I'm starting a house from scratch: What are the best washers, dryers, fridges and dishwashers?

Question

I was looking at the very high end Samsung washer/dryers - what do you think? Worth it? Is it worth splurging on the hi-tech appliances?

Charmaine H · Answer

I love my LG front loaders, and they hold a lot of stuff.

Ed Z · Answer

how do they do with shirts? I want something that will, well, not make my shirts wrinkly.

AK Complete Home Renovations · Answer

We found the Appliance 411 website had some helpful information: http://bit.ly/b0Re4f There are only a limited number a major appliance manufacturers left in the marketplace. Over the years, the big ones have bought up the smaller ones and merged those product designs into their own product lines. They now produce products under the various brand names they own. Often there is only cosmetic differences in the appearance of the appliance, while the underlying mechanical workings are very similar, if not the same. The manufacturers warranty may also differ between brands and models.

Debra D · Answer

We shelled out some big bucks for a Bosch dishwasher and I love it....worth the money....YES!

Terri J · Answer

Mysister loves her front load appliances, says they were worth every penny. If you can wait long enough, Momorial Day d could hold twice as much clothes.Sales, will be right around the corner. Also, I have found HHGregg stores to have best prices on high end appliances.

Elli V · Answer

I bought the Samsung set and hate it. It does not clean my clothes, has a bad smell and is expensive. If I had to do it over again I would buy the large old fashion washer, where you can see the laundry agitate. None of those new systems. How can laundry get clean with that little water? And how can it rinse all the soap out? My towels have a very ugly smell.

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

We purchased LG appliances and are very happy with them.  
However if your building from scratch, appliance manufactures should be low on the list of items.  What is real important is layout and design.  You can have the best of the best, and with a poor layout or design. They all end up like garbage. The biggest concern is install design.  Some of the higher end units have special requirements that no other type of similar appliances have. Meaning if you decide later to use another brand, either because your not happy with your choice or style. You may be stuck with that unit as the rest require different types of connections, or may not properly fit in openings that you had done. 
So in retrospect be sure that you make sure that what ever you end up going with, will be a standard type of size and install so changing out later if need be can be headache free. 
Also price has a lot to do with purchase issues.  You can get a fridge for $300 or $10,000.   They all do the same thing, but it depends upon features you want and will use and also size.

Regardless of what you purchase you will find both negative and positive responses about that item.  Its just based upon ones own opinion of the appliance and their own ability to understand how to properly operate and maintain it.

Check with consumers to see what they have to say about what ever it is your leaning towards.

Take Elli V.  She does not like here front loaders. For several reasons. However I can find just as many folks who simply love them. Good luck with this.

Eclectically Vintage - Kelly · Answer

I have the Samsung set and love it!  They are on my second floor and do not vibrate and I have them stacked.  Has a huge capacity too.  And it has a steam option - gets the wrinkles out.  When I do shirts, I just take them out right away but if I forget, the steam option works well.

Debora F · Answer

i like my lg's front loaders they are amazing and it seems have their own brain

Becky H · Answer

Elli V., do you have front loaders?  One of my girlfriends bought new front loaders, an expensive set, and has had issues with odor in her clean clothes.  She has had several servicemen out to look at them, and has learned from them that the front loaders do not always empty every drop of water out of the tub.  Consequently, mold and mildew can grow in the tub.  She was advised to run a heavy concentrate of bleach through the wash cycle once a week to prevent the odor.  For that reason, I refuse to own a front loader.  Modern technology has come a long way with top loaders these days.

Nancy Rhodes C · Answer

GE Profile.  My cousin who has worked on washer appliances recommended them by far.  Love my set.  He also said Whirlpool for dishwasher and Frigidaire for refrigerator.
Have been pleased.  Be sure to watch over the work being done on your dishwasher.  We had a tough beginning as our repairman showed up nuts bolts and screws and all kinds of debris in our washer.  We did not believe him and still believe he sabotaged our dishwasher.   He put in a new motor and watched him like a hawk.  All that was probably 6 years ago and no problems since.  Rusted nuts bolts and screws could not possibly have gotten in our dishwasher as careful as  I am.

'Raven E · Answer

i would personally do this because of the energy efficiency and possible tax credits if you buy the right appliances. i dont know what to recommend but i would check around and see if they have those programs in your area, going efficient and green can save you money especially when starting from scratch!

Therese C · Answer

I have never owned a front load washer because I have heard too many horror stories about the mildew and 'dirty sock' smells! You can get a very nice washer and dryer for a lower price and use the difference to splurge on kitchen appliances. By splurge I don't mean ridiculous, but rather reasonable and sharp like the S.S. French Door fridge, S.S. 6 burner/double oven stove, and a nice dishwasher. The key is to put the money in what is used and seen most in your home. Face it, if people are coming over to see your expensive washer and dryer and your cheap over/under fridge and knock off stove, they will not have a good first impression...lol...just remember, buy with your head you are the one that has to live with the decisions. Good luck!

Carroll A · Answer

I have Kenmore front loader washer and dryer.  I love them. But it did take some time to learn how to wash in them. I extended the wash time (mine has a 'soil' setting) and it does great.  It also has a 'self Clean' setting that I do often (as per the manual).  When the washer is not in use I take the soap draw out and always leave the door open and have not had a problem with odors at all.  I have had it a year and half now.  They run so quiet, If laundry room door is closed I can't hear them at all.  This set replaced an 70s dryer and LG top loader from the 90's my electric bill went down after installing the new set.

Cindy M · Answer

I would , if I could afford to, go high tech with everything.  I am such a geek sometimes! : )

Peggy C · Answer

I have used my daughters and I love them, I have not experienced the smell or mildew that others are talking about, I love the 30 pair of jeans idea, I haven't tried that many but am sure it will hold them and do a good job.

Linda G · Answer

Invest in American - buy Whirlpool.   Best washer & dryers made by Whirlpool.

Cindy R · Answer

I had the GE Profile, but hated bending over to pull stuff in/out.  And it's true you have to leave the washer door open.  I recently bought a Kenmore Elite top load washer and a dryer.  LOVE them due to capacity and flexibility of settings.  Will never go back to front load washer and 'high end' doesn't necessarily mean the 'best.'  Many of these name brands are manufactured by the same company.  I would check with 'Consumer Reports' for a detailed breakdown on appliances.

Penny · Answer

We hated the front load washer. Hated the mold that formed around the seal...found out you have to leave the door open, which was hard to do since it was ibehind the closet doors. We now have the new top load  no agitator, uses less water than a front load and love it.

Laurie G · Answer

If you don't put your shirts in dryer, the Front loader washer has many options. But if you use the dryer< then you need to take shirts out right away.

Diana N · Answer

Bought an LG front load set. 
I have dogs, so I have a lot of dog hair. These machines are terrible for that. You can't get the gaskets clean of all of the crud - especially below the gasket where you can't clean. 
I leave the door to the washer open so that it'll dry out between washes and I use the tub clean option frequently (wasting water) and even after that, there's still a smell. I've also found that now my clothes, especially sheets and blankets, have a really funky smell if left out and not used for a while. My white towels, even after being careful about not using too much detergent, are now beige(and I've used bleach, the extra rinse cycle, the extra water cycle and the heavily soiled cycle - all at the same time!). 
If you have something that's extra dirty, wash it separately. Because the machines use so little water, there really isn't enough water to make sure the dirt is cleaned out. 
If I had to do it again, I'd buy a top loader with plenty of water for the dog blankets, etc. My clothes used to be so clean and fresh smelling...
I know the new machines supposed to save water, but I don't see how when I have to use all of the extra features to get the clothes clean and they still come out looking dirty.

LandlightS · Answer

After much research (Consumers Union, and others), and with the suggestion of the sales person at Sears, we purchased a top loader, 'High Efficiency, low water wash technology' with the Kemore name badge (made by Frigidaire).  Not a lot of bells and whistles BUT it does the job quite well at a reasonable price.
All that I've read....top loaders are far more efficient than front loaders , just ot as popular

Laurie G · Answer

They have a product to kill mewdew for 'front loaders'. By 'Tide'.I started using once a wk, then once a month. WONDERFUL. I also have the drawers that they sit on. Lots of storage, and NO BENDING, life savers for my back and SO much storage for cleaning products.

Diana N · Answer

As for other appliances, bought a new Maytag french door ref. last year and love it. No more bending over to get stuff out of the cold part - and the freezer has nice bins. Plenty of space to put pizza boxes in the cold part, lol. If you're going to go with a separate cooktop/oven, check out the induction cooktops. Cooks like gas, but uses electric. The pots get hot (you have to use metal) but the cooktop doesn't. I have one and LOVE it! Really nice for kids, the elderly and anyone who has cats, lol.

Michael M · Answer

How many people are you doing laundry for?  If it's only one or two people I don't think it's worth it.  Get a nice stackable.  You'll be just as happy.  Put your money into a kitchen.

Anne B · Answer

I have had a front loader washer and dryer for 5 years and are good so far. Brand is Frigidaire.

Diana N · Answer

@ Laurie G - I tried the tub clean product made by Tide and found the smell of the product worse than the tub, lol! I only use products that are free of scents and dyes and the Tide product's smell was way too strong and wasn't even a pleasant smell - like perfume gone bad, lol...

Susan · Answer

I just got my first set of front loading washer and dryer and I love them. They are made by GE , a trusted name for many years. I went extra for the pedestals for extra storage and also I don't have to bend much to load and unload. This is a good feature for some with a bad back like me. They are energy efficient also and very quiet. I highly recommend. :)

Meir W · Answer

Our front loader washes great.
But we find you need to do a HOT WASH frequently (at least once a week??) or you will get an odor from the machine.  If you routinely wash in cold or warm water, you never wipe out what may be growing in your machine.

Debi M · Answer

We looked for a while, with the same question you have. We looked at several brands and had decided we were going to buy a set when we found a good deal.   One day we were at Lowe's when we saw a Maytag set of front loading machines that had been returned.   I asked why and was told that the owner didn't like them.  They were marked 50% off the regular price because they were 'used' (previous owner had them for a week)  We decided right then to buy them.  Had them for almost two years now and I love them (the fact that they were only $1000. for the set with stands included didn't hurt)

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