Whisper quiet - super clean clothes!

After our Maytag top-loader started to have transmission problems in less than 5 years, we decided to take the plunge and buy a front-loading machine. The predominant reason for plunking down substantially more for a washing machine was an article at Cosumer Reports. Evidently, the EPA has set higher restrictions for washing machines for 2007 and the top-loading machines are having a hard time meeting the requirements AND providing the cleanest of clothes.

Since we are not living in our "dream home", we didn't want to buy the top-of-the-line $1500 machine. We settled on the Frigidare ATF6700F as a reasonably-priced machine. It has enough features for our needs and, at $659.00 on sale at Best Buy, it was the right price.

After the installers set the machine up, I started running loads of laundry. The first thing that I noticed was the dispenser drawer. Frigidare has conveniently set markers on the bleach and softener reservoirs so that measurement is a no-brainer. Simply fill each one according to the marks for the load size. The only one that requires external measuring is the detergent. NOTE: you need to use HE (High Efficiency) detergent for this machine.

After selecting the cycle, water temp and additional features (including longer spin, extra rinse, etc), press start. The door locks and the machine starts. I was amazed at how quiet this unit really is. The only time you really hear anything is when water is pouring into the unit and when it is in the spin cycle. Otherwise, you can barely hear ANYTHING. THe motor is silent - during the wash cycle, you can hear the faint sound of the clothing sloshing around in the drum. Basically, during the wash cycle, you could have this unit sitting next to you while watching television and you would barely know it's there.

The display shows a minute-by-minute countdown of remaining time. At the end of the cycle, the unit beeps to tell you that the load is ready for drying.

Now for the next surprise: the clothes are nearly dry when they come out of the unit. My dryer is running less than 1/2 the time of comparable loads from my old Maytag. So this washer not only saves me money using less water and less HOT water, but electricity used for drying the clothes. I would imagine that the additional cost for the washer is quickly recovered in energy savings.

Below, I have copied and pasted the product details directly from Best Buy's website:


Digital controls make it easy to select the correct wash options
3.5 cu. ft. capacity accommodates large loads
7 cycles, including permanent press, delicate, hand-wash and second rinse, deliver specialized care for delicates, permanent press and more
iWash feature automatically customizes the settings for each load; advanced rinse technology ensures your garments are thoroughly rinsed for peace of mind
5 temperature options allow you to customize the settings to meet the needs of different fabric types; automatic temperature control takes the guesswork out of proper washing
Extra rinse and extra spin options allow for additional fabric care
Bleach, prewash and fabric softener dispensers eliminate the need to add products during the different cycles
Delay-start lets you program the washer to start when it's most convenient
Stainless-steel wash basket resists wear and won't snag material, so your clothes won't get damaged
Stackable design saves space when used with a compatible dryer (not included)



The last comment that I would make about this unit is that if you have the room in your laundry area, you may want to consider the pedestal option which raises the unit off of the floor. Front-loaders sit very low which requires the user to crouch on the floor to load and empty the washer. A pedestal lessens the need for bending which is much easier on the back.

I would highly recommend this unit to anyone considering a low-priced, but feature packed front-loading washer. It's reasonably priced, has an adequate number of wash cycles available, and is super-quiet.

ADDENDUM - 12/7/07
I failed to mention in the original review that the unit also has a delay wash feature. The user is able to delay starting a cycle up to 14 hours which is very useful if your local power company installs electronics on the hot water heater to shut it down during peak times. Therefore, a hot load can be scheduled for the middle of the night when the energy demands are much less on the utility companies.

Also, this unit has a stainless steel drum rather than porcelain over steel or plastic. In addition, because there is no agitator in a front-loading machine, there is very little chance that clothing could be snagged and ripped.

ADDENDUM 12/14/07
I have put the machine through a variety of loads and cycles. I have several "rag rugs" (croched rugs in which strips of old fabric are used instead of yarn) which I washed in the gentle cycle. I never trusted my old Maytag with these rugs because they can easily be snagged on an agitator and ripped apart. After the cycle was complete, they came out sparkling clean and spun dry enough to simply place on the floor and allowed to air dry.

The permanent press cycle works its magic and "fluffs" the clothing at the end to absolutely minimize wrinkles.

The bottom line is that I continue to enjoy having this machine with each use. It was WELL worth the extra $$$ for a front-loader.