| Author | |
Sarah
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 17 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1624
|
| Posted: Feb 12 2006 at 8:40am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Who has a front loading washing machine? Do you like it?
Are you worried your small children can get locked in it?
What about the special detergent-do you find it costly?
What about the longer washing times-how's that going or is that really true?
Has anyone done cloth diapers in it?
We will be washing machine shopping in the near future and I'm leaning toward a basic top-loading, while dh likes the front-loading. Any opinions on either?
__________________
Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Elizabeth
Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5595
|
| Posted: Feb 12 2006 at 8:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I like it.
It's too hard for really small children to open.I've never really thought about them getting stuck in it. Need to address that around here, because I do LEAVE it open. Here's why: it seals so tightly that if you "store" it closed it gets that nasty damp smell.
I use regular detergent but less of it.
I haven't noticed longer washing times.
Cloth diapers are a problem only because it's harder to dump the diaper pail into the machine because the machine front loads.Just use your imagination here   . It's really cumbersome. The upside is that the sanitary cycle is awesome.
Okay then, this thread has effectively made me again. I'm off for the day  .
__________________
Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
|
| Posted: Feb 12 2006 at 9:17am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hi Sarah,
We got a front-loading machine last summer and I agree with all that Elizabeth mentions above ... one other thing I like is I find it easier to toss the wet stuff into the dryer in a "lateral pass"  ! Dh likes it because it is more water and energy efficient.
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys 
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
lilac hill
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 15 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 643
|
| Posted: Feb 12 2006 at 10:12am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Like the front loader, especially since our well can be low at times.
Never used special detergent, just less.
Longer washing times for us are probably associated more with low well water pressure and occasionally the water intake hose screen gets some debris in it.
Not sure about the diapers I know that when I washed diapers I would do a rinse, then a presoak in the washer. Not sure you will be able to do that as effectively.
__________________
Viv
Wife to Rick (7/83), Mom to dd#1(6/87), dd#2(1/90), and dd#3(6/94) in central PA.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Probably at the beach...
Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
|
| Posted: Feb 12 2006 at 10:21am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Love the front loader. It took $100 off our water bill each quarter. No one is small enough to fit into it here  .
The detergent is not really any more expensive here, and if you wait for sales and stock up, it's not a problem.
The stuff spins dryer than my last washer, so drying takes less time, too.
The cycle is not any longer (I have a Frigidaire Gallery washer). But I can wash a king sized comforter  !
__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
momwise
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1914
|
| Posted: Feb 12 2006 at 10:59am | IP Logged
|
|
|
MacBeth wrote:
| Love the front loader. It took $100 off our water bill each quarter. |
|
|
What % of the bill is that? Just wondering, since water $$ varies so much from town to town.
__________________
Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
momtomany
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 505
|
| Posted: Feb 13 2006 at 8:03am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I like the front loaders so much that I have two. I have the Whirlpool Duets.
I like the fact that it uses less water since we have a well and septic.
I do use the special detergent, but Purex makes a fairly inexpensive version. And when it went on sale I got a dozen!
I like that the clothes come out drier. And I love that I can do big comforters in them.
As for diapers, unfortunately I seem to be past the diaper stage,  but if we were blessed again, I'd use the whites button which has extra time and rinses built in. Dumping them in wouldn't be as easy as a top loader, that's true, but I'd manage.
__________________
Mary Ann in PA
wife to MIchael, mom to Elizabeth, Becca, Tim, Peter, Andrew, Sarah, Matthew, John, Leah and Joseph
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mary
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 691
|
| Posted: Feb 13 2006 at 9:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
love mine and can't wait for my dryer to die so i can get a front loader dryer.
it is hard for a small child to open and do leave the door opened a tad.
i use tide he. the repair man recommends this because the regular detergent is too thick and it gums up inside.
it takes 1 hour to wash a load, 35 min for special items. i have no problem with it. the clothes are dryer when they come out. love that i can wash big comforters.
since my last washer ate my cloth diapers, i'm much happier with this one. the agitator is a bad thing for cloth diapers (or clothes in general).
i would never go back to a top loader if only because the agitator is such a bad thing for clothes and so often in need of repair.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Anne Marie M
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 27 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 171
|
| Posted: Feb 13 2006 at 10:44am | IP Logged
|
|
|
What about brand recommendations? Mary Ann, why did you choose the Whirlpool? MacBeth, why the Frigidaire?
Anyone else?
Anne Marie in NM,
who would really like to be able to wash comforters in my washing machine!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Sarah
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 17 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1624
|
| Posted: Feb 13 2006 at 11:56am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Wow!
These are all the things my dh has been telling, but I was pretty stubborn. Maybe I'll consider it now. I am so hard for him to change when it comes to something new  , but he pleasantly keeps at me.  .
We'll see. . .
For now my old beast is hanging in there and we don't have to  it yet!
PS thanks ladies for the responses
__________________
Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
momtomany
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 505
|
| Posted: Feb 14 2006 at 8:21am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Anne Marie M wrote:
What about brand recommendations? Mary Ann, why did you choose the Whirlpool? MacBeth, why the Frigidaire?
|
|
|
I went with the recommendation of the man from the appliance store. I know that sounds silly but my dh is the doctor for his entire family, so he has always been good to me with appliance recommendations.
In almost three years, I've had no breakdowns. Considering just how much laundry is done around here, I'd say that's pretty good.
__________________
Mary Ann in PA
wife to MIchael, mom to Elizabeth, Becca, Tim, Peter, Andrew, Sarah, Matthew, John, Leah and Joseph
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Probably at the beach...
Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
|
| Posted: Feb 14 2006 at 12:59pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
momwise wrote:
MacBeth wrote:
| Love the front loader. It took $100 off our water bill each quarter. |
|
|
What % of the bill is that? Just wondering, since water $$ varies so much from town to town. |
|
|
I think it was about 30%. Nice!
__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ShawnaB
Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 05 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 377
|
| Posted: Feb 14 2006 at 3:34pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Love my frontloader...never even heard of special detergent...just have used liquid in the amount that the little detergent tray holds.
However, I would NOT recommend the Gibson brand that we have. It is 3 years old and just started leaking a small amount of water from underneath. The appliance repair man said that the barrels of many front loaders are made of 2 halves riveted together, and after much use, they loosen and leak. Its quite expensive to re-seal them.
He recommended purchasing a machine that is a single-piece construction. Specifically he likes the Whirlpool Duette, and says this is typically a long-lasting (like 10-12 year) machine, whereas the Gibson and like models are 3-5 year machines. I guess that they no longer make machines like my mom used to have...which she used for 20 years.
__________________
Shawna, wife of Jacob, mom to Abraham 8 Amelia 5 and Jillian & Jonathan age 3 years http://www.psalm121family.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angie Mc
Board Moderator
Joined: Jan 31 2005
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11400
|
| Posted: Feb 14 2006 at 6:22pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Love it! We have a Frigidaire Energy*. Last year when I was in a similar state as Elizabeth is now, my dh came in my room and said, "I'm going to Home Depot and buying major appliances. Are you OK with that?" I was SO sick that I said yes! Now normally, I would obsess on the decision-making process, google my heart out, grill everyone on this board, and perhaps then I would make a decision. Well, dh came home with a stacking, front-loading washer and dryer (ours were SO old that I had to do weird rituals just to get them to work that dh didn't care to learn,) a dishwasher (which I have never owned,) and a garbage disposal (to replace the one that never worked.) This was one of the BEST things that happened during my first trimester pregnancy with John Paul, LOL. The stacking w/d turned my tiny washing space into something much more user friendly. The space where the dryer used to be now houses shelves and a rolling hamper. Life is good.
BTW, momtomany Mary Ann knows here laundry!
Love,
__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
momtomany
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 505
|
| Posted: Feb 15 2006 at 9:44am | IP Logged
|
|
|
ShawnaB wrote:
He recommended purchasing a machine that is a single-piece construction. Specifically he likes the Whirlpool Duette, and says this is typically a long-lasting (like 10-12 year) machine, &nbs p;
|
|
|
I'm so glad to know that the appliance guy led me in the right direction with the Duet!!
__________________
Mary Ann in PA
wife to MIchael, mom to Elizabeth, Becca, Tim, Peter, Andrew, Sarah, Matthew, John, Leah and Joseph
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Elizabeth
Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5595
|
| Posted: Feb 15 2006 at 9:47am | IP Logged
|
|
|
One more thing: I recommend getting the drawers that go beneath the washer and dryer. I thought it was ridiculous to spend the money on drawers so we don't have them. Now I see that the drawers boost the machines to a reasonable height. It's annoying to have them lower during "ordinary time;" it's downright miserable when visibly pregnant. That lean over and twist action is really not easy .
__________________
Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cheryl
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 978
|
| Posted: Feb 15 2006 at 10:45am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have a front loading Maytag. I prefer it to the top loading because my kids can easily load it (when they are interested in helping) and they can take the wet laundry out and move it to the dryer.
I never thought of them getting locked in. I don't know if they could fit in it. It's usually closed anyway.
I buy the special detergent. My dh just bought the non h/e stuff because I never told him to buy something different, so I am using that up now. The washing times are not longer. I think they could be shorter if you want. There seem to be more options. I like using the max extract so the clothes are not as wet when they come out.
I just read what Elizabeth said about the drawers underneath. I thought the same thing. I would get them with my next one. Unfortunately, I have not asked/made my children help me enough with the laundry during this pregnancy. I did a lot of bending. My dh has helped quite a bit though.
Here's my one complaint. The man who installed the washer told me to make sure to run a load of whites with bleach every so often so that the rubber piece in the front gets cleaned. He said otherwise it would smell. He was right. I don't separate whites because I don't have many. There is some black gunk on the rubber that smells bad. If I wipe it with a paper towel it doesn't come off.
__________________
Cheryl
Wife to Bob ('97)
Mom to Matthew 13, Joseph 11, Sarah 10, Rachel 6, Hannah almost 4 and Mary 1
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Probably at the beach...
Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
|
| Posted: Feb 15 2006 at 11:05am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I got the Frigidaire because it was less expensive than the Maytag, and it is stackable, so the washer/dryer take up less space (important as I have two dryers).
__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Sarah
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 17 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1624
|
| Posted: Feb 15 2006 at 3:10pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Okay, with the stackable, can kids get stuff out of the dryer? My oldest is 9 and he's always looking for clothes .
I can just picture him trying to find a baseball uniform or socks and not being able to see into the dryer.
But I like the stackable idea!
Maybe he could get a chair!
__________________
Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angie Mc
Board Moderator
Joined: Jan 31 2005
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11400
|
| Posted: Feb 15 2006 at 3:14pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Yes, my tallish just turned 7 yo can put laundry into the dryer, but needs to grow a few inches before he can dig through it . He LOVES to move the clothes from washer to dryer...no kidding...I think he thinks it is basketball practice .
Love,
__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Front Loading?
