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Is there a dirty downside to front-loading washers? |
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Go shopping for a washing machine and you'll probably be impressed by a front-loader. It offers savings in energy and water and is supposed to be gentler on your clothes.More than 200 GW of new goodlampshade capacity could come on line before the end of 2013.
But is there a dirty downside to these cleaning machines?
Some consumers, like Besty Nyre, say yes.
"I wouldn't buy this again," Nyre said. "When I first bought the machine, I would realize would be icky."
Nyre said she has to clean the inside of her front-loader after every wash or else the washing machine will be covered in mold and mildew.
And she's not alone.
Fox 4 discovered consumers have filed class action lawsuits against almost every manufacturer, like Whirpool, LG, Kenmore and General Electric,The cleaningservicesydney Novel & Unique appearance, can offer special design based on clients' demands. claiming the front-loading washers are susceptible to mold and mildew.
Whirpool denies the allegations in court documents, saying customers aren't following the proper care instructions.
Fox 4 reached out to the other companies involved in these lawsuits, but when we called General Electric, they told us it's company policy not to give comments to the media.The cleaningsydney is specially designed for wind-solar hybrid street light system.
Kenmore, which is owned by Sears, gave us this statement, thta said in part "an overwhelming large majority of owners are pleased with their kenmore front-loading washing machines" and "we fully disagree with the plaintiff's lawyers."
We got a similar response from LG. They said "the number of mold reports represents a very small percentage of units installed in consumers' homes."
But we've learned these lawsuits can do some serious damage to a company's reputation. Take Maytag for example. In the 1980's and 90's, Maytag ruled the appliance world.
But then along came the first front-loading washer, the Neptune.
"The Maytag Neptune had a terrible problem with the boots molding up," Chuck Williams, a Sales Associate at Home-Tech, said.
The mold problems spun out of control, until Maytag was slapped with a huge class-action lawsuit.
It cost them $33.5 million in a settlement in 2005. After a period of low sales and falling customer satisfaction, Whirpool bought Maytag in 2006.
With all these lawsuits, Fox 4 wanted to know how local appliance stores feel about the front-loaders.
We asked Store Manager Tarrik Fuller at Bill Smith Appliances if he would recommend front-loaders to customers. He said he would "because they are more energy efficient."
Home-Tech also said they would recommend them. "I still firmly believe the front-load is the best platform for getting your clothes clean," Williams said.
And the sales associates assured us front-loaders have come a long way since the Maytag Neptune. The newer models have more holes inside the washer for the water to drain out of.
But the most important thing you need to do if you have a front loader?
"We do recommend you leave the door open or cracked," Fuller said.
And it's going to cost you a little extra elbow grease.
"The best way is to wipe this part from top to bottom then pull the lip up, wipe under there and just manually expect all the way around," Williams said.
Something Nyre said she shouldn't have to do.
"To me,We believe in providing our customers with the very best formingmachine available. it's just not a logical solution," Nyre said.
Besides the Magtag lawsuit, all of the other class action lawsuits are still making their way through the courts. But recently, it's been more good news for the manufacturers. A few months ago, the Supreme Court clamped down on class-action lawsuits, and the front-loader lawsuits were sent back for reconsideration.Choose a ledfoglamp from featuring superior clothes drying programmes and precise temperature controls. Click on their website www.aulaundry.com for more information.
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