Front Load Washer Worth All the Hype?

Yes! We are totally off-grid and the energy efficiency of the front-loader is great for us. Also you use less detergent and fabric softener. My only word of caution is that the seals tend to mold, so we keep the door open when we are done with a load. We have a Maytag.

I've had my front load washer and dryer for almost a year and I can't imagine life without it! It uses less energy and way less water (which saves money), it does an excellent job washing clothes (I've yet to have a stain not come out) and the spin cycle gets the clothes so dry you can get a load washed and dried in under an hour. Not a little load either, but a full-sized load, jeans and all. I think it's worth the extra money. We didn't get a top of the line model, just a basic front loader by Frigidaire, but I'm in love :) It actually makes laundry fun!

Front loaders are totally worth the extra money. They use way less water and energy, so you make up your money that way over and over...plus, you don't have to use that expensive HE laundry soap either...you can use regular soap...and you only use half the amount or less, so you save a bundle on soap also. I'm not too sure what ones hold up better than others, but I'd guess it's pretty much the same as old style washers...quality brands make quality products. Happy washer shopping!

I was in your shoes just last year. I just knew I HAD to have the front loader. We got to talking to a really knowledgeable guy at Best Buy about washers (he's sold and worked with them for over 20 years) and he said they really are great, however if you have something you forgot to throw in you have to wait till next load. You can't open the door at all while the cycle is on. I ended up getting the top load WITHOUT an agitator in the middle. Let me tell you it's HUGE I mean HUGE. I love it, I honestly dont' mind doing laundry because I still love my washer a year later. I'm no tree hugger "green" person, but do what I can when I can, and it only uses 4 gallons of water the entire cycle the front loaders use more and the older style top loaders use up to 25 gallons per load. Being on a septic system that was fabulous! Also it dries quicker because it spins your clothes out so fast that they are only slightly damp when they come out of the washer, so you save on electricity when drying your clothes as well. I've never had a single problem with it and recommend it to every single person I can when I can. I'm a SAHM so laundry is kind of my job. I hope you find a washer that you like as much as I like mine. Hope this helps, W.

I have a LG front-loading washer, and I love it! We have 7 people in our household, in addition to my running an in-home daycare, so it gets used FREQUENTLY! It is kind of a hassle making sure the laundry detergent I buy is compatible with my machine, but many companies seem to be increasingly aware of this and are making their detergents compatible. Blessings to you and yours! :)

Yes! They are!

We purchase our first set of a front loading (and stackable) washer and dryer 7 years ago. My husband is a general contractor and was finishing a house he was working on. The woman had a laundry "closet" in her house and had the Fridgidaire Stackable Washer and Dryer. They are the smaller ones-a year before the big ones started coming out. He LOVED that he didn't hear the washer or dryer working. They are so quiet (except when the buzzer goes off). So 2 months later, when my dryer died, we bought a set of stackable washer and dryer (and he remodeled my laundry room). What I love, but had a hard time embracing the idea of, that the washer uses very little water. I had to figure out how much soap to put into it, because you use so much less soap as well. This was before the days of buying the HE soaps that are out now. It only took me a few loads to get over myself on the using alot less water thing. I also use the extra rinse cycle, to make sure all of the soap is out of our clothes (we also have sensitive skin and some soaps break us out). And then when I got my first water bill after using my washer and dryer for over a month-I saw a drastic difference, my water bill was lower by about $40-$60 dollars. Also, the drying time on the clothes is less, because the washer wrings the living daylights out of our clothes-and my power bill was less as well, because it cut down on drying time. So my clothes are dry before my wash cycle on another load is done. The washer is more gentle on clothes, but gets them cleaner. And, there is a computer in the machine, that figures out how much laundry is in the washer, so no load is too small. When the water is running, and the barrel is spinning, the computer will figure out how many clothes are in there and how much water to use and then it will stop. I have washed 2 pairs of jeans, used a very small amount of soap, and didn't feel guilty about it, because I knew the washer knew how much water it needed. So it takes the guess work out of the small-medium-large-extra large in the loads of laundry. I don't think you will find a front loading washer that has a S-M-L-XL load on it. They all figure out how much water it needs.

All of my friends who have different front loading washers (Whirlpool Duet, LG, Kenmore, etc) have all loved thier washers. I am looking into getting a new set myself (because I want a Red set). When I do a load of laundry at my mom's house (when I visit her), she has a regular, traditional set-I am amazed at how much water is used in her washer.

Yes, they are worth all the hype. What you will pay extra money for in the machines, but you will save on your water, electricity bills, and you will find, you won't be buying as much laundry soap. And if you have a septic system, you have to have it pumped out as much.

Hi H.,

I'm really interested in seeing your replies.

I was thinking either in November this year, or January next we'd buy a new set, and have been looking at the front loaders for two years. Wasn't sure if they were wroth the hype either, *or* the extra money.

My set is over 11 years old, and while it does work, it's definately showing its age. It has been an awesome set, though, so when you do buy a new set, whatever type it is, I highly recommend the Whirlpool brand.

Will be peeking at your replies. :o)

K. W

Here's another perspective: I have purchased two energy star washing machines in the past 6 years. First, I purchased the Kenmore Calypso, the top loading non-agitation style for water conservation, gentler washing, etc. I would not recommend them for two reasons. You must leave it open to air out otherwise your clothes start to smell like mildew - the guy at Sears never mentioned that. And more importantly, after 3 years, it would make black grease marks on our laundry (apparently something these machines have been knows to do - according to the repair man). The repair man also told me that they jokingly call them the "calapso" model because the top loading non-agitation style because of all the problems they have seen. He told me that once I started seeing some repeat issues, to just buy a new one and not throw away any money on repairs. He recommended a couple of front loader brands BOSCH and LG. I also researched Consumer Reports (you can pay just 9.99 for a month subscription and it is WELL WORTH IT because you can read reviews by CR on all the leading machines as well as owner reviews). Based on all that I read, I bought the LG WM0642HW front loader about 1 year ago. It got very high ratings from CR and the only negative customer report was regarding the smell that can happen if you don't leave the door open. So far, so good. The only hassle is leaving the door open - I leave it open every night and after I wash during the day. It seems to be gentler on the clothes, although I have to admit my parent's 15+ year old Whirlpool top loading agitation washer gets the clothes cleaner for sure...it may just shred them eventually (and I am sure it is using well more than a fair share of water too!) I hope that helps.

We love our front loader! It reduced our water/electric about $45 the 1st month! You also use less detergent and can put in more clothes! I can fit a queen size comforter and sheets in it! Some of them are a little loud so look for a less noisy one. Mine is 7 yrs old so it is older model(Kenmore).But we think it is great! Good luck!

yes yes. i love my washer we had an old set 12 years old. we have the LG front loader steam washer and dryer. they cut my laundry time in half b/c i can do such large loads. and our engery bill is lower and they use way less water. it even has a wrinkle cycle that after your dryer is done if you don't take it out right away it tumbles every so often up to three hours so your clothes do not wrinkle. and i am amazed how clean our clothes are. we bought these at home depot and have had them for almost 2 years we bought the extend warrenty but no problems. the steam cycle we save money less dry cleaqning for my husbands work clothes. also our clothes do not smell at all i read some of the other answers. the washer seals really tight so the sales person said after each use of the washer just leave the door open and i have even forgot the wash for 5 hours or so and it did not smell. if you think about this is something that you will use on a daily bases and saves time :) best of luck
mom of 2 girls ages 2.5 and 5

When my husband and I decided to move two years ago, I wanted a new washer and dryer. We did tons of research and decided to go with the Kenmore brand. We love our front load machine. Our water/electric bill is so much lower than what it was. I notice that my clothes, including underwear, last a lot longer than before. With our old top load machine, the undergarments would get caught on the agitator and the elastic would stretch out. We also decided to go with the HE soap because it will not make a ton suds. You can get this at Costco for a reasonable price. One of the things that I really like about having a front load is I can squat down to transfer the loads and not have to bend up and down every time. My two year old enjoys helping me transfer the loads :) A feature on the Kenmore brand we really like is add a garment. During the first few minutes of a cycle, you can add something you might have dropped. When the light goes off, you will have to wait for the next load. I hope this helps and good luck!

The front loaders are alot more efficient as far as getting water out and drying faster. I bought a brand new top load washer 18 months ago but it took 2 cycles for my dryer to dry anyting. I lucked out and was given a little bit older front loader about 6 months ago. The front loader gts so much more water out that the same dryer drys in less than half of the time.

Hi H.,

We got ours before we adopted our two! I LOVE THEM! You can wash big items like king size comforters with ease. You can wash so much more in one load. My water bill went down. At first we did notice a gas like smell, but we have a gas dryer. When it broke in a bit, the gas smell went away! They are also a lot quieter! We also got the pedestals with them. In my book, that was a great back saver, and they have extra storage space. If we were to make the decision again, I would definately get them.

We got ours used and refurbished so it was just a bit more than a regular top loader new. I love it and it has saved $ since everything dries faster and we need half the water and soap and drier time!

Hi H.,
Yes, the front loaders are worth all the hype. They're fantastic and a money saver when it comes to detergent because they take so little. I have four of my own, and two extra's that we've taken in along the way, so there are 8 of us. I'd never go back to the old type. We bought ours at Sears, they are Kenmore Elite's, and they are FANTASTIC! I can do huge loads of laundry, the laundry is very clean - no stain issues, and there are many many cycles to choose from...And...they're stackable (they aren't currently stacked, but we do plan to redo our laundry room and they will be stacked when we finish, making a lot of extra space).

D.

LG is what we have and it is worth every penny. We have a family of 6 and growing. I use cloth Diapers so the sanitary cycle is AWESOME! COnsumer reports rated LG as top. We have had it a year and no problems. I got the biggest capacity washer and biggest dryer. I seriously do laundry once a week now. With 4 kids I was doing laundry everyday. The amount you can stuff in them in incredible. I use All free and clear which is HE approved and I use very little it lasts forever. Happy shopping!

I had a Fridgidaire (?) front load washer for 7 years until I moved and we left it in the house. It was awesome, cleaned well, used half the water, had no agitator so it doesn't pull on your clothes (they last longer) and lasted through 2 years of cloth diapers. Definately worth it in the long run when you think of the money you'll save on water and electricity/gas and new clothes.

We have a friend who is an appliance repair guy! He knows the ins and outs of many models. Front loaders, while more green and can get your clothes quite dry, break down more, cost more and cost more to repair. His reccomendation to us, which I will pass to you is to find the best deal on a regular wash and drier in a large compacity. If you choose a good brand like Kenmore their cheepest model will work just fine and last for years. I have two sets both kenmore. One is a few years old, like 5 and the other is definately over 15. Though we recently had to say goodby to the 15yo washer, it had had good long life and did countless loads of laundry. That is my two cents.

I've had the Duet front loaders and really liked them. When I moved, I have a laundry room leading out to the garage rather than a large basement - so I went with Fisher & Paykal. It is the front loader technology (i.e. no agitater) with the top loading set-up. I love it! It saves water and is kinder to my clothes. It isn't that quiet, but the energy savings alone is really worth it to me.

Yes they cut down on the # of loads bc they are bigger so less money on energy. Try best buy in beaverton off cedar hills blvd ask for brandon he is awesome.

An ENERGY STAR front-loader IS totally worth it. You will be amazed at how much less water it consumes. We went from an older top loader to an Energy Start front one, and it uses probably less than 10 percent of the water the old one did. Plus we got state and city rebates for getting an Energy star. What's cool too is that it spins your clothes down so fast they feel almost dry when coming from the washer, so then you barely need all the drying time that you did before.

Be sure to use HE liquid detergent!

We have a front loader and it is great the only thing I would say is if you have the option to get a drawer under it get it so that it is taller ours is very low to the ground and that can be a pain. Happy Shopping

H.~
We just moved and bought a Frigidaire front load washer and dryer combo on sale for $1200/set. I love it!!! It is quiet, uses less water, and soap..and the best part is the dryer runs for only like 15 minutes a load..even towels because the machine spins them so dry!!! So they are definately worth it. At least to me they are.
Good luck in your search
T.

We love our front load washer. It saves water and does a much better job washing clothes. The clothes go through the soapy water, they don't get agitated around in the soapy water and that makes a huge difference.

Regarding opening the machine once it starts...I have often forgotten a sock or shirt and as long as you do it within the first few minutes of starting the cycle, you can open up the door and put the item in. Sometimes a little water dribbles down the front onto the floor but it is easily wiped up. After 5 or 10 mins, best to put it in another load. Think about it, it takes a few minutes to fill up the tub with water.

I have a front loader (Frigidaire) that I bought brand new 3.5 years ago. I love it for the fact that it's easier to get clothes in and out of. I have had the spin sensor (I don't think that's the technical term!) replaced once and the molding around the door replaced once due to it ripping (all covered by warranty and both in the past year). I could never go back to a top loader, but if I were to buy another one I would pay closer attention to details such as the size of the opening in the front... I have a large family and do a lot of laundry and the door on mine is quite small so putting in blankets, etc. is a little rough.
Also... I don't see where the drying time is that much different than with the top loaders. But... I do notice that the clothes seem to be a little less "drippy" when I take them out than they were in the top loader, which makes me think they are getting spun out better.

We had a Maytag (Neptune) when we were in Texas and now have an Amana here and have loved them both. I think that they are totally worth the extra $. Way easier on the clothes and hold a lot more clothes per load while still getting them clean. Not to mention the energy efficiency. Also, someone responded that you can't put something in late on the front loaders but I have not found that to be true, it just takes a few seconds longer than a top load. All I have do to is stop the cycle and wait a few seconds for the door to unlock, usually 5 to 10 seconds depending where in the cycle the washer is, and then thrown whatever I missed in and restart the cycle.

Good Luck washer and dryer hunting!

S.

Hi H.! I finally got a front-loading machine, and the
only reason why I would recommend one is that I use a GREAT
laundry soap that works with the machine, which I found out
you HAVE to purchase to make the machine wash clothes to it's
best capacity. You need to look into MELAPOWER. It is the
BEST laundry soap for these machines. I researched this subject for over a year, and this is what I found out about the machines, so I hope this helps. If you want some info
on MELAPOWER, please give me a call at ###-###-####
:>) J.

Yes, Yes, Yes!

We saved about 30 % on our electric bill because we did not have to use so much warm water. as well as our clothes got cleaner and lasted longer with out wear and tear. Mine was a LG and I loved it.

Have a good shopping experience!
N.

I have them and I would not trade them for anything. for one it has cut our electric bill. Another is it uses less water and I can get bigger loads in and with two teenagers that is a big plus. Hope this helps..they also get clothes very clean even with the less water but be sure you use the recommended soap...it has to say HEO on it.

Looks like everyone already said what I would have -- yes, I think my front load is worth it! There seems to be less wear on the clothes (since there is no agitator) which is nice considering how much we wash the kids' clothes. And it is GREAT for spinning out the water. Our clothes are pretty dry coming out of the wash and so we don't have to run the dryer very long. We have the Sears brand and they are stackable which is nice in tight spaces.

Front load washers are more energy efficient and use less water. I have a front load washer and you don't get clothes stuck around the agitator like conventional washers.
You can also fit larger items like comforters in it since you don't have to fit it around the agitator.
One caution- get one with a wider opening. My sister has an older one and the opening is small so it is difficult to get clothes in and out. I am pleased with my larger one.

Here's my 2 cents: I like them because I could go out to Lowes and pick up a white 5 or 6 ft. laminate counter top with a back splash for about $30 and put it on top of my washer and dryer and now I have a clean, flat space to fold laundry on!

Hi, H.--

I personally think that they are worth it in several ways. Before I was married, I had the Frigidaire washer and dryer set which included the shoe rack for the inside of the dryer-- loved that set!

When I got married, my husband had just bought the Maytag front loader and dryer set called Neptune. It was infinitely more expensive and, in my opinion, wasn't any better than mine. However, we sold mine and kept his.

I did cloth diapers for our daughter which worked pretty well once I figured out a system. The only problem is that soaking in a front loader isn't as easy as with a top loader. Still it worked out fine. My girlfriend has an almost two year old using cloth exclusively as well and just recently purchased a front loader. She said she made a few adjustments and now everything is fine. They bought another brand altogether, but I am afraid I don't recall the name. It was a European brand.

I recently received my water and sewer bill and the rates have really increased! I am currently using a top loader because of where we are renting. Unbelievable how prices have gone up for everything including water! I wish I had my front loader!

If I were you, I would check out the Consumer Reports for the latest info on washers and dryers. I don't think the most expensive brand is always the way to go and Consumer Reports can generally give you the low-down on such things. I usually just go to the library and make copies of the relevant pages before doing any shopping.

Best of luck to you!

I have been thrilled with my front loader which I have had for about ten years now. I was actually shopping for a dryer at the time and was told that the drier ( by a green guru)is only as good as the spin cycle on the washer. These front loaders can REALLY wring the moisture out of the clothes, greatly decreasing the amount of drying time (I use a less intense spin cycle for the delicates), which is a big money/energy saver, they also use significantly less water and detergent. I have a Sears brand, probably whirlpool since that comes to mind, but I am not good with brand names.

Best,
Sarah

LOVE, LOVE my front loader!! You save on water and it's gentle on your cloths. You can also fit more cloths etc in them. We have the MayTag washer and dryer

H.,

I would say it is certainly worth it! We purchased one 4 years ago and saw a dramatic decrease in not just the water used but in the laundry soap. I also love that I can set the timer for either 4, 8 or 12 hours later so that by the time I get up in the morning I already have the 1st load of laundry complete. We have a Kenmore (sears brand) and have not had any problems with it.

Enjoy!

We absolutely love our new front load washer. There are less expensive models. Ours is a whirlpool duet sport which I think we paid in the $500s for, so it doesn't hold quite as much as the bigger models, but it still easily holds the equivalent of two loads, or a queen comforter (maybe it would hold a king, but we have a queen bed so I wouldn't know because I haven't tried). We got it on sale at Sears, and that sale price was actually less than at Costco, for the same model. You might measure your laundry area carefully, though, as we have a laundry closet (in our 2700 sf home - must have been designed by a man?!) and it is a really tight fit (the doors scrape across the front of the machine when we close them). Do note, however, that "efficient" means that it holds a lot and uses minimal water, electricity, and detergent - not that it is faster, because it's not faster. We have a huge speed queen dryer, which we also recently got new. It's not a fancy style, but it sure dries the laundry fast and holds a ton.

I have the Maytag front loader and I hate it because of the problems we have with it. However with that being said, I love the front loader type and plan on getting a new Kenmore or LG when I have extra money.
Our Maytag is an older model, like the first ones they came out with and I should have waited a few years before getting one, so that all the bug were worked out.
I know 3 people that have the Kenmore or the LG and they both absolutely love them. I have heard that the Kenmore is better than the LG for reliability.
Good Luck

We actually like out front loader washer and dryer from Best Buy--We ended up with the LG brand model wm0642hw, and dryer is dl0442w. These rock!!! They use less water to wash the clothes and the clothes actually come out cleaner, and the spin cycle can be varied. I like my clothes to spin on high, less water in them to go to the dryer, which cuts on the drying time. Also I really didn't like some of the other brands that have the control panels in the same area as the washer/dryer...I thought myself that the water condensation or heat could affect the controls and we would have to replace circuit panels....so these are kinda old style--but look great. Also you don't have to buy the stackable bins under them for $150 each!! LOVE THEM LOVE THEM LOVE THEM!!!

I just bought a new washer and dryer and I LOVE it! I bought the Maytag Epic front loader. It's fantastic and I can shove a lot of clothes in and it's so great because when the clothes come out, there not sopping wet like when I used to take clothes from my old washer, but instead they're almost dry. Which brings me to the dryer. I spent a lot of money on the washer but instead of purchasing the matching dryer, I bought just the biggest regular old dryer that Maytag made. If my washing machine is doing it's job, then the dryer doesn't need to be anything special. And after several months of using my new appliances I'm so happy with the choices I made, plus I saved over $450 buying just a regular dryer. Good luck.

i love my front loaders and everyone i know loves theres. they hold alot of stuff.

Yes, yes and YES! The front loaders are GREAT!
I can't give you advice on brands, sorry- (my husband handles that stuff) but you will never regret it!

I have LG and L-O-V-E it! I had a calypso before, not a front loader and it was eating my clothes......we're talking shredding some of them with that mini agitator! Now my clothes get soooo fresh and clean and I love the dryer(you HAVE to have a matching set! LOL) just as much. It steam drys clothes that are wrinkled from getting stuffed in a drawer??? But my LG also has cleaning with steam in the washer option. It is great. no more breaking my back lifting UP and OUT of the washer. I got the pedistal too so my washer is eye level.

We also have the LG and LOVE it! Go to Best Buy...we did and we got a great deal..yes you can negotiate a price for a washer/dryer. It was worth every penny!

A.

We just bought the Maytag Epic 4.0 capacity washer and 7.0 capacity dryer and got them delivered this week! I LOVE them!! I washed our king size down comforter and there was room to spare! The clothes wash fast with little water and dry even faster! They are worth the money!

Hi,

We just bought a front load washer in January. There were almost $350 (Tualatin Water district, Energy Star, Oregon tax rebate) in rebates, which brought it very close to the price of a top loading machine. It has a much larger capacity and uses much less water (better for the environment)! I would definitely buy one again.

I LOVE my front loader. We bought it about 4 years ago. It has saved us electricity and water. I also save on detergent, because you use a lot less. The only problem I've ever heard of with the front loader is that sometimes the "boot" (that's the rubber gasket that seals the door shut, it's shaped like a donut and fits around the opening)gets moldy. I've never had that happen because I use Bac-Out when I'm soaking cloth diapers. I saw an ad that Home Depot is having a 10% off appliance sale. Check it out. I don't think you'll be sorry with a front loader :)

Hello,
I have a Kenmore front loader and I love it. It holds large loads with is great for our family of five. I have three boys so you can imagine our laundry get pretty durty. Our front loader washes great. Our clothes are always nice and clean even with such a large load. Good luck shopping!

I whole heartedly recommend a front loader. I've used both and the front loader does all the good things that have been written here.

You should use only HE (high energy detergent) An appliance repairman said that using the ordinary detergent will burn out the bearings faster. I used regular detergent with my first one and it burned out at about 5-6 years, which was a short time compared to life of my previous top loading washer (25 years). I expect my new one to last quite a long time.

I'm not sure the high energy detergent was even available when I bought the first one. There are still limited choices in he detergents. They cost a bit more but not too much to cause one to not use them especially considering that there use extends the life of your maching.

I've left a load inside with the door closed for a week and the clothes still smelled fresh. They may mildew or get moldy if you leave the door open. I've had clothes smell bad in a top loader and I'm guessing it's because the lid doesn't seal tightly. Another cause could be the machine needed to be cleaned. It's recommended that you run a cleaning cycle using ? every so often. My dad who was an appliance repairman said to use a water softener. I don't remember what this instruction book says.