I have a Whirlpool front loader and I like it very much. After some defective electronic part finally got replaced soon after I got it, it has performed well for the past 6 years or so.
I went with a front loader because I liked the idea of clothes being tumbled around and not agitated. I don't like my clothes to get beaten up.
Mine cleans extremely well, although I always use an extra rinse cycle just because I'm compulsive about no liquid Tide remaining in the clothes. It could also be the Tide which results in great stain removal and cleaning, , however, but all I know is that the laundry gets cleaner than it used to.
Here's a short list of manufacturer-recommended rules for owning a front loader long-term without mold or smells:
--.always wipe out the little bit of water that collects on the outside rim of the gasket after every load
-- always keep the door open, not closed (this won't work if your washer is on display near your living area of course)
--read the owner's manual carefully when it comes to cleaning the machine. I think many complaints from owners result from not doing this.
My Whirlpool has a "Clean Washer" cycle that uses only bleach. It scrubs the daylights out of the machine and cleans it nicely. I don't seem to need to use the "clean washer/bleach" cycle nearly as often as recommended, because I don't close the door and leave a damp environment in the machine.
I think today's top-loaders without agitators would work for me, too, but I still like the front-loading aspect, especially when cleaning big items such as bed linens and quilts.