front loader washers?

Question

any advice on the kenmore he5 or the lg steam wacher

Answer 1

Get the Kenmore HE5T. The LG steam washer is currently rated #1 in consumer reports, but that is solely because it has the steam cycle and kenmore doesn't. The Kenmore is currently a few hundred dollars cheaper than the LG because they are closing out this year's model to make room for new HE5Ts that will have a steam cycle on both the washer and dryer (though the price will be going up on the new model).

The Kemore also has a more solid construction. As two examples, compare the door hinges on each model. You'll see a big difference in the type of material used and the thickness on the hinge. Also look at the bottom of the two machines. The Kenmore has a solid metal bottom where as the LG has a plastic grate bottom (which can break when the machine is moved around).

Both machines will wash far better than a traditional top load washer will. The first poster to your question doesn't sound like she was using the machine correctly. On most all front loaders sold today there is a clean wash cycle that you can use to clean the washer drum. This is recommended to be used monthly to prevent mold and odors from building up in your wash machine (i know for a fact that this is on the he5t). Also you should not be spending any more money on HE detergent than you spend on regular detergent. If you are, that means you are using WAY too much of it. HE detergent does cost a few bucks more than regular, however you use far less of it in each load, so one bottle will last you a much longer time.

There is a GE washer that has a 4.0 cu ft capacity (the same drum size as a HE5T and LG) however you will never fit as much in there as you can in a front loader. The reason is, the agitator takes up space, and you can't fill the drum all the way full on a top loader like you can on a front loader. The top loaders require that clothes have space to move around during the wash cycle. The clothes get cleaned by that motion. If they are just sitting there, they are not getting clean... you may as well just throw them in your bath tub. However front loads can be filled to the max because there is no agitator and they clean by the rotation of the drum. It is far more gentle on clothing than the agitator banging against the clothing. Plus the front loader have far superior cleaning results.

More water does not equal more cleaning. Top loaders need more water so the clothes have something to float around in. The drawback to that is that your clothes are floating around in dirty water for much of the load. Front loaders move the clothes around with the spinning drum, causing them to rotate in the wash. It also uses cintrifical force to pull water and detergent through clothing for better cleaning results.

I'm happy that the first poster likes his top loading machines, but she is definetly the exception to the rule. If you use the front loaders properly, you will love them.

As for the 2nd poster, front loaders don't leak. If your front loader is leaking that means you ripped the seal and need to get a service techician to fix it. (one thing to note in the LG, they do have a coin trap towards the bottom front of the washer... water will spill out of that when you go to retrieve your coins, so you will want a pan underneath it when you access it... another reason to choose kenmore.. they have sealed drums so you don't need a coin trap). Also you can add stuff into the load after you started it. Most all front loaders have a drain spin option on it to drain water out of the tub so you can unlock the door and add more clothes, and continue the cycle. Most of them at laundrymats, don't though. Read your owners manual and it will tell you how to do it.

Overall, you can't go wrong with LG or Kenmore. Both are great machines, though I think the Kenmore is best. If you want the steam cycle, wait to get the new kenmore that includes it. If it is not a big deal for you, snatch up one the closeout HE5Ts that are still in the store and save yourself a few hundred dollars. If you do 7 loads a week Energy Star estimates you save $150 a year on average verses a top loader.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

I have a Kenmore front loader and I love it. It's the best washing machine I have ever used. The clothes come out clean with no problems whatsoever. The washer has so many features such as a delicate cycle, handwash cycle, etc. I washed a feather pillow in it and it turned out great...except it took days to dry! I also washed a king duvet...no trouble at all. You can put loads of clothes in it...far more than in a regular washer. I'd not hesitate to get another one if something went wrong with this one! I also have the matching dryer.

gere

Answer 3

If you haven't already bought one, don't!
I bought one of those expensive, newfangled, energy efficient (water stingy) Whirlpool sets. It was a nightmare. Moldy smelling , lint covered streaked up, wrinkled up clothes that you couldn't hang dry because it took the dryer to get all the lint off. Luckily, Lowes took them back. I did some research before I picked new ones. I got a G.E. Profile top load washer
( model # WPRB8050D) and dryer set.It was hundreds of dollars cheaper and it has almost as much load capacity as the other ones but it has an agitator and uses plenty of water. It has enough capacity to wash a king size comforter, even with an agitator. What I learned is, that it takes WATER to get your clothes clean! What you save on water on the others, you spend on higher priced high efficiency detergents anyway. I also learned that I like agitators.If you are considering getting a front loader or any of those water miser types, I suggest you put " moldy smell in front load washers" into your search engine. I love my washer and dryer. I'm eternally grateful to Lowes for bailing me out of this one. I can't imagine having to keep that set. I think I would have sold it in a yard sale. If it ever gets to where those HE sets are all you can buy, I'll have mine repaired till the day I die. Pick wisely. It's a pretty long term decision

Answer 4

I surely have a front load washer and dryer stacked. i don't think of there is any regulations on front loaders being stacked on dazzling of one yet another. I used to have a dazzling load washer with a front load dryer stack - the dazzling load washer lid replaced right into a soreness interior the a**. i like the front load plenty extra useful!

Answer 5

Please research as completely as you can before you purchase any washer/dryer.
As for "smelly" clothes in a front loader--as with any washer, you need to quickly put the clothes in the dryer once the clothes are done being washed-not let them set in the washer for hours or days at a time. Also, I heard that you need to open the door to the washer after each load, to let it air out, and not get that "stinky smell". Take care.

Answer 6

Front loaders are all hype and no good. And very expensive. First, they leak and if you forget to put something in or you want to take something out, you can't. You have to wait for it to complete the whole cycle. A good ol' top loader is your best bet.