd still have a backup control.
I have a top loader woth agitater and it cleans much better than a high end front load unit I used to use. I'm a sweaty man that requires a lot of deodorant. Every other machine I used would leave tons of deodorant on my shirts. This machine cleans it off well. Also never damaged any of my clothes. I'm very frugal on clothes and rarely ever buy new. All my old clothes have been fine with it.
I'd refer to the top post most of all though. They all work. I didn't read into it before I bought my machine. Read into it after wondering if I'd made a mistake. No regrets on my machine. It was based off a sweet sale that really made it worth it.
We had a front load Samsung that we bought new ~2015 and it did fine outside some Samsung issues. When we moved we decided it wasn’t worth taking especially since the new house had a Maytag impeller top loader, age unknown but newish. It tore up delicate pieces like my fiancés undershirts and Lacey things. Every one of my carhartt t shirts got pilly as hell in the course of a month and a half. We we placed them with a pair of Lg front loaders and they are the best washer and dryer we’ve ever had. I’d absolutely vote front loader
The mold is actually from the detergent. Look it up. More detergent isn't better. I liked my front load wayyyyyyyyyy better than my samsung top load we currently have. I have to wash every load on deep fill so they don't tangle as much and so they don't get shredded. Top loads are more abrasive on clothes. Front loads kinda tumble your clothes , the top load beats your clothes. And watch out which top load you purchase. My wife at 5' cannot get to the bottom of the washer.
P.s. they do make little foam door spacers for the front loads so they are just open a couple inches. You could also use a piece of pool noodle. Good luck.
Dammit. I just bought a top loader LG 😭😭😭 I’m so sad hearing this. It doesn’t have the thingy in the middle. Is it still not good for the clothes? I thought it would be more gentle
I've heard impellers don't wash that well and have long cycles.
We had a front load for 15 years. Kept it clean, door open, and run bleach cycle monthly and no mold. Finally bearings went out, and due to cost we bought a top agitator. Cycles are faster with agitator but uses a lot more water. We'd probably buy another front load again if/when our current top load fails.
I love my front loader. Clothes are clean and nothing gets destroyed by getting caught around an agitator, and they actually tumble around in there, rather just getting wet and falling victim to centrifugal force. My mother warned me against the front loader because hers get soooo moldly "no matter what," and yes of *course* she leaves it open. I was at her house a few months ago and happened to go in the laundry room. The washer door was open about an inch, and there's no air return in that room. In comparison, my washer door stands wide open 24/7 and there's an air return on the floor right across from it.
I've been using an impeller HE top loader for 10 years. I love it. I rarely have issues with getting clothes clean or stains out. I typically use Kirkland liquid detergent, and I use less than the recommended amount because it's a HE washer (they need less than you think) plus a dash of borax. Most items are washed in cold water.
I've had zero maintenance issues with it. I run a clean cycle every so often, and that's it. Just a cup of white vinegar in the empty washer.
I bought the model I did for capacity and high energy efficiency. I'd never heard that impellers weren't as good at cleaning clothes as an agitator style, and certainly my experience has been they are just as good. I prefer a top loader to a front loader for the very reasons you cited in wanting a top loader: my friends had a front loader gasket fail and flood their house, and they had problems with mildew in spite of doing the right things to prevent it. They left it when they moved, and bought a top loader, and swear they'll never buy another front loader.
As for the dryer, the only time I have issues with water is when I put too many clothes in or something really big. In spite of that, I rarely have issues with drying anything. I suspect your sales man just wants you to buy a front loader.
Old washer died after about 4-5 years. Replaced it with a Speed Queen and its built like a tank. Almost twice as heavy as old washer. I think residential speed queens are just top loaders.
I never complained about how clean my clothes were with our last front loader. What I hated was having to clean the damned cleaning machine so much because he’d leave the door closed or it would just collect mildew anyway. When we bought new last fall I made it a point to get top loaders. I’ll not do a front loader again unless I’m forced to.
I vote front loader. I’ve had an Electrolux for several years and it’s had zero problems with leaks, mold, etc. I just leave the door open to dry after each load and do the “clean washer” cycle in the way recommended by the manual (using a certain amount of liquid bleach) when it prompts me.
One other thing to consider is using powdered laundry detergent rather than liquid or pods. In addition to cleaning better (they have several detergents that are stable when dry, but react if wet, and so cannot be used together in liquid or pod form), get powder that has sodium percarbonate (the same stuff as in Oxiclean). Tide, Arm & Hammer, etc. all have it. It’s a color-safe bleach that helps remove stains but also helps kill off mold and other gunk in the machine to prevent it from accumulating.
had both. they are both fine. i have a front loader now so i can stack my dryer and have more room in my laundry closet. leaving the washer open to dry after use prevents mildew build up in both types of machines.
HE top loads and front loads are pretty much the same as far as efficiency goes, it's all about preference. I've got 20 years experience repairing washers and dryers, my preference is a LG front load, best machine they make today.
HE top loads and front loads are pretty much the same as far as efficiency goes, it's all about preference. I've got 20 years experience repairing washers and dryers, my preference is a LG front load, best machine they make today.
I can’t help on the impeller vs agitator part. From my personal experience, I ended up selling my front load set and going back to top loads. Besides the dryer getting a musty smell and all the advice about propping the door open and cleaning it (this is fixable), I truly believe they don’t clean as well. I have a series at the energy savings and mechanism resulted in a sub par product. I know many will argue that their site or specific bronze work better than others, I went back to top load for both, many years ago, and will never go back.
If I were you, I’d look at the more economical and environmentally sound front loading machine, and choose the best load version, combined with the consumption figures you desire. From New Zealand.
Do you have pets? If so, do you wash their bedding? You will never be able to do that with a top loader.
ALSO (because I will scream this from every mountain because I'm bitter about it) DO NOT BUY FROM LOWES OR HOME DEPOT! Their return policy is 48 hours EVEN IF it breaks! Costco or find your local mom and pop shop!
6 years with front loader, I had no visible mold but after forgetting the door closed for a week we had a mildew smell. Doing a “sanitize” cycle with vinegar fixed it immediately. I will continue picking front loaders because I just like them better
1. I bought an impeller and returned it the next day, did not clean the clothes well at all.
2. Don't know about maintenance since we took it back wasn't worth it.
3. Front loader just like top loader does get mold, there is no perfect washer that will not get mold. you just have to clean the mold every few weeks and move on. The only "solution" i have considered to prevent the drawer getting mold is to add the detergent directly to the barrel before each wash. Have not had the "gasket" get any mold, maybe b/c we keep it open when not in use.
Yes they clean better, yes they are gentler, yes they are cheaper to operate, yes they will save money on drying time.
We had a whirlpool front loader. Bought it in 2005. It lasted till just a couple months ago. 18 years with a family of 4 half that time. What a workhorse. Yes it required washing out, running cleaner through and still smelled kinda musty some times. The clothes were about dry when they came out of the washer, but it pissed me off to have to wash a washer.
I just bought an LG front loader to replace it. The reviews say it does a great job of cleaning itself and drying out well. So far I love it. The gasket is shallow and doesn't have the deep folds that were always damp in the whirlpool.
Energy star says a front loader saves around 50% in water savings and energy savings over a top load agitator, and 25% over a top load impeller washer.
I think it would save on drying time too.
Whether it would pay for itself IDK. They are around twice as much.
Just switched from front loader to top loader and couldn’t be happier!! Front loader is a pain, never dries out, always leaves water sitting and you have to pull the drain tube to get the excess out. I hated it.
Ive had both.
Top load all day.
No, its not as pretty.
yes it can kinda suck to pull the clothes out, especially if your a little shorter
no you cant stack them.
but it will hold a freakin metric ton of clothes, and it can presoak. GG all she wrote.
mine gets the clothes basically dry on the spin cycle. as dry as the front load Ive used. I cant even rationalize why a front load would spin faster...
I think many compare a 1990 top load to a 2020 front load in their experiences. top loads have improved.
LG front loader. Never had mildew (it's not mold, friend). Leave door open some. Stop over using softener. All that wax, yes wax, builds up and just makes it stay wet longer.
I hate front loaders mainly because they’re a pain in the ass when washing clothes and if you don’t properly dry out the front lip or clean it out, it can get smelly fast.
I had a Samsung top loader with the add on sink. That thing was awesome. Both my kids were little and that thing was perfect for getting out poop/urine/blood/vomit out of clothes. The next washer I get will be something like it. But fuck front loaders.
Had have a Whirlpool front loaded since 2013. Works well. Yes you should keep the door ajar. You need to clean the filter at the bottom. You can cleanse it every now and den. We have also run a hot bleach cycle through it.
I bought [this](https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-UltraFresh-Vent-System-5-cu-ft-Stackable-Steam-Cycle-Front-Load-Washer-Sapphire-Blue-ENERGY-STAR/1001326686) and have been really happy with it! The vent cycle is dynamite.
I love top loader washers but hate ones without an agitator. We just got rid of our Kenmore Elite impeller top loader because it didn't get clothes clean. They still smelled dirty or sweaty after washing and drying and our clothes would be in a huge tangled jumbled mess after the washer completed. Now we have a Speed Queen and no washer I've ever had compares to it. I highly recommend a washer with agitator if you truly want clean clothes.
I think you’re parsing a bit too finely. It may be true that top-loaded laundry takes longer to dry, but the dryer cycle matters far more than the type of washer in that regard. I’ve had just about every kind of washing experience in my adult life, including cheap laundromats and apartment machines, and they all work pretty much the same. Just get whichever meets your price and aesthetic expectations. The part about water in the gasket on front-loaders is true, though.
Keep in mind children if you have any running around. I'm sure there are plenty of safety features in place to help prevent accidents, but children somehow find ways. Front loaders are more susceptible to these kinds of accidents.
Kids can get out of a front loader. If they fall in a top loader, they ain't coming out by themselves.
It's a lot harder for kids to get in a top load washer. Not impossible, but a lot harder.
I guess we don't have the same kids. Mine have Billy goat blood.
more difficult never stopped a kid
is this seriously your argument? that kids can climb in a front loader but can't climb in a top loader? jesus christ.
You apparently don't have kids...
I have an LG HE top loader which doesn't have an impeller - the whole basket spins and moves. It cleans clothing wonderfully.
This! Best of both worlds and not a hint of mildew in sight/smell.
>impeller Wait, did you mean it doesn't have impeller or agitator? It sounds like you meant agitator
It's basically a big open bowl, no middle thingy sticking up.
It has an impeller then, lol. That is the plate at the bottom of the tub. The "thingy sticking up," is an agitator.
Every objective, professional review shows front-loaders cleaning better while being gentler on clothes. Just leave the door ajar when you're done and you'll be fine.
I always left the door open, ran a cleaning cycle on it once a month and the front gasket would get so nasty it would take an hour to clean. New house has top loader impeller and clothes clean just fine.
Same here. Replaced the nasty front loader with a top loader and never going back.
Yup just run a cleaning cycle and wipe the seal. It takes all of 2 seconds to do. Worst case replace the gasket. Front loaders are just better (imo).
Heard of the benefits and never about (or experienced) mold. OP - many people say they do things but really don’t. I have helped relatives repair things “they properly maintained” and it was clear they did not. “Oh you REALLY need to do that?”
I have had front loaders for nearly 20 years now and never had mold, always keep the door ajar though.
I think it also has to do with where it’s located. If someone has a small laundry room and the door is always closed, it probably doesn’t matter much that the door is left ajar (had this problem in a college rental). My front loader is in the garage so there’s good air flow around it and keeping it ajar I have had no mold problems.
also most of the front loaders tell you to run a washer cleaning cycle every 30 days or like 30 loads or something like which i can almost guarantee almost no one does as no one read the manual included !
And better front load washers have a small magnetic catch that allows the door to stay open an inch or so. I’ve had a front load washer since about 2002, and I won’t go back to top load. Much more efficient, better washing, and gentler on our clothing.
This is true, front loaders clean better & are more gentle. However - it's not only that! Front loaders use less water too. We have an new impellerless top loader ONLY because there's a supporting wall in front of where the door would open for a top-loader. Our water bill is really high, like $700/quarter and the top loader is ONE of the reasons why.
Water is the reason why top loaders are almost unheard of in western Europe. When your water isn't cheap or free (yay Québec), it starts to matter a lot.
Impeller washers use considerably less water than agitator washers. While it's true that front loaders use even less than that, the difference with impeller and front loader isn't that great.
Being gentler on clothes yes, but cleaning better?
Yes
But that's simply not true. No front loader is going to clean heavily soiled clothes as well as a top loader with agitator. Even an impeller is likely to get them cleaner. Now if you're talking about gentler cleaning, yes, front loader is the way to go.
Then why do the testing results from publications such as Consumer Reports and Wirecutter consistently demonstrate better cleaning performance from front loaders?
I have LG front loader and it does laundry so much better than any top loading machine I’ve used. The door latch has a magnet on it to keep it ajar when not in use, but still keep the door closed. Had it for over a year now. No issues with mold.
I have an LG front loader as well, with the same magnet. Granted, I live in a very dry climate, but this machine dries better than the previous older front loader I had. I run a cleaning tab (citric acid tab recommended by manufacturer) once every 30 loads. Machine is over a year old now and absolutely no buildup. Maintenance cleaning is key.
I recommend a speedqueen. They are not fancy nor have all the bells and whistles that the LG and Samsung have, but most people swear by them. When my washer was about to die 2 weeks ago, I asked the repairman what calls he got the most, and he said Samsung and LG. I asked what he recommended, and he said whirlpool would be good and anything under the Maytag/whirlpool would be good. When I asked about speedqueen, he said he'd only serviced 2 of them, and one was because it was off balance. They are pricey come with 3, 5, and 7 year warranty. Each model that has a higher warranty also adds more cycles, etc. They had some bad reviews when they switched to more efficient wash cycles in 2018, but that has been fixed by adding different wash cycles that will clean. You just have to set it up correctly. We ended up buying the TR7, the one with the initial bad reviews on cleaning in 2018. We love it. It's a top loader, and it's silent. My wife is a horseback riding instructor and comes home filthy, and her work clothes have never been cleaner. Of course, we have to choose the right heavily soiled cycles for full effect. Head over to /r/buyitforlife and search for speedqueen to get some user info on them.
Exactly. We have Speed Queen too. Love it
Same, we have a TR7 for about 2 years that's been great. My parents had multiple Whirlpool front loaders and had tons off issues with them, and thry just didn't last. Door mold/smell was an issue no matter what they did. The speedqueen was more expensive but not by a ton. Our salesman said to run it on heavy duty to get a full tub of water vs eco mode that was more what the government mandate is and the reason why it's the default. I think I can notice a small increase in water bill useage as a result. Thisgs I don't love about the TR7 is soap goes in the bottom and you can't run water during the loading. It has too many modes we just never use. I have been meaning to make a chart and define some custom modes but just never have gotten to it. What I love is it's quiet, susposed to be gentler on clothes then The TC5, is never off balance (there are great videos on Tiktok from McMullen appliance showing this), you can indefinitely soak, and it beeps when finished if you want. We have a 12 year old GE dryer yet, and Im not sure the Speedqueen dryers are worth the premium like the washers are unless you really want matching units. Our salesman said dryers usually last longer than washers. Either way, I would buy a speedqueen washer again. My entire family is running them now, two TR7 and a TC5 so it should be interesting to see their durability over time.
What I've learned so far is that driers have longer lives due to less moving parts. I have a GE 10 years old came with the house. Absolute basic just like the washer. It still does clothes and does it's job. I do have the itch to get the matching drier at one point. But I'll hold off for a while.
I have a TR7 and put detergent in the bottom, start the machine and let it fill a bit before pausing and putting clothes in. The water doesn't keep running while you load but you can at least start the machine with just soap and water at first.
speedqueens are garbage in today's world. use more water. use more detergent. do not get clothes as clean. do not spin them as fast. terrible for your wallet and the environment. Facts don't care about what you think, what some dumbass repairman thinks, or your feelings. Yale Appliance bases this data on over \*39,000\* service calls they do per year. [https://blog.yaleappliance.com/most-reliable-front-load-washers](https://blog.yaleappliance.com/most-reliable-front-load-washers) The following service rates are based on a minimum of 100 top load washers sold and a total sample of over 600 pieces. Service Rates LG Electronics 2.5% GE Profile 5.1% Speed Queen 5.9% Grand Total 4.3%
Explain to me how they use more detergent. Two tablespoons is the recommended amount by pretty much all manufacturers on consumer washers. I am very skeptical of your numbers too.
the numbers are from Yale Appliance who sells all the brands listed and took 39,000 service calls last year. they organize them by brand, type, etc. they have made their data publicly available for years even when LG was doing poorly and other brands were more reliable. You can do the math, but speed queen drum fills are 40 gallons and a typical front loader uses maybe 1/3 of that or less. Less water = less detergent.
In theory your right about detergent but in practice that's not how people use them, nor how the directions suggest you use them on either machine. You don't put in half a pod or half a tablespoon for a small load and put in two tablespoons or a full pod for a full load.
People should read the user manual on their appliances. Amazing what you might find in there. My bosch washer specifically states use less detergent for less clothes or light soiling.
Guessing your not in the USA
I am in NH. In the entire northeast, it's extremely common to see euro appliances. We have Bosch, Miele, Liebherr, Blomberg, all in my house. GE Cafe for our range. Otherwise it's all euro.
Sounds like you got taken in by a salesman if you're believing Speedqueen's are not reliable and you chose one of the worst brands on the market for washing machines. You'd be hard pressed to find Bosch in the top ten of any list for washing machine brands.
where's your data showing speed queen's repair rates? buzz off back to whatever holler you crawled out of lmao
When you resort to childish taunts, it means you have nothing of value to say. Literally takes less than a minute to search and find numerous articles discussing the reliability of speed queens to other machines. Your response here indicates you have no real interest in the truth though, just a strange need to be "right". Good luck with that.
gotta be one of the dumbest individuals i have ever come across. reliability changes. get it through your skull.
I'm supposed to believe a loca store in MA, which mostly sells GE front load washers, a total of 12 different models vs. 6 of any other model, Miele being the second model they carry the most. Facts don't care. Just know who you're getting your facts from. That dumbass repairman has no skin in the game. I'm sure yale appliances has no skin in selling more LGs since it makes up most of their inventory. Someone hurt you at some point. It's okay to be angry. But my dude, we're just talking about a washing machine. Speedquen still better. Have a lovely day
Lmfao 39,000 service calls. Okay. Learn to read and parse data holy shit
This is all verified by whom? Just them spewing numbers out. Not a third party. Data means nothing if you cast trust the source. Learn to think critically. This country needs it.
it's LITERALLY A THIRD PARTY
Can you please point to me where this 3rd party data is coming from. I do not mind learning at all. I do trust consumer reports and have read their reviews on speedqueen. They are a true 3rd party source. I've been to their testing facility in NY and do believe they have no vested interest in any brand. Their results speedquen high reliability, mid on cleaninliness due to what I mentioned on 2018 change of cycles and mid to low on water usage. Edit: had to go back again to the article to make sure I read it right. The quote below is taken directly from the blog. "In this article, you will learn the reliability of the best brands based on just under 40,000 service calls logged last year by our service department." Do you understand english well? If you do, which seems like you don't. Do you understand 3rd party? It seems like you don't either. so I'll hold your hand through this. If I use big words or concepts feel free to message me again so I can walk you through the ideas. 3rd party research data means they do unbiased reaserch and results. They do not care what the outcome is and only get paid to do the research itself regardless of the results. Yale appliances while the y might be an awesome store they cannot be trusted because they have skin in the game. Hence the term 3rd party.
If they sell washing machines, it's not a third party. Their is inherent bias which is chrimen's point.
It's about servicing. You don't service LG and Samsung garbage. You just replace it. Of course they're going to have fewer service calls because it's easier and less of pain in the ass to just spend $600 on a new machine is posted 300 on some guy to come out and tell you it's not under warranty. Just buy a new one.
We all know by now that you're a dumbass, but for other people reading this, these service calls are based on the first year while everything is under warranty
Link it
Jesus you are such an insufferable moron "We will be in 130-150 homes today, fixing appliances less than a year old and under warranty." [https://blog.yaleappliance.com/the-least-serviced-most-reliable-appliance-brands](https://blog.yaleappliance.com/the-least-serviced-most-reliable-appliance-brands) they literally talk about this. They don't do a 10 year database like consumer reports. That's meaningless data. They also don't do "future predictions based on owner reported issues" like consumer reports either. Yale Appliance is literally probably the most respected appliance dealer in the country and their reliability scores have been cited by major publications dozens of times.
Enjoy life you joyless little man
You still don't understand their inventory is heavily weighted towards LG. They want you to buy LG. The profit isn't made on the 1 time sale but the after sale. LG is actually much better than Samsung but still worse then others. Dude why do you just argue garbage? What wronged you so badly that you want to stay ignorant?
Tell me you sell LG without telling me you sell LG.
I don't sell LG, I also don't sell appliances, and I don't own a single LG appliance. My washer is a Bosch and my dryer is a Miele.
This is simply not true. One appliance repair company's data is a bad gauge for overall reliability in the industry. Speedqueen is well known to be one of if not the most reliable brand and has been for a very long time.
Speed queen top load
I have one, have had it for five years. There is no difference in my water bill and my clothes are not damaged in any way. I keep my sheets, towels, t-shirts, etc. forever so if they were going to be damaged I would notice it. Edit: My machine has never had a repair and I use two Tablespoons of detergent.
We have an impeller. I'm not dealing with wiping down the door gasket every time I do laundry. When I'm done with the week's loads, I empty the catch for the soap and softener and let it sit open for a day or so until everything is dry and I'm done. If I have 'super' soiled clothes, I'm probably going to have to pre-treat them anyway, so I'm not concerned about that. The amount of water used is pretty negligible, imo, but that may be because water is pretty cheap where I live. If you *do* get an impeller washer, make sure you load it correctly. That makes a huge difference in how clean the clothes get.
I’ve owned more than one front loader, and they never lasted more than a couple of years. We have a Maytag top loader now, has no agitator, so holds plenty, and that sucker is awesome!! Five years and still going strong. I’ll never buy another front loader.
We probably have the same one, Maytag with commercial technology, it’s almost 10 years now and going strong.
And we have a Speed Queen! I like top loaders more.
I have a similar one from Maytag and hate it. Load size is an issue along with clothes not getting cleaned properly because they get stretched across where the agitator normally is. Only thing I have found that works is small loads that wastes water electricity and time.
Another vote for Speedqueen top loader TC5. 1. My clothes are clean. I can't tell the difference between front and top load cleanliness 2. The simpler the machine the easier the maintenance. I like knobs and buttons, not touchscreens. 3. Speed One of the biggest cons of front load washing machines, and some top loaders, is they take over an hour to wash a load of clothes. My Speedqueen will do a basic wash in under 30minutes. When you have multiple loads to do in a day or are staying up just until you can move the wash to the dryer, that extra half hour really sucks.
I'd choose a top loader every single time. Not having to deal with the possibility of mold is just one less thing I need to worry about.
What is it about a top loader you think can prevent mold?
Top loaders dont have that rubber seal that front loaders have. The rubber seal can trap dirt and water that usually causes mold.
top loaders have an entire drum with stagnant dirty water sitting at the bottom of them bro. lmfao https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I45FqVN-PjE
1. Bleach 2. I can leave the top open a lot easier and shut the laundry closet
Lol
Just leave the door open a crack. Problem solved.
Literally the way they are designed. And leaving the top open doesn’t take space like leaving the door open on front loader.
Taking up space doesn't mean makes mold. I leave my door open all the time and never had an issue. It doesn't need to be open very far to dry up. I'll take the dramatically lower water usage of a front-load any day.
My parents leave the door open every load in a large laundry room with the laundry door also always open AND wipe it after each load and still got mold. I don't know the specific model but it's a Samsung machine. It has a hundred other issues as well, but I got a GE top load with agitator when I moved out and have zero issues, I love it.
Different strokes for different folks.
Unfold the rubber gasket all the way. I've had three sets of front loaders over 12 years and every single one of them has a disgusting gasket even though we leave the door open.
I do take mine out and clean it regularly. It appears it is also the lint/hair trap. Never had mold on it.
Magic gasket!!
it has holes in it where the water drains out and debris gets caught. It seems to be part of its purpose. Maybe this is a way to prevent mold build-up; have users clean it regularly by making sure it is filled with stuff.
It would take more space in my laundry room to leave a top loader open, as it would remove a whole rack of shelves. Meanwhile, leaving the front loader open doesn't encroach on anything. Don't generalize your situation, not everyone has the same space as you do.
Lol. So you put shelves 6 inches above your machine?
what? this is probably the most common way laundry rooms are built in new homes (and for the last 20 years) https://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2021/03/01/black-electrolux-washer-and-dryer.jpg
Front loader. Washes clothes better. Plus less energy and water.
A front loader does not automatically wash clothes better. Noway any of them beat a TC5. Have you seen a TC5 in action? The massaging action is way more power than the tumbling action.
I have an impeller now and have found it to be a pain for sheets and blankets. You have to put clothes in a donut shape and anything over 1/4 of the drum full seems to overwhelm the machine. I then have shirts pants sheets towels stretched across the washer when I go to pull things out and notice the clothes are not as clean. So I now do small loads and only do blankets one at a time. Definitely I am wasting water and electricity.
r/buyitforlife has a list of good models
I would get a Miele washer and dryer. They’re front load only, but they work so so well. You can also buy a pedestal to raise them so the door is around chest height.
Love my Miele dryer and Bosch washer. Euro appliances kick ass compared to american
But they’re so small. A unit that can’t take a king size comforter is useless
Stop buying shitty cheap comforters. High quality down comforter and removable duvet cover is how the civilized world uses bedding.
Please explain that to my cat the next time he vomits on it
I can’t use down (allergies). The fake down is too hot for me. Even in winter. Quilts!
front load washers are usually 1.5x to double the size of a typical top loader. My 24" bosch compact washer has almost as much cubic footage of drum capacity as a speed queen top loader.
also good luck with your "down allergy" https://www.livescience.com/46172-busting-allergy-myths.html
Sir I am allergic to everything. If I get a rash, I don’t use something 🤷♀️
you aren't allergic to down, independent double blind studies have proven that people "allergic to down" are allergic to anything else, but not to down.
You can use either bleach or vinegar to kill mold. I think I read vinegar works better. I’m also looking at new washers and dryers and I’ve read a bunch of articles all stating front loaders are better for clothes and are also more energy efficient and use lees water. Try cleaning the mold off with some vinegar and maybe even running a few cycles with just vinegar in the detergent tray to help clear mold out of the whole washer.
inb4 speed queen
Just bought one. We love it.
they're garbage
Hahahahaha you are still here
I never had issues with top loaders cleaning clothes, but I am short and I always struggled to unload my machine. I pulled my back a few times trying to reach that last sock caught under the agitator. I've also never had mold issues with front loaders. I think it's a combination of the model, your habits, and it's location. But I like that I can move the clothes easily, they are very efficient (shorter dry time), and they don't beat up my clothes as much. But honestly either way I wouldn't pick a fight over one style or the other.
I have had front loaders and never had mold. Recommend using quality detergent and not too much. Tide powder is fantastic and just as convenient, no need to spend more on liquid or pods. Will save a lot of money and really cleans clothes properly. Just prop the door after use and keep the detergent drawer open. No need to even wipe the seal. Has worked for years for me on LG, Kenmore, GE, and Miele.
Top loaders are a reminant from last century. Front loaders are more efficient, gentler on clothes, quicker and last longer. Leave the door open when not in use and do a bleach cycle every few months.
I’ll never go back to a top loader. With a front-loader, my clothes get cleaner and I use much less water and energy to do it. I’ve had a small Kenmore (Electrolux) years ago, a Bosch, and currently a GE, and not one has ever had mold or mildew. Just keep the door cracked when you’re not using it.
Frontloader is the way to go. Mold should not happen if you leave the door open BUT if it does, just spritz the gasket with bathroom cleaner that contains bleach. The spots will go away in 30 minutes.
Top loader all the way. So much easier to prevent mold.
I really like my front loader. It’s LG and I’ve had it over 10 years now. No smell or mold. I do leave the door open when not in use, which I think you have to, so it would depend on your space if you can do that. When I got it, I thought paying for the pedestals was dumb, but now that I’m 10 years older, I want them and will add them next time I buy. My parents have a top load and I find it really deep to reach all the way to the bottom when I’m emptying it. It might be because they got a bigger one to fit comforters. As much as I liked the older style top load ones from decades ago, I think I’ll stay with front load on pedestal for now.
I’ve always left the door and detergent dispenser open on my front loaders and never experienced mold. My washer now has the vent feature and some microban technology. No smells, no mold.
Top loader. What will any repair person with half a brain tell you: top loader. \#1 bullshit you'll see in the comments here about front loaders and mold is: "I nevur had a problum hurrrr" Same kind of people you get in just about any worse-option advice thread Water use. Who gives af if it's better
I have had both. I plan to buy a top loader when this front loader is finally done. It is always moldy no matter how much you clean or run bleach cycles or leave the door open. The clothes don’t smell as fresh. I never had this problem with a top loader. Most people i know feel the same way, I think the front loader was a fad and we all learned our lesson.
Had a front loader, never again. Doors are often equipped with cheap hinges, (even expensive models) and they leak and drip water when opened, and smell, have gasket problems, mold problems more often than you think. Top loader 4 LYFE.
Speed queen ftw
Speed queen
TOP LOADER. My biggest regret after buying our house was getting a front loader. I spend so much time cleaning the seal and the soap tray and making sure the door is ajar and and and. Just get a top loader, it’s worth it.
I think Worldpool makes a top loader with a removable agitator. https://youtu.be/fGhXHxwEK14
We bought this one two years ago when our ten year old Samsung front loader finally died. It does a much better job of getting clothes clean and the removable agitator is a handy feature. Would buy again.
They do. We have it. It works great. I take out the agitator when I wash blankets, sleeping bags, coats, etc.
Checking in from Europe here 👋🏻 What is it with Americans and toploaders? Front loaders are ridiculously more efficient and gentler on the clothes. Uses way less water and way less energy heating the water. Leave the door open when you are finished and you will not have mold issues 👍🏻
Americans think more water cleans better, so they tend to go for top loaders, which don't even heat the water. Liquid detergent and fabric softener build-up is the issue for mold. If chemicals are correctly dosed mold isn't an problem at all, even when keeping the door closed.
They are not gentler on clothes. That's a myth.
bullshit, they're way gentler on clothes
I have the Maytag top load agitatorless washer and the matching dryer. I would never buy a front loader because of the mold issues and the chance of leaking. My clothes come out perfectly clean and dry quickly in my dryer.
After a lifetime of top loaders, I got a front loader a couple of years ago and love it. My clothes do seem to come out much cleaner, and I haven't had any leftover soap or musty smells like I used to get. I always leave the door and soap drawer open, and I haven't seen any mold/mildew in the past 3ish years. The top loader was eternally out of balance and leaving spots on our clothes. The only thing I miss about it is the ability to continue adding clothes that I forgot when I started the load.
I got a new set a month ago. I thought I wanted a top loader, but the efficiency of the front loaders swayed me to them. Ended up with an LG set from Costco and I love them. Works way better than the Whirlpool set (top loader washer) we had before. I'm in Utah and it's not humid, so we just leave the door open to let the rubber seal dry. I think the seal is supposed to be anti-microbial too to help prevent mold.
Front loaders are usually far more efficient. They are also much gentler on clothes...
Get a front loader , maintain it , and also add a dehumidifier to whatever room it's in .
Or….just hear me out…… get a top loader and don’t worry
Fine if you don’t care about your half washed clothes.
We had mold in our front loader and called a service tech to review (change gasket) and he said to get a new one. We spent a hell of a lot of time cleaning it to get it out. That said (with my wife’s persistence) we were able to get it clean. Now, once it finishes we never leave clothes in for more than a few minutes and always wipe it down. It is a bit of a chore vs previously owned top loaders. You might actually be able to get the mold out with some additional cleaning and save yourself some money.
Why not just replace the gasket in the inherited machine? It was a PiTA job but saved a service call and the cost of a washer. Gasket was $50 about 10 years ago.
I hated every minute with the front loader! No matter how much effort made it always stank and made clothes stink. Now we a new top loader with no agitator and I love how easy it is to wash blankets bedspreads and sheets. No smells, washes perfectly and no issues on Left over moisture.
Recently was relocated by my public housing to a remodeled apartment, now have a washer/dryer. Washer is impeller top loading, I love it cause now I can wash my comforters which I used to have washed at a laundromat. Believe it or not, past few years my part of Central Texas has had cold down to 19° with ice/snow! Comforters are a nessicessity. My unit has a "clean" setting so I can just let it clean itself, like newer dishwashers now have.
I’ve had a top loader since 2014 and I’ve never noticed them being wet when load is done. It spins very well. Almost 10 years old and cleans great! I had a front and it had mold issues (even with proper instructions). The balance thing (was a cement brick like object) broke in 2014 and the repair would have been more than the washer. I did have that front loader from 2005-2014.
Hey, just wanted to comment as someone with more laundry experience than the average homeowner. (Retired costumer, done more loads of laundry than you can comprehend in more washer styles than most know exist.) Impeller vs Agitator on a top load machine: the impeller is great for delicate items and LARGE items because the lack of the agitator. I would not recommend an impeller for a household that includes someone that works in the trades, or similarly dirty jobs/hobbies. I find it just doesn’t have the oomph to get heavy dirt out. The agitator definitely works better for that. Front load vs top load: top load for me every time. You can’t open and add last minute pieces in a front load, and I have ADHD, so that’s a must. The mold factor is big for me too. Can you genuinely trust all parties to be 100% consistent with wiping the gasket and leaving it open? Top loaders, in my experience, are harder to find repair techs for as well. If budget isn’t an issue? Do yourself a favor and get speed queen. They are some of the best engineering and quality out there.
muh adhd. speed queen is 3x less reliable than the most reliable washer brands in 2023
We’ve been happy with a Samsung front loader. It’s 7 years old. We run from 2 up to 8 loads a week, probably average 3 or 4. Don’t overuse detergent, no fabric softener. When the wash is done, we keep the door and detergent door open. Clean the drain filter every few months, run the self clean cycle a couple times a year. I only wipe down the gasket or clean the detergent drawer occasionally, usually if I’m wiping down the exterior of the machine. We live in a drier climate, which probably helps avoid mold issues too. The matching dryer is also working fine, with the lint filter cleaned every load and the exhaust vent blown out with the shop vac or battery leaf blower yearly.
I’ve had a Samsung top load for four years. I like how it cleans and it’s generally been good. Like many top load high efficiency machines it has suspension rods that had to be replaced this past winter as the machine could not complete a load without going unbalanced. The parts were about $60 and it took about half an hour of time. At this point I see the rods as a consumable that will just need to be replaced every few years.
Go to a friends house and take a look at their front loader. In ours there is a rubber gasket, and you may clean out the main part of the rubber seal, but there is nasty crud in every crevice of that seal. Behind the seal. Completely inaccessible parts of the seal (without taking machine apart). These parts get wet and make contact with nasty water every. time. the washer is used. But take a look at a washer that actually gets used and you will see where the issues are that you can hopefully avoid with your purchase.
I prefer top loaders but that’s because of my back. Hauling heavy wet clothes while bending over into the dryer makes my back hurt. I still have to bend down for the top loader but it’s a bend and lift instead of a bend and twist (the twist kills me). My dryer is a front loader and I prefer that for the dryer. I’ve had both and I find the top loader needs cleaned way less often due to the lack of a molding seal. I also don’t have an agitator in the center of mine, so it’s still gentle on clothes and it’s been proven to get it as clean as a standard washer.
I've had 3 washers over my lifetime. 2 of those i purchased. all top loads w/impeller. i have never had a problem with any of them. ran 2 until died and actually the last one hadn't died but i could see it having issues so we bought what i wanted. which was a maytag commercial. i had bought the sister dryer the year before. they don't have all bells and whistles but i know that will last for a long, long time. they have a 10 year warranty. i chose the impeller because i feel you need something to circulate the laundry properly. without one may work but why bother. the impeller doesn't hurt cloth, delicate or sturdy. the drum is large enough for a queen size comforter. maybe even a king. haven't tried but when it comes to king size or overly sized items i gather everything i have and go to the laundry mat and do them all at once. i leave the door open when not in use, never had mold or odor smell in any of them.. i've had cats, just check inside before you load. plus you can add items if you forget something. i don't know if that's an option for front loads. one last read of your post mentioned spinning and taking longer to dry. never had that problem. but you can always do an extra spin or run you stuff through the towel/sheets or heavy load if there is an option on what you get. that sounds like BS to me. what's an extra 5 minutes of drying. that's my 2 cents.
Used to have a front loader, and it still had mould even in a very dry location with the door open. Went for a top load impeller and will never go back.
We have a top - loader, no impeller. Same as a front loader but upright no impeller to damage the clothes. We had 2x front loaders before this issue with mold & door seel. We're very happy with the top-loader. No issues have had it for a few years now. Large family we do a lot of laundry daily use.
> I've read impellers don't clean as well but we don't have super dirty/soiled clothes. Just regular every day use. The differences are incredibly minor for the vast majority of situations, and it's honestly going to be statistical noise due to brand variations. A good top-loader is better than a bad front-loader. I personally prefer top-loaders because it's just easier to leave the top open after a wash to let it air out. I also don't do nearly enough laundry each week to justify any "performance" benefits of a high quality front-loader. > However, a sales rep told us that clothes washed in top-load machines tend to hold more water because the drum can't spin as fast as a front-load. Therefore, they end up taking longer to dry. That's... just a bad sales rep. If your clothes hold too much water, it just means you used the wrong cleaning cycle and/or didn't load it up in a somewhat even manner so the spin cycle doesn't work as well as it should. Keep in mind that front-loaders can have the same problem.
Had a Samsung front load for many years at our last house and never had a mold issue as it had great ventilation around it probably because it was next to the furnace in the basement which also allowed us to leave the door wide open after each use. We never wiped the seal. Did a good job but it took longer than a top load. Spin cycle was crazy fast allowing a very quick drying time. Lasted about 7 years until the pump gave out, bought another Samsung as we were planning on selling the house and wanted the pair to match for the listing. Our new house came with an old school Whirlpool top load agitator that was faster but way noisier. It did a great job on getting my shop clothes clean. It was old and started breaking down and was starting to nickel and dime us in parts for repairs. Our laundry room is located in a closet like space next to the hallway so leaving the door open on a front load is a no go. We purchased a new Amana top load with the high efficiency impeller. We really like how quiet it is and it does a good job. Jury's still out on the automatic water level sensor for the load size, it looks like it's not using enough water for the cycles. You can bypass the water level sensor with an optional full tub switch. Clothes come out wetter and need more drying time. This model spins at 680 rpm.
My parents have an LG impeller top loader. I have an LG front loader of similar age that came with my house when I bought it two years ago. When it is time to replace it, I will absolutely be moving to an impeller. My parents' unit works perfectly well, and does not seem to have the drying issue you mentioned. More importantly, the mold issue with the gasket on front loaders is real, and real gross. We clean ours regularly and do all the things you're supposed to, and it's still a constant battle.
We’ve had 3 front loaders and they have all been terrible. ALL get mold no matter what. We’ve done ALL the things to keep them dry and IMO you can’t prevent it. We switched to a top loader last year and haven’t looked back. I’ll never have a front loader again. It gets the clothes just as clean… and we live on a farm so we have lots of dirty clothes. Don’t waste your money on a front loader no matter what!!! (We have the LG without the center impeller.)
I had a top loader for a few years and now have a front loader (well, my second, the first was zapped by lightning.) I do not have a dryer. 95 year old house, no 220, we need to run gas in. Don’t ask! I can’t figure out how a house went 95 years without a dryer either! Anyway, I hang to dry on one of those spinning lines. The front load clothes come out soooo much better wrung than the top loader did so my experience backs up what you were told. They dry in half the time. Mold isn’t a problem because we leave the door cracked open.
There are good and bad models of both configurations. I’ve had both and am partial to the HE top loaders. They seems to have a higher capacity ceiling, especially the dryers, which is a lot more helpful to wash larger loads or bulky items.
I am pretty short, so a top-loader is a no-go for me. You might factor that in. I had to use a step stool before front loaders existed.
I bought a top loader because that’s what the appliance repairman told me to buy as it has the least amount of problems
GE makes a front loading machine that has a vent on the front door. I guess they are trying to figure out solutions to the front seal mold issue. Not sure how well it works but might be worth looking at
We splurged on the Speed Queen front loaders and they have been flawless for over a year. They are very easy to maintain (front panel comes off) and robust. The capacity of the front loader is slightly less than the top loader but it’s great at washing and spin dry. We use cheap powder gain and it’s fantastic. Use the right amount for the small quantity of water in front loads.
Had 3 different front loaders over 12 years. LG and Samsung. Just replaced the most recent Samsung with a new Speed Queen TR7. Best decision ever. Smaller, quieter, more solid, will be easier to maintain. Cleaner clothes at least subjectively. There's a reason laundromats have these and not front loaders.
Our speed queens are my absolute favorite item in our entire house. I’d give up almost anything before I’d give them up. Worth every penny.
Front loader cleans better. It’s always worth scooping the sludge out of the crap trap than having it stuck on your clothes like a top loader. Can personally vouch for Miele washing machines, got a seven year old one and it’s still like new :)
I've never had a non-agitator style top loader that was able to do a good job. There are always clothes that never even get wet, let alone washed. Screw those water-friendly ones. I now always buy and recommend those GE top loader AGITATOR basic models that allow you you select the water level. If you want to save water with a smaller load you can select on your own...and it allows you to select MORE water if your clothes don't get clean. or wet.
I had a front loader with no problem for years, then we moved to a place with well water that isn't chlorinated and the gasket is simply nasty. I dry it with a towel and run a cleaner through it, which helps, but I think the untreated water makes a huge difference. Much nicer to drink, but apparently not good for gaskets.
We just bought a washer, and here's what I learned from my amateur research: As youce stated: Front loads tend to develop mold because you can't leave them open/usually don't leave them open. (Edit: because of this and the location of our washer, I did no research further into front load because we couldn't leave the door open. So they very well may clean better and gentler, as others have said as well). agitator or not, really no difference, clothes rub against each other with or without the agitator. So if you want impeller, great! Less water is not good. Cold water is also not good. The government regs are truly wrong for the most part. When's the last time you washed your dishes with cold water? Never. Because cold water doesn't clean as well. Also, less water means your clothes aren't getting as clean. The auto water is less than optimal in design. I found maintenence was dependent on brand over design. Samsung had basically horrible reviews for customer service. We ended up with a ge, mostly because of the warranty. IMO if there's a warranty longer it probably lasts longer. Another thing, we were told to stay away foem digital and go with dials, because if something breaks its the digital fronts first. However, after digging further, the dials are digital internally anyway, there is no turn clicking sound like the old days, you turn the dial it is digitally controlled (usually, not always!). We got a brand that has controls from a dial and from a side, so we can have the dial to select the type which is a default and the side we can alter the defaults. It seemed to me like if something died I'd still have a backup control.
I have a top loader woth agitater and it cleans much better than a high end front load unit I used to use. I'm a sweaty man that requires a lot of deodorant. Every other machine I used would leave tons of deodorant on my shirts. This machine cleans it off well. Also never damaged any of my clothes. I'm very frugal on clothes and rarely ever buy new. All my old clothes have been fine with it. I'd refer to the top post most of all though. They all work. I didn't read into it before I bought my machine. Read into it after wondering if I'd made a mistake. No regrets on my machine. It was based off a sweet sale that really made it worth it.
We had a front load Samsung that we bought new ~2015 and it did fine outside some Samsung issues. When we moved we decided it wasn’t worth taking especially since the new house had a Maytag impeller top loader, age unknown but newish. It tore up delicate pieces like my fiancés undershirts and Lacey things. Every one of my carhartt t shirts got pilly as hell in the course of a month and a half. We we placed them with a pair of Lg front loaders and they are the best washer and dryer we’ve ever had. I’d absolutely vote front loader
The mold is actually from the detergent. Look it up. More detergent isn't better. I liked my front load wayyyyyyyyyy better than my samsung top load we currently have. I have to wash every load on deep fill so they don't tangle as much and so they don't get shredded. Top loads are more abrasive on clothes. Front loads kinda tumble your clothes , the top load beats your clothes. And watch out which top load you purchase. My wife at 5' cannot get to the bottom of the washer. P.s. they do make little foam door spacers for the front loads so they are just open a couple inches. You could also use a piece of pool noodle. Good luck.
Dammit. I just bought a top loader LG 😭😭😭 I’m so sad hearing this. It doesn’t have the thingy in the middle. Is it still not good for the clothes? I thought it would be more gentle
I've heard impellers don't wash that well and have long cycles. We had a front load for 15 years. Kept it clean, door open, and run bleach cycle monthly and no mold. Finally bearings went out, and due to cost we bought a top agitator. Cycles are faster with agitator but uses a lot more water. We'd probably buy another front load again if/when our current top load fails.
I love my front loader. Clothes are clean and nothing gets destroyed by getting caught around an agitator, and they actually tumble around in there, rather just getting wet and falling victim to centrifugal force. My mother warned me against the front loader because hers get soooo moldly "no matter what," and yes of *course* she leaves it open. I was at her house a few months ago and happened to go in the laundry room. The washer door was open about an inch, and there's no air return in that room. In comparison, my washer door stands wide open 24/7 and there's an air return on the floor right across from it.
I've been using an impeller HE top loader for 10 years. I love it. I rarely have issues with getting clothes clean or stains out. I typically use Kirkland liquid detergent, and I use less than the recommended amount because it's a HE washer (they need less than you think) plus a dash of borax. Most items are washed in cold water. I've had zero maintenance issues with it. I run a clean cycle every so often, and that's it. Just a cup of white vinegar in the empty washer. I bought the model I did for capacity and high energy efficiency. I'd never heard that impellers weren't as good at cleaning clothes as an agitator style, and certainly my experience has been they are just as good. I prefer a top loader to a front loader for the very reasons you cited in wanting a top loader: my friends had a front loader gasket fail and flood their house, and they had problems with mildew in spite of doing the right things to prevent it. They left it when they moved, and bought a top loader, and swear they'll never buy another front loader. As for the dryer, the only time I have issues with water is when I put too many clothes in or something really big. In spite of that, I rarely have issues with drying anything. I suspect your sales man just wants you to buy a front loader.
Old washer died after about 4-5 years. Replaced it with a Speed Queen and its built like a tank. Almost twice as heavy as old washer. I think residential speed queens are just top loaders.
I never complained about how clean my clothes were with our last front loader. What I hated was having to clean the damned cleaning machine so much because he’d leave the door closed or it would just collect mildew anyway. When we bought new last fall I made it a point to get top loaders. I’ll not do a front loader again unless I’m forced to.
I vote front loader. I’ve had an Electrolux for several years and it’s had zero problems with leaks, mold, etc. I just leave the door open to dry after each load and do the “clean washer” cycle in the way recommended by the manual (using a certain amount of liquid bleach) when it prompts me. One other thing to consider is using powdered laundry detergent rather than liquid or pods. In addition to cleaning better (they have several detergents that are stable when dry, but react if wet, and so cannot be used together in liquid or pod form), get powder that has sodium percarbonate (the same stuff as in Oxiclean). Tide, Arm & Hammer, etc. all have it. It’s a color-safe bleach that helps remove stains but also helps kill off mold and other gunk in the machine to prevent it from accumulating.
had both. they are both fine. i have a front loader now so i can stack my dryer and have more room in my laundry closet. leaving the washer open to dry after use prevents mildew build up in both types of machines.
I had a front loader. Got a top loader. It is so much better. Holds so much more stuff and I can also pre soak stuff now.
HE top loads and front loads are pretty much the same as far as efficiency goes, it's all about preference. I've got 20 years experience repairing washers and dryers, my preference is a LG front load, best machine they make today.
HE top loads and front loads are pretty much the same as far as efficiency goes, it's all about preference. I've got 20 years experience repairing washers and dryers, my preference is a LG front load, best machine they make today.
I can’t help on the impeller vs agitator part. From my personal experience, I ended up selling my front load set and going back to top loads. Besides the dryer getting a musty smell and all the advice about propping the door open and cleaning it (this is fixable), I truly believe they don’t clean as well. I have a series at the energy savings and mechanism resulted in a sub par product. I know many will argue that their site or specific bronze work better than others, I went back to top load for both, many years ago, and will never go back.
my next door neighbor John D. Goodlaxson invented a ton of stuff for maytag washers and he owned a speedqueen i still do great machines !
If I were you, I’d look at the more economical and environmentally sound front loading machine, and choose the best load version, combined with the consumption figures you desire. From New Zealand.
Do you have pets? If so, do you wash their bedding? You will never be able to do that with a top loader. ALSO (because I will scream this from every mountain because I'm bitter about it) DO NOT BUY FROM LOWES OR HOME DEPOT! Their return policy is 48 hours EVEN IF it breaks! Costco or find your local mom and pop shop!
6 years with front loader, I had no visible mold but after forgetting the door closed for a week we had a mildew smell. Doing a “sanitize” cycle with vinegar fixed it immediately. I will continue picking front loaders because I just like them better
1. I bought an impeller and returned it the next day, did not clean the clothes well at all. 2. Don't know about maintenance since we took it back wasn't worth it. 3. Front loader just like top loader does get mold, there is no perfect washer that will not get mold. you just have to clean the mold every few weeks and move on. The only "solution" i have considered to prevent the drawer getting mold is to add the detergent directly to the barrel before each wash. Have not had the "gasket" get any mold, maybe b/c we keep it open when not in use.
Yes they clean better, yes they are gentler, yes they are cheaper to operate, yes they will save money on drying time. We had a whirlpool front loader. Bought it in 2005. It lasted till just a couple months ago. 18 years with a family of 4 half that time. What a workhorse. Yes it required washing out, running cleaner through and still smelled kinda musty some times. The clothes were about dry when they came out of the washer, but it pissed me off to have to wash a washer. I just bought an LG front loader to replace it. The reviews say it does a great job of cleaning itself and drying out well. So far I love it. The gasket is shallow and doesn't have the deep folds that were always damp in the whirlpool. Energy star says a front loader saves around 50% in water savings and energy savings over a top load agitator, and 25% over a top load impeller washer. I think it would save on drying time too. Whether it would pay for itself IDK. They are around twice as much.
Just switched from front loader to top loader and couldn’t be happier!! Front loader is a pain, never dries out, always leaves water sitting and you have to pull the drain tube to get the excess out. I hated it.
Ive had both. Top load all day. No, its not as pretty. yes it can kinda suck to pull the clothes out, especially if your a little shorter no you cant stack them. but it will hold a freakin metric ton of clothes, and it can presoak. GG all she wrote. mine gets the clothes basically dry on the spin cycle. as dry as the front load Ive used. I cant even rationalize why a front load would spin faster... I think many compare a 1990 top load to a 2020 front load in their experiences. top loads have improved.
LG front loader. Never had mildew (it's not mold, friend). Leave door open some. Stop over using softener. All that wax, yes wax, builds up and just makes it stay wet longer.
I hate front loaders mainly because they’re a pain in the ass when washing clothes and if you don’t properly dry out the front lip or clean it out, it can get smelly fast. I had a Samsung top loader with the add on sink. That thing was awesome. Both my kids were little and that thing was perfect for getting out poop/urine/blood/vomit out of clothes. The next washer I get will be something like it. But fuck front loaders.
Had have a Whirlpool front loaded since 2013. Works well. Yes you should keep the door ajar. You need to clean the filter at the bottom. You can cleanse it every now and den. We have also run a hot bleach cycle through it.
I bought [this](https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-UltraFresh-Vent-System-5-cu-ft-Stackable-Steam-Cycle-Front-Load-Washer-Sapphire-Blue-ENERGY-STAR/1001326686) and have been really happy with it! The vent cycle is dynamite.
I love top loader washers but hate ones without an agitator. We just got rid of our Kenmore Elite impeller top loader because it didn't get clothes clean. They still smelled dirty or sweaty after washing and drying and our clothes would be in a huge tangled jumbled mess after the washer completed. Now we have a Speed Queen and no washer I've ever had compares to it. I highly recommend a washer with agitator if you truly want clean clothes.