I have a front loader and yes, it's a must to keep the door open when not in use. Didn't know about the soap tray. I just got done cleaning out the darn thing with my wheel woolies the other week . Nasty in there.

My only beef with our side by side is that it needs to be on a platform. Currently, it sits on the floor and you have to stoop down to get anything in/out of it. Kind of a pain. I've got an old office chair that we use to sit and transfer laundry. I think our next purchase if these die will be top load wash, front load dry. With steam. Cause, well, steam in a dryer means I won't have to iron wrinkly shirts.

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-kp!
2009 X5 35D

See how you did not know about the soap tray but in my thread...u looked and see how bad it is

Now imagine how many people accustomed to just closing the top cover of a top load, only to buy a front load and do the same. It's a serious issue that alot of people don't know.....and if one does not practice *best pratices* on how to use a front load, there is some serious *buildup* that your clothes wash in that buildup water every time.

Eeeew right.


What I do as a extra regimine, I have a commercial grade steam cleaner that also dispenses/sprays hot boiling water a steam pressure. About once a month, I will spray down the tray as well as peel back the gasket on the washer, and spray it down, just for good practice....

I never heard of mold forming in a washer. Maybe it has something to do
with living in a humid environment. I looked it up and here's what I found.

How to Remove Mold and Mildew from Front-Load Washing Machines | Today's Homeowner

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"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….

Indeed mold. The point I was trying to make across should anyone come to this thread, is the *mindset* you need to properly care for a front loader.

And for those that do have FL, and don't keep the door ajar, or use the santize function with bleach more often than not - to peel back the gasket, shine a light to see the outer drum and do you see nice white/grey plastic or do you black stuff.....

Who wants to "maintain" a washing machine? I would buy the $350 top loader and spend the remaining $500 on new clothes. I will deal with a quirky car, but not a quirky appliance.

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Profeshenal spellar

We have a Samsung front-loading washing machine and dryer.

They were top of the line or close to it when we bought them about 5 years ago. Did my research on Consumer Reports before purchase and they were near the top. Haven't had any problems except for a sticky control button which was fixed with silicone spray. They replaced a Maytag pair that came with the house that were from the 70's.

Some advantages to front-loading washer:

- uses less water
- uses less electricity
- uses less detergent
- gets clothes cleaner
- less wear on clothes so they last longer (no agitator)
- gets clothes dryer so you use less energy drying them

The washer also has a "Silvercare" feature which seems to take care of the mold. The only time it gets stinky is if you leave clothes in it overnight after washing them. The next wash clears the stink away.

The dryer has a steam feature. Using it means my golf shirts and pants do not need to be ironed. The dryer has a hose which means one more to replace every 5 years. I've seen units with a water tray that you fill manually.

I would buy them again. I think it was about $2k for the pair.

That's right, and hang em out to dry....

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"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….

Unfortunately, the days of 'buy a 30 year appliance' are over. Upright or front load, they are just more complex and more cheaply built than in the past....

I bought a sears he3/ he3t front load pair about 12 years ago. Just out of warranty the control board failed- very common failure, was able to troubleshoot and buy the part for $250.

Then last year the tub broke. Seems that the stainless tub is held by a cast alloy hub assembly which mounts into the main bearing. This bearing supports the entire tub/load. The cast alloy was incompatible with water, and corroded to powder, then broke. This then damaged the tub.

Parts were going to be $1700.

Good news.....Lifetime warranty on the tub. But they wanted labor. Argument ensued. I said I'll send you the bad parts, just send me good parts... Finally I agreed to a standard diagnostic service vists with a $99 fee...I wanted to document the parts that were bad and of they were under warranty.... they came out, looked at it and said, 'yep, those are bad'.....and ordered the parts to be drop shipped and said 'call us when they arrive'..the tech kind of winked and added 'if you don't call, nobody will ever know- good luck'. Labor was going to be over $400 for this 'two person' job...

I Installed it, fine since.

Like what we do with cars in the forums, there are plenty of DIY sites, service manuals, etc, available on the web. Oh, and having a spare washer dryer in the barn helps when 7 days pass without the main laundry!

But I am convinced the the old days of 20 year washers (or cars) are gone. Front or top load...

A

My only two rules:

1) It has to be made in the US.
2) It has to be energy and water efficient. The environment matters, and so does my monthly electricity and water bill.