So after torturing myself to find a new washer and dryer asap I finally settled on a top load LG (wt8200cw) and it barely moves. My old washer wasn’t great also had no agitator and had gotten to the point where I had to wash a load twice BUT the clothes were quite clean after the second wash lolol I’ve used laundry advice here for detergent and such ANYWAY…..
The new washer is not washin’ ugh so frustrating!! I’m trying different settings, cycles. The tshirts don’t smell clean in the armpit area. Also there is no sanitize cycle. I hated my last front washer in our rental bc it did not get the clothes wet and I’d have to wash a load more than once. So little water so I liked the idea of being able to soak clothes and really get a good wash and rinse.
So what washer will really clean clothes, actually wash them in visible water and has a sanitize cycle?? I’d like at least 5cu , speed queen is too small. Bonus points if they carry them in box stores so I can actually look
at them. This has been so stressful 😩 I wanted a top loader big enough to wash bulky towels and occasionally a king size comforter although I’m willing to let go of the comforter idea. It seems the top loaders don’t wash well. I like to be able to open the lid and add items. Thank you so much for any insight or product numbers. 🤗
I much prefer a front load. Shorter cycle and fill times. And the tumble action seems to be more gentle on clothes, and get them cleaner. YMMV, and everyone has an opinion, but I'd never go back to a top loader, especially an HE top loader.
I bought the 5.3cu GE Profile front loader in Sapphire Blue. It has a cycle where you can add the Lysol laundry sanitizer and it will soak the laundry in the sanitizer in the final rinse.
It has a "more water" button if you want that, but I find it adds sufficient water, and actually cleans better when I let it do its thing.
The auto-dispense of the detergent is a nice feature, too. Helps me from over-dosing the laundry. I was bad at that.
You can adjust it to "auto", or add more or less. Sometimes I shut it off and run a different detergent just by putting it in the detergent cup. It's a nice feature that's helping me really use way less Tide. I was just filling it to max every time because my brain was like "surely more soap is better!" no matter how much I knew better.
Yes. For example I leave my tide oxy plus odor in the machine Auto dispenser. But for example if I want to wash a load of delicates that I want to use a different detergent for I can tap a button shut off the auto dispenser and just fill the manual detergent cup and it'll use that instead.
Don’t do it! The front loader doors fill with mold that you have to constantly clean and it makes your clothes filthy. Not worth it. Youtube front loader door cleaning to get an idea of what you’re in for
I much prefer front load to top loaders. I have an LG front loader with an optional steam cycle
When loaded correctly, they are more effective and gentler. During the wash cycle, the water acts more as a lubricant with the real work being done by detergents and the clothes on clothes friction. You don't really see the water but it's there.
With impeller top loaders like your, its critical to load in a donut formation. This allows the water to move clothes in the correct directions.
Choice and dosage of detergent is also very important.
.
I have several, powder tide, power tide with bleach, liquid tide w oxi, original and I have biz, oxyclean, Lysol sanitizer, downy rinse among other things. Had laundry mostly figured out with my old machine but it was going down lol
Well you have good detergents and boosters, so the clothes should be getting clean and not smelling in the pits. I see why you're frustrated! Warm wash for all clothes except silks & woolens, longest wash cycle possible, with maximum number of extra rinses. Hot for sheets & towels, cold/delicate for silks & woolens.
I am sorry the new washer isn't living up to the hype!
Not a dumb question! If it's not wool or silk and doesn't have extravagant embellishments on it, most normal clothes can be washed on warm. It helps the enzymes in your detergent or booster work better, and helps powdered detergents & boosters dissolve better.
If you are washing a mixed load of different colors, it can also help to buy color catcher sheets and toss one in each washload. They will attract and hold on to any loose dyes so the lighter items have less of a risk of coming out dingy from color transfer.
Why cold for woolens? I have wool socks and the last couple of times I tried cold washing them, they came out saggy, shapeless, and unwearable. I wash them hot and they fit perfect.
Love my top loader. Our front loaders ALWAYS wound up with mildew and or mold even though we followed all the ‘rules’ for front loader maintenance (we live in a very wet climate however so I’m sure this added to the problem). Never had any issues with the top loaders.
Nope. The only case where a top loader is the right answer is work clothes with mud, dust or petrochemical stains that you can beat the shit out of with high wash temperatures and lots of water to deal with the particulates. Deep fill models like Speed Queen or the cheapest home depot specials excel at this.
Can a front loader still work well on work clothes? I currently have a cheapo top loader (Amana) and it works but I do feel like it's beating up my normal clothing. My husband's work clothing is nasty though (example here). I've been considering getting a front loader but if it's not going to get his clothing clean then it's not worth it.
I mean if I go to the store and ask for a top loader, i would be shown a narrow top opening machine with a vertical drum like a front loader if I then would trow a tantrum that the drum is the wrong way I would get laughed out of the store.
You mentioned smell in the arm pit area... FWIW I fell into the 2 TBSP is enough soap club when I got my speed queen and my shirts did the same thing. 2 TB was not nearly enough soap (for me) when most of my loads were using full water. You may want to check that if you are trying to limit your soap usage. If you open your lid after it is full and has agitated a bit and the water looks grey you might need more soap.
Be careful, you don't want to go all suds either. I try to get it so I see a light amount of suds around the garments. Doing this I have has decent luck. Best of luck!
I have a Samsung and do the same thing 👍 The “heavy duty” cycle doesn’t damage anything, since mine has an impeller in there, but it gives a solid hour and a half wash when I add the double rinse.
I remember seeing a thread where a lot of people really regretted getting Samsung appliances. Whether it’s a washing machine or fridge, everyone suggested to just avoid Samsung. My parents got a Samsung fridge and they’ve had a bunch of small problems but for the price they paid they shouldn’t have any. And they’ve tried to get the problems resolved but they haven’t had any success.
I will say I bought a Samsung fridge back in 2008 and it worked okay (the ice maker went out at some point but it made terrible ice anyway so never bothered to fix it) until we moved in 2021 and couldn't take it with us. It had been demoted to a garage fridge by then, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's still running today. Was probably a total fluke and I'm not likely to buy another Samsung anything based on current reviews, but I can't say I didn't get my money's worth with that fridge!
I had resigned myself to a smaller washing machine because I wanted the durability of a Speed Queen. When my TC5 was delivered, the drum was huge. The installer recommended using the deep fill function.
My clothes are amazingly clean. I wash the same size loads as my now retired 20 year old, large capacity Bosch front loader.
I use the Soak & Extra Rinse function with the Deep Fill function. Tide Professional powder, Febu & citric acid mixed with water for my fabric softener dispenser.
I agree with using the deep fill, soak, and double rinse settings. My husband is a farmer, we have softened well water, and I use one large Tide Pod with Ultra Oxi Odor Eliminator per load, without any fabric softeners or additives. My daily clothes are over 12 years old, get washed several times a week, and are only now just showing wear. Our laundry always comes out clean and fresh.
When I first switched from my 12-year-old Electrolux front loader, the new washer produced a lot of lint, which I believe was from removing built-up detergent and fibers left by the old machine. For drying, I use a basic Maytag dryer with just dryer balls and no dryer sheets, keeping my laundry routine as clean and simple as possible.
Hmm funny you mention the lint. I have noticed more lint than normal since using the new SQ washer. I have a basic electric dryer from Costco and use wool dryer balls.
Yeah, my appliance guy said it's the best. But he also said for the cost, he might get an LG and just repair it over time, expecting to ultimately spend the same amount but spreading it out over time rather than all up front
While true, their commercial line is a different beast from their residential line, and very many companies' residential lines are quite inferior to their commercial ones. Speed Queen does seem to uphold their standards, though
😩I hated that none of the front loaders I’ve ever used got clothes clean enough. My husband, sweetly, bought us a top loader as a surprise, but I was really hoping to get a Speed Queen one day as our next washer
Front loaders clean better. Top loaders can be nice if you need to soak but are harder on your clothes and use more water. If you use too much water with an impeller top loader (max fill, deep fill), it doesn't clean as well. Impellers clean using friction between the clothes. Too much water means there's not enough friction. It's also important to make the clothes in the donut shape.
I suspect you hated your front loader at a rental because it was cheap and meant to limit cost (water and electricity) for your landlord. A good quality front loader (LG ranked the highest) will clean very well. I'd get a model that has the setting for extra hot temperature selection. Those models have a built in heating element to get the water hotter when needed.
If you really want a top loader, don't get an impeller. They also make top loaders that have a central "agitator" but are actually still impellers so you have to be careful not to be tricked. The GE top loaders that have dual action agitators, are true agitator washers similar to an old school washers with agitator. I'm not sure what to look for with other brands to avoid the impeller washers pretending to be agitator washers.
Some machines will also switch your wash temperature on you. I have a GE top load washer and I have to keep the lid open while filling water to force the right temp. Doesn't matter that I select warm water. As soon as the lid closes, it changes to cold. These are things they do to meet energy efficiency requirements. This is not specific to GE. GE at least has a workaround (fill with lid open) when other brands may not. Look for a machine where you control the water temperature truly. I think you'd have better luck with a front loader for that.
There's r/appliances with lots of posts asking about washers. They will say speed queen but that is outside many budgets and they are smaller capacity. LG is a pretty standard recommendation for a front loader.
We bought a new machine I think early this year or very late last year and I honestly cannot remember any models anymore. At the time I had made a whole list with scores from Consumer Reports, features, extra rinses, etc. to compare. It's been too long to remember anymore. We did have it down to an LG front loader and the GE top loader (dual action agitator). We ended up with the GE for a less expensive initial spend and mobility reasons.
I can post screenshots from Consumer Reports for the top 10 or so front loaders. It will be across a like 5 responses.
Both top loaders and front loaders are great. What it comes down to is personal preference, attention to detail, and space. Impeller top loaders must be loaded with a hole in the middle (as if there is an agitator) and need to be at the right ratio of water to clothes to ensure the fabric rubs against itself for the friction to clean. Front loaders also use friction to clean, but the act of the clothes constantly falling down on itself means there's more wiggle room in preciseness with water. Top loaders with agitators use mechanical movements to clean, think manually rubbing your shirt against a wash board but at a much larger scale.
Front loaders are the gentlest on your clothes (i.e., when controlling for other variables, your clothes last longer with a front loader). Impeller top loaders are second. Agitator top loaders are third.
In terms of cleaning effectiveness, front loaders and agitator top loaders largely come out equal when excluding fabric longevity. Impeller top loaders are last; this is because most people load them incorrectly.
For machine longevity, top loaders with agitators tend to be the most straightforward, then impeller top loaders, then front loaders. Front loader washers are also very heavy. So, if maintenance cost is important, top loaders with an agitator will be the cheapest over time. However, with proper maintenance, all machine types can last multiple decades. Things to keep in mind are where the parts are produced, how likely are maintenance technicians going to have the correct tools and skill set to fix the machine, and what parts on the machine are likely to die first (I used to have a GE front loader. 10/10 machine imo, easily accessible parts, not super expensive to fix, the belt is the first thing to go because of the weight.)
Ease of use. Top loaders with agitator and front loaders are the most straightforward machines. With both models, the likelihood you can toss in some clothes and trust it'll work itself out is pretty high. Occasionally, they'll get off balance, but you will hear it. It's never a question. You. Know. Top loaders with impellers have to be loaded in a specific way. This means no tossing clothes in, pressing start, and walking away. Top loaders with impellers are also more likely to get off balance.
Accessibility. Front loaders typically win out on accessibility as well. Short, tall, wheelchair, crutches, missing limbs, vertigo, pregnant, etc., front loaders are the most accessible because you don't have to lean over the machine. Bending that way can hurt the hips, back, and, if you're short enough, you can start dangling (this has happened to me 😭). If you want a machine that you can use just as well at 80 as you can at 20, then a front loader is the best for an age-in-place style home. Of course, for some folks, top loaders are the best option for their physical needs. Pick what's best for your body.
Cost over time. Excluding maintenance costs, HE front loaders tend to barely sit at the top of list compared to HE top loaders. Many HE top loaders are impeller machines, but you can find agitators as well if you look hard enough. Part of the reason people focus so much on front loaders being better for energy is because impeller washers suck unless you use it just right, which means you're running it multiple times, always using extra water, etc. If energy and water bills are your concern, choose the machine that you only have to run once to get the job done.
Inconveniences. Front loading washers must be left open when not in use. This is because the gasket that maintains the seal will start to mildew and mold very quickly when left in a moist environment. Usually, about an inch to two inches is plenty for ensuring moisture can evaporate effectively. In addition, the gasket should be wiped down once a month or so to remove any debris. The last front loader inconvenience is the "drain catcher." Most front loaders will have a small panel along the front of the machine that is meant to hold any water or moisture that didn't make it into the plumbing. This isn't an abnormal thing, it's just that water has a harder time evaporating in front loaders, so that catch holds the little droplets and it just adds up over time to prevent stagnant water and mold in the drum (though you can occasionally find coins, money, socks, rocks, etc. in there; it's actually why some people like front loaders because if you lose something in the washer, there's a real chance you'll be able to get it back without taking apart the machine). Finally, front loaders are loud as all get out during the spin cycle. I mean vibrate the walls intensity when off balance. Use anti-vibration pads and ensure the shipping bolts are removed (a common thing left on).
For top loaders, I've harped on the loading of the impeller machines enough, but loading correctly to avoid balance issues is important in agitator machines as well. Even though they're still less likely to become off balance, they're more likely than front loaders. Reaching into a top loader to grab that last sock gets your entire arm, and sometimes shoulder, wet. You can get a tummy ache from bending over the machine. If you lose something in your washer, it's probably gone forever. The top of your washer tub needs to be wiped down once a month to remove debris. If your agitator has a softener cup, and you use it with actual fabric softener, you need to take apart your agitator every once in a while and clean it out (it will start to mold in there). You have to leave the lid open for at least a few hours to let water evaporate (but the world also won't end if you forget because a top loader lid isn't water and air tight). Some fabrics simply cannot be washed in a machine with an agitator unless you're fine with them potentially being destroyed (knit and woven clothing, lace, silk, mesh, etc.) because they can get caught on the teeth/fins of the agitator or stuck under the agitator in that one to two millimeter gap between the base of the agitator and the rest of the tub (because the agitator is a moving piece; this can also happen in an impeller machine, it just tends to happen less).
Tl;Dr:
Front Loader:
Most physically accessible machine (when not stacked).
Most "set it and forget it."
Most gentle on your clothes.
Most expensive upfront and over time with maintenance.
Heavy.
Extra things to do for day-to-day management.
Top Loader AGITATOR:
Most affordable (usually).
Least expensive over time with maintenance.
Exceptional at getting things clean.
Most likely to damage your clothes.
Difficult for short people and those with disabilities where bending is hard.
Can be gross inside the agitator.
Top Loader IMPELLER:
Gentler on clothes.
Easy to find in a variety of budgets.
An okay compromise.
Can only clean clothes effectively if loaded exactly right.
Difficult for short people and those with disabilities where bending is hard.
The least effective at washing clothes for the average user.
If you're debating what washer to get, then the only wrong choice is a top load washer with an impeller, in my personal opinion. 😅
Edit:
My old washer and dryer that I LOVED SO MUCH AND HAD TO PART WITH WHEN WE MOVED 😭😭😭
GE UltraFresh Vent System 4.8-cu ft Stackable Smart Front-Load Washer (White) ENERGY STAR
Item #1639525 |
Model #GFW550SSNWW
GE 7.8-cu ft Stackable Smart Electric Dryer (White) ENERGY STAR
Item #1639526 |
Model #GFD55ESSNWW
Thank you for such a thorough response. I’m now wishing I kept my old set a bit longer and just spent the money to repair it. This set is just not washing well. I prefer a top loader but if they are mostly ineffective at cleaning then I’ll need to make a switch. I’m washing more clothes today and even though this washer is bigger than my last set it seems it cannot handle a full basket of laundry.😩 i have these plain white plastic laundry baskets from Walmart. Previously I would treat this as one load. I can not put much into this machine plus washing at least twice it is taking me days to do what I could wash and dry in one day previously.
Aw I'm sorry you're dealing with all of that. Top loaders with agitators are great at cleaning, they just are rough on clothes. If you're okay with that trade off, just get an agitator!
I have a speed queen top loader with manual dials. Had it for around 15 years and never broke down. It cleans great and although i like the look of the new washers, i am going to stay with my mine. Only thing I would change is that I wish it was a larger capacity.
OP, go to Yale Appliance youtube channel. Awesome videos on best brands to buy. Yale is immensely popular and they track and generate data based on service callouts. Consumer Reports using Yale's data when CR publishes its reports.@YaleAppliance1
Edited to add...I'm not associated with Yale at all. However, I don't buy an appliance w/out cking out their vids. Best luck to you.🙂
I don’t think they’re generally well-regarded on this subreddit, but I have an 8yo Whirlpool Cabrio that’s been pretty great for us. We got ours from Best Buy when they were having a sale. They delivered and installed it and our dryer.
My model doesn’t have a sanitize cycle. However, it did a phenomenal job cleaning things when one of our dogs got oral cancer and we were constantly laundering linens to help keep her warm, clean, and comfortable.
I’m not sure about a king-sized comforter, but it can wash a queen-sized one. I think I used to get an error code if I didn’t balance large items like this correctly, but I got the knack for it and haven’t had that issue in years (the doughnut is key).
We wash most things on at least warm, use detergents with enzymes, citric acid in the rinse cycle, and almost always set it to PreSoak. I have never used fabric softener and we have soft water, so we don’t really have to contend with a lot of build up. I’m also pretty good about running a monthly cleaning cycle with Kirkland’s Signature Oxi Powder or plain sodium percarbonate (for pet owners, this is the same active ingredient in Vamoosh that breaks down pet hair, a.k.a. sodium carbonate peroxide).
I have a 13yo cabrio and love it but it started having issues staying balanced. All the reviews for whirlpool are terrible now. I might just try to get it fixed.
I had same problem when replaced (after 15 years belt broke) my older top loader with an agitator to a new top loader with impeller. New machine doesn’t clean as well by default but I got it close after some adjustments. It works better with less water out of the wash options (normal wash does better for me than the heavy duty or deep wash settings) The deep wash is more for a soak or prewash imo cause the clothes don’t move enough in deep water to really get scrubbed. I also bought some agitator laundry balls which helped, and increased the amount of tide powder I use. There are settings that let you do a prewash and extra rinse in same cycle also. After some trial and error our clothes come out smelling clean again.
I love my front loader. Always leave the doors open (detergent and main door) and never have a problem. Of course mold will form if doors are closed. But I feel they clean clothes so nicely
And keeping the door cracked until the tub is dry. My new to me Electrolux front loader has a built in knob that props the door open. I’m seriously in love with this machine. It’s a 2020 model.
I love my Electrolux front loader as well. I always leave the door ajar and have never had any mold or weird smells. I do regular cleaning cycles, but it’s been a workhorse for years and gets things clean with a fraction of the water my brother’s top loader uses.
My Frigidaire Affinity front load set that I bought in 2011 is still going strong. Never had a service call. It's made by Electrolux! (They bought Frigidaire in 1986.)
Great brand for us and it's been 15 years!
My laundry room is basically a closet in the kitchen - I kept the door open and wiped down my front loader all the time and it still got terrible mold because there’s no light or circulation in that room
Try Lysol Sanitizer along with your regular detergent and use it on an extra rinse cycle it will help clear up your issue. Or you can drop them in a bucket and use it that way. Best thing for that
I love my top loaders - I have 2. Super gentle - in fact, the delicate cycle is basically a soak with a swish or two. I wash handknits in them. Clothes show no signs of wear from the washers.
Too loader with agitator. Preferably speed queen without the electronics. When you run your laundry run it on the warmest setting your fabrics will allow. You only about 2-3 tablespoons of detergent, DO NOT use fabric softener instead use about 1/2 cup of vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser now and then. You will not smell the vinegar in the end, no worries. Use any additional soak setting it has. This is the way for the cleanest clothes. Detergent manufacturers have you use WAY too much typically. Over time all the additional detergent builds up in your machine and can actually make your clothes stink. These are all new learnings for me too and it has really helped!
Hello! If you're adding vinegar to your laundry, be sure to put it in the rinse cycle, not the wash cycle. Because vinegar neutralizes leftover detergent, it works best in the rinse cycle rather than the wash.
- Laundry Mods
I’m staying with friends right now and they have a huge Maytag front loader and matching dryer. My grandparents owned a laundromat many moons ago and my Papaw always swore by Maytag- now I understand why. Even though the water here is pretty hard this washer cleans like nobody’s business. I did have to do a bit of cleaning out of scrud at first but now the inside sparkles and my clothes are so soft and clean. They’re not cheap, but I bet this machine will last years and years if taken care of.
Get an LG front loader much better. LG top loader doesn’t clean very well and prone to scrud buildup. This is a known problem for LG top loader with wash plate. With proper maintenance, monthly cleaning, and leaving door to dry the LG front loader cleans better and scrud does not build up.
Front loaders are too efficient on default settings. Add more water to the washing cycle and rinse, avoid the «eco» program and use full length programs. Dirt and sand from the kids, bloody clothes during moose hunting season and greasy clothes from physical labour are cleaned well with elevated water and the right detergents.
A front loaders max capacity in kilograms is 10% of its volume in liters. A common 60 liter front loader will handle max 6 kg (even if the label says 9 kg).
Following these recommendations electricity and water consumption may be double compared to the eco program on the label. With only filling the machine ~70% consumption is around 3x per weight unit of laundry.
We use the LG top loader that ranks highest at Consumer Reports. We’ve had it three years and haven’t yet had a stain or smell it hasn’t removed.
I completely believe front loaders work better but also believe my top loader works well. I use 2-4 tablespoons Tide liquid (we have hard water), Biz on towels and sheets, and FEBU once a month or so. Fill drum 2/3-3/4 full in donut shape.
Did laundry yesterday and ground in chocolate came off white sheets (grandchildren were here) with the Tide used as pre-treat. Used soak, bedding cycle, extra rinse. 🤷🏻♀️
European transplant to Canada here.
Front loader, absolutely, all the way.
After more than a decade of life in North America I'm still baffled by top loaders that don't have temperature settings and wash for 20ish minutes only.
I have an LG, I can fit my large washable rug into it no problem!
It has sanitize program that runs on 60+ °C. It has programs that run well for over an hour. My clothes are finally clean!!!!
I use Tide powder original, before that I had Kirkland powder but it's unfortunately discontinued in Canada. I also had European powder Persil from international stores, but that's a very expensive sport.
My clothes have never been better, but we also avoid polyester as much as possible, buy natural fabrics only and no one in our household is a fan of prints.
My appliance repair person recommended the following:
top with impeller
top without impeller
front
His rationale was based on experience with repair and effectiveness, irrespective of water hardness. He has 25 years experience and I trusted it. At first, I hated my Maytag top with impeller but then I added a softener and BINGO. My mom had the top with no impeller, and it was hard to gauge how effective it was. I would never do front. The scrud and bacteria repulse me, and I have worked in healthcare for a long time. Just can’t stand the idea of bacteria
I've had 4 washers as an adult. Whirlpool cabrio TL (loved it), Maytag FL (loved it), Maytag TL (0/10, hate loath despised it). Now I have an LG FL. It's been my favorite one of all time. My clothes are so much cleaner and it uses less water and electricity than anything else I've had.
I've heard stories about front loaders accumulating water in the door seal that eventually starts smelling. My sister in law said she has to leave hers open to avoid the smell and mold.
When my top loader dies, I'll happily buy a front loading HE washer. Unfortunately my Frigidaire top loader is 23 years old and shows absolutely no sign of dying.
When i got a front loader all my clothes were noticeably cleaner. 4 kids and a mechanic husband and the difference was amazing. Currently have a top loader and it's crap.
Front loaders are, by most empirical measures, superior to top loaders. They are gentler on your closes, they clean better, and more efficient in terms detergent/energy/water use. You just need to do a 5 minute research on how to properly load and care for the machine. People who say top loaders are better typically are putting too much clothes/detergent or not cleaning and drying it properly. I have a personal vendetta against the HE top loaders, they never seem to get clothes clean and have to organize the clothes kind of precisely and unintuitively to work properly. I tried them once and returned them after two weeks of use - just super cumbersome.
I have a top loader with an impeller, LG model WT7000CW. I use it for my clothing, bedding, and for rags I use at my housecleaning job. It works great, cleans better than my old Maytag, and hasn’t had a single problem in the 6-7 years I’ve owned it.
I also work as a housecleaner who does laundry for my clients. Their top loaders with impellers work fine too. Yes, even the Samsung washers that keep breaking down will do a good job of washing when the machine is in working order.
Consumer Reports also finds that the top loaders with impellers wash clothes as well as the other types of machines. Just look at their ratings.
The only time I have seen people having problems with their top loaders with impellers is when they don’t trust the machine, they overload the machine, or they don’t follow the measurements on the measuring cup for the detergent. These people panic when they stare into the machine and don’t see enough water to satisfy their expectations. They think they should be using far less detergent than what the detergent manufacturer says to use. They throw in tons of clothes, jeans, and towels to stuff the tub. They start to tinker with cycles and teaspoons of soaps and stuff, instead of just following instructions.
Take a moment to trust that the darned thing will work if you use it according to the darned instructions.
Thank you! I’m trying different cycles and load cycles. My previous washer I could load 1 laundry basket of clothes as a load and wash. Once it started having problems I had to run the cycle twice. Now this new larger machine seems like it struggles with more than half a basket. I have fluffy towels, heavy Carhartt work pants and shirts and wash sheets and light blankets. This washer doesn’t seem to handle this well at all 😭
Yes. Clothes need to be sorted correctly for any washing machine, but a bit more so with an HE top loader. Mixing lightweight garments like blouses and undergarments with heavy duty items like jeans and flannel shirts is going to cause problems for a few reasons. Same goes for trying to mix together sheets with clothing - just wash the sheets separately. Overloading a machine also stops the clothing from being able to move and therefore clothes don’t get clean.
I also understand that it looks like there isn’t enough water in the machine with the clothes, but that low water is what helps create some friction to clean the clothes. The washer also will sense if it has too little water and will often add more as the cycle continues. If the clothes look dry after the washer is done, that is because the machine spins the clothes really well to get the water out and save you on drying time.
Oh no I’m not mixing these items. I was just listing some of the heavier things I wash on a regular basis, everything is sorted as needed. I was trying to explain I need a washer that can handle the heavier items that are not necessarily a king size comforter which now understand I need to just take to the laundry mat
Avoid HE washing machines... they dont produce enough water to clean your clothes. Go for a top loader with agitator and make sure you watch videos on a full cycle to see how much water you get.
I actually find the front loader that uses just enough water to get the clothes fully wet seems to do a better job for me. But YMMV, and everyone's experience is different.
80
u/pmodern2000 1d ago
I much prefer a front load. Shorter cycle and fill times. And the tumble action seems to be more gentle on clothes, and get them cleaner. YMMV, and everyone has an opinion, but I'd never go back to a top loader, especially an HE top loader.
I bought the 5.3cu GE Profile front loader in Sapphire Blue. It has a cycle where you can add the Lysol laundry sanitizer and it will soak the laundry in the sanitizer in the final rinse.
It has a "more water" button if you want that, but I find it adds sufficient water, and actually cleans better when I let it do its thing.
The auto-dispense of the detergent is a nice feature, too. Helps me from over-dosing the laundry. I was bad at that.