What are better brands for laundry appliances?

[spidey07]

Looking for new washer/dryer. Reading around some GE seems to be not so good and there are better brands recommended by repair folks as having better build quality. Whirlpool? LG? There were a few mentioned that I hadn't heard of but can't find the repairman recommendations I was looking at.

Consumer reports seems to say that with everything being so super efficient they don't do a good job of washing clothes or holding up until you get into the higher price ranges.

 

[aphex]

GE is crap, so your on the right track.

LG and Samsung seem to be on top right now IMO.

 

[FoBoT]

the expensive ones they sell on costco.com
Whirlpool Duet, we got a set like this last time, ~3 years ago

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...Nty=1&Sp=S&s=1

 

[CptCrunch]

I have an electrolux front loader washer and it is fantastic. I wouldn't recommend anything else. I also have an old (read:6 years) Maytag Neptune dryer that I got off craigslist, and that thing is a champ.

 

[Modelworks]

My brother re-sales used appliances and finds that most of the newer stuff is poor quality unless you spend a lot. They have replaced the internals with so many plastic gears and lightened the metal content so much that reliability suffers.

Truthfully I would rather have one of the older kenmore or whirlpool models from the early 2000's . They have cast iron transmissions and gears, and very little plastic. The motors are connected by belts like you see in cars instead of the new direct drive crap that breaks and they have fun parts too like ones called wig wags !

 

[IronWing]

Kenmore super capacity, 11 years and counting. It was ~$400 new.

 

[spidey07]

GE is crap, so your on the right track.

LG and Samsung seem to be on top right now IMO.

Thanks. I just can't believe the prices on washers and dryers. I guess I was used to getting my set 10+ years ago for 600 bucks. Now it seems like you have to spend 1500 bucks for a set to get the capacity and quality. I don't need stainless steal, don't even really want front loading...wife just wants high capacity, durability and do the job well. And what wifey wants, wifey gets.

 

[jarfykk]

Samsung was top rated by CR if memory serves. I'm actually a big fan of their direct drive units, almost no noise, no belts or other wear items, self-lubricating, etc. I took the thing apart as a coin (dime, I believe) got stuck where it shouldn't be and was rattling around...was a big fan of its ease of dis-assembly, good looking parts (not all plastic!), etc. I'd skip any fancy electronics as that is the most likely to fail on these newer ones.

Front load allows you to be able to wash some items without tearing them up as top loaders (with agitators) are more apt to. Also use less water/energy and seem to do a great job cleaning.

Big box stores REGULARLY run sales where you can a matched pair of mid-grade units for <= $1,000 delivered in my area. Keep an eye out.

 

[Imp]

I remember a massive Maytag or Whirlpool recall recently.

Otherwise, no idea. Think we have Kenmore's downstairs.

 

[chipy]

i have an LG washer and dryer and they are both great. i checked Consumer Reports before I bought and those were the good quality ones with decent price.

 

[LTC8K6]

Most popular names are made by the same couple companies, iirc.

 

[aphex]

Samsung was top rated by CR if memory serves. I'm actually a big fan of their direct drive units, almost no noise, no belts or other wear items, self-lubricating, etc. I took the thing apart as a coin (dime, I believe) got stuck where it shouldn't be and was rattling around...was a big fan of its ease of dis-assembly, good looking parts (not all plastic!), etc. I'd skip any fancy electronics as that is the most likely to fail on these newer ones.

Front load allows you to be able to wash some items without tearing them up as top loaders (with agitators) are more apt to. Also use less water/energy and seem to do a great job cleaning.

Big box stores REGULARLY run sales where you can a matched pair of mid-grade units for <= $1,000 delivered in my area. Keep an eye out.

Everyone I know who owns front loaders liked them at first, but most started disliking it. Given the tight seal it needs to keep, many get musty/stinky after using it for awhile. My mom has to keep hers cracked open when she's not using it just so it can dry out. Others can't keep theirs cracked as an alarm chimes when they leave them open.

Some of the new top loaders are energy efficient, have huge load capacities and no longer have a need for a center agitator. They also have a glass top so you can see whats going on. I've been looking recently and will likely go for an LG top loader ($750 to $900 for the washer)

 

[Demo24]

The Samsung top loaders looked really nice and are good bit cheaper than the front loaders, while holding more for the price as well. I seriously think I could wash my entire wardrobe in one of those, or maybe sit in it and take a spin bath. Also if you compare online (like google shopping) and find a good price then you can just get it price matched somewhere, usually saves you a decent bit.

 

[Dekasa]

Electrolux if you can afford it. Samsung and LG are both great. A lot of Kemores are made by LG or Samsung, too fyi.

Source: I work with appliance salesman and listen to them when they're not with customers.

 

[Leros]

I just bought a lower end LG front loader system.

LG was the best rated brand by Consumer Reports.

 

[Pulsar]

Electrolux is top notch.

LG has the highest quality, but (literally) the worst service on the planet. If your washer/drier breaks, it may be months before it's repaired as you wait for parts to be supplied.

Whirlpool and Maytag quality stink.

Kenmores you can get cheap, and ALL kenmores are now made by LG, which means you're getting top of the line quality. We just bought a 1500 dollar floor model that was 2 years old with a scratch on the top for $500 from our local sears. It had never been run, but comes with the full warranty.

It's louder than our old front load maytag, but the maytag (as many do) blew it's brains out when a bearing failed.

Whatever you do, go 3.9 cubic feet or larger so you can fit a king size comforter. Stainless tub - no exceptions here. Your top load will use more water, have a bigger possible capacity, last longer than a front load, and probably be quieter. Front loads tend to get clothes cleaner (rolling vs swishing is more effective), use less water and energy, and are nice because you can set stuff on top of them or put them under-counter.

 

[JEDIYoda]

The best has always been Norge!!!

 

[Pulsar]

Most popular names are made by the same couple companies, iirc.

Um, no? These aren't lawn mowers where there are only like 4 plants in the world that crank 'em out.

Kenmore farms out designs to the cheapest bidder. Most all the rest are their own company.

 

[iGas]

Another vote for Kenmore.

My decade old Kenmore frontloader and drier still perform perfectly well.