I'm in the market for a new washing machine. We have 5 kids here and we do at least 3 big loads a day. I'm tired of buying washing machines ever 3 years and was wondering about front loaders. It looks like they use allot less water and that sure would help. My family is terrible about over loading a washer and I'm hoping the front loaders will help with that problem, too. I have always used the Kenmore brand washers (extra capacity plus) but its getting old on buying new ones. We have bought 3 machines in 11 years and they all wear out, usually tub barrings and not worth fixing.

So, if anybody has the front loaders ,what do you think of them?

Thanks,
Rick S

Don't have one but my neighbor has had one for years now and loves it. It's a Maytag and I think it cost around $1100 back then. I believe the price has came down since then.

Consumer reports thinks highly of them and if I was getting a new washer I'd definately make a front-loader my first consideration.

My wife overloads our top loader a lot too and I've heard it screaming for mercy many times.

The Maytag Neptunes had issues early on but I think they got them worked out. I have one (came with the house) and the only thing I don't like is I have to clean front seal regularly to keep it from getting moldy. Part of that is because I am single and tend let the laundry pile up :D. I regularly over load it when I do run it. I can wash 6 or 7 pairs of denim shorts and a few T-shirts(not white ;)) and a couple sweat shirts and it runs fine:cool: Matching dryer works great.

MayTag Neptunes here too. Yeah they have a mold problem... Once a month run them with a few table spoons of Cascade (automatic dishwasher detergent granules) and some bleach on an empty load - hint from one of the repair guys that came out to look at it - seems to help.

I have the kenmore elite HE4t set. I love them! Less water, clothes are cleaner. I wouldn't hesitate to get another set.

Buy a 5 year old Maytag top loader. Don't buy a new one, since they were bought out and essentially shut down by Whirlpool. All new Maytag machines will just be rebadged Whirlpools. I bought a 2 year old Maytag washer and dryer at an estate auction 5 years ago for $200. Not a single problem yet, and it seems like either one or the other is always on. I even wash my oily rags in the thing (when wifey's not looking of course :) )

I can't believe I'm doing this but, I have the Whirlpool Duet pair and can't love it enough.
I can pack it full of blankets and sheets with no problem. In fact, the instructions say that if you can close the door, it's not overloaded. With the water level sensors, I never worry I'm using too much water either.
And the dryer has a moisture sensor too, so it never runs longer than it has to.
I'm a little worried about long term reliabilty with all the sensors, but so far(less than a year) it's great!

Imho, the best top loader there was AND I figure it was SOO good they just had to make it better so that it didn't last as long was the old Speed Queen washers that were actually just like the coin operated commercial ones!

I have been wandering the same thing so please continue????

pdq67

We bought the maytag neptunes a few months ago.
That damned washer will hold and clean a dozen pairs of full sized jeans at a time, AND THE DRYER WILL DRY ALL 12 OF THEM BEFORE THE NEXT LOAD IS WASHED!

We'll see how they hold up, bu the family across the street has had em for 4 years, and hers are fine. Also, ours look just like hers and do not look exactly like duets

First vacuum cleaners, now washing machines! :p

Mike

I bought the Whirpool duet washer about three years ago, but my dryer still worked fine. That was a small mistake as the drier isn't near big enough to keep up with the washer. Love the washer, like Jeff said, you can't overload the thing and the clothes come out clean and I don't think it is near as hard on the clothes as a top loader. Half the people I know bring over there comforters to wash them as it handles them easily.

Now I need to go out in the garage and find something dirty to do before someone sees me writing this. Oh, I feel too clean. :eek:

I would recommend a Whirlpool Duet. I may be a little biased though since I work there. We are also building these now http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Washers+%26+Dryers&pid=02627082000&vertical=APPL&subcat=Energy+Star+Top+Load+Washers&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes. I got a discounted set to test the pair and my wife loves them but for the price who wouldn't. From the info out so far we will be building Maytag units by year end at the plant I work at. I also believe they will be Maytag units not rebadged Whirlpools. Since our front loaders are already under the Whirlpool and Kenmore name I can't imagine adding a third name to our high line models. I'm sure Kenmore aka Sears wouldn't go for that anyhow.

I choose the front end loader...
are we talking about earth moving equipment?

oops..LOL
yeh the front end loading machines - longevity, performance. It will more than pay for itself

we have a frigidaire front loader that works just fine, but dont have 5 kids either. when we first were married (about a thousand years ago [in the '70's]) we bought this really old top loader fridgidaire at a yard sale for $10. this sucker had a spin cycle you wouldnt believe. clothes were dang near bone dry when they came out. problem was that with that design the spin started BEFORE the water drained out. so the load on the clutch and trans was massive, in addition to the ultra high speed spin. naturally the clutch slipped big time (ergo the $10 washer). my poor wife had to reach inside and start the tub spinning by hand to get it to finish a load! LOL. but like i say that sucker was revving like a built 283 when it kicked into spin dry. those were the days :)

Real men drive Chevelles, and use Dyson Vacuums, and have Kenmore Elete H4T washers.http://www.chevelles.com/forums/images/icons/icon7.gif



Rocky

Is this a chevelle forum or a washing machine forum? I have a set of neptunes and the wife loves'em!

There the old joke that goes: How many men does it take to do the laundry?
Answer: None, thats women's work!

Is this a chevelle forum or a washing machine forum? I have a set of neptunes and the wife loves'em!

There the old joke that goes: How many men does it take to do the laundry?
Answer: None, thats women's work!

My wife says with an attitude like that, it wont take long for you to find out how many men it takes.


Rocky

79943,,

That's just the way the Speed Queen washer did like I mouthed about earlier, but it spun regardless!!

There wasn't any of this drain and leave the skum on the clothes BS!!

Great machine for a top loader, imho.

My next set will be a 33 or so year old "brunette" with a daughter!!

pdq67

79943,,

That's just the way the Speed Queen washer did like I mouthed about earlier, but it spun regardless!!

There wasn't any of this drain and leave the skum on the clothes BS!!

Great machine for a top loader, imho.

My next set will be a 33 or so year old "brunette" with a daughter!!

pdq67

our laundramat had speed queens but they cost 50 cents to run a load back then and the dryer was a dime. so the $10 machine and a clothes line was a total bargain. but you are right those things would dang near spin the buttons off your shirts LOL.

We have a Duet pair too and love them. Just have to remember to dry and air out behind the rubber gasket so "stuff" doesn't start growing down inside there. We have had ours for about 18 months no problems. Buy them with the bases, the bending over gets old fast, we originally didn't think we would need them but added them after 6 months. The Duet only fills the washer with a couple of inches of water, not half way up the window like the older ones. I still am impressed how much they will hold, how quiet they are and now well they clean on such little water.

Well Ive looked and looked and im leaning on a Speed queen front loader.

They have a 3 year parts and labor warranty and very little electronics to go bad. Its 1299.00, kinda steep, but it should last, is what im hoping.

Check it out and any feed back would be great, thanks again

Also it made in the USA, (BIG OL SMILE)

http://www.speedqueen.com/home/products/cts90awn.asp

Rick S

Well, I got the Speed Queen front loader and something great happened. My wife and I were starting the paper work and the salesman came back to us with a deal. A lady just backed out on this machine and wanted the same machine, but with the controls on the top, back side, so he said we could get it for 999.00, its still in the unopened box. Man that was cool to save 3oo.oo at the last minute.

O-well thanks for all the info, it helped allot.

Rick S

Bought a new maytag a little over a year ago, just two of us, not used much, it's been repaired twice out of warranty, always had good luck with maytag, but there pretty much junk from what I've been finding out.

I'm all maytagged up here, washer, dyer, diswasher, stove, but not anymore.

Before I buy any appliance, I will check out consumers guide.

Rob

I've got the kenmore myself, paid something like 749 or 699, cant remember. In oregon you get a rebate and a tax credit through the energy trust, so it costs alot less, not to mention the energy and water you save. (dryer clothes from the wash machine = less time spent drying)

Make sure you have good solid floors cuz if you get a little load imbalance it'll start shaking a little bit at those high RPMs.