Front Loading Washing Machines

I was just talking to Mrs. TAE about this the other day: why were washing machines top loading for 50+ years, and suddenly front loading washers have taken the nation by storm? Seems the matching, boldly colored washer/dryer set is so en vogue now.

But there had to be a reason the top-loading washer was so popular for so long, right?

Turns out there is: mold. Front loading washers have a mold problem, as many unfortunate owners are discovering:Consumer Reports subscribers from across the country have complained about smelly front-loaders. In fact, the editors have received so many complaints, they now warn about the problem when they review washers.

But these high-efficiency washing machines save money, right? Turns out the fix for the mold is expensive:

Lembersky could see what was causing the stink. She found “black, gooey, slimy stuff” growing inside the rubber gasket which goes around the glass window on the washer door. That was quite a surprise because she regularly cleans the machine and runs loads with bleach and hot water. “It just gives me the willies,” she says. “I don't like the thought of mold in my washer.”

Desperate for relief, she hired technician Scott Wiseman to remove and replace the disgusting rubber gasket. Once he took the washer apart, Wiseman found mold inside the machine, too. The job cost $300.

Wait, the savings she reaps from having a more energy efficient washer have been completely offset by the cost of maintenance? Almost like a Toyota Prius!

In engineering we learn: stick with what works.
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