I strongly urge a top-loading washer, despite the higher cost. It will rinse the clothes a lot better. The front-loaders often churn and tumble clothes while leaving plenty of detergent residue still on them.
I asked the identical question here some years ago. There may be helpful information there.
FTR, I was disillusioned by the early failure of my LG front loader and ended up getting a Maytag high-efficiency top loader. That particular model is no longer made but there’s apparently a new model, though I don’t know anything about it. What I can say, however, is that after six years I’m still very pleased with it. Unlike some other high-efficiency top loaders, it has a full agitator which helps to really get stuff clean. My preferred detergent for it is Tide Oxy HE.
I’ve soured on LG after the expensive front-loader failed just after five years (the main bearing went). I still have the dryer that I bought with it, and that still more or less works although the heat sensor is unreliable – it occasionally continues to run long after everything is bone-dry. I’m just not fond of LG at all. But I love my Maytag washer.
Don’t buy GE.
Front-loaders are supposedly more efficient. Everyone I know who has one say that they don’t clean as well and they always stink. I refuse to buy one.
Don’t buy GE.
I personally bought a new Samsung washing machine and dryer several years ago (the dryer about a year before the washing machine). I’ve been quite happy with both. We bought the higher capacity units since my son and his gf were living with us at the time, so they weren’t the least expensive units (the washing machine was about $700 IIRC). The washing machine is a top-loader.
On the negative side, they do both have fancy shmancy control boards instead of simple and easily replaceable mechanical controls.
Don’t buy GE.
The names that used to be reliable (Kenmore and Maytag) sold out long ago. The new ones aren’t in the same class as the old ones.
Did I mention that you shouldn’t buy GE?
I have had very bad experiences with GE appliances over the years. Some of my friends have had similarly poor experiences with them. They would break and I would fix them. Then they’d break and I would fix them again. Eventually Mrs. Geek told me to stop fixing the damned things and buy new ones.
Now that you mention it four times, I do recall in my research on washing machines that GE washers were quite poorly rated.
That’s true. A few years ago I helped a friend install a new Maytag dishwasher, and it failed just after the warranty expired, and would have cost almost as much to repair as a new one. Maytag offered him compensation on a new one but only after he raised holy hell.
OTOH, while I agree that formerly solid brands are not what they used to be, they can still be reliable and a good value. I have no issues at all with my Maytag washing machine after six years.
Incidentally, one of the frustrations in researching washing machines was that almost everything was poorly rated for one reason or another; it was a matter of assessing the relative differences and the credibility of the ratings. The Maytag I ended up getting had a Sears Kenmore copycat version which was relatively highly rated on Amazon.
You need their shitty app to decipher the error code. The machine will sing to the app (I kid you not) like a modem and provide it additional information.
On all my machines, they would occasionally require a front drain cleaning, making you put a baking pan below the machine to drain stored up liquid and debris. It’s a pain. And you would never know about it without the app deciphering the cryptic messages.
It’s just not a good experience. Their interface is terrible.
But, on the other hand, I’ve never had a load come out anything but perfect. No odor or residue.
I tend to like Consumer Reports for this sort of question, though it’s not perfect.
Since the site icurrently seems to be undergoing maintenance, I give you this instead.
I used to, but they seem less and less useful these days. The younger generations don’t use them, so they’re not getting as big a sample size for their user ratings. And they don’t test a lot of makes or models anymore, especially the cheaper common ones on sale at Amazon and Best Buy etc.
As a Canadian, a lot of their specific recommended stuff is also unavailable here. But for general advice on what to look for, or specifics about brand repairs and satisfaction, it still has quite a bit of useful information.
I liked Consumer Reports for taking a rigorous, scientific approach to comparing things like washing machines; give each machine loads with the same stains and evaluate performance of each. And they also made a point of buying the products at retail to avoid getting hand-picked samples of the products from the manufacturers.
Though I never buy enough stuff that I’ve been wiling to pay for access to their content, so instead I often refer to the Wirecutter results on the NYT website. Here, for instance, is an article from last month comparing washing machines. An LG model was top-rated, followed by an Electrolux model and then one from GE.
Our Kenmore is 31 years old – not looking forward to having to replace it. (Had to replace the dryer around seven years ago.)
I deeply regret buying a new Washer. My old one still worked fine.
I upgraded for reliability. Ouch. The joke is on me.
As others have already said, Speed Queen is the only consumer option that still works like a vintage Washer.
I have considered commercial washers that Laundromats use. But, are they already changed like consumer models?
I like being able to fill the tub with water. Let it agitate for a couple minutes and then pause to soak my dirty work clothes. I used to wait about 20 minutes before letting the machine continue.
How much detergent are you using? We’ve had front loaders for decades and have never had “detergent residue.” Front loaders don’t require as much soap. Those scoops that come with the boxes of detergent? We barely use half that small scoop.
I always purchase appliances from a local family owned business. They have been very supportive and responsive with issues that arise.
I purchased a new Whirlpool washer about 5/6 years ago and had no idea that everything had changed so drastically. Even though my machine is simple with knob controls and an agitator I had no idea how to set anything and kept calling them for assistance.
Finally one of the guys said that he would come to the house and walk me through everything. Once he explained how everything worked I was fine.
I miss the simplicity of the old machines but this one has not given me any issues since I purchased it.
Fancy-schmancy washers can automatically dispense whatever they calculate is the correct amount of detergent. Couldn’t say if it is really worth it, apart from convenience.
I’d hate that. I like controlling things.
And before you know it, they’ll start requiring special microchipped detergent at a 400% markup. For the cleanest load, be sure to choose Genuine LG UltraShine NanoWax MegaPlus. Now available in Gluten-Free and Zero-Sugar.
I have a Miele washer/dryer and love them (possibly my favorite thing I own) but yeah…they ain’t cheap.
They have good warranties though and they claim they last twice as long as other washer/dryers (which isn’t to say they can’t/won’t break but are less likely to). My sister is on her third Samsung machine in the time I have had mine. Maybe she’s unlucky. Her machines look cool and modern but are kinda shit.
Miele do use less water and less power. They actually run on normal 120v plug (not the big plug…a regular wall outlet suffices). That saves money. Also, the dryer does not need a vent to the outside. It is a closed loop cycle so you are again saving money (you are not venting hot air outside). But again, they are expensive so I doubt it really pays off on those savings.
As for the rinse and all that…you can get a model which automatically adds detergent which is almost always less than people put in on their own. You can skip that and use your own detergent. I would suggest using less detergent if you are sensitive. You really don’t need as much as many think they do (that and maybe find a detergent that causes you less problems).
I really like my laundry machines but, one more time…expensive.
It does cost a bit more but not a whole lot more and the machine is better at using less detergent than I am.
That said, the machine does not require you to use their stuff. You absolutely can use @Reply’s Homemade Detergent Mixed in a Bathtub™ if you want.
I don’t know whether Siemens appliances are available in the US. In case they are I can very much recommend a device from their IQ line. Our’s is a IQ 7 model, 9kg, many features, different options to control water and electricity use, rather silent (in case you use the machine in your kitchen), not very expensive. Bosch, Siemens and Miele produce their products in Poland, so their quality shouldn’t show a big difference.
Miele washers/dryers are manufactured in Germany I think. But they do have manufacturing in Poland and the Czech Republic. I’m not 100% what is made where.
Also, it is worth noting that Miele washers/dryers are a little small. They can handle more laundry than their apparent size would suggest but still…they are not big. If you have a big family (5+ people) and/or very large people in your family then a Miele machine might be a bit too small (you’d have to do more loads and take more time). If it is 2-3 people no problem at all. If four then think about it if 5+ you’d probably want a bigger machine.