Two of the newer and more interesting washer brands are Electrolux and GE.
Electrolux has only been manufacturing front-load washers in the last 15 years. Haier dramatically changed GE's laundry three years ago. Both have unique features under cool euphemisms like "SmartBoost" and "OdorBlock."
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In this article, you will read the pros and cons of both. I have chosen the best model from each manufacturer, the GE GFW850SSNWW and the Electrolux ELFW7637AW front load washers.
When you weigh the pros and cons of both, just understand that the best front washer may be the available one. Supplies on every appliance will be a problem until 2024.
GE is not GE anymore. It's a division of Haier, a Chinese manufacturer. Although I am partial to American-owned companies, GE has flourished under Haier, especially their cooking, Café line, and laundry.
GE was never this good under the GE conglomerate or a large corporation. It's a much more focused company now. Most of their manufacturing is still US-based. Their washers are manufactured in China, while their dryers and most of their appliances, are made in the US.
Features:
Electrolux scored one of the biggest appliance successes in the early 1990s. They started manufacturing stainless steel appliances under their Frigidaire label. Electrolux is based in Sweden and is an appliance-only brand like GE with significant US manufacturing.
Their larger front-load laundry sets are new to the market and are made in Mexico, with their smaller compact laundry produced in Poland and Italy. We don't sell Electrolux, but I like their washers. I had their first set years ago.
Here's a fun fact about GE and Electrolux: Electrolux had the inside track to buy GE, and Haier outbid them by almost two billion dollars.
Features:
Let's look at both machines and compare them.
| GE GFW850SSNWW | Electrolux ELFW7637AW | |
| Dimensions | 28" Width, 34" Depth, 39 3/4" Height | 27" Width, 32" Depth, 38" Height |
| Capacity | 5.0 Cu. Ft. | 4.5 Cu. Ft. |
| Reversible Door | Yes | Yes |
| ADA Compliant | Yes | No |
| Spin Speed | 1,300 RPM | 1,300 RPM |
| Smart Connectivity | Yes | No |
| Automatic Detergent Dispenser | Yes | No |
| Number of Cycles | 12 Cycles, 10 Options | 11 Cycles |
| Steam Cycle | Yes | Yes |
| Sanitize Cycle | Yes | Yes |
| Allergy Cycle | Yes | Yes |
| Soak Setting | No | Yes |
Both have more than enough cycles. GE has 12 cycles and Electrolux has 11.
Electrolux Front Load Washer Controls
Having a 1300 RPM is fast by industry standards. Clothes are almost dry out of the washer for less time in the dryer.
As a comparison, Whirlpool has 1000 RPMs in their front load washers. Top load washers spin much slower at 750 RPM. Miele is the fastest at 1600 for a smaller, compact washer.
Hard to believe Electrolux (shown above) and GE are the only washers and dryers with reversible doors, so the doors line up in every installation. More importantly, you can more easily transfer your clothes from washer to dryer.
Both have four-way venting for the dryer. That's huge. You can install the washer and dryers in every configuration.
Both have steam, so tougher stains like grass, blood, and wine are easily removed from your clothing.
GE is larger at five cubic feet than 4.5 cubic feet for Electrolux. However, GE's washer is deeper, which may or may not be an issue depending on the installation.
Electrolux has a 15-minute wash and dry cycle for lightly soiled fabrics versus 20 minutes for GE. Most of the fast wash cycles limit how much you can put in the washer. A 15-minute wash can only wash a small load. Only LG adds high-pressure water to lower the times in their Turbo360 short washes.
I was watching a video on Electrolux. They mentioned antimicrobial surfaces on the gasket. Yet, I didn't see it on their website as a feature. Additionally, the door on the Electrolux can be placed slightly open automatically rather than you remembering to do it.
Electrolux has a clean washer cycle a hot water wash without clothes. GE, however, has Microban antimicrobial surfaces on the gasket, hoses, and dispenser (shown above). Their "OdorBlock" system is a fan to dry the washer inside after the wash cycle.
GE is the best for mold prevention, mostly because it directly addresses the problem.
Pro Tip: You should leave the door open on a front load washer after every wash. Mold is a by-product of moisture. Allowing air into the washer will help reduce the problem. You should also run a hot water cycle with Affresh to remove any residual odors.
You can place an outfit in the GE and have it washed and dried for the morning.
Electrolux is the only company not to have Wi-Fi or home connectivity. LG, Samsung, Maytag, Whirlpool, and GE all have Wi-Fi.
For washers and dryers, having smart technology is convenient. You can see how much time is remaining, so you don't have to trudge to your basement to watch the last 4 minutes and 30 seconds of a cycle. The washer will even text you when the cycle is done.
This GE washer will even set the drying cycle. You can also monitor the amount of soap left in the automatic dispenser.
Electrolux dispenses theirs in the top instead of just tossing them in with your fabrics. Only Miele in a compact and Electrolux offer a pod dispenser. You would think more manufacturers would offer a dispenser for pods.
When we sold Electrolux, their SmartBoost feature was their best attribute. With SmartBoost, the unit holds the detergent at the bottom and mixes it with water to achieve optimum results. You have a watery soapy mix instead of soap on your clothes and then water mix later in the wash.
However, automatic dispensers do the same by releasing the exact amount of detergent needed at the right time in the wash. You also can load up to 32 loads of detergent with GE's automatic dispenser instead of reloading them every time.
Most importantly, you cannot overfill with an automatic dispenser. Overfilling detergent is a big problem because the soap suds stay in the machine and cause a service problem later.
You only need a capful of detergent for a front load washer. You also don't need to load the whole dispenser like a top load washer. Then again, with an automatic dispenser, you never have to figure out how much to use.
Regarding service problems, let's look at GE's and Electrolux's front load washer reliability.
The following service rates are based on a minimum of 300 front load washers sold per brand and a total sample of over 3,000 from December 2020 to October 2021.
Most Reliable Front Load Washers from December 2020 to October 2021
| Service Ratio | |
| LG | 3.3% |
| Samsung | 4.9% |
| GE Appliances | 8.0% |
| Whirlpool | 9.5% |
| Maytag | 15.0% |
| Grand Total | 6.3% |
GE is decent at 8%, whereas the average appliance needs repair 9.5% of the time.
Electrolux washers are decent if I remember from five years ago. Their problems were in the dryer with a lint screen issue. When we stopped selling Electrolux, we serviced their dryers a disproportionate amount of time.
You may want to check for appliance service in your area and talk to your local dealer about how Electrolux has improved the reliability of their dryers.
Also, GE has one of the best service networks if you run into a problem with your washer and dryer. It's a huge advantage if your store does not offer service.
Read More: Most Reliable Front Load Washers
What's better depends on how you use your washer. Electrolux is better if you like shorter cycles and use detergent pods. Flexibility in dryer venting is a plus for Electrolux as well.
However, GE is a more convenient, more updated washer. You have better mold technology, Wi-Fi, and an automatic detergent dispenser. Both are good. Look at service in your area as a deciding factor.
Additional Resources
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