Calling Mobius- Advice on a Front Loader

[Clairitek]

We got some gift cards from Home Depot for Christmas to replace our old washing machine. I really want to get a front loader and we are willing to pay the extra (over the cost of a top loader) for it.

What is your opinion on the less expensive front loaders? Should we just suck it up and pay extra for something in the next price bracket?

Here are some options:
Amana for $548

GE for $599

LG for $749

Thanks!

 

[Gayletmom]

Hi Clairitek. I''m not Mobius but I did buy a front loader last year after doing some research. I started with Consumer Reports (worth it to me for the $5 charge for a month). I bought an LG and have been very happy with it. Here are a few random bits of info that might be helpful.
First, I did a search online and found a washer and dryer forum (may have been CR) that was obviously run by a couple of people in the repair & maintenance business. It was very helpful. What I learned is that lots of people have had problems with all brands of front loaders with a mindewy smell to their laundry. The issue arises b/c of the rubber seal around the door which tends to retain a little water even after the load has run. The recommended prevention is to wipe the rubber rim when you are finished washing and then leave the door open. It sounded like a big pain to me when I first got my machine but now it is second nature and I just give it a swipe with a towel or t-shirt after washing (although it does sometimes annoy me to have the door hanging open). I also find that I can''t run a load b/f bed and leave them overnight or the clothes get a little musty.
The other tip is to buy something called "Affresh" which are tablets that you run through an empty washer with hot water once a month to keep away the mildew.
Finally, when you are buying, pay attention to which way the door opens. I was keeping my old dryer b/c it still works and it turns out the LG door opens toward the dryer which makes moving the clothes from one to the other awkward. When I spring for a new dryer the problem will disappear but it was something I didn''t think of before.

Good luck!

 

[bagelboy]

We have the same LG model as in the link. It has worked very well. Some of the others have belts that spin the drum. Belts stretch and then break. LG is a direct drive with gears, so no problems. I have never noticed any musty oder but I usually run a sponge into the rubber seal to pick up any water after I''m done. You can also clean the pump screen very easily at the bottom.We decided not to buy the pedestals to save another $360. You can use regular powdered Tide if you mix it up and wait until it is dissolved. Home Depot will deliver and pick up your old machines, but try to clean the floor underneath a couple days in advance if possible. Oh, our LG is much easier on our clothes. Check if they are offering any rebates or energy discounts in your area.That knocked off another $400 for the pair. Hope this helps.

 

[Clairitek]

You know whats lame of me? I have a Consumer Reports website membership and I didn''t even log on to look for myself! What a goober I am...

I just checked Consumer Reports and that Amana model I posted was one of their recommended buys. It scored an 74/100 and did very good or excellent in all but one category. But... they didn''t score so well on the Brand Reliability scale. In fact, they did the worst out of the brands listed.