Congratulations on your new W/D! I've had mine for about 3 years and I love it! As far as the comforter, I use the "comforter" setting and everything comes out fine. For the pillows, I use the "comforter" setting also in order to get enough water in the tub. I have the older model without the glass lid so I've never seen it in action but my pillows have always come out well. I always wash 2 pillows to keep it balanced. As to the funny smell, I can only guess that the dry temp was too high. I dry everything on low. If you are in a warm area, you might try line drying them and see if that makes a difference.

I have some down pillows and they say to dry on low. I always do and I usually run mine thru 2-3 dry cycles. I am always afraid it might still be damp in the middle. It would be good if you could hang it on the line for a day in the wind and sun.

Good Luck with your new machines. I don't have these but I have noticed that you hear/read less negatives about them than any of the other top load HE machines. I think I have read that LG makes the Harmony for GE.

What kind of HE detergent are you using? To me the Tide liquid always makes things smell funny but then that is just me. Try the Sears powder. Everyone brags about it.

Wow thank you so much for the replies!! I am getting use to this new w&d. I spent almost 2 mos. researching. Almost bought a FL duet but read really bad reviews on FL's and then almost bought the Cabrio but read bad reviews on that then switched to the Harmony and read really good reviews, thus my choice. I was so excited when they finally came.

I had been searching the net on washing feather pillows and it would seem that when they get wet, they can smell. It might be that it isn't completely dry? I will spray some febreze on it and stick back in the dryer, at low setting.

ebear, do your comforters come out clean? Mine is a down comforter and I suppose I will still have to use the tennis balls.

One thing that I have to get use to, is not letting my laundry sit in in the washing machine. Sometimes I will do a load before I go to work and then pop the clothes into the dryer when I get home. Never had a problem with my reg. TL but I can see that they spin so dry that I might have to break that old way so my clothes don't get wrinkled. LOL

I am using the ALL HE detergent.

Have you had any problems with shirts/sweaters getting out of shape?

I recall that someone posted on another opinon site that the washer was really loud. I am not sure what they consider loud as I can barely hear mine. They both seem to be very quiet.

Anyway, I appreciate the responses, thank you!!!

ebear, I forgot to ask, what size pillows are you washing? I have queen, king and some standard. How many do you recommend that I wash at a time for the queen and king?

I just have the standard size pillows. I wash 2 at a time, just kind of curve them around the basket of the washer so there is one on each side. It keeps the load balanced. If you are only washing one pillow, maybe put a towel or two in with it.
As far as wrinkles go, I am horrible about getting my loads out of the washer right away. I never leave them in long enough to start smelling, but definitely overnight sometimes and I've never had problems with wrinkles. Nothing has been misshapen either. If you're worried about a delicate item use the "hand-wash" cycle. I wash all of my hand wash only clothes in it and they are fine. I don't put them in the dryer though.
I don't use HE detergent. I use natural laundry detergent which isn't specifically HE so you just use less. Even when I used regular detergent I didn't use HE, I just used less of the regular stuff.
I hope you enjoy the machine, I just love mine. Don't think you made a mistake not getting an FL. I used my girlfriends for a couple of weeks and canceled the one I had on order. Everything came out wrinkled no matter how much fabric softener and how many dryer sheets I used. I didn't find a pen in my son's pocket and it ruined two pairs of shorts and a hoodie (ripped huge holes in them). And, to me anyway, the clothes just didn't feel clean. I can't explain it, they just didn't feel right. The only reason I'm sorry I don't have a FL is that I would like the extra "counter" space you can get using the top of the machine.

Maxaraxa-Read the post about the Kenmore Oasis washer and dryer that is on here now. That is what I meant when I told you that you just never see many problems with the Harmony but the Oasis/Cabrio are all time having problems. You should be glad you decided on the GE.Of course you can get a lemon in any brand but as a whole you see less complaints on Harmony than the other T/L HE machines.

ebear~
Wow you just don't know how valuable it has been to me to come to this website and read reviews, tips and tricks....
That is good news on not removing the clothes to the dryer right away, really good news LOL.

The fact that the FL's were stackable was one of the reasons I almost went with them but after reading all the reviews about them, no way jose! I am so glad that I researched first and did not buy out of impulse or looks or because of a brand name. I am totally glad I got my Harmonys. I just have to get use to using the darn things. I keep forgetting that I am only doing laundry, not sending a man to the moon. My hubbie laughs at me as the first day I was actually trying to find stuff to wash!

I finally got my feather pillow to chill out. It took 3 cycles to get it completely dry and the smell did go away. It is a standard size pillow but it is very feather stuff, really thick.

sparky, you are absolutely correct. This forum is one of the ones that I came to read, read and read about actual users. Those 2 (Oasis/Cabrio) machines have horrible reviews all over the place. I was especially confused about Consumer Reports and their washer ratings. They placed the HE duet FL's as one of the best and a bunch of people went out and bought them based on that report and had nothing but problems and are not happy with Consumer Reports.

Anyway, you guys are awesome!!!!!

I generally find that with down comforters it is better to use low/med heat and let it go through several cycles. Sometimes it might be necessary to remove and put it back in 'flipped around' so that it dries better.

Thank you weedmeister, I also finally found some dryer balls, I think they are the Max dryer balls. I found them at Bed Bath & Beyond for $9.99. I searched Target, Walmart...and couldn't find them. I will be trying these as well.

So far, am loving the new w&d. I still can't get over how quiet they are compared to my old TL. One thing I did notice is that my whites are coming out so white and I am not even using bleach!! I thought it was my own imagination but my hubbie commented on it as well. Amazing!!