Electrolux: 55 or 65 series?; Mold resistant or not?

infohound2006

13 years ago

I'm almost ready to purchase an Electrolux (floor model), either the EIFLs55 or an EWFLs65. Besides RPM and # of custom cycles, it doesn't look like there's that much difference between the 55 and the 65 series. What might I miss if I got a 55?

And, very importantly, what about mold? On some of the floor models, the inner and outer parts of the folded over rubber boot touched each other (usually in the 4 o'clock area). This seems bad -- a setup for mold growth.

Is that common, or a defect? Does mold grow where the sides touch? Or, do the Electrolux boots contain anti-mold/anti-bacterial, like Macroban or Triclosan? (I've heard that rumor, and Amana treats the FL washer seals with Microban, and Electrolux uses Triclosan on some product(s), but there's no mention of a biocide on the Electrolux washers website).

On the other hand, I've only seen one report of mold on the Electrolux rubber boots.) If either of the models has a biocide in the rubber boot, I'd definitely want to know (I have a mold allergy)!

So please, help me choose wisely between the 55 and the 65!

Here is a link that might be useful: Amana NFW7200TW with Microban

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Comment (1)

hidroman
13 years ago
Hi Infohound,
here on the other side of the pond frontloaders are pretty common since late fifties. In this half century nobody has ever had any mold issue .... until lately something has changed : in order to appear "greener and greener" P&G Henkel and ReckittBenckiser are pushing consumers to cold washing (even for whites).

50 years ago microban and triclosan layers/coatings were rocket science here, yet frontloader were "mold-proof" cause most of the loads our grannies ran were boilwashes.

Then in the 80ies came the 1st "green wave" : the boil wash was almost banned as an "energetic sin" and 60Â°C/140Â°F became the "politically correct" temp. Anyway no mold yet.

In late nineties the "right" temp was dumbed down to 40Â°C/105Â°C. Then those "green-lebans" who blindly trusted this rule were the first europeans to discover the joys and pleasures of mold and mildew. Manuals began to warn people to carry a hot wash now and then. As you see, previously this was an useless warning.

Now the latest green trend is cold washing in endless cycles to save heating energy. No need to say that these detergents to be able to wash in cold water are so stuffed with enzymes that actually aren't "green". Also IMHO it's greener to wash everything @ the proper temp rather than washing every load in cold and have to carry some empty maintenance/machine cleaning boilwashes now and then

To cut a story short : a frontloader is not "mold resistant" in itself. It is the "pilot" skill and common sense : use actual hot water (140Â°F at least) when required (white loads) and you won't have any issue.

An internal heating element is much more important than microban and triclosan
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