Front Loader Upstairs

We just bought the LG Steam Washer and Dryer and have them stacked on the second floor. They are quiter then the Maytag models we replaced (we moved them to the basement laudry room), they do vibrate a little, but it is not too bad and you do get used to it. It is more the noise when it starts to spin (like someone else says it sounds like a jet eng.) that can be a bother. We love them, the work great and use less water and soap. Do leave to the door open after you finish with the washing and let it air dry or it will smell! J.

I have a front loader and have to say I wish I could go back to the regular top load washer. The vibration is not the only issue. I have the whirlpool front loader and dryer, I have them stacked now but did have them side by side both ways still vibrated terribly. I also don't feel my clothes get throughly cleaned, it has had to be serviced 3-4 times in 4 years, and also gets a musty smell that apparently you can buy some special soap/cleaner for it, that too did not work for me.
Not a big fan of the front loader.
Good luck

V.

Hi E.,

I have an HE top loader and I LOVE it! I have the whirlpool cabrio and it has been perfect so far. I bought it at ABT in Glenview and I was able to get a floor model and save a couple of hundred dollars on it as well. I don't have it upstairs but it is very quiet. Good luck on your search, it was a hard decision for me as well!

I love my Maytag HE top loader. It's not in an upstairs situation, but is VERY quiet. Good luck with your decision.

I have a Frigidaire. I've never noticed any vibrating. However, you do need to look into the issue of mold. After a few months of use, I noticed a bad smell coming from my laundry room. I did a lot of online research and finally tried a product called Smelly Washer, which I found at www.smellywasher.com and it solved the problem. I think the trick is to catch the problem early or make sure it never happens in the first place...otherwise it can be very difficult to resolve.

E.,

I do have a front loader upstairs and my house vibrates on the spin cycle! I have not done anything about it except refraining from doing laundry at night. Apparently there is a shock system that can disperse the shaking, so look into this with your retailer.

L.

You might want to ask about mold too...I have heard they get moldy

Like Jennifer, I too have the Whirlpool Cabrio HE top loader and love it! No problem with vibration and the capacity is fantastic. I previously had a front loader and did have a problem with the moldy smell. We lived in a condo and the washer/dryer were in a closet with a bi-fold door so I wasn't able to keep the washer door open when not in use, although it sounds from other posts that leaving it open would solve this problem. Good luck with your decision!

My front load machine is the greatest. Cleans better than any top load I have ever had and uses less water. Mine is a HE machine but I do not usually buy the HE detergent. I just learn to adjust the amount to soap.
To solve the vibration of the machine problem make sure to buy the matching base. My hubby did not want to pay the extra $$ for the matching base and built a base himself. Where as my girl friend bought the matching base. I have more vibration with my machine than she has with her machine and we both say it is because she has the matching base and I do not. But I would not say the machine vibrates and moves across the room. It vibrates because it is not sitting in the proper base.

Just A few thoughts.
S.

We just purchased the Kenmore front loaders a month ago and we too have a 2nd story laundry. We were told at Sears to use a 1" thick piece of plywood under it to help with the vibration. We did and have never felt the vibration anywhere in the house. Our old top loader that was 10 yrs old shook the house more than these do. We were also told to make sure and leave the washing machine's door open when not in use so it will dry and it won't get smelly. So far no smells.

I have a Frigidaire gallery sreries front loading washer with the dryer above in a closet on the 2nd floor. It does vibrate during the spin cycle, and we've not been able to eliminate it with leveling it, which we were told would take care of it. I have found that I need to kneel on the floor and nearly crawl inside to reach that last sock that always gets stuck in the back. According to the people at Tide's 800 phone number, You MUST use HE
detergents and dilute the softener in WARM water before putting it in the dispenser. You cannot always add anything to the load once you've started the cycle (duh!) which can be a pain if you dropped something behind you on the way. You cannot shorten the cycle if you are in a hurry. Once the spin cycle starts, you have to wait 'til it decides the door can open to get at the clothes. You can't soak anything in the machine because it won't fill past the window in the door. Does it use less water? Yes. Do the clothes come out less damp, thus shortening drying time? Yes. Are the clothes cleaner? The lightly soiled stuff gets clean, the really bad stuff is no better or worse than a top loader. While you pay more for the machine, you'll save some in lower water bills. Check the number of loads per bottle of HE vs regular detergent. Using regular detergent results in over-foaming, which can shorten the life expectancy of the unit.
good luck!

The machine will vibrate less if it is properly balanced. There are little screws on the bottom where you can adjust the height of each corner. My machine (Whirlpool Duet) is on the first floor, but above the basement and you hardly notice it when it's on spin cycle and I don't have the base. Without the base though, I do have to stoop down to take my clothes out, but it's not too big an issue.

I would never go back to a top load machine. They just don't clean as well, you use more detergent (I also don't use the HE soap) and more water.

Good luck!!!

We had a GE and we did not have any issues. We lived in a poorly built newer house and even with the poor construction no issues at all. Even during my son's nap time and his room was across the hall from the laundry. Good luck. We love ours!

At our old house we had a second floor laundry and the Whirlpool Duets on the proper based. We balanced them numerous times and the vibrationw as awful. OUr laundry room had tile. It would try to walk, although we got that down to a shimmy. But the whole hosue would vibrate - even the dishes in the kitchen. Here we have them on the first floor and truthfully they still vibrate a lot. We keep a towel stuffed between it and the dryer. I can't keep anything on top b/c it will toss them (learned form experience how HARD it is to clean up a 2 gallon jug of soap). Truthfully, I know they are better on water - but i prefered my super capacity high quality top loader we had. I've cloth dipaered three kids and my top loader did a better job. I have many friends who cloth dipe and made the switch and report similar comments. When this one dies - I'll be going back to top loaders. Oh and mold isn't a problem unless you leave the door closed when it is empty. I always leave it ajar when not in use

Hi E., we have one upstairs and the only real problem it poses is that it's pretty noisy when it hits the spin cycle. Sometimes it sounds like a jet engine taking off! Other than that, it doesn't create any issues. Upstairs laundry is the best, isn't it?! : )

I don't have any more vibration with my front loaders upstairs than I did with my old top loader. And the front loaders have a setting on them that adjusts to the load size so spin cycle does not vibrate that much. But either way I still get some vibration. I LOVE the laundry room upstairs, and so I think the house vibrating during laundry time is a small price to pay.
By the way, I own 2 LG front loaders that are already 2 years old... No problems so far. I have seen some comercials for some that wash and dry in like 30 minutes... wish they were around when I baught mine.

I have a Maytag Neptune front load washer on my second floor and yes, it vibrates like crazy on the spin cycle. We had a repairman here for another issue and he said no matter how much we balance it, we will always have this problem. I don't know if this is just with Maytag washers on the second floor or others too. We have the same washer on the first floor and it is just fine. Even with this problem though, I love the front loading. Hope this helps!