What a Great Washing Machine

When my wife told me she had called an appliance repairman to come look at our 10 year old top loader, I told her to cancel the call. After 10 years, we had gotten the best out of our old Top Loader and it was time to retire it.

Instead of the knee-jerk reaction to go to the local Best Buy, OSH, or Home Depot I starting reading and researching washing machines. The first thing I discovered was how happy most front loader owners were with their machines.

I found this site to be very helpful with unbiased reviews and product ratings. As well, I checked into consumer reports, then I went shopping at a appliance only retail store. The store I purchased from in the S.F. Bay Area is Airport Appliance and they had a huge selection of machines from all makers.

Like so many things these days price and fancy brand names do not equal quality, reliability, or value for your dollar. As you can tell I was a one-time Maytag and G.E. customer. I have read many complaints across the board about front loaders leaving residual water in the boot. Not this unit, hair will collect on the inside base of the glass we just wipe it down before the next load.

Whatever boot issues that may have existed with other brands or in previous Frigidaire models, it certainly does not occur with my new GLTF2940FSO. I purchased this unit about 4 months ago and with 2 active grass-stained prone kids it gets used almost daily.

Affordable, energy efficient, water efficient, detergent efficient, quiet, accompanied with water and utility rebates make this machine a winner from the word GO.

Imagine using 1/5 of the water, 1/5 of the detergent and 1/5 the energy of a standard top loader all while cutting your dryer energy use and time by a 1/3 or more. Like me, you will stare in amazement for the first couple of days at how smooth and quiet this machines is. Clothes definitely come out cleaner and softer. Front loaders do not beat your clothes to death like a standard top loader with agitator.

From my wife's delicate lingerie to Sleeping bags, and Cal. King Comforters...Bring it! I don't get to excited about appliances, but this washing machine simply has it all at a very reasonable price. I received a $100.00 rebate from the water company and a $75.00 rebate from P.G.& E.

If you read this and don't buy this unit, you will only have yourself to blame. These days it's hard to feel good about any major appliance purchase, trust me, you are going to love everything about this machine. I will post again at it's 1 year anniversary of use. Why spend $1,000+ when you can get a better machine for $600.00. Best money I have spent in a very long time.

UPDATED: 10-28-2008

Sorry I'm late! After 15+ months of extreme use I stand by my initial review, this machine has simply been great. I can absolutely attest to the fact that my clothes are actually lasting longer without tears around the collars or around embroidered stiching like my old top loading agitator washer. I recently moved from Calif. to Idaho, and the washing machine was easy to move by simply screwing in the factory supplied Drum Pins.

After leveling it and removing the pins it never missed a beat and still performs flawlessly. We have experienced no problems whatsoever and the machine has not needed to be serviced yet.

Problems have been reported by other reviews noting Mold or Sour Wash odor from their clothing. It is true, unlike other washers I have owned you can not leave clothes in the drum overnight. I left a load of towels in the drum overnight and they were quite soured when they came out of the dryer the next day.

Perhaps running a couple of empty loads with bleach, cleaning the detergent tray, and leaving the door open for a day or 2 might help eliminate lingering mold smells.

Hairs collect along the bottom of the glass door. I generally wipe the inside of the glass door clean and the lower boot area of residual water (approx. 2 tablespoons). However, I have had no problems with large amounts of water filling the bottom of the boot as has been reported in the past with front loaders.

Water does collect inside the detergent tray, simply slide the tray out and empty the collected water on a regular basis.

We leave the door ajar when not in use to prevent any mold issues.

Again I embrace my initial review and I strongly endorse this great machine. We just purchased a sister Dryer which we are even more excited about...but that's another review. 

Our laundry money savings has actually offset the unusually high cost of gasoline over the last year!