Wow I just read these - seems like the HE2 is not a good choice:

Epinions Reviews

Two thoughts: 1) Get a model with a built-in heater. Otherwise you'll never be able to run a "hot" (to my mind above 130F) load. The mass of the drum and your clothes sucks LOTS of heat out the incoming water even if your WH is right next to the washer. 2) The mold/mildew thing is something of a mystery. For example, Duets come in for this criticism also. Yet, I've had mine for almost two years with no hint of such a thing. Why? I don't know. As near as I can tell from posts here and elsewhere over the years, nobody else does either.

Mould/mildew is more dependent on the environment, not the machine. Preventative measures such as leaving the door ajar and carrying out a max temperature wash every month or two with half the standard amount of detergent should prevent mould and mildew from forming.

Chances are, if mould will form in a frontloader at a certain installation its likely it would form in a toploader too in the same place - however in a toploader you don't see the mould, whereas you can in frontloaders hence the problem is more obvious.

Jon

Thanks for the comments so far.

So is there a reliable FL washer that you would recommend? Does Whirlpool make the Kenmore HE series, and specifically the HE2? How about the top loader Cabrio or Oasis series?

From what I understand Kenmore is made from Whirlpool. That is what a washing machine salesman told me.
Regarding your question, it sounds like FL are ify about mildew. I have had a W FL for two years. I am not sure it is worth all the money. It seems they have problems that need to be corrected.
My washer does smell of mildew sometimes. I am disabled an not interested in doing extra cleaning. They do wash a lot of clothes at one time. That's the biggest advantage. However, if you put your clothes on delicate or hand wash, the clothes are not rung out. So, I almost always just use the normal cycle. So, really the big advantage is washing lots of clothes in one load and the clothes are really "dry" when they come out of the washer (if you use the normal cycle" and it doesn't take so long for them to dry. The disadvantage is the initial cost, mildew and for me, not using other cycles because the clothes are not rung out dry enough to put in the dryer.
I am not sure I would purchase one again, and they are very expensive. I did read consurmer reports and they highly recommended the Whirpool fl. However, I have noticed Consumer reports recommends Whirlpool brand a lot.
Good luck on your choice.

The main cause of biofilm in FLs is user error. Some machines might have a slightly higher susceptibility to problems - the first generation Maytag Neptunes for example - but generally the reason we see more reports of problems (of any kind) with Whirlpool-built machines is simply their dominant market share in the US. - DR

Have never had a problem with Duet HT. I leave the door open after removing laundry, and run the short "cleaning cycle" fairly regularly. I have only run a cycle with bleach a few times, and a cycle with dishwasher detergent a few times. I think if you leave open the door and run your cleaning cycles (whether they are built-in or if you even just run a sanitary cycle with no detergent) you should be OK. IMHO I am very happy with my Duet HT, especially the cycles with internal water heating, and would prefer not to return to a TL if I have a choice.

5 yo Frigidaire FL at beach house - never a mechanical or mildew problem. It is in a conditioned laundry room & has matching dryer stacked atop. Great units - they are the ones with dials on front - no digital displays or other sexy things to break. New Bosch 500s at regular house seem great a month into ownership - they replaced 6yo Maytag Neptune FL that mildewed & wheezed along - pita piece of expensive cr*p that only 2 months ago met DH's definition of "appliance death". I had declared an end to any service calls....(deep breathe, getting grip)...I will never buy Maytag washer again (to be fair my Maytag dishwasher is an uncomplaining reliable workhorse).

Big things for FL -

1. look at front seals to see if there are places water can trap (instead of drain) that you can't wipe out when pulling clean clothes out - if there is or it traps too much water that you mind swiping with cleaned clothes, don't get it. Wipe off seals with an item you are removing from washer at end of cycle. takes less than 5 seconds...

2. try to place washer in conditioned space & barring that be especially sure to use dehumidifier in humid weather.

3. consider an internal heater (not just a thermister - regulates hot/cold incoming water)to really get water hot & run super hot cycle at least every few weeks. I run sheets, towels & drawers super hot anyway so have this covered.

4. When not using washer, keep door open, not just ajar but open! we always kept empty toploader open so this is no different.

I love my FLs! Easier on washed items, lower water & energy users than TLs, great capacity, waaay less detergent requirements - it's all good for me! That lil Frigidaire at the beach is what kept me from souring on FL - if I had only had the Neptune, I would not have gotten another.

Sada, since you had a machine in your house with bad mildew problems you might be ripe for a recurrance (spores in the air etc), so be extra diligent with the new Bosch! - DR

OMGosh - good point dross! We use one of those "radiator-type" space heaters in the laundry room now - the gas water heater used to warm the space but since we changed to on-demand Rinnai we do not have that heat source anymore. We also have a dehumidifier for summertime - central NC is insufferably humid & we want to minimize recurrence.

I also assiduously wipe down gaskets, keep doors open & run a bleach load every few weeks - lees with Bosch than Frigidaire as Bosch high temps whiten soooo well w/o using bleach - LOL! I REALLY never want to deal with a mildewed gasket again!

My only worry was when the drum seemed to accumulate water overnight - turns out the installers had put the drain tube too far down the drain spout - based on Lowes salesmen recs, backed the tube out abit & no more water in drum.

Bosch Nexxt 500 set is great! No mold issues.

I sop up the gasket boot water with a miracle cloth I keep on top of the washer, then leave the door open. I also empty the detergent drawer. It takes at most maybe two seconds, which is way less time than it takes me to fill the detergent bin and set the proper wash cycle. I don't find two seconds of prevention too onerous.

I have had the Duet Sports for a few months now, with no mold problems. On any day we use the washer, we keep the door open overnite to make sure it dries out. In addition, we run the bleach cycle once a month as directed.

Andersog, that's great to hear - we've been doing the same (leaving the door ajar), and will run the bleach cycle as you've mentioned. Thanks.

I have best buy's version of the fridgidaire 2940 which is the same as you can get at lowe's or indie dealers for almost 2 years. no mold problems for me. I had family living with me for close to a year and have been living alone since last january so it doesn't get used every day much. I just leave the door ajar between wash days and do a load of white towels with bleach in hot water every week. that seems to keep things from getting musty smelling.

I have the larger 3.5 Frigidaire and previously had the 3.1 Frigidaire (my son now uses it) and have never had a mold or odor problem with either machine. Just don't lock the door after use. People let their top loaders air out with the lid up after use...do the same with a front loader. You can close a front loader's door without locking and sealing it, and still allow a little venting.

Could be that the mold problem is caused by using so much detergent that the machine doesn't rinse clean. I wonder if those with mold problem also use phosphates? Putting fertilizer in your wash could effect a mold issue. Some people have stated their phosphate use as a 20-30% ratio with their detergent, much higher than the 2-4% in other cleaners that still use phosphates.

Phosphates will not exacerbate a mold problem, though they *will* exacerbate a moss/algae problem. In fact, one effective way to treat a machine that is getting a bit moldy is to do a cleansing wash with an enzymatic high-phosphate dishasher detergent. - DR

I have had the Whirlpool Duet HT 9400 model now for a little over 2 years. I just love my washer and dryer so much and have to thank this site that helped me to figure out what would be best to buy for my situation.

I always dry the washer's door when I am not going to doing any more washes that day. I always leave the washer door open slightly to air it out as well as leave the laundry room door open to air it out since my laundry room has no window in it. I learned this from this site 2 years ago.

I never cleaned out my washer with bleach and didn't realize I should. should I still if I have no problems?

So far, I never had one problem with my very quiet washer and dryer that gets my clothes cleaned and is pretty also. I love being able to fold clothes on the top of them. I did not buy the pedestals since I am not quite 5 feet. I just put a lot of shelves in the laundry room for storage.

When I bought my 3.5 Frigidaire I was told by the salesperson that the rubber boot that Electrolux uses has anti-mold agents built in to it. Don't know if that is true, but have never had a mold or odor problem. There is only about a tablespoon of water left in the boot after the cycle and I just leave it there. Even if I did have to mop it up, so what? We clean a dryer's lint filter after every load...a lot messier job that soaking up a spoonful of water. One thing I do clean is the dispenser about twice a year. Although I haven't had a problem with the front loader, I once had a top loader that grew mold in the agitator softener dispenser.