Boston Gal's Open Wallet

The front load washing machines are good in theory, but they don't get the laundry clean. Several people I know sold their expensive new front loaders and replaced them with top loaders. Even when they rewashed the laundry in the front loader, it wasn't really clean. I will buy a top loader when I replace mine. When top loaders are outlawed, they will become as valuable as 1950's American cars in Cuba.

I'm with ya on the line drying, though.

 

Okay, here's my opinion on front loaders. I don't like them! I switched from a top loader to a front loader and I can't wait until it dies so I can switch back. There are several reasons. One is I'm finding the front loader doesn't rinse the clothes well enough and no matter how little soap I use I always find soap suds on the front window when the cycle is done. I often find myself running a load through a second time (no soap the second time) just so the clothes get good and rinsed and soap-suds free. Second, I find the most effective way to get clothes really clean, especially whites, is to turn off the washer partway through the cycle and let the clothes sit and soak, sometimes overnight. You can't do that with a front loader. Finally, I often find things I missed in my hamper or I dropped on the way to the laundry room that I would like to stick in the washer as it's running. But you can't; once the door is closed and the cycle is started there is no opening the door. No, I do not like having a front loader at all. Yes, top loaders use more water, but I find the whole process of doing laundry is overall more efficient and effective with a top loader. Plus top loaders are less expensive up front. I recommend the largest top loader you can find. (I think front loaders are kind of like granite countertops. Everyone has been programmed to think they are the be all and end all. But why?)

 

I do hang dry a fair amount of laundry, but I can't seem to get towels to feel soft if I hang dry them. Thoughts?

 

Making your own laundry detergent is a great way to save money and help the environment. No packaging, no chemicals.

 

I've used a drying rack for over 20 years for everything but sheets, towels, socks, underwear. Everything else gets line dried - it also helps clothes last longer, as does washing in cold water. I currently wouldn't have the room in my apartment for much more than my drying rack, so line drying sheets and towels right now isn't an option.

As for the front load washer - I had one that I hated. And, when it broke, within a year, locking laundry in it, without the purchase of the maintenance plan (about $250), it would have cost over $500. I realize I'm in the minority when it comes to front load, but I'd never get one againb (course it could have been the brand). There are several top load models that are also energy efficient. Plus, since I use "free" detergents, in the beginning it was hard to find an HE that was "free," though I don't think that's as much of an issue now.

 

I LOVE my front loader. I find that even over-loaded, dirty clothes (as in visible signs of being dirty) always get clean in this washer. I am surprised by the bad experiences that everyone has had with them. Duet Sport, always on cold (except delicate + warm for mountain biking gear) and Mrs. Meyer's Lavender HE detergent.

Tip for getting a soft finish for towels: It is the tumbling action in the dryer that softens clothes. Just put clothes in w/ no heat for 5-15 min. It will not feel exactly like they were dried in the dryer, but it will be pretty close (for a fraction of the energy usage).

I hang all of our clothes to dry. And I don't take anything to the dry cleaner. I just use the delicate cycle and hang dry (or lay out for sweaters and other knit pieces).

My graduate degree is in laundry! (I am only half joking - I have a MS in Textile Science.)

 

I have had a front loader for years, and I haven't had any problems. I don't use special HE detergent, just a very small amount of regular liquid detergent (Seventh Generation). It doesn't leak, and it gets the clothes clean just fine. It is true that I can't pop that odd sock in mid-cycle, but I just save it and toss it into the next load.

 

I'm surprised so many people have had bad experiences with front loaders. I have a Maytag that's about 5 years old, and it works great. I do buy the HE detergent (All Free & Clear) which is $5 for 32 loads. The previous owner used non-HE detergent and had suds-over problems, so the unit has some rust around the bleach dispenser, but as long as I keep that dry (by continuing to use low suds detergents) I think it will be OK.

My only complaint is that the washer is smaller than my old top loader, but I don't know if that is universal. It did take me a while to stop over filling it.

As for line drying: Over the course of the year I think I line dry 30% of my loads. Hubby hates the stiffness, and hates his undies out for the neighbors to see. He's getting over the undies factor, and I've been trying to bring in the load just before it's dry and pop it in the dryer on "sensor dry" to finish, which usually takes 10 minutes. I grew up with line dried clothes so I know how stiff the towels can get by the end of summer if they're line dried every time.

My parents are in Michigan, and Dad uses the snow blower to clear a path to the clothesline & under it so Mom can keep hanging the laundry 'til the temps are below freezing, and start up again when the weather's nice but there's still snow on the ground. I am not that dedicated!

 

I'm surprised that people have had so many problems with front loaders. Maybe I had a terrible top loader at my old house. I've found that our clothes come out cleaner, and I even use less HE detergent than recommended because we have relatively soft water.

Our front loader has more than paid for itself in water bill savings, not to mention saving water during the drought that we had over the past few years.

Also, I find that the washer spins so much more water out of the clothes that drying takes much less time. It only takes 20-30 minutes in my gas dryer, and line dried clothes take about 6-8 hours to dry.

I have a Maytag that is about 6 years old, and I've been happy with it the entire time.

 

i too hate the "stiffness" from line drying- someone once told me its because not all the detergent gets rinsed out?

 

I agree with the previous noter - dry outside, but then pop your towels in the dryer for a few minutes on spin. The dryer balls are helpful, but I noticed it chewed up my underwear!

In the winter, I set up my drying rack in front of my woodstove. I bought a rack from IKEA for about $20 and it holds a ton of clothes. We also have an iron safety gate that prevents my kids from touching the stove. It's my poor mom towel warmer in winter!

 

To get towels soft without putting them in the dryer, add a little vinegar to the rinse cycle. I did this once because we forgot to unpack the swimming pool bag for a few days and everything smelled moldy. I added the vinegar to get rid of the smell- and to my surprise, it also made my line-dried towels soft!

 

I have found a new style of portable clothes drying rack, it is round and spins for easy loading and unloading. It is also much more stable than the accordian ones when I place it outside in a breeze.