Hellobee Boards

We have one issue with our front loader... I will say that I hate the fact we have to keep the washer door open to air out or it gets a mildew smell. Which is quite annoying!! Sometimes my clothes get caught on the door if I pass by it.

It was super annoying when my BIL lived with us and *always* closed the door even when we asked him many times not to because of the mildew smell.

I'm definitely getting a top loader next time!

@MrsBeluga: No way, they recommend wiping out the washer after every load?! I clean my washer regularly (I do an empty bleach cycle once a quarter or so, depending on the level of grossness of the stuff I've been washing), but that would never, ever happen! I'm sticking with my ancient top-loader.

I just wanted to chime in because I recently bought a new (very affordable) top-loader. They make HE top-loaders now, no agitator, automatically senses how much water to full with, multiple wash/soak/rinse settings. I've never owned a front loader, but my new washer gets my clothes way cleaner than the old-style top loader.

We have a front loader that's working out fine for us. But maybe it's because I am just so happy not to go to the Laundromat anymore I'd take anything.

Sometimes I toss a wet towel into the machine to trick it into using more water. But generally it's fine. We wash CD diapers into and they come out fresh (after two washes).

@kiddosc: My mom had those for like 10 years and loved them. I'd definitely try the extra rinse and maybe try the heavy duty cycle too. I'd also wash your husband's shirts separately and do a prewash on them then a heavy duty cycle.

@MrsBeluga: Thanks for sharing! I sort of knew that front-loaders had issues, but mold is a constant battle where I live (warm and often humid climate), so anything that grows mold under "regular" conditions would be a complete disaster here.

@skipra: I feel like washing machines can't handle sand as a rule. I have a lot of sand to deal with on a regular basis and I make sure to shake the clothes/towels out outside before they go into the laundry basket. It's a pain, but I've had 3 different washing machines (all top-loaders) in the time I've lived at the beach, and every one has had a hard time with sand.