Whirlpool WFW95HEXW Front Load Washer Review

MSRP: $1400, Internet Prices from $1095 (including tax and estimated shipping)

The rate at which new technology is being added to front load washers these days is pretty amazing, considering that washer technology didn’t change much for a few decades. There are many models on the market today across a wide range of prices and number of features, and most manufacturers offer many models to choose from, with Whirlpool being no different. The Whirlpool WFW95HEXW Duet front load steam washer is one of the more expensive washers that Whirlpool offers, but it has a large list of features to try to justify that price.

Features:
- 4.3 cu. ft. stainless steel washer basket helps you tackle even the largest loads
- Most efficient washer on the market uses up to 77% less water and 81% less energy than older washers
- 11 automatic wash cycles allow you to match the washer’s settings to any load
- Care Control Temperature Management enabled by 6th Sense utilizes sensors to adjust both water volume and temperature to help protect your clothes
- FanFresh system with Dynamic Venting Technology will circulate air through the washer for up to 16 hours after a cycle ends to keep your clothes smelling clean, and can even dry a small load
- H2Low and 6th Sense is designed to get your clothes as clean as possible, while also minimizing water usage
- 1400 RPM maximum spin speed reduces drying time and costs by removing more water from clothes in the washer
- Deep Clean Steam Cycle gets out even the toughest stains by using steam to thoroughly penetrate fabric to break up stains
- Delay the cycle start time by up to 16 hours so it will start, and finish, when most convenient
- Estimated cycle time remaining display lets you know at a glance when your clothes will be done with an easy to read LCD display
- Get alerted when the cycle is finished by the end of cycle alert
- Add a garment feature lets you quickly add a forgotten item within the first 8 minutes of the cycle
- Child safety control lockout prevents unwanted playing with the washer
- Clean Washer cycle with Affresh lets you use the washer to clean itself to keep it performing optimally
- Direct Inject Washing System virtually eliminates the need to pretreat by using a concentrated burst of detergent directly onto items
- Oxi Dispense Option enhances the cleaning power of the washer by automatically adding an oxygenated bleach alternative at the correct time

Overall the Whirlpool Duet WFW95HEXW has gotten pretty high reviews, receiving 4.6 of a possible 5 stars from those consumers who’ve purchased this front load washer and chosen to post a review. One caveat about these reviews is that there aren’t that many of them out there, but that tends to be the case with the more expensive models - like this one. In general, owners were quite pleased with the capacity of this front loader, no surprise given that it has one of the largest capacities available. Also people found the number of features to be impressive. Perhaps most importantly though, consumers tended to comment that the washer’s performance was one of its strong points. The general consensus is that the WFW95HEXW gets clothes clean quietly and efficiently, then spins them to be quite dry.

Unlike many Whirlpool front load washers, this model doesn’t have massive durability issues surrounding it. There weren’t many complaints, and what there were didn’t follow any type of theme. One person didn’t like the add a garment feature, another had a motor go bad under warranty, another had a circuit board go bad under warranty. The whole point of a warranty is that if something goes bad shortly after purchasing the machine, it gets replaced for free, and in these cases that seems to be what happened, and yet they still gave the WFW95HEXW the lowest possible ratings, so in all reality the ratings for this machine could be much higher.

It seems as though the vast majority of people who have purchased the Whirlpool Duet WFW95HEXW front loading washing machine are happy with their purchase. A few disgruntled consumers who did have some durability issues that were repaired under warranty by their own admission shouldn’t be enough to discourage anyone from buying this model. That being said, the front load washer market is a crowded one with similar offerings from other companies getting similarly high reviews. Ultimately it might come down to finding one model or another on sale at any given time.

Whirlpool WFW9550WW Front Load Washer Review

MSRP: $1100, Internet Prices from $768 (including tax and estimated shipping)

The front load washer market is a crowded one with many companies offering multiple models at various price points and levels of features to compete for your business. Whirlpool is one of these such companies with a wide range of washers to choose from. The Whirlpool WFW9550WW is a smaller capacity steam washer built to attract buyers who want all the features available, but don’t necessarily need or want the largest capacities. It wasn’t too long ago when only the largest capacity washers offered the top of the line features, but with the WFW9550WW that’s not the case, it has a full list of features.

Features:
- 3.8 cubic feet of capacity from the durable stainless steel washer basket let you wash 18 pairs of jeans at once
- Choose from 12 automatic cycles let you choose the right settings with the touch of a button
- Care Control Temperature Management system automatically adjusts the water temperature so that it is hot enough to fully dissolve detergent, but not too hot to cause shrinking or colors to run
- Delay Start lets you set the washer to start when the time is best for you
- Duet Steam system provides steam for extra versatile cleaning options
- TumbleFresh will intermittently tumble a load once the cycle is finished to help reduce wrinkles and prevent odors
- Adjustable signal for the end of cycle to emit an audible alert when a cycle finishes
- Child safety lock prevents children from playing in the washer
- QuietWash Plus noise reduction system uses stabilizers and direct drive to limit vibrations and noise
- NightQuiet™ Option lets you select to use a lower spin speed to lower noise even more when you need to
- Direct Inject Washing System uses a concentrated burst of detergent to eliminate your need to pretreat clothes
- Add-A-Garment lets you add to the load early on in the cycle, just in case you forgot something

When it comes to customer reviews of the Whirlpool WFW9550WW front load washer, it doesn’t fare well at all. There are a good number of reviews out there for this washer, and sad to say, but there are more bad than good. Overall it receives only 2.4 stars out of a possible 5. This is one of the lower ratings you’ll find for a front load washer. Those reviews there were good listed the value and features as good points, but there weren’t many good reviews out there.

The negative reviews out there for this washer were very consistent in what the complaint was about the Whirlpool WFW9550WW front load washer. This machine has durability issues. The vast majority of complaints about the WFW9550WW center around the bearings around the driveshaft for the washer tub. Apparently these are prone to failure - and they seem to regularly fail every 1-2 years, with most all the complaints pointing out that the bearings started to fail just after the warranty expired. The replacement costs on these bearings seems to start around $600 for parts, plus shipping, plus labor, which seems to add up to be another few hundred dollars. This means that replacing the bearings when they go will very likely cost nearly as much as the new purchase price of the whole machine.

As stated above, the market for front load washers is a crowded one. There are almost certainly other companies that have a better alternative front load steam washer with a similar capacity, list of features, and price to the Whirlpool WFW9550WW that have fewer questions out there about their durability. For example this LG WM3360HWCA review indicates a washer that fits this criteria and seems to have a rating of 4.95 out of 5 stars. As with some of the other Whirlpool washers reviewed here durability seems to be really lacking in the WFW9550WW.

Samsung WF350ANW Front Load Washer Review

MSRP: $1099, Internet Prices from $989 (including tax and estimated shipping)

Samsung offers a full selection of front load washers for sale here, attempting to be able to offer a model to fit the needs and price desires of every potential customer. With the WF350ANW Samsung is offering what they are calling the largest capacity front load washer in its class. Samsung claims that this washer can fit 31 bath towels in a single load - a simply massive capacity. It also features technology aimed at prolonging the life of clothes with a specially designed drum among its many features.

Features:
- 3.7 cubic feet of capacity is the largest front loader in its class, capable of washing up to 31 bath towels in a single load.
- PureCycle self-cleaning runs extremely hot water through the spinning drum instead of using chemicles
- Diamond Drum technology is designed specifically to reduce wear and tear on your clothes
- Samsung Vibration Reduction Technology (VRT) reduces vibration and noise to allow installation on second floors or near living spaces
- Direct Drive motor allows spin speeds of up to 1300 RPM to extract maximal water and reduce drying times
- Internal Water heater to achieve higher temperatures than normal hot water to aid in cleaning
- 11 wash cycles to choose from to suit nearly any load
- 4 temperature settings
- Energy Star Certified
- Steam Washing technology
- Delay start and end of cycle alarm let you choose when the cycle starts, and let you know when it finishes

Customers who have taken the time to post reviews online about the Samsung WF350ANW seem to be generally quite happy with their purchase. There are a good number of reviews out there online for this front load washer, and the overall average rating is 4.7 of 5 stars, with 93% of owners saying that they would recommend this washer to someone else. In the front load washer market, this level of approval is about as good as you can hope for. The washer gets generally very strong marks in the areas of features and design, and rates generally well in the area of value as well.

There is a curious and somewhat disturbing trend among reviews, even those that ultimately rate the washer as good, and people who would recommend it. Of a 4 category rating system where the categories are features, performance, design, and value, performance is consistently rated the lowest. This brings up the question of would you rather have a few extra features, or a washer that doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, but just works well. Most consumers would probably choose the latter. There are a number of complaints about heavily soiled clothes not getting all the way clean, and particularly sweaty clothes not smelling clean after a cycle.

There are always a few people who have some buyers remorse, or get one that has a malfunction and end up giving the washer terrible reviews, sometimes unwarranted. With the Samsung WF350ANW, that really doesn’t seem to be the case. Reading through the poor reviews indicates that most seem quite warranted, and even some people rated the washer overall pretty well, while complaining that it doesn’t always get clothes as clean as the washer it replaced did. So with this all being said, it looks like the Samsung WF350ANW front load washer is likely not the best possible buy for your $1000 of hard earned money.

Maytag MHWE200XW Washer Review

MSRP: $749, Internet Prices: $598 includes shipping

Maytag is a well recognized brand in the American appliance market, and they offer a full line of front load washers. Their entry level front load washer is the MHWE200XW. The MHWE200XW is a high-efficiency washer providing superior cleaning ability with the PowerWash cycle. In addition the Fresh Spin option will fluff and tumble clothes periodically for up to 6 hours to keep clothes fresh. With Maytag Commercial Technology (MCT) commercial-grade components help provide a durable and high quality front load washer to consumers. With the MHWE200XW Maytag clearly intends to be taken seriously by consumers shopping for a new from load washing machine.

Features:
* 3.5 cubic foot capacity allows large loads of laundry as well as bulky items, such as pillows and comforters
* Conveniently located front panel controls
* Sensi-Care™ wash system: the wash basket moves faster when washing big loads, moving gently at slower speeds for delicate loads
* 12 cycle options to choose from include Soak, Power Wash, Whites, Heavy Duty, Comforters, Rapid Wash and Silk
* My Cycle button allows creation and storage of a favorite cycle, including options
* ENERGY STAR and CEE Tier II rated for year-round energy and money savings
* Stainless steel wash drum is built for durability which leads to long life and also protects clothes from snags and pulls
* IntelliTemp temperature control automatically monitors incoming water for correct temperature
* IntelliFill uses sensors to always fill the washer to the proper level
* Delay Wash set the cycle to begin cleaning when you want perhaps when utility rates may be lower
* Fresh Spin keeps clean laundry fresh by tumbling clothes after the wash cycle ends
* QuietSeries sound-reduction system keeps noise low to not disturb the household
* Stackable design provides flexibility for the laundry room


The overall rating of the Maytag MHWE200XW is 4.6 out of 5 stars, with 92% of reviewers being willing to recommend this front loader to a fellow consumer. There are a good number of reviews to be found for this model, so these numbers can be accepted with a reasonably high level of confidence. The 4.6 star rating is slightly lower than that of some of the other front loaders reviewed on these pages, but the 92% recommendation rate is right there along with the highest of any washer here. The general tone of the positive reviews is similar to that of most other front loaders. It gets strong marks for performance, by getting clothes clean and relatively dry to reduce drying time. Owners are generally happy with the overall build quality and durability, as well as the list of features.

As is typical with many front load washers, the worst reviews seem to come from people who just didn't do their homework and really know what they were buying. However, this front load washer does receive some complaints that other front loaders reviewed here have not gotten. There are a number of complaints that small items, like socks, or small childrens clothes must be put into a garment bag or else they get stuck in a door gap of some sort. This is certainly an extra step that is not required with top loaders, and has not been mentioned in other front loader reviews. Perhaps this represents a design flaw with the Maytag MHWE200XW.. Beyond this seemingly unique complaint there is the normal mix of vibrations, and a few complaints of equipment failure that were repaired under warranty, though no one is happy to be without a working washer for a the amount of time needed to get it repaired.

Overall the Maytag MHWE200XM looks like a strong contender in the marketplace for that entry level front load washer. It has a price competitive with many of the other models of the similar size. Granted, it loses out to the LG WM2140CW by being slightly smaller, more expensive, and based on fluctuating prices, slightly more expensive, however the prices are quite close. Based on the reviews out there, and the list of features, choosing the Maytag MHWE200XM is likely not a decision that would leave one disappointed.

Kenmore Front Load Washer 4041 Review

MSRP: $799, Internet Price: 679 (free shipping)

Kenmore washers, the proprietary brand of the Sears company, has been one of the most recognizable names in American appliances for decades now. Sears is the only retailer selling the Kenmore brand of appliances, however, Sears is not in the manufacturing business. The manufacture of Kenmore appliances is handled by another company. There are not as many models in the Kenmore lineup as there are other brands, like LG, nor does it seem to make any particular claim, like Bosch which claims to be the most efficient brand on the market. This model in particular is the least expensive compact front load washer that reviewed here, but it makes up for it by having significantly fewer features than some of its competition.


Features:
* 3.1 cubic foot capacity
* Compact size to fit into areas other washing machines can't
* Tumble Action Washing System showers water through clothes to ensure 100% of clothes are being washed 100% of the time
* High speed spin cycle reduces drying time by extracting more water while in the washer
* End of Cycle signal can be set for either loud or soft notification
* Choose from 6 washing programs to best pair the washers actions to your load type
* Automatically dispenses detergent, bleach, and fabric softener
* Express Wash cycle to quickly clean lightly soiled clothes
* Can clean up to 15 towels in a single load

When looking at the consumer ratings for this model of washing machine, what you find is alarming, though perhaps not terribly surprising. The only other Kenmore washer reviewed here got some of the lowest ratings found here. Check out the Kenmore 48102 review for more information. The story told by consumers about the Kenmore 4041 washer is even worse. Overall, this washer has been given only 2 stars by consumers. With some other models reviewed here, there is the caveat that there aren't a large number of ratings provided, so the numbers aren't as meaningful as they might be. That is not the case with this washer though, there are well over 100 reviews listed for this washer, and the results are still this bad. With that being said, typically a discussion of any trending of positive and negative comments would follow. However, when the reviews are consistently this low, the logical path is quite simply, don't buy this washer. Sure, at about $700, this is much cheaper alternative than say the LG WM1355HW, which will set you back 900 or so, but that washer had an overall 4.7/5 rating when reviewed here a while ago. Bosch also offers some alternatives that will cost somewhere just over $1000, for example check out this Bosch WAS20160UC review for some more information. Both the LG and Bosch offerings do offer up more features, as well as an energy star rating for the extra price though. Unfortunately for Kenmore, it seems they've got a loser on their hands with this washer.