Read this BEFORE buying this model

Kind of long, but worth the read...

After a few months of reading up on washers and dryers, I finally purchased this model from a west Houston Lowe's and took delivery this past Saturday. (early Feb 2008) I had almost given up on front-loaders until Consumer Reports listed this as a 'Best Buy'. This Frigidaire Gallery front-loader scored high in every category and was well-priced for all the bells and whistles it offers, so I took the plunge. Nearly $1100, a few phone calls and one service call later, I am finally satisfied that I made a good choice.

washer $760
pedestal $180
tax
and a delivery/install fee of $49 - (should be refunded as a rebate)

I bought some Cheer HE detergent and had it ready and waiting when my washer was delivered. After installing it, the tech ran a rinse cycle to check that the washer was working and then he left. I ran my first real washer load of clothing AFTER reading the instructions. I pulled up a chair and watched the whole cycle from start to finish. I was amazed... until the final spin slung out soap bubbles onto the inside of the door window. YUCK

When the washer is washing and rinsing, water pours onto the clothes but there is never a visible water level in the drum. Just soapy, dripping-wet clothes being tumbled around. I wasn't sure if this was normal or not. I tried reducing the amount of detergent I used from line 2 (the recommended amount for a full load) to 1 1/2... to 1... to less than 1... I even added and extra rinse cycle to every wash (you can do that with this model and IT REMEMBERS!) Still I was singing 'tiny bubbles...'.

I know these front-loaders use much less water, but that isn't such a good thing if they can't rinse the detergent out of my family's clothes... right?

Over the next couple of days I read the Q&A on www.frigidaire.com When you call them you get a recording telling you to look for answers on their website - apparently spending $1000 still doesn't get you a real person. I re-read the manual that came with the machine. I called Lowe's appliance dept. several times and the toll-free line for Lowe's service that they gave me. Although everyone was very polite, no one could tell me with certainty - if at all - what was normal for this model or what to do about it. Finally I was told to let a serviceman come out and check my washer.

The serviceman just left and I am feeling much better, albeit a little embarrassed. He ran some tests, ran a rinse and spin cycle without clothes added (still seeing soap bubbles in the water from detergent left behind!) checked that the washer was level (I had complained it sometimes vibrates a little with heavy items like towels) and in the end, told me that I was simply using too much detergent. Luckily, Frigidaire picked up the $80-something service fee since the machine was obviously still under warranty.

Wouldn't it have been cheaper for them and less of a hassle for me if I could have just talked to a real person at Frigidaire for a few minutes?!

One other thing you should know is that these washers (apparently all front-loaders) stay wet inside and must be aired out to prevent mold problems. If you have small children this could be problematic for you - or at least a hassle to time it right for safety's sake. When you are done with your last load, wipe down the inside of the door and the groove in the bellows (the grey rubber seal) with a rag or towel (I keep a stack on top of the washer), then leave the door open, open up the dispenser drawer and let them air out for several hours or overnight. The service tech also suggested running a bleach load (i.e. whites) once in a while.

Of note - the serviceman asked me if I got a video with my washer - I did not - just booklets. Maybe that was the problem.

This washer holds a lot, but not much more than my old extra-large capacity top loader. As far as I can tell from reading up on other models and brands, there are other front-loaders that can hold more.

I DO like the way front-loaders wash - they are much easier on the clothes and the environment. This machine seems to clean well and spins the clothes very dry, so I've cut my drying time in half - even on blue jeans and towels! no kidding - even the waist bands and thicker parts of the jeans come out of the dryer bone-dry!!!

The washer is easy to use. When you turn the dial - it comes to life and sets the water temp and everything for you - then you have the option to change settings to customize the cycle (i.e. spin speed, add an extra rinse). Just realize it will 'remember' what you changed and the next time you choose that same wash cycle (i.e. PermPress) it will set everything the way you did the last time.

I jotted down the cycles, auto settings, times and choices. Here goes...

Drain/Spin 13 min.
Rinse/Spin (cold/cold) 19 min.
Soak (cold/cold) 42 min.
Bulky (warm/cold) 42 min.
Wool (cold/cold) 28 min.
Sport (warm/cold) 33 min.
Silk (cold/cold/no spin/extra rinse) 28 min.
Heavy (Hot/cold/extra rinse) 55 min.
Normal (warm/warm) 44 min.
PermPress (warm/cold) 31 min.
Quick (warm/cold) 32 min.
Delicate (cold/cold) 30 min
Handwash (cold/cold) 28 min
TouchUp (cold/cold) 30 min.

You can delay start with this machine (up to 8 hrs? I think)

There is a soft beeping that alerts you to the end of the cycle. I'm not sure if it can be turned off but I think it can. I like this feature so I haven't tried.

The spin speed apparently defaults to high (or the last one you chose) so check it and change it before starting if needed.

Some cycles offer a choice of 'Normal' or 'Heavy' Soil.

There is also a 'Press Saver' feature. I think this continues to tumble the clothes gently to prevent wrinkles. The machine does this for a couple of minutes anyway at the end of the final spin. The only thing I find that doesn't come loose from the sides easily are towels.

Be sure to check all around the drum for any items that have stuck to the sides or gotten wedged between the side and a fin. Very small items can get caught in the groove of the rubber seal, so have a washing bag for delicates on hand if you are washing baby socks or something similar.

You can pause a cycle and open the door to add items, but depending on when in the process you pause it, it may take a couple of minutes for the door to unlock. It's frustrating if you are in a hurry, but you just have to wait.

The dispenser drawer is easy to use, but it's plastic, so handle it gently. I'm not sure it would hold up well to any abuse. I have a W/D space with folding doors. The dispenser is on the far left so it is hard to position the washer so that the folding door doesn't interfere with opening it all the way. (this is not really a problem unless I want to use the bleach dispenser) If I shove the dryer over far enough to do this, then I can't open the dryer door all the way. (still using my old dryer - not stacked with washer) Frigidaire should consider redesigning this model and moving the dispenser drawer to the other side of the washer - the same side as the door handle.

I haven't had this washer very long, but with a family of five and a dog - I've already done several loads. I just used the fabric softener dispenser last night (Ultra Downy free & sensitive filled to just above the first mark in the drawer) and it worked very well. I also reduced the amount of detergent used in this load to just enough to cover the bottom of the cap (approx. 2 tsp.?). My clothes came out clean, soap-free and came out of the dryer nice and soft. YEA!!!

It is important that you use HE detergent in front loaders (made to be low-sudsing) - and for this model at least - much LESS than the bottle recommends.

Update 2/14/08:
I have since learned that regular detergent residue left in the clothes from my old detergent and top-loader might have been the source of some of the bubbles. Another poster commented that she had been told to run the first load of clothes without ANY detergent and still had soap bubbles after the final spin. As I wash more and more of our clothing in the new machine and wash out any old detergent residues, I might try adding a little bit more HE detergent to my loads and see what happens.

Update 6/4/08
It's June and I am still glad I bought this machine. I have long since washed out the old detergent residues from our clothes and now I add a little more HE detergent - about a tablespoon or so - per load. Still, though, that's a big savings! Even though HE soap costs more per ounce, I actually spend less $$ per load. I'm still using the original jug of Cheer HE - no kidding.

I have gotten brave about filling the drum full of clothes when I load it. (just make sure the door closes easily) I agree with another comment that it seems to wash better when its full. It does hold more than my old ex-large top-loader.

A Note about chlorine bleach:
The bleach dispenser in this model is fine for whites or very light off-whites (that are safe for bleach), but if you add anything that will show an uneven distribution of bleach, don't wash it in this machine. I save my bleach loads for white and off-white sheets and towels, and add an extra rinse to the cycle.

Before you throw in the towel, throw in a towel. -
The first time I washed my rugs (alone) they came out dripping wet. I was so disappointed. If you are going to wash rubber-backed rugs or only a few small rugs, throw a towel or two in with them. Same goes for microfiber blankets that tend to float. They will wash and spin dry much better. This model won't get up to full speed when spinning if it can't balance the load.