We bought a new LG steam front loader five months ago. With matching dryer. There is no musty smell in this machine. Use it every day and it works fine. Bought it from HDeopt with a five year service contract for less than 200. It covers parts and labor. One ofthe reasons front loaders had that smell was the rubber ring that the door closes on had no drain in it. The new lg does ,plus the front door has a some sort of fixture that will keep it open about a half inch When you are not washing somthing. That and the drain in the rubber washer ,looks to have solved the problem with the smell. The machine uses much less water than a normal machine, but it cleans just fine. We try to be energy efficient and with the good reviews that it had ,we went for it. We did have the first generation maytag front loader and it had the smell problem. Maytag came out and put a new rubber ring with a drain in it. Your best bet is to go to several places that sell appliances and talk with the salesman about the different machines and also look at consumers reports.

If it makes any difference: Maytag and Whirlpool are made in USA. LG is made in S. Korea.

Have a Maytag washer and dryer in VA and an LG front loader set in FL. Both sets top of the line available. To be fair the VA set is 7 years old and the FL set is 2 years old. However to date there is no comparison. The Maytag makes far to much noise, has had several costly repairs, and does not do anywhere near as good a job cleaning the cloths as the LG. If buying today I would get the LG again.

And I have had nothing but problems with the two LG products we have in ur MI condo--french door fridge and dishwasher. Eve as we speak I am waiting for the repairman to work on the ice maker (for the third time). These products were purchased in 2007, but since we're gone all winter, they are only used part of the year. The DW never fit right, leaked, doesn't dry the dishes and does a lousy job cleaning them.

I will never again buy another LG product. That said, I think Consumer Reports liked their washing machine (front loader).

I have the Samsung steam front loaders...I love them. I too wipe the seals and leave door cracked open. I don't have a musty smell. I would buy them again if and when the time comes for new ones.

Mom and I have the front load washer and dryers on pedestals in both Michigan and Florida. I really can't tell you about the Whirlpool washer and dryer that we bought in Florida last year because we rent out that home.

First, let me say, the reason we bought the front load washer and dryers on pedestals is because my 89 year old Mom has two artificial hips. She finds it very difficult to reach in a top load appliance. What can I say, she still likes to help out! I am short and I also find it difficult to reach into a top load washer and dryer.

We have had the Maytag units in Michigan for about 6 years. We did have an odor problem. That problem has been resolved by using the Tide packets. I'm run an empty load with the Tide packet on the first of the month and haven't had a problem since then.

That's my choice to replace the agitatorless low-water top-of-the-line Kenmore that doesn't get our clothes clean. I'm waiting a year, then donating them to Habitat.

I too have never had a problem with musty odors on my front loader in MI. I leave the door slightly open--doesn't get in the way--and hardly ever dry the seal. Yes, MI is dryer than FL, but we have a/c in FL and never let it get too humid in the house. I suppose if you have your machines in the garage, that would be more of a consideration.

You want real problems? Buy something with GE on it. Never again. I think that most appliances are made so cheap today that it is difficult to get anything that will last like the old stuff did.

I have the Kenmore that is made by LG and I love it. Front loaders on washing machine can get a smell especially here in the south but there are maintenace things that can help that. I love mine and is second front loader I've had from Kenmore. Only had one Maytag and that was a dryer years ago. Never again. Had to constantly have serevice on it. Over 46 years of marriage have owned 4 sets of Kenmores. My current set is now three years old.

Thanks again, everyone! After agonizing over this decision, studying reviews, Consumer Reports, etc. hubby and I finally flipped a coin. You may think we are crazy for doing that! Both machines and models were equally rated and both had good and bad comments on the reviews. Both were basically the same size in load and dimensions. Both came in the graphite color I wanted. No clear winner. I was leaning toward the LG (don't ask me why) and the coin toss came up LG. So, I should have a new LG washer and dryer in a couple weeks! We'll see how it goes.

From what I understand , dishwashers should be used frequently , if not ,gaskets and seals can dry out and you can have leaks. A dishwasher repair man told me this.

I have an older model Whirlpool front loader washer and I have never had an issue with it BUT having said that, I know that it collects water in the cup that holds soap so I leave that drawer open after the laundry is finished and I leave the door cracked open til it is dry. That has eliminated the smell. It uses less water, is extremely gentle on clothes because it doesn't wring them out and twist them out of shape, uses very little water and is so quiet I am not sure it is on all the time. It has held up for 10 years with out an issue (hope I haven't jinxed myself). I do a lot of laundry, including dog beds, blankets and small rugs. I would only buy a front loader again. My dryer is a Maytag but it is a model they no longer make and I am sorry they discontinued it. It has 2 dryers in one- a normal one on bottom and the top hangs clothes and gentles shakes them dry on low or very low. I adore that dryer and wish I could get another one in TV to replace it.