Randon Royalty has a very interesting blog on general appliances. I took a look at it and was very impressed with the level of detail he offers in each of his posts. He is writing with first-hand knowledge and passes along some very good information.
Stop by for a visit and take a look around. You might learn something, as I sure did!
The Appliance Geek
I've been debating whether or not I should come clean with explicit recommendations for frontload and top load washing machines. There is a lot of information on the web and elsewhere about what is good and what is not. And by the time you make it through the PR crap put out by the manufacturers that some mindless bloggers regurgitate just to fill up the white space around their ads (excepting myself, of course), the screeching complaints from dissatisfied owners filled with hyperbole and rhetoric, and the flat-out misinformation by people who have no idea what they are talking about, how are you supposed to know what is right for you?
Well, I can't tell you what I believe is right for you in just a single post. Email me for help with that. I can tell you, however, the individual machines that I would consider purchasing myself to get you started.
Keep in mind, these are only my opinions as to what is the best available on the market. Just because I do not have it listed here does not mean it is bad machine or I would not recommend it for anyone.
I am going to provide external links for each and every model. I will link to review pages at Epinions.com, any discussion threads at GardenWeb, search results on Amazon.com, and also manufacturer websites.
Here we go!
Frontload Washers
In my opinion, the line of machines available from Samsung offer a tremendous amount of performance. If you have read my older posts, you know that I used to own a Samsung-built washer, the Maytag Neptune MAH9700. A few minor issues aside, such as an intermittent machine gun sound during the high speed spin and the tiny problem of spontaneous combustion due to a short circuit in the control panel, this was a great washer. If I were buying a machine today, I would be confident the problems they had a few years ago are solved. It offered great capacity, tremendous washing performance, and excellent efficiency.
I owned a Samsung-built washer, so I know it was a great machine and why I would make it a top pick.
The single reason that I would recommend this washer over any other frontloader is the fact that Samsung has devised a solution to the problem of vibration. Check out a previous post I wrote about Samsung washers with VRT (Vibration Reduction Technology) if you are concerned about vibration.
Another unique feature that Samsung offers is technology they call SilverCare. You can check out more on that feature in these two previous posts. The gyst? Silver ions are released into the washer water to help remove odor-causing bacteria from fibers. And it looks as if it is a useful feature.
You can read all my posts about Samsung washers here.
Samsung discussion at GardenWeb laundry forum.
Samsung reviews at Epinions.com.
Laundry appliances at Samsung.com.
LG has really shaken up the laundry category since they came onto the market several years ago. While the Maytag Neptune revolutionized frontload laundry, and Whirlpool capitalized on Maytag's risk-taking by introducing the superior Duet, LG really shook things up simply by being cool. The machines looked cool, sounded cool with their chimes, looked cool with their LED lights. And they were great machines offering excellent efficiency, great capacity, superb washing performance and quiet operation. LG continued to shake things up when they started offering machines in bold colors.
LG had their share of problems, though, including spotty service in some parts of the country. They were launching a new line of kitchen and laundry appliances, and it definitely took them some time to get their network of servicers and the parts distribution system set-up.
Today, however, the LG SteamWasher WM2688H is the frontload washer rated #1 by Consumer Reports. Don't forget your grain of salt, though.
Like Samsung, LG washers a very high level of performance. And they also created a new trend by incorporating steam into their wash cycles to boost performance, and also dewrinkle garments between cycles. Now, both Samsung and Whirlpool offer machines utilizing steam in some fashion.
You can read all of my previous posts about LG washers here.
There are many discussion about LG washers over at the GardenWeb laundry forum.
There are many reviews available on Epinions.com. This thread is for the WM2688H SteamWasher.
Amazon search results for the WM2688H.
LG washing machines at LG's website.
A 4.0 cf frontload washer with an internal water heater and a no BS warranty for under a grand? Count me in! Yes, I would not hesitate to drop my hard-earned dough on the LG WM0642HW. To me, it is one of the best values in frontload laundry. And isn't overall value important?
In their last updated ratings, Consumer Reports rated this model number two overall. Number two. Better than Whirlpool, better than Maytag, better than Samsung, better than GE, better than Miele, way the hell better than Frigidaire. Now, I am pretty critical of Consumer Reports at times, but if they have any consistency in their tests than this rating means something because it scored the same overall as the number one rated LG SteamWasher.
If you are in the market for a frontload washer, I would strongly suggest you check out the LG WM0642HW.
There are many reviews at Epinions.com on this model. Check 'em out!
Amazon search results for the WM0642HW washer.
Link to the WM0642HW on the LG website and also to an LG specification sheet.
Also, there is an excellent review on another blog written by a person who owns this washer. Check it out!
I sent a message to Whirlpool asking for more information about the Maytag Epic. I got a prompt response from the person I messaged, but haven't heard back since. Of course, this was not long after I emailed a few other people asking questions about the F51 error codes for their crappy line of Oasis/Cabrio/Bravos high-efficiency top load washers. I imagine they took a look at this blog and decided I could go take a flying leap. Oh well.
I am still going to recommend the Maytag Epic. After Whirlpool acquired Maytag a few years ago, they decided to give Samsung (the makers of the latest generation Maytag Neptune) the finger and build the Maytag laundry in-house. Makes sense, I guess. So what they did was discontinue the Maytag Neptune and replace it with the Maytag Epic.
Instead of engineering an entirely new machine, they simply took an existing unit and rebadged it as the Maytag Epic. The nifty part, though, is that they took the KitchenAid Ensemble washer, which at $1600 was a nice upgrade from the Whirlpool Duet, and made that the Maytag Epic. And that was a good thing because the Ensemble, and hence the Epic, was simply a sturdier built washer. And today you can get the Maytag Epic for around a grand. That is a very good value.
There is a slew of posts over at the GardenWeb forums regarding the Maytag Epic.
There also many reviews at Epinions about the Maytag Epic washers, with reviews from real owners.
So there you have it, the frontload washers I would buy myself. Obviously as time goes on this list would change quite a bit. But I would suggest you use these models as a starting point and go from there.
