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roorezzi

Help with Front Loading Washer and Dryer

roorezzi
10 years ago

We had a 20 year old pair of GE Washer and Dryer. Then a relative said we have a stackable - do you want it. Turns out it was a 5-7 year old Stacked Combo unit. The thing barely dries and it is just small.

We are a family of 4 (2 adults, 4 yr old and 18 mo old.)

I am looking to see what is out there that is reasonably priced yet still large enough to grow with us. The kids clothes are only going to get bigger and bigger with more laundry to do.

I found a pr of Samsung Front Loaders on sale this week. I am new to looking at these and not sure about Samsung and not sure about the size.

Samsung 3.9 cu ft Washer. 11 cycles including Steam
WF393BTPAWR
Priced at $696

Samsung 7.4 cu ft dryer including Steam
DV393ETPAWR
Priced at $696

Here is the link on Home Depot. I am not sure how to make it clickable.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Samsung-3-9-cu-ft-High-Efficiency-Front-Load-Washer-with-Steam-in-White-ENERGY-STAR-WF393BTPAWR/203673116?N=c3ovZa0f#specifications

If anyone can help me with these that would be appreciated. Or if anyone has any other suggestions.

Thanks

Comments (16)

  • fivekidsmom
    10 years ago

    Well I have five, they are big and I got the cheapest front loader I could find at Lowes with the best warranty and then paid more for a longer warranty. I've totally changed my opinion of washers. I bought a TOL Maytag to replace my 17 yo GE top loader in 2004 and it was a disaster.....1300 bucks wasted.

    The only other thing I can tell you about any front loader is. Only use Tide He powder. I decided the reason the old Maytag smelled like a dead animal all the time was liquid detergent. I used to stalk the forum for ideas to fix my washer smell and finally someone said. Liquid detergent is made with animal fat. So I swapped to powder, and so far the cheapie front loader has never smelled like a dead animal. And gets the clothes clean. And I hang anything cute or all cotton. Our clothes last long and look great when passed to the cousins. ;-)

    Good luck!

  • herring_maven
    10 years ago

    fivekidsmom: "The only other thing I can tell you about any front loader is. Only use Tide He powder. I decided the reason the old Maytag smelled like a dead animal all the time was liquid detergent. I used to stalk the forum for ideas to fix my washer smell and finally someone said. Liquid detergent is made with animal fat."

    Most liquid laundry detergent is not made with animal fat. Perhaps no liquid laundry deter gent is made with animal fat. Soap is usually made from animal fat; laundry detergents, rarely, if ever. The "someone" who "finally" said that liquid detergent is made with animal fat was -- finally -- wrong.

    Our family has been washing laundry in front-loading automatic washing machines (and only front-loading machines) since the late 1930s, and in the past two decades or so we have used only liquid laundry detergents. The liquid laundry detergent (Biokleen All-Temperature) that we currently use is entirely vegetable sourced. Our laundry never has smelled like a dead animal; it never has smelled like anything other than fresh when it comes out of the washer.

    In other words, I respectfully disagree with your advice.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Biokleen All-Temperature ingredients listed

  • deeageaux
    10 years ago

    Laundry detergent is not made from dead animals or live animals.

    Most conventional fabric softner contains animal fats.

    I have had my front loader for almost four years without any smells whatsoever.

    The main problem with smelly front load washers is people that have used top loaders switching without educating themselves on the differences and how to use a front loader.

    To answer original question those Samsungs are good deal but they barely qualify as full sized. They are the standard size in S Korea and economies of scale being what it is Samung can offer a really good price on those.

    If you really like segregating clothes into small batches that is not a problem but if not maybe a larger machine will do better.

    I generally don't recommend LG because of their customer service but they recently introduced jumbo sized washer and dryer for not that much of a premium.

    LG TurboWash Series WM8000HWA 5.1 cu ft but about $1250.

  • fivekidsmom
    10 years ago

    LOL herring maven!!
    I'm not in court. Im just sharing my experience.
    Which is that in my experience, a machine may not be as important as the detergent you use. And that price or brand doesn't always guarantee satisfied customers.


    Good luck with your purchase roorezzi.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Not that you can believe everything you read BUT...

    This post was edited by fivekidsmom on Thu, May 30, 13 at 11:54

  • lascatx
    10 years ago

    I have LG and am very happy with them. If they switched loads and folded the clean clothed themselves it would be an improvement, but short of that, this is as good as it seems likely to get. They served us well in the years with sleeping bags and camping guk, through washing marching band uniforms by the dozens, through lots of beach towels for swimming parties and wet dog summer as well as regular loads of sheets, towels and even clothes. :-)

    Now, how did I wind up on the appliance forum??? Not where I thought I was headed. Probably a disappearing ad as I clicked. So there iis a free opinion from someone who didn't come here with any agenda. LOL

  • xedos
    10 years ago

    Samsung makes tiny washers AND they make jumbo front loaders that'll hold a soccer team's worth of unis or king sized comforters with ease.

    They are only 1/2 cubic foot smaller in capacity than LG's monster deeageaux mentions- which is roughly a pair of gym shorts wadded up in a ball. Wait a few months and Samsung will probably introduce a new model with 5.2 cu. ft. capacity.

    They are both really good, I'd get the one that's on sale the weekend you need a pair.

    I cannot advise using liquid detergent in these things either, There is just something about them from my experience that they don't like it - for what ever reason.

    READ YOUR INSTRUCTION MANUALS - this is the biggest reason people are unhappy with their front load washer - USER ERROR.

    Leave the door and soap tray open after you use it and yours won't mold or smell like dead animals.

  • wekick
    10 years ago

    Most laundry detergents are petroleum based, which some in my family have to avoid due to allergies. This link below explains a little about it.

    Bad laundry smells are caused by bacteria and sometimes by residues left in laundry. These can be reduced by killing and removing by the following in adequate quantities.

    Chemicals-soaps, detergents, bleaches, enzymes, etc

    Heat -generally 140-150 F but may need as high as 170-180 F

    Adequate flushing with water.

    Bacteria can be further killed by drying in sun light, which has UV light or in the dryer.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Detergent

  • xedos
    10 years ago

    FWIW -

    Samsung has washers with Silver Care that introduces silver ions into the wash/ clothes to kill bacteria and odors.

    Some of the cutting edge sportswear manuf. are also using silver ion technology in their clothes to combat odor.

  • wekick
    10 years ago

    Silver is has also been used in the medical field for some time in dressings,creams and fabrics and is not supposed to produce resistance, but there a few reported cases. Do they have documentation of any kind that the machine releases enough silver to be bactericidal?

    Silestone now offers their counter tops with silver ions instead of the triclosan they used to use. They claim bacteria won't proliferate on the surface but they don't say it is bactericidal and have nothing to demonstrate its effectiveness on their website.

  • xedos
    10 years ago

    I'm sure it produces enough silver ions to kill bacteria.

    I'm also certain it is not medical grade equipment so you probably still have a few lingering on or in your clothes.

    It's simply cutting edge technology or a feature in a few models - but not what I'd call a solution to a problem. The manuals also state that the ions build up over time in the clothes, so I'm also pretty sure it's not a very potent ionizer.

    It's not something that'd make me run out and buy one, but it would influence my decision between two models or brands.

  • karenlee56
    10 years ago

    I have the Samsung 4.3 cubic ft 12 cycle ultra capacity steam washer, which is model # WF 419 AAUWXAA and the matching Samsung 7.4 ft.11 cycle gas dryer, Model #DV 419 AGWXAA. I have had them for over two years now.

    For the first year and a half, I used Tide He liquid detergent and dryer sheets. I wasn't thrilled with the smell of the clothes⦠Not bad, just not great. They did come clean but never really smelled fresh.

    About six months ago I switched to Method detergent which is also liquid. I use one and a half tablespoons per load. I also went against my better judgment and I am using (Method) liquid fabric softener, 1 tablespoon per load. During all of this, I have had zero problems with the washer smelling, and now my clothes really smell fresh. It's quite a difference. And I stick to the old-fashioned way of using bleach for my white clothes. I use only a quarter of a cup, but it makes me happy because my whites are brighter.

    After I'm finished with the laundry for the day, I dump out any remaining water from the detergent and fabric softener cups, return them to the washer then leave the detergent drawer open, I wipe out the inside of the door frame, and I leave the washer door open. Again, I have never had a moment's problem with the washer smelling.

    There are only two of us in the house, so with the 4.3, I find myself having to wait at least a week to two weeks to get full loads because it holds so much! I'm not sure what the functional difference between 3.9 ft. and 4.3 ft. would be.

    I do love my washer and dryer and so far (knock on wood) and have not had any problems with either one. Ditto for my neighbor who has the same set purchased a short time before I purchased mine.

    This post was edited by karenlee56 on Sun, Jun 2, 13 at 17:12

  • herring_maven
    10 years ago

    xedos: "Samsung has washers with Silver Care that introduces silver ions into the wash/ clothes to kill bacteria and odors."

    Not any more, more's the pity.

    Once upon a time, I was the world's biggest booster of Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports. I have soured on them in recent years because, more and more, they attempt to make spectacular splashy stories that will make the evening news (for those of us of a certain age who still watch the evening news; the younger generation has abandoned it). Whether or not the stories have any real validity.

    One such story was about the detrimental effects of silver ions on the operation of the bacteria in sewage treatment plants and silver's (dark hint, dark hint) "unknown health effects" on human beings. The target of the reports was Samsung's SilverCare, which Samsung, to avoid the very, very strong backlash that the Consumer Reports articles created, renamed ActiveFresh, then dropped altogether. Bloggers were posting articles with headlines like, "Is my washer trying to kill me?" and the like. One cannot blame Samsung for dropping the feature: the Consumer Reports articles were disastrous to sales.

    Never mind that the total silver per washload from the Samsung innovation was about the same as the amount of silver that you would get in the wash water if you left a pre-1975 quarter in the pocket of a pair of pants that you were washing. Never mind that you will get more silver in your system -- directly into your digestive system, no less -- by eating off of sterling flatware than ever you would get into your system by washing your clothes in a Samsung washing machine. Never mind that when you wash the sterling flatware, whether in a dishwasher or by hand, more silver ions will end up in the sewage treatment plant than would gut there from a dozen washloads run through a Samsung washing machine. Silverware -- knives, forks, and spoons -- has been in widespread use for centuries, and, so far as I know, no one yet has proposed banning it for its adverse health effects.

    But did Consumer Reports address those historical facts? The subscription rates went up; that's all that mattered. Consumer Reports had its triumph; subscriptions went up; the world gained one more false Urban Legend. Consumer Reports "won" the round.

  • dadoes
    10 years ago

    About six months ago I switched to Method detergent which is also liquid. I use one and a half tablespoons per load. I also went against my better judgment and I am using (Method) liquid fabric softener, 1 tablespoon per load. I've never tried Method detergent, but I picked up a bottle of softener a few years ago. It's the gnastiest softener I'd ever used. Thick and goopy, leaves a horrible residue in the machine's dispenser. Maybe it had gone bad/aged, I got it from the close-out shelf at Lowe's.

  • karenlee56
    10 years ago

    Dadoes... It IS very thick and glumpy so I always dilute the fabric softener by adding water to the fabric softener cup. Then, because I take the entire detergent drawer to the sink to empty leftover water out anyway, I just rinse the fabric softener area with the spray arm of the sink. Sounds like a lot to go through but it really isn't.

  • torachan
    10 years ago

    We just purchased the LG stackable washer and dryer and love them so far. Very quiet, adjustable and pretty to look at.

  • xedos
    10 years ago

    Guess I've been asleep at the wheel. I hadn't realized Samsung had scrapped the feature.

    Interesting about CR, because they tested it early on and gave it a rubber stamp , seal of approval on from a not very scientific test. Basically a sniff test.

    Wonder why initially they liked it then all of a sudden decided silver was bad bad for you me and the water system ? Wonder if Nike and their silver ion underware will be next ?

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