Yesterday, the delivery man who delivered my LG topload washer and dryer told me that he picks up a lot of the Whirlpool Cabrios for returns. He said customers often complain about clothes not getting clean. He didn't mention anything about ruined clothing. Thought I share.

Thanks for the info washerman8 and dadoes.

As far as putting towels on a less aggressive cycle....I've been washing them on normal, HOWEVER, the manual says to wash them on Heavy Duty, which is the highest soil their is. The towels, according to the Whirlpool/Cabrio manual, are supposed to be sturdy, in the same category as jeans. Hmmm. Interesting.

Any other input appreciated!

Thanks!

My Cabrio washer has a sheets/towels cycle that presumably does something to reduce twisting everything into knots, and I always do the 2nd rinse with white vinegar instead of fabric softener to get all the soap out. If you have a "Bulky" cycle I believe it uses more water than Normal and might be gentler on your towels. The only thing my washer ruins is underwire bras. They come out bent all out of shape.

Thanks for the info idrive65. I have the new model---the "cheaper" Cabrio version (there is one more expensive--- more bells and whistles like yours!).

Yes, I do have the bulky cycle. It uses a lot of water and also takes a lot more time. I've only been using it very large items. Will have to try it with the towels. They also are very "not plush"since having this washer. I'm guessing I'm using too much detergent and/or it just won't rinse well.

I think it is ruining underwear as well, and have noticed pulled strings/shredded tags on shirts if the tags are of a silky material. I just don't know---if it is so rough on towels/ underwear etc., then is it just as rough on everything else and I just won't see the effect until later? Hmm....

Had a front loader where we were renting before and pretty much was able to wash clothes like I had always done in a top loader---everything on normal cycle except for my good work clothes/bras on delicate. Looks like washing with this is going to be an adventure! Would love to try to take it back at this point, but I'm not so sure the other options in my price range are any better after reading reviews. I'm afraid to try and maybe end up with something that may be worse.

I'm glad to hear that it only ruins your underwire bras......comforting for me since mine most of mine don't have an underwire! :) Thanks for the info. Will try the 2nd rinse with vinegar as well. How much vinegar do you use?

Experiment with the bulky and delicate cycles. Assuming you aren't dragging your towels through mud they should get clean in the delicate cycle, although you may want to increase the spin speed if that's an option on your machine.

I pour white vinegar up to just under the fabric softener line on the dispenser but I've never measured how much that is.

I needed new bras anyway, LOL.

Try putting delicate items in a lingerie bag. Bras especially. Get good bags, not cheap ones. Woolite bags are good - you want a small mesh fabric. Larger mesh bags just get caught on the things you are trying to stay away from. Buy several bags - don't overload them and always use 2 bags for balance, especially if the load is small. My Whirlpool FL is gentle on clothes but bras and T shirts with decoration go into the bags.

I do use the mesh bags, but my U-wires still occasionally come out looking like V's!

Underwires weren't really meant to be machine washed. They should really be hand washed, but that is a dirty word to many, including me. If the wire is actual real metal wire they may get bent. Some bras have new "plastic" wires that wash better in a machine. They also have a little case you can put them in that keeps it shape but I haven't tried it.

I've had my Cabrio 5700 about 2 weeks now, and none of my towels or clothing are perfect, but I've had zero damage. I think most of the reviews I read prior to buying them were people who simply liked front loaders better, and were not using correct cycles or something....there is no space under the wash plate, so I don't see how any damage could occur. But, Whirlpool specifically states in the booklet that if there are loose strings, there could be damage, and that goes with any washer, top loader or not. I'm a top loader person, so front loaders were not an option. I actually hate them, and think they are a fad that will eventually fade, for numerous reasons. Oh, and by the way, my clothes have never been cleaner, especially the whites.

I love my FL, not because it is a fad, but due to the fact that it clean better than any conventional top loader that has been on the market. Revies even show that they clean better than any new HE toploader also I have nothing against a HE toploader, in fact I would buy one if I was in the market for a new washer. FL's have been used in europe long before they hit the US. Natural resources have always been more protected over there, due to their lock of abundance. On top of that, FL's just clean better. Most people how have bought a FL and have had poor cleaning results and so forth, have never even opened up the owners manual and read it, not to mention admitted to it also, and admit they wash everything together, pack full of clothes and wash in cold water....go figure..

Some people's bad impressions of front-loaders are due to having owned a poor front-loader.

Front loaders are a fad? I suppose that's why they are ubiquitous in the rest of the civilized world and all of Europe.

If you want to test how gentle your machine is, wash a good quality paper towel with a full load of laundry. If you end up with shredded paper at the end of the cycle, your machine or cycle is too rough. Your paper towel should be exiting the cycle unscathed.

To all of those in support of front loaders, note; I said **I** think they are a fad. I feel the same way about stainless steel appliances. You don't have to agree, nor do you need to be disrespectful of my opinion. Having said that, I'd put my top loader up against any front loader, any day.

By the way, here's an interesting article;

Here is a link that might be useful: Consumer Reports

@lynne22: Disagreement â disrespect. More popular â better product.

I will and have put my FL against my best friends TL. He had a Maytag TL when Maytag was still Maytag. I took his o already Washed sheets,and mattress pad and washed them in my washer. To make it more fair, I did not use the sanitary cycle, just the white cycle and the same brand detergent he uses, only in the HE form. No bleach or additive expect FB were used. Tide was the detergent used. Well my FL smoked his Maytag to the ground! Not only did they come out whiter, fresher smelling, it took the stains out that he couldnt get out. HE went that day and bought himself a FL with my assistance and hasnt regretted it yet and it has been over a year now.

Hard on clothes, wrinkles clothes, recommends extra rinse cycle? How does that save on water. Must use H E Detergent, that cost more money. Once a month, you must clean it with a special rinse, that whirlpool probably sells? Bought it the other day, delivered today, going back tomorrow to exchange it. I should have know, read many other post that said clothing was wrinkled, hair and dirt aren't removed. Think about it, the old washer, would fill all the way up and the clothes would float around and the hair would float off. you could pull the dial/button out on the old model and your clothes could soak, or you could delay your wash that way while you waited for someone to bring down there clothes to include in that wash. You could "spin" your good dress shirts only 3 minutes and open the lid and take them out so they would not wrinkle by spining till practically dry like this model does. You can't open it, it locks. Oops, forget a sock, or a last minute blouse, TOO BAD. Loved my older washer, although it was a Maytag that only lasted 6 years. Then today I read the link that I attached and I'm afraid to get one of these high energy top loaders, horrible reviews. GIVE ME AN OLD FASHIONED WASHER WITH AN AGITATOR ANY DAY!

Here is a link that might be useful: consumer affairs

Kdmsd, I can open my LG He TL anytime unless the water is too hot from the heater....He detergent is the same price as non HE. When I had my FL for 10 yrs, never had to Clean it cause it never got stinky or gunked up. I can delay start mine if I want. Also it will fill all the way up with certain cylces. as far as a full tub of water and hair floating off of the clothes, it just settles right back on them when it drains. I never had a issue with dog hair in my Front loader or my HE TL. I guess your not happy with the cabrio. Well that doesnt mean all HE TL are bad. Im glad your hapy with your agatator wash...keep it

help i just got the wirlpool cabrio and i done 4 loads and each time ol comes up what is going on to stop this ? and it not doing very good cleaning job,white lid top load how do i stop the OL?

What is truely a fad are the agitatorless HE top loaders. The technology, engineering, and mechanics are just not there. It's a bad technology and can never produce good cleaning without very large amounts of water.

Since there inception there have been countless revisions, engineering changes, fires, explosions, and recalls. That speaks for itself.

Until government relaxes or repeals the current energy regulations, your best bet is a FL.

Pat Pearson,

You need to include the model number of your washer, not just reference the Cabrio name. There are two kinds of Cabrios, different mechanisms. OL means it's overloaded, which may relate to the mechanism design, that's why it's important to clarify the model number.

There's also a UL code (Unbalanced Load), are you sure you're reading the code correctly?

ok it ul not ol and says modwtw6400sw3 tye 586 unknown how old .did 4 loads each time i had to redo redo how can i stop it from balancing ?thank you

Per the model number the market year is 2006 ... so it's obviously a used machine, not new, if you "just" got it.

The serial number is coded for the year and week of manufacture if you want to know the age more closely.

A common cause of UL is worn suspension rods. They were also redesigned at some point along the way. The machine does not have a physical off-balance switch that the tub bumps. Off-balance is determined by the control board monitoring rotational inertia of the drum in relation to RPM and other characteristics during spin ramp-up. Performance of the suspension rods is an integral factor.

A set of four rods is Part Number W10189077. There are numerous online sources for appliance parts. Price ranges from ~$70 to ~$40 depending on the source.

They're not difficult to change but requires two people. Raise the machine top. For each of the four corners in turn, lift the tub to unhook the old rod and set the new one in place.