Sharp front loaders are not very popular, I believe it is a OEM model from some lesser known manufacturer. While Hitachi and Panasonic is relatively new for front loaders in Malaysia, they do sell the same model worldwide. This was one of my consideration when I purchased the Panasonic but sadly Panasonic controls their spare parts inventory, so we cannot get spares from overseas as well.

Luckily I did not consider Bosch when I was shopping for a washing machine 2 years back.

I got myself a Panasonic 10kg front loading machine, washes well but when we load to max capacity; it has trouble to balance load properly. Already got two years out of this machine with one service call this year due to coins stuck in the sump (just above the lint filter). Hope to get another four before it breaks down. On weekends we run two loads with 15-30 mins break in between, and every alternate day on weekdays.

Front loader quick wash, is not a full fledged wash cycle. On my Panasonic there is a rapid 15 min wash for 2kg of clothes only (Although the machine is rated for 10kg) and the quick 50 mins wash cycle is for 5kg of clothes only. Different cycle has different capacity, you need to read the manual of your washing machine to understand.

So far we have had nothing but front loaders, and never had much issue with them. The 1st machine own by my parents lasted for about 15 years before the bearing died, and their replacement machine lasted for 11 years when the mechanical timer died and the motor was starting to seize up (this machine was well abused throughout its lifespan as we mostly overloaded it than its rated capacity of 5.5kg) and finally I purchased the Panasonic to replace the last front loader.

The Panasonic and Hitachi were among the first to come out with large diameter opening front loaders, for easier loading and unloading of clothes and this machine definitely cleaned better than the previous two machines we had.

Top loaders do finish the laundry cycles faster, but at the same time they can be very rough and not necessarily clean. Water savings was not the only reason I got a front loader but due to the availability of hot water wash as well, which comes in handy when you want to wash bath / tea towels in hot water.

I am comparing the wash cycle to my brother's Electrolux top loader (which is not all that fast either and has clunky noises while operating) and also a Sharp (very fast wash cycles but tangles up clothes and makes it difficult to unload, damages undergarments due to overstretched while washing) top loader which I used while I was renting.

Early Samsung front loading machine were problematic, not sure if they still are though but so far I am happy with the Panasonic FL. Buying a front loading machine just for the sake of saving water is not a valid reason but in the long run it saves me from buying new clothes very so often, and inverter motor in top loading / front loading machines makes a very big difference in the washing ability of the machine.

Yours is the water level sensor problem, not very expensive to repair (roughly about RM80 - RM150, depending on the machine but if its the timer or PCB then it will be more expensive. Better to get 2nd opinion.

I am using Panasonic Front Loading machine, alr using for slightly more than 2 years now. Broke down once because coins got stuck in the filter sump.

Other than that, if you're getting the 10kg machine and intend to do 10kg load, this is not a machine I would recommend. The absorbers are pretty weak and clothes may end up not being able to spin when doing full load. Between 70% to 80% load it spins flawlessly. Other than these, so far no major problems encountered.

From what I see and experience from my previous front loader, this machine has a very poor distribution cycle just prior to start spinning and I do not see anywhere in the brochure on active load balancing for this machine unlike Hitachi or Samsung.

The only good thing is that this machine is over engineered to the effect that the PCB board is all by itself in a casing like a CPU and is isolated from dampness etc, on the downside, if something breaks down, it will be a nightmare to repair it. Even to reach the door latch from the top of the machine, with the top cover open can be a challenge.

But if I had to do it again, would skip Panasonic and go for Hitachi or Samsung with regards to the load balance system. A machine that is designed to take 10kg load and not being able to live to that rating is a shame and misleading.

Based on online reviews, Indesit is a low end budget centric model and very prone to breakdown. I would tread with caution, and if there are free extended warranty thrown in; then it might be of bargain.

You can get a Front Loading Extension hose, I bought a 2 meter hose before from Ace Hardware but you can find it at any hardware shop. Just mention front loading machine.

Some modern front loaders, with too many electronics fitted will fail faster than 10 years but the same also applies for top loaders. We have to realise, that for overseas market, front loaders usually will have a failed drum bearing seal or broken spider arm. This is due to the hardwater issue and this is where the major cost of repair comes to play, as it is very difficult to access a front loader drum bearing or the tub spider arm.

In Malaysia usually the drum bearing failure happens only after 10 years for a machine that is not abused (ie not overloaded or overused). My parents have been using front loaders all the time, our first FL lasted for 15 years (drum seal damaged but we kept using the machine until no spare parts were available), second FL lasted for 12 years ( no damage on drum bearing but had drain pump failure and the motor was getting weaker).

Currently using Panasonic FL, and if this machine is able to make it pass 6 years without a fuss, would be a bonus for us.

Only spin problem? Or cannot wash as well?

But their new top loaders with built in sink is a very good idea, innovative I would say. None of the Top load washing machine manufacturer have thought of incorporating this design until now, its very useful for washing delicates or pre washing stains prior to main wash.

Each to his own opinion, but what about other equipments around the house? Might as well live off the grid then.

This is because your model is running on the normal AC carbon "brush" motor, the newer Inverter models run with DC brushless motor, which has much lower noise during spin.

And remaining humidity in clothes is pretty much dependant on how efficient the machine is in spinning. My Panasonic Machine when spin at 800rpm is much dryer compared to our older machine which also spin at 800rpm. The difference is that some machine, do not hold on to the max spin speed for long. Meaning if the spin duration is 4 mins, the first 3 mins it will spin at 600rpm before going to 800rpm in the last min of the spin or so. But some will straightaway ramp up to 800rpm within the first 2 mins and hold it for the next 2 mins.

I used liquid and switched to powder, liquid somehow after 20 cycles or so will leave behind some dark slimy residue on my washing machine and clothe also don't smell fresh. After using powder no such issues. I am using Max Kleen9, Persil new formula not as good as before but this my personal opinion.

Yes I used the Top Low Suds liquid detergent, but it still produces a lot of suds based on the recommended dosage and when I reduce the dosage the clothes are not clean. The Amway liquid soap also changed their formula, and the new formula does not give a fresh smell which means that it is not cleaning well. Also, both this liquid soap leave behind a very slimy residue on the interior of the machine between the gasket and the drum (probably reaction between the Softener and the soap). After changed to MaxKleen9 no such issues and clothes are much cleaner.

This post has been edited by dayalan86: Mar 31 2015, 08:20 AM

I don't believe in strong fragrant smell either but definitely not musky smell out of the machine, MaxKleen9 has very mild smell. MaxKleen9 is low suds detergent and was developed for Front Loading machine. On our older washing machine, we either used Persil Low Suds or MaxKleen9 but recently Persil is no longer imported and manufactured locally. With this the formula also was changed and we find it is not as effective as before. Last time there used to be Spin detergent as well, which I can no longer find.

https://www.sunshineonline.com.my/products/...entrated-powder

It produces much less suds than Persil.

This post has been edited by dayalan86: Mar 31 2015, 11:14 AM

Not mushroom, grow mould. Two different things, in our weather just leaving the washing machine door slightly ajar would help it dry off the gasket. My parents have been using front loader for the past 20 years, we are on our 3rd machine and this one is the most "intelligent" and uses very much less water than our previous 2 washing machines and does the job pretty much faster than both the older generation FL but not as fast a TL in normal mode.

Under economy or very lightly soild mode, it is comparable to a TL and we can also pause to add in clothes mid wash which was not possible in any of the 2 older generation model we used.

We have a spare Electrolux TL which belongs to my bro, but it is very rough on delicate items.

Yea Panasonic is a bummer, the suspensions is rated for max 8 kg based on what the technician came and informed us, as during the initial stage the machine refused to spin if it was loaded up to 10kg. Then when I readjusted the machine by using a proper level and making sure that the machine is slightly tilted to the back (still level just that the bubble is off centre towards the rear), it doesnt have this problem and spins well unless the load is really unbalanced (but our older machine could just handle that load despite being rated at 6kg).

Seeing a Hitachi and Bosch in motion, I'd say those are better machines in terms of the suspension. I am using NA-140VX3 for 2.5 years now. Some weird sounds coming from the water pump but based on previous experience this is due to currency notes or coins stuck in the sump (this is a common problem on this washing machine).

Hopefully it will pull through up to 6 years without a glitch.