A good front loader is better than a top loader: Less wear on your clothes, less water used, less soap needed, and it leaves clothes better spun out, which means less drying is needed (energy saving).

I never experienced "hit or miss" cleaning problems, and I didn't have any mold or smell issues as long as I kept the washer door open a little. My current LG Washtower has some kind of little magnetic device that holds the door open about an inch. I have experienced smelly machines when I've rented places with front load washers, but obviously I don't know if they were used or maintained properly.

I recommend LG for front load washer/dryer machines. I've had separate units stacked before, and now I have their combo unit (the Washtower) which is performing equally well. They have slightly different features/cycles, so you can pick the model that fits you best. I've never had a problem with pet hair afterwards, and I've washed a lot of scrubs with a lot of pet hair.

LG washers/dryers are highly rated, and have been for years.

I had a GE front loader 20 years ago. There were a lot of mold and funky smell issues not matter how hard I tried to manage it. I now have an LG washtower, front loader. No issue. Wash king sized quilts and king pet blankets no problem. It has great spin that gets a ton of water out of items allowing them to air dry fast. (I'm a fan of hanging dry most of my clothing. Keeps garments nicer for longer.)

The key with any machine is to leave the door open for a bit to dry things out, whether it's a top-loader or front-loader. I had moldy smell problems with my top-loader before I started leaving the door up for a couple hours.

I have a Miele washer/dry set, purchased a few months ago. Love them! They are compact machines but I can get a lot in there. I can do king and queen sheets no problem, but I don't know if it would handle a king comforter. I take my comforters to the laundromat and use the jumbo machines there to make sure they are washed and rinsed well; I did this even when I had a full-size top loader.

The Miele Little Giant could handle a king comforter.

I've had my Electrolux WaveTouch washer, dryer set for 10 years.

I take very good care of them.

I believe the newer versions (with the "nest" type dial/display in the center) rinses better than my version does.

I have no mold smells at all. I use HOT water washes (or Eco-Hot). I use bleach in my white load weekly. Left open to dry (along with the detergent drawer). Wipe down rubber boot after use and also the detergent compartment.

Not a fan of Samsung or Whirlpool (unless things change).

Issues with any front loader are user error. They aren’t ”the same” plug and play as a top loader. You have to make some small adjustments. Buy one with an on board heater for a Sanitary cycle for one.

Almost everyone is aware that you need to leave the door open and wipe out the boot when done for the day. Still, some people don’t even do that basic requirement. Most people use WAY too much detergent. A couple of tablespoons is all you need. Clean out the detergent dispenser and leave it open when done for the day as well. Clean out the filter and drain it once a week. Do a hot water with heat added Sanitary wash with bleach, once a week.

Zero issues if you follow that program.

They have never been ”bad”. People just didn’t know how to use them right.

I likely won't need to buy a new washer for the remainder of my life being that I collect older/vintage/NLA units as a hobby and have many, some of unique mechanical designs, and a 25yo Neptune frontloader in very nice condition that I've never yet used. However, if I did need to buy a new one, I would absolutely choose a frontloader.

I do much of what KT Builders does. I don't clean and drain the filter weekly, though (I guess I should start doing that).

Yes yes yes quadruple bazooka YES to an on-board heater with sanitary cycle. That was one of the best things I ever learned about on the forums, along with no cold water washes.. Do not assume machines have on-board heaters -- a great majority of them do not.

My Miele hot+ cycle is 140 degrees, I do my towels on that. The sanitize cycle is 170 degrees, the bedding gets the sanitize cycle. No cold water washes for anything except bras.

I'm glad to have this info! I have never heard about no cold water washes - especially since almost everything says to wash in cold water, even towels now.

I've shared in other discussions some photos of dirty TOPLOAD washers. These are my mother's old-style (non-HE) toploader. That brown smutz is not detergent "residue," which would reasonably cause suds when sprayed with water (it did not). The "clean" spot on exterior of the spin basket is where I'd wiped some off before the photos. Think of a grease line when dirty dishwater is left overnight in a kitchen sink ...

" Issues with any front loader are user error. "

I don't believe that - that says that every top loader is of equal quality, and the only problems are due to user error. I agree that mold and smell issues are user error, though.

We have had a FL washer for almost 15 years and will never ever go back to a TL washer. I do one HOT wash every week, never use fabric softener, do not overdose detergent, wipe down the gasket when done, leave the door open, and have not had mold or odor problems.

Our son and DIL have a he top loader and she asked me to wash their queen size quilt in our FL because the final spin extracts water better than their TL.

Our Speed Queen FL does not have an onboard heater, but it delivers hot water at whatever is the hot water heater temp setting. Our laundry comes out as clean as it did when we had a Miele with onboard water heater.

Some brands will dumb down the "hot", so do your homework on that.

FWIW, I never wash anything on cold - it doesn't clean. DH once complained that a load of clothes he washed still smelled like sweat - he'd washed them on cold because that's what the label said. I also very rarely wash on the sanitize cycle - don't feel the need or want to wait for that long cycle time. I wash most things on "hot" and run the faucet before I start the load to make sure the water going to the machine is hot from the start. There are a few more delicate items that I wash on "warm" but never cold.

I have 5 sets of washers & dryers. I have rentals. They get pretty abused, since the people using them don't have to repair them. I have a GE, LG, Samsung, Maytag.....see through lid top loader, no agitator....for about 10-15 years. They ALL seem to work fine. I use a HUGE Samsung front loader set....going on 11 years. I agree with what's been said about leaving the washer lid open to dry out between loads...and I pull the soap tray out too. Smells fine. Looks brand new.

Note: I have a cat that paws the fronts, any smooth surface. I put Saran Wrap over smooth surfaces....like...full length mirrors to stop him.

Yes and No. Seemingly, newer machines rinse a little worse for a compromise with better cycle times. Wash temps in some has increased slightly, but not significantly. Newer machines have better designs for balancing loads, saturating clothes, and reducing buildup and odor.

Also, I have owned front loaders for may years without any major issues. Recently purchased a house with a Samsung FL, and it was full of mold. Very likey user error. These machines need good rinsing, higher wash temps, frequent sanitize or hot washes, and the door left open between cycles. Remember, Normal cycle warm wash temp is technically cold. Normal cycle hot is usually a true warm wash, which will improve cleaning significantly, and limit build up compared to lower temps. Extra rinse is highly recommended.