My GE Harmony HETL is on 1st floor, but over a crawl space and even when spinning a full load of towels (this machine has no movement...its wonderful). My old TL which did great service over 20 years....shimmied alot during a high speed spin...had to put pillows between it and the dryer! I too didn't want to go with a FL because of the movement issues - which I understand are worse when you set them on pedestals - and the other issues I read about. Good luck in your decision.

Just a few thoughts:
-- A FL generally has greater potential for more vibration than a TL, although very careful leveling can minimize the difference.
-- A FL on the 2d floor is generally not recommended; however, your architect should be able to design some extra sturdiness at the proposed location. We did that when we designed an exercise room for our home.
-- FL are much superior to TL in water savings.
-- Samsung's silver ion technology is a new, but unproven, idea. EPA has asked them to submit data to prove the technology can be used without unreasonable risks, and I understand Samsung may have since decided to discontinue that feature.
-- TL started taking a hit on cleaning efficiency a year or so ago when new energy standards went into effect. In order to meet them, manufacturers reduced water temperature and that resulted in reduced cleaning efficiency. They have since improved a bit through more aggressive agitation. Except for a small handful of TL (the Cabrio is one of them), TL as a class do not perform as well as FL.
-- We recently purchased a FL, our first, after much research. We've only had it a week, but it's been great so far. It's on the main floor on a tile floor and on a pedestal. The installers did a pretty good job with leveling, but after they left, we did a load with max spin (1200 rpm) and the washer vibrated a bit too much. They came back the next day, made a quarter-turn on one leg, tested it, and all was fine. I think many of the horror stories in the forum are the result of poor installation rather than poor machines. However, even superb leveling might be a challenge for a second floor situation.
-- You might check the forum for discussion on different detergents to address your daughter's condition.
-- Before we decided on a FL, we had narrowed our choices to an LG FL, Bosch FL, and the Whirlpool Cabio HE TL. It was a close call over which we could have flipped a coin (a three-sided coin). In the end, after all the objective data we could accumulate, it came down to the Pearl Gray color of the LG FL!!!
Good luck on your selection!

Greetings!

As far as skin conditions such as excema go, I don't have any direct input on that topic, but I do know that my grandmother loves her Maytag Bravos (virtually the same machine as the Cabrio) which performs wonderfully and also rinses very thoroughly. This may help with greatly decreasing the symptoms of some skin conditions.

It utilizes this unique spin/spray rinse thing in which after the wash cycle, the machine spins out the wash water, then the tub very, very slowly spins, while the machine simultaneously sprays and saturates the load with water, then it ramps up to a higher spin speed to wring it out. This process is repeated several times. You also have the option for the machine to do a deep rinse if you select the extra rinse option. It is a wonderful washer and I (and my grandmother) highly recommend it!

But as far as skin conditions, I pretty sure that Jcrowley99, a member of this forum and the owner of a Cabrio, has sensitive skin or is sensitive to certain detergents and says that she has had minimal to no issues with her skin condition because her Cabrio rinses so well! Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on this, though.

In terms of whether it is suited well for a 2nd floor installation, I cannot tell you because my granmother has her Bravos in her basement over a concrete slab with no movement whatsoever. Sorry I am no help in this area. I have, however, heard good things about the Cabrio/Bravos washers from others in terms of minimal to no movement when installed on 2nd floor laundry rooms/closets.

And as for the Samsung with VRT and silver technology, I can't elaborate much on those either for the fact that I have no experience with them other than the fact that others here on this forum seem to be very pleased with them.

Here is a link to the Bravos washer on the Home Depot website. However, I have had WAY better experiences with Lowe's than Home Depot so you may want to see if you can get the Bravos or the Cabrio at Lowe's. Hope this info helps!

Kevin :o)

Here is a link that might be useful: Maytag Bravos at Home Depot

Hey Kevin! You are not wrong! I do have VERY sensitive skin with multiple allergy issues, eczema, and rosacea. The tiniest bit of detergent left on my clothes, or even worse towels, leaves me looking like a cooked lobster and feeling like my skin is several sizes too small. I tried a FLer, wanted one for years because I had heard so much about how much better they clean than TLers. So I bought a Bosch Nexxt. To make a very long story short, it did not work at all for me. From the perspective of skin irritation, it was horrible! I had to use 3 or 4 rinses on most loads, and 5 rinses on towels and bedding. (At that point my skin issues were just a bit of tightness and itching, another rinse or two per load might have eliminated that but it was already taking close to 2 hours per load of laundry!) I was using All Free and Clear HE detergent which I still use (and Highly recommend) and even though there was no hint of suds in the washer, the detergent just was not rinsing out. I exchanged it for the Cabrio HE and I love it! It is the best washer I have ever owned. It washes great and rinses even better than my old TLer which used a lot more water! My Cabrio HE is in my laundry room on the first floor over a full finished basement and there are no problems at all with vibrations (can't say the same for the Bosch, but that is another story). Oh yes, the sanitize cycle did nothing to help with my eczema, but I suppose that could depend on what your daughters triggers are. Some of my triggers (also for my other problems) include detergents, sulfates, citric acid, floral and herbal botanicals, fragrances, dyes, mold, chlorine... you get the idea. : ) Basically I wear gloves to touch any cleaning supplies, use the All Free and Clear HE detergent (which rinses better than the regular All Free and Clear by the way, and you can use it in a regular TLer), try to use all natural cleaning products that are less irritating, and use shampoo and conditioner specially formulated for people with chemical and fragrance sensitivities. Nothing that is used in our house has any added fragrance, natural or synthetic, that has greatly helped me.
I too recommend Lowes for your purchase, they were wonderful! The Cabrio is actually the 3rd washer I tried, and they were happy to help with both exchanges and refund the difference both times. They never charge a restocking fee either.

Good Luck! Sorry this is soooo long winded!

Joanne

I finally received my Samsung VRT's and I have to tell you that I am in LOVE with them. You cannot even tell that the washer is running, I mean seriously no noise. It cleans my clothes like you could not believe. I am using Charlies Soap w/ a scoop of oxi clean for my whites.

The Silver Ion cleaning is supposed to be used when washing w/ cold water but need the sanitizing of hot water. Havent used it and it wasnt really a feature that sold me.

There are extra rinse buttons, extra wash buttons, spin buttons...I think your daughters issue would be resolved using a natural soap and running an extra rinse.

Hi getitdone,

Good idea about placing the washer in the corner.

Now, the FYI part:

Keep in mind, that only the Miele W4840 (or a Speed Queen FL) is made for this arrangement. The Miele washer door opens from LEFT to RIGHT (to work in a R.H. corner application), all other Front Load washers open the other way.

I mention this, because Miele (being a German company) always recommends placing a FL washer in a corner. This is the way it is in Europe. The dryer is to be placed on the left, and their dryer door opens from RIGHT to LEFT to work with their washer.

American FL washer doors can NOT be reversed...only the Dryer doors can be reversed.

I mention this because you will want to tell the contractor (ahead of time) that the water hookups & dryer ducting will be reversed.

If you decide on the Cabrio...It's a very good machine. Water efficient (not as water efficient as a FL, but darn close) BUT, the biggest benefit to the Cabrio is it's size! It's a whopping 4.5 CUBIC FEET!!! The largest washer available. (unless you buy a Wascomat Landromat machine)

We have a very good track record with all the Cabrio's we sell, and our customers all seem love them. They wash very well, and you can wash a comforter AND your sheets at the same time!

Your question: "What will I lose with a top loader?"

Well, if you get THIS top loader, you will only GAIN, not lose. See, this is NOT a traditional top loader, and personally, I don't even like to say it's a top loader.

A traditional TL machine (at ONLY 3.2 cu ft) will use almost 50 gallons of water for EACH LOAD! This machine (at 4.5 CU FT) will use maybe 15-20. Major difference! Major advantage!

For a top loader, there's no reason to look any further, than the Cabrio. GIGANTIC tub size, half the water, much less energy, no lint, clothes will last 5-10 times longer, use less detergent, cleaner clothes....frankly, it's a no-brainer. The same advantages (or BETTER) hold true with ANY front loader as well.

Now, I do not sell Samsung products, so I can not give you an honest answer about them. (good or bad, I have no idea)

First thing I did when I bought this house: Front Load washer! Why? Because I have a well & septic system. AND, frankly, why even THINK about any other kind of machine anymore? Traditional TL's have no benefits whatsoever. :)

Chris

Chris,
I agree with you regarding all the reasons to get a FL over a TL. However, there are a few details in your post that are not entirely correct.
Not all European washers open to the right. As a matter of fact, Miele is the only one I can think of right now. I am German and have seen and used many German washing machines and they all opened to the left just like the American FLs.
Also, German houses are very rarely have wooden floors, so it doesn't matter where you place your washer. In many apartments or smaller houses the washer is under the counter in the kitchen. That is not a problem at all if you have cement floors. Another common arrangement is having the washer and dryer in the basement. They don't have to be in a corner there either. I think Miele makes that recommendation specifically for the American market where houses aren't as sturdy as in Europe.

I agree that the Cabrio (or other HE TLs) are a decent second choice if you don't want a FL for whatever reason. The water efficiency is not as good though as you mentioned. The Cabrio uses about half the amount of water a traditional TL uses, but that still amounts to approx. 25 gallons per load. A FL uses between 12 and 15 gallons.
In addition to the water efficiency the internal water heater of a FL is a great advantage. I sure would miss that feature if I had to switch to the Cabrio. I don't use chlorine bleach and bad odors and many stains just come out a lot better in truely hot water.

I am not sure if the silver ion technology is a good replacement for hot/sanitary cycles. I haven't used the Samsung washer and can't really comment on that.

Samsung has patented technology called VRT which is specifically made for the main floor or higher. It is incredible! Plus return rates are lower than WPs.

Let's clarify a couple things here in all the hype. Not all front loaders have heaters. Are the internal heaters in the FLs REALLY that much better than the internal heater in the Bravos, Oasis and Harmony? I have no experience with any of them so I can't speak to it, but would like to know what the difference is between the heaters. From what I read, they're all 120 volt now, no more 220 so I don't see any obvious differences.

It should also be pointed out that on machines with a heater, they perform differently from one to the next and need research as to what cycles they heat, to what temperature they heat and if these are compatible to your needs. Will it maintain the heat level in all cycles? Do you need it to maintain it? Some will do a profile wash, many won't.

Lastly, doesn't the Cabrio (and of course its siblings) adjust the water use to the size of the load? Then likely you won't be using the maximum amount of water on each and every load so this over-hyped water savings is less, coupled with the capacity difference which could conceivably result in fewer loads and more efficient use of water, thereby achieving water savings, or am I missing something here?

People tend to get carried away trying to glorify the advantages of favorites and denigrate the ones they don't like and often the figures can get skewed. I just want to try to keep the comparison a little more fair and a little less misleading to people trying to make an intelligent and informed decision on what to purchase.

Good points, cynic. As the grateful owner of a TL Maytag Bravos, I can second what you said about the water level being automatically adjusted to the size of the wash load.

Also - I keep reading post after post where FL owners say they routinely use extra rinses. Which definitely reduces any savings on water usage.