Wow, that is a good price. Some don't like the Samsungs as they are said to be made somewhat cheap. See thread on don't buy a Samsung washer. My dad had one in his old house and loved them. He had for a few years before he moved. Look on the Yale Appliance blog for some details on Samsung. They seem to like them so far.

Thanks! Yeah, I hear mixed things on Samsungs, but I honestly hear mixed things on EVERYTHING except maybe the brands that are super high end that I don't want.

Someone is always going to have a bad experience with one brand or another. Appliances are so hard to shop for!

Hi and welcome. I think you need to do a little more research and be sure you understand how FL washers have changed over the past few years. In the name of energy efficiency, by law, all washers are using less and less water and have all cold rinses. Cleaning action occurs through the use of he detergents and longer wash cycles. Most washers now have automatic temperature controls which define water temperature differently than what you set your hot water temperature to. Length of water line to the washer can cool the water even more. Hot is now about 115 F rather than the 120 or 130 in your hot water heater. The washer will automatically cool the hot water as it comes in. Warm is about 80 - 90 F. If the washer doesn't have an on-board heater, you will not be able to achieve the hot temperatures necessary to remove really dirty clothes or to sanitize diapers. The Samsung you chose does not have an on-board heater. There are several threads that explain the differences between the "tiers" of washers. The higher the tier number the less water is used. This Samsung is a Tier III so low water.

Most of the bad press from FL in general is due to operator error. These machines do not operate like your mother's old Maytag and have a learning curve. Most errors come from using too much detergent and fabric softener and not rinsing enough to compensate for too much detergent. You've heard about the "stinky or moldy washer syndrome"? The machine manual calls for running periodic cleaning cycles with a washer cleaner or chlorine bleach. If you wash exclusively in cold water and use a lot of fabric softener, your machine will tend to have softener and detergent residues stuck on the inside. Prime ground for breading mold. People with stinky washers didn't run that clean cycle . Another common error is to overload the machine. No you can't stuff everything in at once, but you can't do that in a top loader either.

I would not advise washing any comforters larger than a full size in a top loader. The 4.5 cu ft FL is the minimum size IMO to wash a king size comforter. You need maximum room to tumble and clean all surfaces. I also like machines with multiple rinse options and the ability to manually change the default cycle setting.

You will find fans of both the TL and the FL on the forum. That's a personal preference. There are good machines in every brand line as well as lemons. Some lines have better repair records than others. It's important to consider what local service options you have in your area. I wouldn't consider any machine that didn't have local service. That said, Samsung does not have a really good reputation for washers that last (see other forum threads). There is no "best" machine. It depends on your budget and your laundry. I wouldn't get anything smaller than 4.3 cu ft for a growing family with heavy cleaning needs. Please do your research so you'll be happy with whatever you purchase.

Good Luck

poppy214 - Thanks! I have posted here while I was doing research on FL vs TL :) I made a thread over in Appliances. I've also read every single RECENT thread in this forum with the title "TL vs FL," as well as every 2016 Google article (and their comments) and have found inconclusive results. I'm now leaning towards whatever works best in my space, which happens to be a FL :)

I understand this forum is highly for FL's, and it was a nice change of pace from all my friends/family/Facebook groups who were telling me not to get a FL. Like I said, I've had very mixed feedback on the topic and despite most of my research, I'm still leaning towards a FL based on most of the info I've learned from here. While I trust real life experience from friends/family, I also trust the "laundry obsessed" people of this forum based on what I've heard around the other forums haha.

Thanks for the info on size. This machine happens to be 4.5 cuft, but if that's the minimum for a King I might think about it more. We currently have a Queen, but will hopefully upgrade to a King in the new house.

Good thought about local services being available. I'm in MA so can't imagine it not being available, but I'll look into that for sure.

I also hear some bad about Samsung, but I also hear bad from every other brand as well (except Speed Queen, which is not in my budget). Appliances are such a pain haha.

Yale blog. http://blog.yaleappliance.com/new-samsung-addwash-laundry-pair

Visited my aunt couple days ago who has a 4-years-old frontloader (Whirlpool Duet WFW94HEX). She had previously owned/used only toploaders since 1969 (or earlier if living at home before marriage is counted). She loves the frontloader.

Thanks dadoes! I'm mainly looking for input on this specific Samsung washer though - curious if someone here has had experience with it, or would know if this washer would fit my "needs" list :)

Yeah, I know ... I was just supporting the frontloader angle.

Samsung has some huge detractors here who may in turn push for LG ... which I always thought is odd being that both are foreign companies and LG had a really bad reputation back when it was Lucky Goldstar ... so six of one, half-dozen of the other?

I can say this about Samsung: I repaired a 5-years-old Samsung frontloader earlier this year that was given to my sister. The drum support (aka "spider") had corroded and broken during spin, the loosened inner drum tore a gash in the front of the tub. The friends were quoted $800 for repair. One common warning about Samsung is that parts are difficult to get. I easily found several online sources for parts, which totaled $259 (including shipping). The drum support is (on the model involved, can't say about all) a separate replaceable item as compared to some other brands that package it only with the inner drum (much higher cost). The bearings were fine but I replaced the bearing seal since it mates to the drum support shaft and I wanted to start fresh on that point.

Now, lest this story point to Samsung as being poor quality for the drum support failing in 5 years ... there were extenuating circumstances that the owners of the machine were HEAVY (as in H-E-A-V-Y) users of liquid fabric softener, and never washed in hot water, or used the Sanitary cycle (which heats to 150°F), or the machine-cleaning cycle (which heats to 140°F). The failed drum support (and outside of the drum and inside of the tub) was coated with a thick waxy residue that apparently had a chemical reaction and caused the support to deteriorate and crumble. Bad usage habits caused the trouble, not poor quality.

Thanks for all that info! Everyone I have talked to who has had a FL so far has said something on it has crapped out within 5 years, all different brands - which is just so weird to me. It was always 5 years, not 4 or 6, but 5.

Like you and others have said though, it could just easily be user error. I'm a set it and forget it type and try to make laundry as fast as possible, but I understand some things will have to change when I get my new machines.

I have always washed in cold to save money, but recently started washing in hot after reading some things on here. I also never use fabric softner because I think it's an unnecessary expense. I typically use power detergent because I feel like I'm getting more for my money as well.

This is awesome info, thank you very much!

I must have done something wrong. My frontloader (GE, mid range) is still going strong after 10 years; I've never had mold, mildew, repairs, leaks, holes at the waistline, pilling, shredding or excess wrinkling. I've just replaced it with an LG 4270 in our new home; I'm passing on the GE to a son's friend, and I'm confident that it will continue to perform. I use liquid detergent mostly; cut softener with 1/2 vinegar; use hot or sanitary wash (with bleach) for sheets; I also sort into whites; lights and darks. I also leave the door open. It's not rocket science--just common sense.

Lily'smom - Thanks! I was thinking about Black Friday deals. I don't really have a "dream washer," but I do want to be able to do the things I listed. Overall though, I just want to keep doing what I'm doing....which doesn't seem too hard haha.

Also, I currently have a duvet cover right now and regret it. It's such a PAIN to put on and takes way too long. It's like a workout dealing with it LOL. Hoping to get a comforter for our new bed!

I am constantly washing the bedding because we have two cats who like to throw up on everything that isn't a hard, easy to clean surface. Since they usually throw up while I'm at work, it sits on the comforter/duvet all day to where I have to wash the whole thing anyway. I can only imagine this gets worse when you have babies and little kids!

I have two Maine Coon babies.. it helps to put an old sheet over your bed while you're out. It helps cut down the hair and the cat barf. Shake out and put directly in washer. Use on board heater to ensure hot water, press button and come back when it dings.

Aww I love Maine Coons! The hair is not bad at all surprisingly (it helps I am a vacuum maniac and vacuum multiple times per day), but they vomit food/hairballs what feels like never endlessly!

Sadly my fiance is usually still in bed when I leave the house for work and would never remember to put a sheet over the bed, but I'm hopeful we will have less issues in the new 2800sqft house with NO CARPET EVER (except area rugs).

We currently live in a 500sqft house, so every inch of the house is high traffic and used by both people and kitties. There's not many places for them to go, otherwise we would shut the bedroom door!

Just wondering because I have no cat but if a kitty is vomiting wouldn't there be a reason? What's a vet say? I'm not being a hag I really know nothing about cats.

Cats vomit frequently because of hairballs (from grooming), it's normal :) One of mine also eats too fast (despite getting her a slow feeder bowl), so that doesn't help either.

Vet just saw them two months ago actually, perfectly healthy!

We have a scarf & barf kitty. Her sister doesn't wolf down food like she does, fortunately. We have tried placing food in puzzles that they have to work at to get to the food - it's supposed to reduce the risk of scarf & barf, but neither cat is interested in those shenanigans. She seems to much prefer to barf on the hand knotted Tibetan rug than the cork flooring, alas.