Samsung - 3.6 Cu. Ft. 9-Cycle High-Efficiency Steam Front-Loading Washer - White $673 with free shipping at HD

Quote from msbarbi : go with the top loader unless you like bending over all the time to take clothes in and out. also the seal leaks after a few years not to mention the smell. and you don't want to leave the door open if you have kids or animals.

Yes unless you have a wife who does the laundry, in which case the front loader may work to his advantage.

I just bought the washer and dryer from Sears for $638 each, with installation. They were on sale for $750 but since I bought so much from them they gave me huge discounts on everything. Sears tends to suck but since the appliance people usually work on commission you can get great deals from them.

Worth spending the money to have the high efficiency? How much energy does it save?

Quote from SchwabSqua : Worth spending the money to have the high efficiency? How much energy does it save?

The high efficiency applies to the amount of water used and energy. Kind of curious on this too. Does look like they specify how much water is used per load. You can probably check the energy star rating for an estimate on electricity.

If you're under 5'5" front loader wont be an issue. I highly recommend top loaders for top floors and anybody who hates bending over and mold buildup.

Quote from timmage : Yep I have been using a front loader and they do get funky if the door is closed. I run a bleach cycle through it every month or so. Seems like a serious design flaw. My next purchase will be the old fashioned top loader.

My trick is to keep a small microfiber cloth near it. After washing lift up the bottom door seal where it drains and soak up that small amount of water. After that fold the cloth over and stick it in the door on top of the hinge and push the door closed a bit. This way it doesnt seal up and can air dry. 3 yrs and no funk. Also i run the extended spin cycle every time to get that last bit of water out of the clothes..saves money on dryer time.

Quote from Talleywack : My trick is to keep a small microfiber cloth near it. After washing lift up the bottom door seal where it drains and soak up that small amount of water. After that fold the cloth over and stick it in the door on top of the hinge and push the door closed a bit. This way it doesnt seal up and can air dry. 3 yrs and no funk. Also i run the extended spin cycle every time to get that last bit of water out of the clothes..saves money on dryer time.

Yes I concur to this. I have a sammy front load one also and it started to stink and we just cant get it out. Very poor design.

Quote from Talleywack : My trick is to keep a small microfiber cloth near it. After washing lift up the bottom door seal where it drains and soak up that small amount of water. After that fold the cloth over and stick it in the door on top of the hinge and push the door closed a bit. This way it doesnt seal up and can air dry. 3 yrs and no funk. Also i run the extended spin cycle every time to get that last bit of water out of the clothes..saves money on dryer time.

Quote from bigpollack : Hmmmmmm.... Trying to decide between a HE top loader or front loader This model seems to get great reviews from most of the sites I have looked on. Available at Lowe's too. I would imagine if Lowe's price matches and gives their 10% off.....you cant also use the 10% movers coupon ?? Anyone know ? The big plus for me in front loaders are they are SUPPOSED to be quieter than top loaders. Course, the drawback is that they build up a smell if you don't leave the door open ??? Still on the fence between the 2. My Montgomery Wards Signature 2000 series washer is finally giving up the ghost. Got it as a wedding gift.....in 1991 ! 22 years, it still works, but now it is starting to walk across the floor when it's spinning.

I have the FL but my next will be TL. The FL builds mold and you always have to bend there, POC. There si no HE since you would have to constantly run bleach cycles or other things to cope with the mold. HE my A$$.

Quote from G37x : Yes I concur to this. I have a sammy front load one also and it started to stink and we just cant get it out. Very poor design.

All front loaders do this, which is why I suggest against buying front loaders to everyone. I have an LG, and leave the door open when it's not in use so that it dries out.

Every month I run a tub clean cycle (if you don't have one, turn on the extra water, extra rinse, and use the hottest water possible), but run it using WhirlOut [amazon.com] which you can get from Home Depot. Just add 4 oz's into the actual drum, and run the clean cycle. It will clean out the internal piping. Then leave the door open to dry out.

Everything old is new again: My grandmother had a front-loader in the early 1950s. She hated it then and I certainly wouldn't have one now. I'd avoid the washer plate models, too. Read the reviews on line and watch the videos. Our center post top-loader is now 44 years old and works well. The dryer is of similar vintage. I replaced the drive belt once and that's been its only repair. Most people replace their appliances needlessly and wind up buying things that are going to be headaches because of their added complexity and inferior construction....in my opinion.

Always check searsoutlet when buying appliances like this. You can search all floor models within x miles of your zip code. I've gotten a washing machine 50% off and a dishwasher at 70% off. Sometimes you might have to drive a little bit, but sometimes it's worth it.

Quote from G37x : Yes I concur to this. I have a sammy front load one also and it started to stink and we just cant get it out. Very poor design.

I havent had a problem with the Whirlpool Duet and funk, but I always leave the door open. If I left wet clothes in there too long and they have started to smell, I add white vinegar to the next time I run it. I also use white vinegar to clean the dishwasher and coffeemaker- so I would imagine that it has also helped my laundry machine.

Quote from bigpollack : Hmmmmmm.... Trying to decide between a HE top loader or front loader This model seems to get great reviews from most of the sites I have looked on. Available at Lowe's too. I would imagine if Lowe's price matches and gives their 10% off.....you cant also use the 10% movers coupon ?? Anyone know ? The big plus for me in front loaders are they are SUPPOSED to be quieter than top loaders. Course, the drawback is that they build up a smell if you don't leave the door open ??? Still on the fence between the 2. My Montgomery Wards Signature 2000 series washer is finally giving up the ghost. Got it as a wedding gift.....in 1991 ! 22 years, it still works, but now it is starting to walk across the floor when it's spinning.

For what it's worth....We have a Whirlpool Cabrio top loader, it's about 5 years old. The bad: It is LOUD, so loud that I generally put the spin setting on "low" to lessen the freight train like noise. If the spin is on "high" it sounds like it's going to take off. The low spin seems to work good enough. Every once in a while it gives an error, locks and won't open - after about 5 minutes it releases. If you throw in one large quilt or blanket it will get bunched up and throw it off balance, almost have to throw something in to balance it and I feel like I'm overloading. That said, I will probably get another top loader of a different brand. The good: The capacity is very good, there's never been a comforter too large. There's never been an issue with smell and it's in use most days. When reading the reviews on front loaders someone mentioned you're supposed to wipe the door seal down after each use - not a big deal, just another thing to do and remember. The way our house is set up you can see our machines when you walk in the back door if the laundry room door is not closed. I often just pitch stuff in the washer as the day progresses. I don't want to see the clothes through the window in the machine. Plus if you need to leave the door open, that looks sloppy and we have a pet that would love to climb in an open machine.

The bummer is, no matter what you get it won't last as long as your good ol' Montgomery Ward. Good luck shopping!

Quote from IhaveIdeas : For what it's worth....We have a Whirlpool Cabrio top loader, it's about 5 years old. The bad: It is LOUD, so loud that I generally put the spin setting on "low" to lessen the freight train like noise. If the spin is on "high" it sounds like it's going to take off. The low spin seems to work good enough. Every once in a while it gives an error, locks and won't open - after about 5 minutes it releases. If you throw in one large quilt or blanket it will get bunched up and throw it off balance, almost have to throw something in to balance it and I feel like I'm overloading. That said, I will probably get another top loader of a different brand. The good: The capacity is very good, there's never been a comforter too large. There's never been an issue with smell and it's in use most days. When reading the reviews on front loaders someone mentioned you're supposed to wipe the door seal down after each use - not a big deal, just another thing to do and remember. The way our house is set up you can see our machines when you walk in the back door if the laundry room door is not closed. I often just pitch stuff in the washer as the day progresses. I don't want to see the clothes through the window in the machine. Plus if you need to leave the door open, that looks sloppy and we have a pet that would love to climb in an open machine. The bummer is, no matter what you get it won't last as long as your good ol' Montgomery Ward. Good luck shopping!

You know....from what I have seen online...it seems NONE of the new machines last as long as ones made 20 years ago.

Wonder if I could just get mine fixed ??
It still works fine, it just doesn't balance the loads as well as it did before.
And now when it stops.....it STOPS !!
No more slowing down.

If not....now I am leaning towards another top-loader.
As long as I can find a quiet one

The more I research....the more I cant decide.