Best Washing Machine

[keyfort]

I am making a new thread because things seem to have changed with washing machines. The one I had a while back isn't sold anymore and there are hundreds of others.

Unfortunately I made the mistake not long ago of buying an LG top load washer with an impeller, because it was recommended by Consumer Reports. This is the worst appliance I've ever owned. It doesn't clean clothes no matter what settings I use. So this is the last time I trust LG or Consumer Reports for anything. Which machines from other brands actually clean clothes properly? Do you have a recently bought washer you're happy with? I don't care about water or energy efficiency because by the time I've had to run a so-called efficient machine in a way that cleans the clothes I've probably used twice as much of both anyway.

[Mudpuppy]

Since "doesn't clean" can mean different things to different people (smells, stains, detergent residual, etc.), what does it mean to you? How specifically is the LG washer not meeting your needs?

[bobn60014]

Interesting. Our LG top load cleans well and has been rock solid for 6+ years. Reading the manual and tweaking the settings really made a difference in the overall performance.

[bertilak]

Maybe you need a different detergent.

[bluebolt]

Yale Appliance is a large appliance seller that also services what they sell. Here's their rundown of the best washing machines. LG & GE hold a lot of the top spots. Yale also has good reliability stats on their site since they service what they sell.

Best front load:
https://blog.yaleappliance.com/best-front-load-washers

Best top load:
https://blog.yaleappliance.com/best-top-load-washers

[keyfort]

Sadly I don't think it's the manual or detergent. I saw some reviews after I bought it - too late - that it doesn't clean no matter what you do. Plus, I'm using the same detergent as I did with my previous much better machine, and have read the manual and tried god knows how many different settings, including the most intensive options.

I think it's partly because it's an impeller machine so it doesn't really clean properly. By not clean I mean: lightly soiled white socks still have soil and dirt stains - there's almost no difference after washing them. Blouses still smell of sweat. Towels smell dusty with no detergent. Some clothes don't even get wet at all. In fact on the standard setting about half the clothes don't get wet during the cycle. Apparently it's a known problem with this model and others like it, which are supposed to be very "water-efficient". So much so that I guess they just don't bother to clean half the clothes.

[keyfort]

Yale Appliance is a large appliance seller that also services what they sell. Here's their rundown of the best washing machines. LG & GE hold a lot of the top spots. Yale also has good reliability stats on their site since they service what they sell.

Best front load:
https://blog.yaleappliance.com/best-front-load-washers

Best top load:
https://blog.yaleappliance.com/best-top-load-washers

I wish I'd read this before I bought the LG I have. This is a quote from the second link you sent:

"Now you have washers over five cubic feet without agitators. The machines employ an impeller or part that cycles the clothes and washes.

Unfortunately, the agitator is what cleans the clothes, so the cleaning is questionable in these machines. Consequently, none of these models are on this list."

So one of the top rated Consumer Reports washers isn't on this list. Oh well, lesson learned. Agitator only. No impellers for me.

[SevenBridgesRoad]

Our LG front loader works great.

[bobn60014]

Of course, we have no idea of your water quality, clothes being washed - construction worker vs retiree, etc...

[Kenkat]

We recently bought a Speed Queen after a series of washers of different brands that never seemed to last as long as I expect a washer to last. Some of them didn’t even make it 5 years and I don’t think any made it much over 10 years. In fairness to LG, that was one brand of washer we didn’t try but I was less than impressed with my Kenmore by LG refrigerator so I wasn’t enamored with that brand.

The Speed Queen costs twice as much and probably uses twice the water but my wife hasn’t complained about it after regularly using the term “hate” when it came to the previous Samsung.

[PottedPlant]

Miele.
TwinDos.

[Kagord]

SpeedQueen with the agitator works well for us. I like it because it doesn't occasionally make beeping noises or play strange melodies while it is running.

[NYCaviator]

Unfortunately, the agitator is what cleans the clothes, so the cleaning is questionable in these machines. Consequently, none of these models are on this list."

I have used front-loaders without an agitator for over a decade and never had an issue with clothes not getting clean. People will tell you that the only washers that work are old school agitator washers, but that's simply not true. Those old washers waste tons of energy and water and the agitator ruins your clothes.

Make sure you are using a good detergent and not overloading the washers. The clothes need room to move around to get clean, so if you're packing the washer full, it's not going to get clean.

I have an LG front loader that I got shortly after COVID because that's all that was available at the time, but if I could do it again I'd go with a Miele front loader and heat pump dryer. The LG works fine, but the Mieles will last a long time.

[dalbright]

We switched to a speed queen tc5 and speed queen dryer a few years ago. Our clothes dont get visibly dirty much but if they do we pre-treat the areas. My clothes do get very sweaty from exercise though and came out musty from our old samsung. The SQ does a great job cleaning and drying. We use an unscented detergent, cold water, and no extra rinses and have been pleased with the eco, bulky, and delicate cycles. We haven't needed to use any of the other options but i'm sure they would work great. Our only change from the front loader was slightly smaller loads with the speed queen. Off to go change a load after finishing typing! If you search prior posts i've left other comments specific to the tc5 as well in prior requests for similar info.

[bluebolt]

Unfortunately, the agitator is what cleans the clothes, so the cleaning is questionable in these machines. Consequently, none of these models are on this list."

I have used front-loaders without an agitator for over a decade and never had an issue with clothes not getting clean. People will tell you that the only washers that work are old school agitator washers, but that's simply not true. Those old washers waste tons of energy and water and the agitator ruins your clothes.

Make sure you are using a good detergent and not overloading the washers. The clothes need room to move around to get clean, so if you're packing the washer full, it's not going to get clean.

I have an LG front loader that I got shortly after COVID because that's all that was available at the time, but if I could do it again I'd go with a Miele front loader and heat pump dryer. The LG works fine, but the Mieles will last a long time.

I think that quote is referring to top loaders without an agitator. Front loaders use gravity to get clothes cleaner. A top loader with an impeller doesn't have that benefit.

[bertilak]

Unfortunately, the agitator is what cleans the clothes, so the cleaning is questionable in these machines. Consequently, none of these models are on this list."

I have used front-loaders without an agitator for over a decade and never had an issue with clothes not getting clean. People will tell you that the only washers that work are old school agitator washers, but that's simply not true. Those old washers waste tons of energy and water and the agitator ruins your clothes.

Make sure you are using a good detergent and not overloading the washers. The clothes need room to move around to get clean, so if you're packing the washer full, it's not going to get clean.

I have an LG front loader that I got shortly after COVID because that's all that was available at the time, but if I could do it again I'd go with a Miele front loader and heat pump dryer. The LG works fine, but the Mieles will last a long time.

I think that quote is referring to top loaders without an agitator. Front loaders use gravity to get clothes cleaner. A top loader with an impeller doesn't have that benefit.

Right. A front loader doesn't need an agitator because of its geometry. Rotating on horizontal axis is all the agitation it needs. Think of a cement mixer.

[Mudpuppy]

I think it's partly because it's an impeller machine so it doesn't really clean properly. By not clean I mean: lightly soiled white socks still have soil and dirt stains - there's almost no difference after washing them. Blouses still smell of sweat. Towels smell dusty with no detergent. Some clothes don't even get wet at all. In fact on the standard setting about half the clothes don't get wet during the cycle. Apparently it's a known problem with this model and others like it, which are supposed to be very "water-efficient". So much so that I guess they just don't bother to clean half the clothes.

The part about some clothes not even getting wet stood out to me. That's a common problem coming from the eco-friendly water levels (where only half of the drum or less is filled with water) and the lack of a proper agitator (so the clothes aren't pulled down into the smaller volume of water). The short-term solution for your current washer is to put in much smaller loads. Start out with only filling the drum 1/3rd of the way, and see how it cleans.

As for finding a new washer, if you want to stick with top loaders, look for ones with agitators and "deep fill" settings (or manual water level settings, but those are pretty rare these days). The deep fill setting will add more water to the drum and the agitator will pull the clothes down through the water column.

[Lazareth]

When our 40 yr old top-loader finally failed beyond repair, the local repair person recommended a Speed Queen top loader. It costs considerably more, he explained, but much quieter and more reliable than the “big box” offerings, and no stooping over to load and unload, and no door seal issues. He told us about several customers whose new luxury homes feature a washer/dryer space in proximity to their bedroom, and, due to the noise, they had called him to swap out their hardly used LG or GE with a whisper-quiet Speed Queen. We have been happy with our choice. Walk by and can't even detect it’s running.

A YouTube video walked me through how to disable the annoying door lock. Younger consumers are likely accustomed to it, but we appreciate the option of tossing in a last-minute garment or softener/detergent etc, after the cycle has started.

[djshackesq]

I believe I have the same or similar washer as you, also bought because of Consumer Reports, and also despise it. Previously I had a Samsung front loader that cleaned significantly better. I’d go back to any front loader as I think the movement cleans better than these new top loaders that are just too gentle.

[anoop]

If you want a top load, get a SpeedQueen.

If you want a front load, get a Miele.

[Legoman666]

Miele. They're not large capacity, but they're awesome.

[ScubaHogg]

I like it because it doesn't occasionally make beeping noises or play strange melodies while it is running.

lol

This is true. One wonders who wants that feature on their washing machines

[A440]

Our Speed Queen TC5 works well, as long as you don't try and overfill it with clothes. If we do, we get some water on the floor that splashes out from the lid.
We use lint strainers with the drain hose, as recommended by the installer.

[bombcar]

The main reason we got a SpeedQueen is because it has a real agitator AND has a “fill the dumb thing with WATER please” setting.

If buying again I’d go with the model that has an explicit soak cycle setting - we imitate it by pausing the load when full but that sometimes gets it confused requiring a reboot.

I may try a Meile heat pump dryer - the SQ we have is fine but it’s annoying to reattach the vent hose which always seems to work its way off. Have to see what the rebates can do for me.

Lint strainers are nice if you have an older line as roots can catch lint. Otherwise if everything is clear lint won’t hurt the sewer (but might be annoying for septic).

[Mudpuppy]

I like it because it doesn't occasionally make beeping noises or play strange melodies while it is running.

lol

This is true. One wonders who wants that feature on their washing machines

Relatedly, find YouTube videos of the model you're considering in action and see if you can tolerate the noise. Early this year, I thought I might have to replace my washer (turns out it was repairable), and this helped me shorten the list. There was one GE model that was on sale and cost-effective compared to others, but a lot of reviews mentioned it sounded odd. I found a YouTube video of it washing and my notes on it are "it does sound weird".

My requirements included having a soak cycle, agitator, deep fill, deep rinse, extra rinse, and bedding mode, so I'm not sure my comparison spreadsheet is useful to the OP. I have some very specific wash requirements for certain loads that are common in my household, but perhaps not in other households.

[socalindex]

If you want a top load, get a SpeedQueen.

If you want a front load, get a Miele.

Great answer. You know your stuff

[HarmlessDrudge]

Another vote for the Speed Queen TC5. And in spite of NYT Wirecutter statements to the contrary, the eco setting actually works quite well for most items (except for heavily soiled gardening clothes, for example), so we use it and don't waste as much water as we were prepared to.

[Big Dog]

Yale Appliance is a large appliance seller that also services what they sell. Here's their rundown of the best washing machines. LG & GE hold a lot of the top spots. Yale also has good reliability stats on their site since they service what they sell.

Best front load:
https://blog.yaleappliance.com/best-front-load-washers

Best top load:
https://blog.yaleappliance.com/best-top-load-washers

I wish I'd read this before I bought the LG I have. This is a quote from the second link you sent:

"Now you have washers over five cubic feet without agitators. The machines employ an impeller or part that cycles the clothes and washes.

Unfortunately, the agitator is what cleans the clothes, so the cleaning is questionable in these machines. Consequently, none of these models are on this list."

So one of the top rated Consumer Reports washers isn't on this list. Oh well, lesson learned. Agitator only. No impellers for me.

I gave up on CR years ago for this very reason. Purchased a highly rated eco-friendly washer with an impeller (before I even knew what it was). Lost socks, mildew, and repair costs due to cracked impeller. The impeller alone was $225. Made the mistake of replacing that washer with something similar 5 years later; supposedly, they got the kinks out per CR. Nope, similar issues. (Did save some water, however.)

Replaced with a good old Maytag top-loader with an agitator and a dial that allows me to dial in the water level. (I would have preferred a front-loader, but spouse said no.)

[lillycat]

Whoops! Another opinion.
I bought this LG top loading HUGE capacity impeller washer along with a large LG gas dryer a month ago.
It replaced a 10 year old front loading set. It was $1300 on sale for both plus tax.
Of course since it was Costco, delivery, installation, and haul away was included.

LG 5.5 cu. ft. Top Load Washer with EasyUnload and 7.3 cu. ft. Rear Control GAS Dryer with EasyLoad
Item V100332 Model WT8400CW | DLG8401WE

They are fairly new models and now have a rating of 4.8 out of 5 so far on the Costco website.
And high! ratings on other websites. Yep, I sure hope they last.

Quiet, huge capacity, an AI mode on both units that actually works and the clothes sparkle! when done.
The white set is sharp and pretty with black accents. It even sings a song when done and could alert me on my phone if I set that up.
Bonus===> The dryer door opens from the top still attached at the bottom, or from the side. Makes the job so easy!
I think I’m in love. Sigh.

[keyfort]

Yale Appliance is a large appliance seller that also services what they sell. Here's their rundown of the best washing machines. LG & GE hold a lot of the top spots. Yale also has good reliability stats on their site since they service what they sell.

Best front load:
https://blog.yaleappliance.com/best-front-load-washers

Best top load:
https://blog.yaleappliance.com/best-top-load-washers

I wish I'd read this before I bought the LG I have. This is a quote from the second link you sent:

"Now you have washers over five cubic feet without agitators. The machines employ an impeller or part that cycles the clothes and washes.

Unfortunately, the agitator is what cleans the clothes, so the cleaning is questionable in these machines. Consequently, none of these models are on this list."

So one of the top rated Consumer Reports washers isn't on this list. Oh well, lesson learned. Agitator only. No impellers for me.

I gave up on CR years ago for this very reason. Purchased a highly rated eco-friendly washer with an impeller (before I even knew what it was). Lost socks, mildew, and repair costs due to cracked impeller. The impeller alone was $225. Made the mistake of replacing that washer with something similar 5 years later; supposedly, they got the kinks out per CR. Nope, similar issues. (Did save some water, however.)

Replaced with a good old Maytag top-loader with an agitator and a dial that allows me to dial in the water level. (I would have preferred a front-loader, but spouse said no.)

Yea, some days I wish this LG impeller machine would break so that I can get a cheap agitator washer. I'm thinking of getting the cheapest since almost every machine I look at is crap now. I do not remember washers being this bad when I was younger.

My aging mother has a machine that is probably over 10 years old and it still cleans better than the LG I got this year.

[Broken Man 1999]

When I searched Consumer Reports for new frontloading washers and dryers, LGs were overrepresented in the top scores. LG also dominated the top scores for top loading machines, with or without agitator.

We bought a set to replace our 16 year old frontloading LG set, dryer could have been kept, but washer had some issues.

DW liked the LG set we bought just before our first grandchild was born. She watched all four grandchildren after their mothers returned to work. Nasty little things , but their clothes always came clean in the LG washer.

I also generate a lot of laundry, my bath linens and bed linens are changed every day. So the old set got a lot of use in 16 years.

Bought a new LG set, should be good for a long time.

After experiencing the front loading machines, I don't think DW would ever go back to top loading machines.

Broken Man 1999

[snackdog]

Yale Appliance says the Speed Queens need repair more than twice as often as the LGs, cost a lot more, and clean less well. But they are less noisy, if that is your first priority.

[Alfonsia]

Top loaders are just dreadful. I have had front loader LGs for years, 11 yrs in one house, 4 yrs in the next (we moved and left them) and my current home's LG front loader is older than either of those and seems fine. It is probably over 15 yrs old.

[bd7]

Yale Appliance says the Speed Queens need repair more than twice as often as the LGs, cost a lot more, and clean less well. But they are less noisy, if that is your first priority.

The Speed Queen warranty is 5X as long as LG so if it does need a repair you won't have to pay for it. There were a bunch of Speed Queen washers that needed some modifications because their old-school design had just enough current leakage to trip some GFCI sensors. Perhaps that has affected their repair statistics.

And as for cleaning, the OP is specifically complaining about an LG washer not cleaning well so I doubt he is interested in Yale's opinion on the matter. I'm the one that does the laundry and personally I could never go back to a top-loader, even a Speed Queen.

[snackdog]

Yale Appliance says the Speed Queens need repair more than twice as often as the LGs, cost a lot more, and clean less well. But they are less noisy, if that is your first priority.

The Speed Queen warranty is 5X as long as LG so if it does need a repair you won't have to pay for it. There were a bunch of Speed Queen washers that needed some modifications because their old-school design had just enough current leakage to trip some GFCI sensors. Perhaps that has affected their repair statistics.

And as for cleaning, the OP is specifically complaining about an LG washer not cleaning well so I doubt he is interested in Yale's opinion on the matter. I'm the one that does the laundry and personally I could never go back to a top-loader, even a Speed Queen.

We had a front loader and hated it for the typical reasons - they can leak (ours did every 4th or 5th load) and they retain water in the (leaky) door gasket so unless you wipe it dry yourself every load and leave the door open it can mold/mildew. We have two high-capacity top-loaders now. The newer Maytag with impeller has a window on top through which the spouse watches the clothes fail to get wet even on the highest water setting. The older LG is a champ.

[gerntz]

Our LG front loader works great.

I'm with you. Front loader easier to unload & toss clothes into dryer alongside. Easier to see into than top loader to ensure you have all the clothes out. No agitator to unwarp clothes from. Being on pedestal helps.

[oldlongbeard]

The lint from our synthetic clothing is why a septic drain field no longer lasts forever. The synthetic fibers don't break down, and are "clingy" to all the other goodies in there. A lint trap WILL help.

[bd7]

The older LG is a champ.

I suspect the key issue here is "older" more than brand names. We have a 23-year-old Whirlpool Duet front-load pair that still works very nicely and has never leaked or become moldy. I even got a settlement check from a class-action regarding the mold issue. We do leave the door open a bit, but rarely clean out the front gasket. In fact, I just looked now and there was a small handkerchief and a corroded penny in there. Perhaps the copper penny has been retarding mold growth all these years.

I'm not looking forward to needing to replace the units.

[atwnsw]

Speed Queen

[Irene]

We got an Electrolux front-loader last year and like it very much. Replaced a 20-year-old Fisher Paykel. You do need to leave the door and dispenser open to dry out, which looks weird, but they're in the basement, I don't care. Still using the dryer that came with our house, probably late 1980s vintage. Looking forward to getting a heat pump dryer when that dies (whatever brand seems best at that point, as we don't care about matching).

[NYCaviator]

This forum is obsessed with Speed Queen, but there are a lot of other options that don't waste water and energy and won't ruin your clothes.

I've had excellent luck with LG front loaders. Miele are also fantastic.

I think people are coming to realize that HE top loaders aren't great, so probably best to avoid those.

Here are some tips:

1. Don't overload your washer. Just because it has "extra capacity" doesn't mean you need to fill it. The clothes need to tumble and rub against each other to get clean, so if you pack it tight, clothes won't get clean.

2. Leave the washer door open after a load and it'll prevent mold.

3. Use cleaning tabs and run a clean cycle every month or so.

Front loaders have been around for a long time and have been used throughout the world with great success. You don't need an old school agitator washer to get clean clothes.

[Mudpuppy]

For those who keep promoting front loaders, please keep in mind that front loaders are not the best for everyone. There are certain use cases which cannot be met through a front loading washer, such as needing to soak laundry before a wash. It sounds like the OP prefers a top loader, so we should accept that and give the advice that has been requested, which is recommendations for effective top loaders.

Yea, some days I wish this LG impeller machine would break so that I can get a cheap agitator washer. I'm thinking of getting the cheapest since almost every machine I look at is crap now. I do not remember washers being this bad when I was younger.

Keep in mind that there's not much of a price savings in "cheapest" these days. The cheapest top loaders my local appliance store carries are Amana and Hotpoint, and they are only around $50 less than the entry-level GE and Whirlpool washers. With the current Labor Day weekend sales, the price differential is even less. It might be best to focus first on your "must have" features, beyond the agitator, then narrow your list based on that.

[momvesting]

We have a 13 year old LG set. It worked beautifully in our old house, then again in the apartment we moved into for a few months. Then we moved here and began having the same trouble you are describing. It turns out that this home had significantly less water pressure and apparently the machine doesn’t really sense how much water goes in, it just opens the valve and lets in water for a set amount of time. We had a plumber come out and adjust something (a regulator that controls the pressure in the house) or maybe he replaced it, I don’t remember. Anyway, with the proper water pressure, the machine works fine. Perhaps this is your problem as well?

[mpnret]

I suspect the key issue here is "older" more than brand names. We have a 23-year-old Whirlpool Duet front-load pair that still works very nicely and has never leaked or become moldy. I even got a settlement check from a class-action regarding the mold issue. We do leave the door open a bit, but rarely clean out the front gasket. In fact, I just looked now and there was a small handkerchief and a corroded penny in there. Perhaps the copper penny has been retarding mold growth all these years.

I'm not looking forward to needing to replace the units.

Same here. My Whirlpool Duet front load pair just turned 24 years old. Not one issue.

[Kenkat]

This forum is obsessed with Speed Queen, but there are a lot of other options that don't waste water and energy and won't ruin your clothes.

I got tired of filling up the landfills with the mechanically failed units every 6-8 years.

I will admit that I have never tried LG laundry appliances, although my experience with an LG refrigerator makes me wary. But maybe they are built to last, I don’t know.

[criticalmass]

This forum is obsessed with Speed Queen, but there are a lot of other options that don't waste water and energy and won't ruin your clothes.

I got tired of filling up the landfills with the mechanically failed units every 6-8 years.

I will admit that I have never tried LG laundry appliances, although my experience with an LG refrigerator makes me wary. But maybe they are built to last, I don’t know.

My LG front loader turns 10 years old next month. No issues. I do run my finger around the door seal after use to remove any lint and keep the window clean, which takes less than 10 seconds.

Other than that I drain the sump and check the filter once in a while. One time I found a toothpick, but that’s it.
Run the clean cycle every 1-2 months. I have washer cleaner products, but I’m not sure if they are better/worse than bleach.

[Mudpuppy]

We have a 13 year old LG set. It worked beautifully in our old house, then again in the apartment we moved into for a few months. Then we moved here and began having the same trouble you are describing. It turns out that this home had significantly less water pressure and apparently the machine doesn’t really sense how much water goes in, it just opens the valve and lets in water for a set amount of time. We had a plumber come out and adjust something (a regulator that controls the pressure in the house) or maybe he replaced it, I don’t remember. Anyway, with the proper water pressure, the machine works fine. Perhaps this is your problem as well?

Interesting idea. There are water pressure gauges at most big box hardware stores that OP could buy to test this theory. Most are designed to fit on a 3/4" garden hose bibb, which means they should also fit on a 3/4" washing hose bibb. Such a gauge probably should only be attached to the cold water bibb, as I don't think they're meant to take in hot water. The OP could remember how many turns of the bibb valve it took to turn it off the cold water, attach the gauge, then turn the water back on by the same number of turns to get a good approximate measure of the water pressure.

Or even more simply, OP could see if the hot and cold valves on the bibbs can be opened further without leaks, and see if that allows better water depth in the washer. That's an experiment that wouldn't require a trip to the hardware store to buy a water pressure gauge.

[Alfonsia]

We have a 13 year old LG set. It worked beautifully in our old house, then again in the apartment we moved into for a few months. Then we moved here and began having the same trouble you are describing. It turns out that this home had significantly less water pressure and apparently the machine doesn’t really sense how much water goes in, it just opens the valve and lets in water for a set amount of time. We had a plumber come out and adjust something (a regulator that controls the pressure in the house) or maybe he replaced it, I don’t remember. Anyway, with the proper water pressure, the machine works fine. Perhaps this is your problem as well?

Interesting idea. There are water pressure gauges at most big box hardware stores that OP could buy to test this theory. Most are designed to fit on a 3/4" garden hose bibb, which means they should also fit on a 3/4" washing hose bibb. Such a gauge probably should only be attached to the cold water bibb, as I don't think they're meant to take in hot water. The OP could remember how many turns of the bibb valve it took to turn it off the cold water, attach the gauge, then turn the water back on by the same number of turns to get a good approximate measure of the water pressure.

Or even more simply, OP could see if the hot and cold valves on the bibbs can be opened further without leaks, and see if that allows better water depth in the washer. That's an experiment that wouldn't require a trip to the hardware store to buy a water pressure gauge.

That's super interesting, my LG here washes fine but even with the extra water has a ridiculously small amount of water in the machine. We are on a well and our water pressure is pretty average. That it is only time and not volume dependent is hilarious. What is the fix if there is no fix for the house water pressure? Do other machines detect actual volume?

[JayB]

I am making a new thread because things seem to have changed with washing machines. The one I had a while back isn't sold anymore and there are hundreds of others.

Unfortunately I made the mistake not long ago of buying an LG top load washer with an impeller, because it was recommended by Consumer Reports. This is the worst appliance I've ever owned. It doesn't clean clothes no matter what settings I use.

We have a 5-year old LG top load washer with impeller (i.e., wash plate) at the bottom and it cleans quite well. The water added is adequate to wet and mix together all of the clothes. If some clothes never get wet, I wonder if your washer has a defective water level sensor. I also wonder if you're using HE detergent, which is what LG requires; for most larger loads, we use 1.5-2 oz of HE detergent and a warm water temperature setting. Much of the cleaning action happens from clothes rubbing against each other with minimal but adequate water in the tub; the initial part of each Normal wash cycle (with Turbo Wash selected) does use very little water, but then more water is added at least once or twice during the wash cycle.

[Dottie57]

I have a Whirlpool top loader washing machine. I think it is about t years old. No problems within the 3 years I have had it. No agitator - it swishes the clothes around. I use tide liquid with no scent. Clothes get clean. I leave the door open to let it air out.
Water level varies depending on load size it senses.

I would buy it again.