I can tell you which one not to get and thats the Maytag. Worst washer and dryer I’ve ever owned. My sister in law bought the same one and hers has been awful too. If i were buying now id go with a Speed Queen.

Speed Queen. I hope I never have to buy another W/D ever. These are 8 years old and have been perfect.

@sushipup2we were very interested in speed queen but they seem small? We were looking at 5.0+ capacity due to doing laundry 1 or 2 times a day.

I bought the basic top load Speed Queen washer 13 years ago. I'm happy. The TC5 is the classic wash.

Sorry but all washers can harbout mold and I will never own a top load they do not hold as much as a front load and they are so much harder on your clothes. Just leave the door open a tiny bit on the front load and no mold ever I just put a face cloth in my door . BTW so much less detergent too and I have switched to the laundry strips I love them.

@Patricia Colwell Consultingwe always have left the door open. It is approx 8 years old and all the mold was found around the drum and not reachable.

We have gone to a few appliance stores and they have all said the top loaders will likely have less mold so hoping this is true.

Thanks for the tip on less detergent.

@elbitsit looks so small for a very active family of 5, uniforms, etc

Top loaders no longer have a middle agitator, Patricia, so they're fine on your clothes, and I can get a whole comforter into my current Maytag HE, running great after 8 years. It's the best machine I've ever had, in both capacity and function.

Yeah, the key thing that that the OP stated was that this is for a family of 5.

I have a family of 6-7(depending on time of year) and a huge top loader. It is a Samsung, and it sings a pretty song when it's done with its cycle.

It is a middle-of-the-road washing machine, not the cheapest that HD had, and certainly not nearly what the most expensive cost. It holds 5.0 cubic feet (as I recall).

It's maybe 6 or so years old and doing great. It holds a king comforter, if need be.

I take great pride in my laundry, and get all kinds of stains out of garments, using oxyclean paste/soaks, putting Biz in really stinky loads, and using other additives. I find all this supremely effective, even in our hard water environment. I think this washer does great!

I am an anti-warranty person and wouldn't pay a nickel for an extra warranty, and I don't like dealing with warranty repair-people anyway, so I just call my trusted/effective/reasonable appliance repair guy who comes right away and fixes things for a great price. And that's why I go for a mid-grade machine. I don't expect it to last forever, but also I don't think the more expensive machines clean any better (nor last longer). That said, I've never tried a Speed Queen, and I'm intrigued by all that I read about them in these forums, but the last time I checked, they run only small loads, and that won't do me OR you any good.

One more thing: I've had probably 7-8 different washers over my long, long laundry career, and I've never encountered mold in any top loader, and would not enjoy dealing with that.

My Bosch front load died this year after 18 yrs of at least one load a day and this time I could not find one in stock so went Samsung so far so good . I think the trick is to do laundry all the time instead of overloading machines on a "laundry day" I hate dirty laundry around so it just gets done all the time . We have International students so 4 of us and doing wash everyday just makes sense to me. Maybe the reason I never had mold was the machine worked every day

My Speed Queen set from 2010 is still working perfectly and I hope they last forever.

I have the same SQ as SEA SEA though mine is a 2017. Very pleased with it. It will easily accommodate a load of 10 bath towels and assorted wash cloths and kitchen towels. It is a heavy duty machine, and has never in 7 years of use ever gone out of balance. A machine with capacity comparable to it would be fine for a family of 5. The new SQ's are computer controlled rather than analog as SEA SEA mentioned, and they are less desirable to me for that reason, I have more control over the fill level in my washer, and I was able to adjust that with a simple change via a YouTube video. After using my folks' HE Maytag the last 5 years or so which has an impeller in it, I would never be satisfied. There is not enough turnover of the laundry when it is filled with water, and the average normal sized load is treated more harshly than a tyoical full fill TL. I would go back to a front load washer before using an HE TL, but it is my personal preference which may not be right for others. Spend some time looking at YouTube videos to get a better understanding of the different wash actions to help you make a decision that is right for you.

I collect older washing machines and have several toploaders of varying mechanical designs. I would never buy any of the current toploaders if I needed a new machine.

@dadoeswhat would you buy?

A frontloader of course. Probably a Whirlpool or Maytag (same manufacturer, WP bought Maytag in 2006), or an LG. Whichever model available at the time that fits my feature wants/needs.

@dadoesif mold growth is our main concern, you would still suggest a front loader?

Love our LG top loader. We bought it 7 years ago to replace a Whirlpool that lasted 4 years. I wasn’t set on any particular brand when shopping for a replacement. The LG washer and dryer just fit what I wanted.

@chloebudwe have a samsung front loader (8+ yrs old) that we thought we were diligent in taking care of. Interior full of black mold, so looking at top loaders now. LG top loaders reviews are mixed, but all the other brands are too. Which model do you have?

We had a top load Maytag for approximately 10 years and it was great. Highly recommend a large capacity if getting a top loader. Opted for a front load (Maytag) and capacity is not great unfortunately. Have had for apprx 4 years and so far so good re (visual/odor) mold issues. Wipe down well, leave the door open as well as door into laundry room for better air circulation.

@nskeca, this is the set we bought. Washer model is WT5270CW. Again, it was 7 years ago so model numbers are likely different. You’re so right regarding reviews being mixed with all brands. It drove me nuts! You have to rely on what features suit you best, NOT a specific brand name.

Just FYI, I leave the top open on the washer for a few hours after using. Not sure it’s that needed but something I’ve always done.

Toploaders are also susceptible to mold/smutz accumulation, as others stated above. I've disassembled many that were gnasty, have posted photos in past discussions here that should be searchable.

When you say "we thought we were diligent in taking care of" your current machine, what exactly does that mean in terms of usage habits?

If you get a top-loader, get one without an agitator. I am convinced my top-loader with agitator is eating my clothes. In the old days, clothing (and bedding) was made with much higher-quality fabric than today's clothing and could better withstand the harsh agitating from the post and the tangling around it that sometimes happens. I used to have a top-loader without an agitator not too long ago in my other house, and I don't recall holes in my clothes happening as often (or ever, really).

Speed queen.........

https://speedqueen.com/products/top-load-washers/tr7003wn/?bvstate=pg:6/ct:r

I have not got ONE client, no matter the model, who would return to any other brand. Ever.

I am in a multi dwelling building with Speed Queen. I ADORE them. Especially on Power wash, extra rinse, pick your temperature.

A half cup of Arm and Hammer washing soda, along with your detergent will give you blinding whites.....no bleach necessary! and a really fresh scent.

Yes, they have an agitator , my clothes and bedding do not get beaten up. .....: )

An extra rinse on sheets and towels, will render fabric softener completely unnecessary. It destroys absorbency and you need only look at the lint screen on your dryer...... How to know? Run water through it....over time...it will evidence the clogging of that screen.

When SQ changed to the computer controlled direct drive models the outcry was deafening. They were forced to bring back the 'Classic' TC500. Speed Queen | TC5003WN Or you can look on CL and Marketplace for a used one. 2017 new was $750.

LG is what we have now and it’s the best washer and dryer we’ve ever owned.

@dan1888 just concerned about the capacity. The sales guys are actually pushing me way from SQ saying they are too small and that you are just paying for warrenty up front…

@Creative Visual Concepts, Kevin Straderwhich model is it please? We were considering an LG

The Model # is WT5270CW. We’ve had it for a few years so the model number has most likely changed but they probably have something similar. Ours has direct drive, is energy star certified, Bluetooth and you can download custom wash programs.

Kevin, that’s the one we have…nice!👍🏻

nskeca, the capacity’s good (4.9 cubic feet), at least for our needs. I’m tall and still have to reach a bit.

ANY front loader will have a larger capacity, and clean better, than ANY top loader. No contest on that at all. There is no where in the rest of the world that uses top loaders. Only front loaders exist, and with none of the problems of the US either.

Just buy one with an on board heater, and do a Sanitize wash with that heater, plus bleach, at least once a week. Then leave the door open to dry out.

Top load washers exist all over the world, and are readily available in Australia and France for example. With traditional agitators. Having spent time in Europe and using Front Load washers there, I can attest to the fact they can be just as smelly and laden with mold as in America. We have not cornered the market on bad user habits (liquid detergent, cold washes, not properly airing out the interior).

Guess I'd better pray that my now 30 year old Maytag washer and gas dryer never die..... I have never had any other brand of washer, even growing up that's what was in the basement laundry area. Maytag just IS washing machine to me!

I would consider Speed Queen, but I just used this one at my sister's condo and it's better than my Samsung top-of-the-line model.

It has an agitator!

The water fills the drum up

I purchased a TC5003WN Speed Queen about 2 years ago. SO well made, sturdy and gets all the clothes clean. Huge capacity--I can wash blankets, quilts, etc. I love that it's made in America. No problems at all.

“Maytag just IS washing machine to me!”

Sadly, not anymore. Hold on to your old Maytag set as long as you can.

What Diana B. said up above.......jmho anything else is a bit of wheel reinvention : )

Typical review on her model,

which I will second ! As will every client who has the same.

TC5003WN Speed Queen

Thanks All- we went with the Speed Queen Classic and love it!

Good for you--happy laundering!

In Canada, Speed Queens are sold under the name of Huebsch. I loved my 5 year old Tr7101 (with a 7 year warranty) until it broke. It has now been 4 months and I am still waiting for parts. There is no communication from the distributor -Distinctive. The service is terrible.

I have had front loaders for 25 years now and have never had mold or any type of bad smell problem.

I bought a Speed Queen top load washer. American made! Love it.