[SheBear]

Which would you prefer to use? We are getting ready to move, and will be leaving our old appliances in this house, so we will be buying a new washer and dryer. Since I wash a load of diapers every day, I want a machine that does a great job. I've heard that front loaders, while great for regular clothes, and great WRT conserving water, etc., may not be the best option for diaper laundry. But I just don't know. So, I thought I'd bring my question before the pros!

Please vote, and also post what feature(s) made you vote the way you did!

Also, any dryer features that you can't live without? We'll continue to use the line for most of our drying, but during this time of year, it's often too humid (if not actually raining!) for it to be a very effective method.

Thanks!!!

 

[ustasmom]

I own Whirlpool Duets. I went to my inlaws and used her toploader. While I couldn't see any suds, my ds had detergent burns. When I came home, I immediately put my clean diapers in a hot wash with no detergent. I did something like 2 hot washes and 5 or 6 rinses to get the suds out.

My vote is frontloader. However, I add water so I don't have as many issues. And I have the Duets because of their extra large capacity.

If I had it to do again, I would seriously look at the Bosch machines. And on a frontloader, make sure that you have a window on the door.

 

[SheBear]

Thanks, Kim! How do you add water to a front loader? Can you soak in one? Why do you like the window? I have so many questions...I grew up using a frontloader, but then it died when I was in high school (15 years--not a bad lifespan for a washer!), and I've had/used toploaders since then. And, by the time I was aware of laundry issues, my younger sibs were out of diapers, so I have no idea how well the front loader worked for that. Although my mom has no complaints.

thanks again!

 

[ustasmom]

I hooked y connectors up to my washer hookups. They have on/off valves so I can add hot or cold water by sticking my old washer hoses in the detergent drawer. The diapers are just too absorbant. I had a bad buildup problem and I was constantly rinsing then, too. But then it dawned on me that it didn't matter how many times I rinsed if it wasn't enough water to get the suds out. Now I do a cold wash with baking soda. And then a hot wash with 1/8 cup Tide HE (which may be too much) and then a couple more rinses, just until the suds mostly gone.

I don't add water to my other loads. Well, if somebody threw up on their sheets, I will give those extra water. I want those to be really clean, then.

You can get a pretty large capacity frontloader now. And that is what I need. Laundry for nine people with two in diapers needs large capacity. We always thought that we needed two dryers because things took so long to dry. Now the dryer actually dries faster than the washer washes.

 

[SheBear]

Hmmm....so much to think about....

That's a really cool way to add water, BTW! How ingenious!

 

[Icequeen_in_ak]

I do a load every day and I haven't had a single problem with my neptune. Maybe because my load isn't that big?? I dunno... even on the times that I've slacked and had to do two days, no problems.

 

[lmonter]

I vote front-loader. We've been drooling over a particular set at Sears for about 2 years.

We 'got' the washer/dryer set the previous owners of our house had, and the washer is a top-loader. I'm not fond of it because the whole set cost $400 brand new.

: But then again, dh and I are total Consumer Reports junkies and research big purchases like appliances. No matter what you've got, you're going to have to tweak your washing routine for diapers. Plus the gals here are so helpful with suggestions, I don't think it would be a big deal.

My other point is that you're only going to be washing diapers for a finite time (unless you're aiming for a dozen kids), and after that you can be all about conserving water.

Oh, and with a front-loader you can wash your big fluffy bedspread at home instead of hanging out at the laundromat.

As for dryer features... make sure the lint catcher thing is easy to get out. The one in our current dryer is really annoying and not easy to mess with at all. It would be kinda neat to have that big dryer with the flat racks, hanging space, etc, but for us that would be overkill. A regular (but good) dryer would be fine. Plus our area is usually dry, so I've been going nuts drying everything outside (even my underwear).

Dh suggests lots of hot/cold settings (i.e. warm wash, warm rinse, hot/hot, cold/cold, etc.).

 

[bigbellydreams]

We have the Whirlpool Duet and LOVE it. I haven't had any problems with washing diapers. A little stinky hemp but it isn't too bad and sounds like people have that problem no matter what kind of washer they have. We picked the duet because it had a pretty color :LOL No really we were debating between the duet and the neptune and liked the duet better because of the load size, sanitary cycle, and the options. We were thinking diapers when we bought it.

 

[batgirl]

Hi, SheBear!

I love the front loader that I have - dipes come very clean and all is well.

See you in 10 days! MWAH!
_________________________________________________
Mom to many, always

and

and never enough

 

[SheBear]

Hey, BG! Good to see you around here! I can't wait to see you IRL!

(10 days??? Really???

I'd better get busy!

Thanks for the advice, everyone! Keep it coming!!

We have a 10% off coupon for home appliances at Sears, so maybe I can convince dh that the $$ for a front loader is worth it....

 

[TexasSuz]

I like a top loader because I am very tall and hate bending over. I also am one of those people who adds more clothes after the load is already washing and you can't do that with a front loader. I don't think I will ever buy a front loader. I have a Kitchen Aide top loader and it is huge inside!

Happy Shopping!

 

[summiebee]

I have a front loader, the WHirlpool Duet. I think I would look at the Bosch or LG models to do over again. Although I really do like my duet a lot.
I think that my clothes look so much nicer and I have less pillling in my front loader. It was not until we went on vacation and used the washer and dryer in our vacation home that I noticed piling and wear on some of my items. I did diaper 4 times that week because I did not take very many.

Anyhow, just my two cents!

ETA: The Matag Company has out this huge beast of a machine that does not have heavy aggitation and is a toploader. I'd look at that too...it has like two wheels inside that are raised but not like huge fins.

 

[Peppamint]

I

my front loader!

Our water bill went down 30% after we bought out front loader. Now we just need a more efficient toilet!

We bought the $629 Kenmore front loader and I'm pretty pleased with it. We don't have any issues that we didn't have before with the top loader (we have very hard water- limestone country) and most things work better.

Mine has an extra rinse option and a pre-wash option and I use both when washing diapers.

PS- I love being able to wash our quilt and our huge mattress protector in it with no problem. The drum looks small, but it holds a LOT!

 

[bigbellydreams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasSuz I like a top loader because I am very tall and hate bending over. I also am one of those people who adds more clothes after the load is already washing and you can't do that with a front loader. I don't think I will ever buy a front loader. I have a Kitchen Aide top loader and it is huge inside! Happy Shopping!

These are very good points about the front loader. I don't like bending over to get things in and out of the washer, so if your not stacking them I would recommend the pedistool. Ours are stacked so we couldn't do that.

Also I don't know about all of them but we have 8 minutes where we can stop the washer and add more things, I do that quite often, usually because I find the dog took a sock out of the basket while I had my back turned. I think with a top loader I wouldn't add things after that long anyway because I'd be afraid they would miss too much of the wash cycle.

 

[clothcrazymom]

I have the HE3T and I love it! No need to add any extra water...I don't have any problems with anything. Everything gets very clean. All of our diapers have hemp and my children are very sensitive to any detergent residue and we don't have any problems. It has a very large capacity and you can add items after you start.

If you do a web search on front load washers vs. top load washers you will come up with all sorts of information. Sorry I dont have any links right now.

nak

 

[Marielle]

top loader for me. We just bought a Kenmore Elite King Size capacity washer and matching dryer for $1200.

That baby is my newest and most treasured toy.

While doing research I found that most people who owned non-agitator machines like the Calypso and the maytag version had problems with the clothes getting clean enough.

 

[Sophiasmomma]

we have the whirlpool duets also.. I love all the different ways I can wash my diapers and clothes

 

[vkberes]

We also have a front loader (I think it is a Kenmore) and I have had no problems thus far washing my dipes. When I first bought dd's diapers I asked the woman at the store how to wash in a front loader because you can't soak and she suggested running the soiled diapers first with some baking soda and then add the other stuff and wash hot. I did this the first time and it worked well but I thought it was a waste of additional electricity, water, and time. Now I have a pail that I fill with cold water and soak the soiled diapers in there for a few hours, rinse, and then do a hot wash of everything (washing with baking soda and putting in vinegar for the first rinse). I think with a front loader it is mostly important to make sure you are not using too much soap and running a second rinse.

 

[Oceanone]

I add clothes to our front loader all the time. Ours has a special button to add clothes.

A front loader is going to extend the life of your diapers and your clothes because there is no agitator to thrash them around.

I have the He3t and rarely have problems with it. The electronics can be expensive if they need fixing, so be sure and purchase an extended warranty. The only problems we have had have been electronic and easily solved.

I agree about getting a large capacity one. We can fit king size quilts etc in ours (again, no agitator taking up space).

I agree with the others on saving water, detergent etc. It's very worthwhile spending the extra $.

 

[mamangazelle]

I have a cheap frigidaire front loader and my diapers and clothes are cleaner than ever.
I

the fact that I use a lot less detergent and water.