The Electrolux ELFW7537AW appears to have missed a CR "recommended" rating by one point but owners (on HD) really like it. The LG WM4000HWA was recommended, has higher predicted reliability and is cheaper...particularly if you buy it with a dryer before 10/31/2023.

I’m unsure of my exact model, but I had to buy a new set at the height of the pandemic. Choices were very limited and I try to buy from my independent appliance shop. They had a deluxe Electrolux set in stock in a color that was even more$, but I was desperate. I checked reviews of the brand and there were many complaining of stinky washer. More recent reviews said the issue had been fixed, but I still was a little worried. In my desperation and their ability to deliver and set up quickly, I bit the bullet and ordered them.

I have been extremely happy with them, no problems at all. The washer gives you a reminder every couple of months to run a ”clean washer” cycle which involves running that cycle with some chlorine bleach to sanitize the guts. I’m not good about drying the gasket or leaving the door open and there is no mold.

My only complaint is that you cannot wash on hot or sanitize cycle and rinse in cold. The only option is a warm rnse. You can wash on warm and rinse on cold or warm. Or cold/cold. It has a huge capacity which I needed to wash king size comforters, You can add items during a cycle, which was important to me. I’m very happy and would purchase again.

Our trusty nearly 25 year old Miele died at a time when delivery times for most washers was months long. I spoke to two upmarket appliance dealers (the kind that furnish equipment for build/remodels of megahouses, including one where we'd purchased the Miele) and both cautioned me away from Electrolux as a brand (even though they both sold them), citing quality and durability issues.

Having purchased a bare bones Samsung for a second house a few years before and being pleased with it, we decided to try to find a properly sized Samsung. Retailers didn't have it but we bought it directly from Samsung.

That's been a few years and it has been quite satisfactory. At the time I was looking for something a bit more upscale but settled for what was available.

Of course, lol!

Of course. lol. Anyone who disagrees with you or has a different view is wrong. Of course, lol.

Feel free to call University Electric in Santa Clara. Maybe the opinion they give to potential customers has changed, it's been a few years.

I had an electrolux washer and dryer. I still have the dryer but ditched the washer when it was only 5 years old and in pristine condition. It did a horrible job of removing body oils and sweat from clothes. All the clothes got nasty biostink. It was driving me nuts because I couldn't figure out where the smell was coming from. It was not the smelly washer syndrome. We actuily took the whole machine apart looking for where the smell was coming from. I babied that machine. Did the clean tub cycles with Affresh, dried the boot and detergent drawer after being done using it. Used powdered detergent, borax and STPP. You could barely use more than 2 TBLSPN of detergent or you would be left with a suds nightmare. The machine itself smelled fresh. We determined it wasn't the machine that smelled but it was the clothing. The minute the clothes got wet they would stink. Everything else was fine such as towels and sheets. Bought an LG and never looked back. No issues with stinky clothing, Can use more detergent without oversudsing. I still run the clean tub cycles with affresh but I do not dry the boot or detergent drawer anymore and there is no mold build up. The dryer works fine.

I have Electrolux W/D that we bought in 2017. The only issue I have had is the dryer started making an awful racket a few months ago. I was about to call a repairman, but someone on the forum helped me solve it. Apparently there is an issue where lint falls down below the lint screen and you have to fish it out or it sounds like a helicopter is taking off in your laundry room. It took us 6 years to get to that point, though. Don’t know if that problem has been fixed, but it’s not that difficult to do on your own. No problems with washer. It got stinky once when I was out of town and my daughter did laundry and didn’t dry the gasket and closed the door. I was able to rectify quickly. We have LG units at a rental that we purchased almost 15 years ago and they are still going strong. Had to replace the gasket/boot a few years ago because it got all mangled up (assume tenants overloaded it). And of course I have to clean it between tenants because they close the door and don’t wipe it down. I’m happy with both and don’t notice a big difference between the two brands.

vinmarks, your experience was exactly why I hesitated to buy an Electrolux. But as I researched, it seemed all the bad experiences were longer ago and not recent. I saw there was a class action against Electrolux for the problem at some point. My store assured me they had no complaints with the newer models, but I still was nervous. I have well water that has no chlorine and will make clothes funky if they sit in the washer too long, so I always use an extra rinse, wash a bleach load of whites every week or so and put the clothes in the dryer right away. I dry on hot for a few minutes then hang to dry to prevent wrinkles. Most of what I wash is 100% cotton, which is less likely to hold scents than synthetics. It's been 3 years and my experience has been positive.

I have a top load LG set in a rental, circa 2018. They are going strong.

thanks everyone! zeroing in on LG WM5500HWA. its in stock in several stores... going to look at it tomorrow.

"zeroing in on LG WM5500HWA"

A number of LG washers performed about the same in CR's tests. If your floor isn't rock solid you might want to consider the WM4000HWA instead of this one as its vibration score was better. If gentleness is important, the WM3600HWA might be better.

Speed Queen washer and dryer! Best money we ever spent, for appliances!

• LG WM4000HWA - $845
• LG WM3600HWA - $700
• Speed Queen FF7005WN - $2100

wdccruise: our floor is tile over concrete, ground level, so that aspect should be fine....

thanks for the info on the other models, i will look into them!

my sister bought a SQ washer and has had nothing problems with it, so i guess its a crap shoot.

$2100 is just crazy $$$

FWIW: going with the LG 5500HWA... $799 on sale, in stock and can be delievered next week. bought from a local store, so happy about that. 4.5 cubic feet.

the 6500 was on sale for the same price but the depth is too big for our space. 5.0 c.f. every inch counts

i axed the GE GFW655SSVWW just b/c i had an LG for 17 years and hoping to get at least 15 out of the new one. also, the Electrolux was bigger and pricier...

The size was a consideration for me, too. I have a TINY utility room, built when W/D were much smaller and so were beds! No option to expand it without major problems, including buried utilities, underground water lines, roof lines, a very expensive Trex deck, etc. I suffered with very small Frigidaire set for years because it was the only one I could buy that would fit the space. Not highly rated, but I got 16 or 17 years service from them without many problems. When I bought the new set from the same store as I'd purchased the Frigidaire set from, they were amazed when they looked at my account to see that they had lasted that long. Since pandemic choices were limited, and I needed a reversible door on the washer, I just sucked it up, bought one big enough to hold my king size comforters and I just accept that I have about a 28" passageway in front of it. I don't hate that as much as I thought I would.

I'm glad you found one you're happy with!!

I'm following because my small Frigidaire set is old: 17 (washer) and 23 (dryer). The LG 5500 is the same width, but 4" deeper and 3" taller. My pair are atop a 6" wood platform. I've never attempted to wash a king comforter in this washer.

Chisue, my old Frigidaire wouldn't hold my king comforter so I had to go to the laundromat, which I HATED. Having a larger one is wonderful!

ordered yesterday and wound up paying $749 for the washer and $849 for the dryer (gas), so overall, i am pleased! the only thing that concerms me is the mold issue on the gasket. i know, you leave the door open, wipe the gasket etc. i did that with previous model and still got mold, granted 9-10 years of use.

i did 'tub cycle' a few times, but i will be more diligent with this one. with previous one, i had a family of 5, so crazy busy, in hindsidght, i know i did not do it enough.

with this one, you can link it with LG app and it reminds u to run the tub clean cycle which is much needed by me! also, they did tilt the drum back, so the water should drain better.

that was my main reason for considering GE, they have a microban on the gasket suppose to repel mold...

fingers crossed!!! delivery is Friday!

Sounds like you made a good choice. Congratulations!

@sprtphntc7a - I know you just got them, but any first impressions? I’m space-constrained and leaning towards ordering the 5500’s.

Also - Can you confirm whether there’s remote start? It’s not an important feature at all to me, but I noticed that while the owners manual references it, the spec sheets are clearly different from other models that have it.

I have the LG WM4200, you can start a cycle remotely, BUT you have to power up the machine and have it set up to start remotely for each incident. Use delay start if you are wanting to postpone starting a load.

FOAS: So far, i am loving it. its quiet, quicker loads, cleans well, love the light in the washer. i did use the AI feature and its fine. i downloaded the app and that's really nice. gives u time left on cycle, when to run a 'tub clean', how much power u r using, when cycle is over. so no more running down to see how much time.

i agree with boba1 with the remote start issue. i don't see the difference between that and "delay wash".. what am i missing??? i

the only thing i cannot find is the 'activewear' cycle. i still have to play around with it. many choices so i do have familiarize myself a bit more.

but so far, i am pleased.

i think just having a new machine, your clothes are cleaner, no gunk build-up in the system.

but like a said before, i will be running the 'tub clean' as scheduled. recommended every 30 washes.

oh and its pretty flush in the front compared to my old one. so it does take up slightly less room and looks more up to date. (blessing)

one con: the dial & options area are'flat', so it does not tilt up so u can see it. (curse)

but i am getting used to it. i would think if u have the pedestal, that would be a help.

active wear cycle is opitons, (ok),, cycle list edit, select the active wear cycle, then (OK--check mark), then press previous to keep active wear in the edited default cycle list. It's all in the instruction manual under options and settings.

Boba1 THANK YOU!!!!!

i just went and added that and a few others to my list!! i must of skimmed through and not read thoroughly! thanks again!!!

Thanks for the response! Unfortunately due to my space constraints adding pedestals would require relocating the supply lines, which is a bit more work than I’m hoping for. Although every little job in this house becomes a project, so why not this while we’re at it. 🙂 The ergonomics have concerned me though, and you’ve confirmed this. My current Maytags have the control panels up top, and the front doors round into the top making for an easier reach. I’d lose all that.

While far from a critical feature, I could easily see myself making use of the remote start. Basically the same as delay start except you don’t need to know ahead of time when you’ll be back home.

FOAS: i think once i get used to the machine, the 'flatness' won't bother me as much. but i really think its b/c i was so used to my other machine, 17 years. YMMV.

have the store where u are buying it, turn on the washer so u can get a feel for it., i am sure u can just step back a little and it will be fine.....

if i did not buy the LG, i would have went with the GE, just b/c of the microban on the big gasket and interior lines.... i felt they were similiar otherwise....i think the GE was slightly bigger, but i could be wrong on that....

good luck :)

Thanks sprt, I’ll get used to it, no choice. The GE material sounds good but I can’t make it work. ajmadison shows 88 front load washers, but that goes down to 8 when I filter on my dimension requirements. And of those, only some LG’s are under $1500. So my choices are extremely limited.

FOAS: best of luck!!

Gerhards's told me they are getting them almost every week. so hopefully your area will as well.

boba1: jeez, that's disappointing news about GE!!! i do wipe my gasket and take the drawer out when i know i will not use for a few days or leave slightly open.

Those of us who have hands-on experience disassembling and repairing washing machines know that all of them, including toploaders, are susceptible to mold/residue/smutz on interior surfaces which are inaccessible without disassembly. GE’s use of Microban on the door/tub boot is a visually appealing bandaid. The entire outer tub interior, exterior of the spin drum and its tumble baffles, dispenser drawer & housing, pump, pump trap/sump assembly, and all interior hoses that handle wash water would need to be treated with it to have an appreciable effect.

dadoes: it was my understanding when i went to Gerhard's, that GE did treat the guts of their washers with microban, but i could be wrong. i totally agree with you, it would all need to be treated..

We formed an exclusive partnership with Microban®—the global leader in antimicrobial and odor-control technologies—to create the washer gasket, dispenser, and pump with Microban technology to help prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria.

Gasket, dispenser, and pump but not the tub. I had a front loader that looked clean on the outside but stunk to high heaven. It turned out it is was smutz on the outside of the tub where you couldn't see it. Only way to take care of it was to take out the entire tub. I currently have an LG front loader and there is no issues with mold on the boot. I have never had mold issues on the boot with my Lg or my Electrolux front loaders. The dispenser gets some orangish pink stuff on it but it is easy to clean.