I'm interested in something powerful yet quiet. Anybody have any suggestions? I have absolutely no experience in shopping for appliances, so if you could mention stores that would be mighty helpful too.

Just trying to get some advice before I run out to the nearest hardware store and purchase a brand-name I saw in a commercial but won't last five years.

5/30/2007 5:03:06 PM

consumer reports ftw!

5/30/2007 5:31:36 PM

go to best buy or sears and get some free info and prices

5/30/2007 5:42:43 PM

Bosch

5/30/2007 7:02:09 PM

I'd rather read personal reviews of the machines rather than those from companies trying to get rid of 'em.

5/30/2007 7:27:32 PM

Get a freebie off Craigslist or pay for one off CL!

5/30/2007 11:13:41 PM

I know some companies are making washing machines for upstairs laundry rooms that are supposed to be quieter, you might want to check into that.

5/31/2007 9:06:47 AM

I have frigidaire's lowest-end front-loading washer and dryer. Paid around $1,300 or so for the pair before a Lowe's rebate last year.

2 things:

First, they're mad quiet and use very little energy in comparison to non-front loaders. They've also been perfectly reliable, albeit they're only a year old.

Second: don't believe the hype that front-loaders make all the wrinkles vanish. It's bull. I was hoping to open my dryer and each piece not be all waded up and wrinkled like in the top-loading ones, but no dice. Even in small loads you get those annoying wrinkles.

Saying that, I'd recommend the brand, but don't buy the front-loaders unless you've got cash to blow.

5/31/2007 4:10:22 PM

my mom has bosch front loader washer & dryer, about 3 years old now. she hates them. they consistently knot all of the clothes up, and god forbid you ever wash a load of nothing but pants. they don't hold much, she has to do really small loads. thankfully they're selling their house and the buyer asked that they include all appliances incl the washer & dryer, so now mom can get new ones. the couple of times i've done my laundry there the washer has ruined a couple pairs of pants that were stretchy.

i've always heard they're much more energy efficient, but are they really? i mean she can only wash maybe 5-6 towels at a time. maybe it's more efficient just b/c it doesn't wash as much.

5/31/2007 4:34:54 PM

I've got a frontloader kenmore... middle of the line, and my wife loves it.

I've used it a few times too.


already mentioned by others, but it's very quiet, efficient with water, uses very little detergent, and you can wash a whole lot more clothes in a load than with a top loader. and you don't have to worry about an uneven load, etc.

5/31/2007 4:39:04 PM

Don't get anything tiny if you want to wash a whole set of sheets at once, or worse! a queen sized duvet. I hate that about apartment washers.

My aunt has a front loading way too expensive Kenmore(?) that only uses 5 gallons of water for each load but it takes forever. It'll estimate 45 minutes for itself and 90 minutes later it's done. The capacity's not too great and it was 5' tall, but it had a storage shelf under it.

My parents have a Maytag dependable care/quiet pack washer and its super capacity has washed just about everything I've put in it. A lot of people have problems with Maytags draining too fast so you might get some overflow if you have clogged pipes.

5/31/2007 8:05:29 PM

5/31/2007 8:14:45 PM

I've wanted a frontload machine for years, ever since I worked in a drycleaners/laundromat in the early college days.

But the best bang for the buck, in my opinion, are the generics made by Whirlpool (Inglis, Roper). They have the Whirlpool transmission assemblies, which in my opinion, are very durable.

GE washers suck dog balls unless you get a top model.

5/31/2007 10:05:14 PM

http://www.frigidaire.com/products/laundry_affinity.asp


We like them. The dryer is very quiet, but the washer starts loud and then quiets down. If you get a front loader leave the washer door open so it dries out. I was given that advice by several people who had front loaders and the washer started smelling a little moldy. I ignored it and, guess what, it started smelling moldy. We got them on an excellent deal from best buy and lots back with our rewards card.

[Edited on May 31, 2007 at 10:13 PM. Reason : I wanted the LG but it was too $$$]

5/31/2007 10:12:59 PM