SHOPPING FOR A FRONT-LOAD WASHER? LOOK NO FURTHER.

When our over-20-year-old Maytag washer started making a noise and acting wonky, I started researching front-load washing machines. After exhaustive research, we decided on the LG WM2233H. I watched store advertisements, and we purchased this on sale at Home Depot.

Specs~

The wash capacity in this machine is 3.32 cubic feet, which is the equivalent of a 3.83 cubic foot agitator washer. It weighs 190 pounds, and its measurements are 27” W x 29 ¾” D x 38 11/16” H. With the door of the washer open, the depth is 50 13/16”. We purchased the optional pedestal, which adds 13” to the height of the machine. The maximum spin speed is a whopping 1100 rpm. At the time of our purchase, this machine was available in white, pewter, blue, and red. All colors except white were about $200 more.
This machine is equipped with a direct drive system…this means that the motor directly drives the drum without a belt and pulley. The washer is also equipped with a built-in water heater which helps to maintain water temperature for certain wash cycles, and roller jets which spray water and assist in tumbling the washables.
There is a child lock system that prevents kids from pushing any buttons and changing settings for a wash. The LED display shows settings, estimated time remaining, options, and status messages. The display only comes on when you turn on the washing machine. Once the load has started, the door locks. You may unlock the door by pressing the pause button, but if the water level is too high, the door will not unlock to avoid any water spillage.
This washer is also energy efficient, uses less water than a top-loader, and less detergent as well. High efficiency detergent is recommended.

My experience~
 
If you are planning to replace an older top-loader washer with this machine, take the measurements into careful consideration as this washer is considerably larger than our former large-capacity, top-loading washer. In order to be able to open the door fully, we had to remove our laundry room door. This was not an issue at all because of the way our house is set up, but might not be feasible for others.
I highly recommend professional installation if it is available. Leveling one of these machines is not as easy as you think it would be. It must be leveled side-to-side, and front-to-back, of course. If it is not exactly right, you’ll get a lot of vibration during the spin cycle. Besides, who wants to lug around a 190 pound machine?! We paid $50 for delivery, and got the money back via rebate.
To use the machine, you simply pull out the drawer on the upper-left front of the machine which contains the compartments for detergent, liquid bleach, liquid fabric softener, and pre-wash compartment. (If you are using powdered detergent, you take out the detergent cup first.) Then choose your wash cycle by turning the dial: Sanitary, Cotton/Towels, Normal, Permanent Press, Delicates, Hand Wash, or Speed Wash. I believe all these cycles to be self-explanatory except perhaps Sanitary and Speed Wash. The sanitary cycle is an extra-long wash cycle that uses the “extra hot” water setting to clean things like heavily soiled work clothes, and cloth diapers. This load can take up to 2 hours. The Speed Wash setting is for lightly soiled clothes, and usually takes about 30 minutes.
Before I tell you the next part, let me tell you this first…all of these wash cycles come with pre-sets such as water temp, spin speed, and soil level. For example, when you turn the machine on and turn the dial to whichever setting is appropriate for the load of laundry you are doing, the machine automatically chooses all the options. You will use the pre-sets almost all the time. That being said, you may customize your wash cycle using the additional buttons on the front of the machine. They are:
Wash/Rinse temp - extra hot/cold, hot/cold, warm/warm, warm/cold, and cold/cold

Spin Speed - extra high, high, medium, low, and no spin

Soil Level - heavy, heavy/normal, normal, normal/light, and light

Beeper Level - high, low, off

Options - pre-wash, rinse and spin, quick wash, stain cycle, and tub clean **explanation of each is below

Delay wash - you can load detergent and clothes, and delay the wash for up to 12 hours

Water plus - you use this button if you want the washer to use extra water for the wash and rinse cycles “for superior results.” (The only time I use this is when I’m doing a very large load of laundry, or washing our king-sized comforter)

Spin Sense - this button is the same button as “water plus”, but you push the button and hold for three seconds to use this feature. You would use this feature if you have a vibration problem

Extra rinse - I think this is self-explanatory

**Pre-wash - you use this if you are adding extra detergent or other laundry booster to be dispensed before the regular wash cycle

Rinse and spin - I think this is self-explanatory

Quick cycle - the suggested use for the quick cycle time includes “freshening newly purchased clothes, or clothing that has been packed away.” (quote taken from manual)

Stain cycle - you use this to add time to wash and rinse to help remove tough stains you do not believe would be adequately removed with a regular wash cycle

Tub clean - you use this when it’s time to do a maintenance-clean of the drum, which is approximately every 30 days or so.

(I got tired of running back and forth to my washer, so I took a picture of all the buttons using my cell phone!)

When I first saw all of these buttons, I must say I was a bit intimidated. I’m not afraid of using electronics, but the front of this thing looks like the controls for a rocket ship! Rest assured, once you read the manual and get used to the machine, you can pop in a load of laundry and get it started just as quickly as you could in a top-loader!

The first time I used this machine, I added the detergent, loaded the clothes, and did a “normal” load. The machine tosses the load a couple of times to weigh it…based on the size of the load, the washer decides how much water to use. When you do your first load in this machine, you might think you forgot to hook up the water! It’s difficult to think that your clothes are getting clean when it is next to impossible to see the water. The LED display will show you what part of the cycle it’s in (wash, rinse, spin), and the estimated time left. This machine is so quiet, I kept checking it as I couldn’t hear it. Once the load is finished, a very pleasant tinkling of musical notes plays to let you know the load is done (if the beeper option is on). Once the load was finished, I anxiously took out some clothes and smelled them. They smelled absolutely clean and fresh. I was also surprised by how dry they were. My research had told me that this front-loader gives a superior clean, and that the clothes come out much dryer than with a top-loader, but I was definitely wowed (and continue to be)!

As I said earlier in the review, we purchased the optional pedestal as well. We paid $179.10. Not only does the pedestal raise the machine 13” allowing me to be able to load and unload the machine with minimal bending of my bad back, the pedestal drawer opens to reveal a large storage area where I keep detergent, bleach, and fabric softener.

We have now had this washing machine for six months, and have experienced no problems at all. I have used virtually all of the cycles and options, and have been exceptionally pleased with the results. I once had an error message beep at me from the display, but it was because I forgot to add detergent. Whoops.

My husband, bless his heart, is notorious for getting stains on his shirts. I've never had an issue with removing them as I use the stain cycle. Also, every once in a while, I'll wash our whites using the sanitary cycle. They come out very white.

~Is there anything not to like?

Hmm. Let’s just say there’s some extra work involved with a front-loader that is not required with a top-loader.

There are two filters that need regular cleaning. One is called the “water inlet” filter, which is located where the water comes into the machine, and the other filter is the “drain pump” filter. The drain pump filter catches foreign objects like very small buttons. We check the drain pump filter about once a month. The water inlet filter does not need to be checked as often, so we just checked it recently at the six month mark. The drain pump filter is located on the front of the machine, so it’s not difficult to check this one, however, the water inlet filter is, of course, located on the back of the 190 pound machine. You have to turn off the water, pull the washer out, disconnect the hose, check the filter, clean if needed, reattach the hose, then put the washer back. Moving the washer can possibly throw the level off-balance, so there may be some minor adjustments needed after the washer is back where it belongs. Our water inlet filter was totally clean despite the fact that we have somewhat hard water, so we don’t plan to check it for another eight months.

In addition, after finishing any laundry for the day, you must leave the door propped open so the rubber tub seal can dry. If you don’t do this, your machine could grow mold in the seal and cause your laundry to be stinky and gross. I’ve always left the door open, and have never had an issue with mold or smell.

While these extra maintenance steps can be a pain, they're not so bad when considering you need to do them to protect your investment.

~Final thoughts

I like this washer very much so far. Our clothes are much cleaner, and our electric bill and water bill have gone down. There are definitely some things to get used to if you’ve previously had a top-loader, but the learning curve is very short. Just read the manual, and you’ll be fine. I cannot stress this enough…read the manual.

It is true that the wash cycles take longer in a front-loader, but because the clothes go through such a fast spin cycle, they dry much more quickly. In other words, as far as time goes, it all comes out in the wash. (Sorry…)


Note: I will definitely update this review if I have any problems.


Four and one-half stars, rounded up to five freshly clean stars.


Thank you very much for reading and rating!!

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UPDATE:  September 21, 2009

It's been almost exactly one year since I wrote this review.  I thought I'd drop in and let you know that our washer is still going strong (knock on wood!)  We've not experienced any adverse issues, and our clothes still come out clean and fresh.

In looking up this washer online today, I noticed this model has been discontinued.  I did, however, find it on sale at several retailers.  Now would be a great time to have a look...you could get this washer on the cheap!  Good luck!
I continue to recommend this washer!