Not bad, but not "wowed," either.

The Backstory...
I had a pair of Whirlpool white washer/dryer for about 13 years when my washer finally stopped agitating. After suffering washer envy from every single family member for at least a decade, we finally decided to replace them.

The Purchase...
We went to H.H. Gregg and got the pair on sale. The first issue was that the washer was in (good, because we needed it), but the dryer was not in stock. They had no idea when it would be in, but promised to call us. We got our washer within the week, and the black model was delivered without any issues. The delivery dude set up all of the hoses (they were included), and ran a quick rinse to make sure the hoses and the drains were working correctly.

The First Wash...
It came with a sample of the HE liquid Tide, so I grabbed a pile of darks and shoved as much as I could in. I felt like (and still don't feel) as if it has as much capacity as my old machine, which was a large-capacity top-loader. I honestly do not feel comfortable cramming clothing up to the very top. Oddly, when the dryer arrived, it seems to have MUCH more room. I still cannot figure that out.

I literally pulled up a stool and watched the entire first load, much to the amusement of my family (and probably our dog). It took 44 minutes for a regular load on cold water with a normal rinse and "more dry" spin.

The Mechanics...
Honestly, I have had no issues whatsoever operating it. It's very user-friendly, and has a lot of different settings. I have a Master's degree yet cannot operate my Blackberry, so I was a bit worried. No problems!

Also, it's amazingly quiet. With my old washer, I could not watch TV near it because it was so loud. I can barely hear this machine, even in the high-spin cycles. Also, it does not vibrate or "walk" across the floor - and I have a tile floor. So thrilled.

The Specs...
According to the frigidaire.com website, the washer has:

"A King-Sized capacity" - not really sure about this. The door doesn't want to shut if I get it anywhere close to filling it to the top, so I have to re-arrange the items inside and/or take some items out so it completely closes. There is a glass interior to the door that juts into the washer's tub. Since it juts into the actual tub, it pushes the clothing back into the tub, and therefore decreases the overall capacity. The only reason for this glass piece pushing into the tub, I think, is perhaps that the water tube is right above the glass, and *maybe* keeps the water from running directly into the bottom seal. Honestly, that's just a guess at best, but i'm not sure why this glass piece is so obtrusive. Commercial front-loaders don't have it at laundromats.

"Front load efficiency reduces annual energy and water costs by nearly 70%" - agreed. The water cost is definitely reduced as the tub doesn't have to fill from the top. I can't say what our exact savings is, but our water bill has definitely reduced!

The exterior dimensions are great, as they are a little smaller in width than my old washer:
Height: 36" Width: 27" Depth: 27-3/4"

We chose not to get the pedestals, and instead are building our own. I definitely recommend getting a pedestal, however, because they do sit very close to the floor and you have to bend far over to get the close in and out. Also, I like having my laundry basket in front of the unit so I can quickly pull out clothing; unless you have a really tiny basket, this isn't going to happen for you.

The Settings...
WOW ... this thing has a BOATLOAD of settings (yes, very unscientific, I know). You can choose from the following on the washer's spin-dial:

Heavy
Normal
Permanent Press
Quick
Delicate
Handwash
Silk
Wool
Sport
Bulky
Soak
Touch Up
Rinse Spin
Drain Spin

These cycles run from 49 minutes (Heavy) to 13 minutes (Drain Spin). Quick runs 32 minutes. I usually use Normal, which is 44 minutes.

Options with most of the cycles include:

Temperature - Cold/Cold, Warm/Cold, Warm/Warm, and Hot/Cold
Speed - High Spin, Medium Spin, Low Spin, Hang Dry, and No Spin
Soil Level - Heavy and Normal
Options - Extra Rinse, Extra Spin, Press Saver, Cycle Signal, and Delay Start

I generally use this on Cold/Cold, High Spin, Normal Soil, and Cycle Signal. The washer comes with a door lock, but if you need to add a garment, you can simply hit "Pause" and throw your item in. I had an extra bottle of old, non-HE detergent left over, and just put the Extra Rinse option on and use less soap with it.

So, What's Up With the Mold?
My mother-in-law has had horrible luck with her washer seals growing mold on every model she's had; my mom has had the same issues. Luckily, we have not had that problem at all with any mold growth or smells or anything. We have older children and fairly non-adventurous pets, so we usually leave the washer cracked when it is not in use.

One thing I have noticed is that really small items, like a child's sock, can wind up in the seal, sopping wet. Luckily I've seen the item every time this has happened, and nothing has slipped in the seal that is the same grey colour as the seal. I'm just glad the seal is not completely white or black, or one of us might have a nasty mildewed item of clothing sitting in the seal. It also makes me worried that bras or other items with hooks can burrow themselves deep in the seal, possibly ripping it. Fingers are crossed that this doesn't happen!

What's Not to Like?
Firstly, the door doesn't like to shut. I can't stand slamming doors, no matter what type they are. You do have to bang this door shut pretty hard, or it won't stay closed. Also, unless you're pressing in the right place, it will actually bounce back open on you when you shut it. I thought it was just me, but my older daughter (6' tall and 15 years old) has the same issue. Pretty aggravating, but I joke that the door not shutting is probably keeping the seals from getting moldy.

Secondly, it doesn't seem to clean the clothes as well as my top-loader, especially for soil that is crusty/flaky and dried on. I've had to double-check specific items of clothing when I pull them out of the dryer. Luckily, I don't have any toddlers who spill a lot of food on their clothing, but I have had to re-wash quite a few of my younger daughter's shirts.

Thirdly, the detergent/bleach/fabric softner dispenser is a pull-out tray with a locking latch on it. Both of my kids had a difficult time unlatching it, and I had to show my husband how to do it as well (I very well may be the only rocket scientist in my family... LOL). I don't feel that the lock is necessary; a simple groove that the tray nestles into would have been sufficient. The tray itself is VERY flimsy, and I'm always afraid something will drop on it or someone will walk into it and break it. In the manual, you are warned not to push in the tray too fast OR slam it shut as it will cause the detergent to slide into the unit prematurely. I'm also thinking that the bleach or fabric softener might get mixed up in the tray as well, so I'm also very careful when shutting the tray.

So?
Overall, I'm pleased with it. It uses much less water, has a little shorter running time than my old washer. It also uses a lot less detergent! Yay! However, the door issues, capacity, and the overall cleanliness of the clothing does not make this a slam-dunk for me. I'm much more pleased with the dryer, however.