Own one of these washers? You may be eligible for money

Whirlpool (WHR) has settled a class-action lawsuit brought by owners of some front-end loading washing machines who claim they failed to adequately wash off laundry residue, resulting in foul-smelling mold and mildew build-up that ruined their clothes.

The settlement covers 5.6 million Whirlpool, Maytag and Kenmore front-loaders made by Whirlpool between 2001 and 2010 (see complete list of affected models). Owners of these machines may be eligible to get $50 in cash or a 20 percent rebate off the purchase of a new washer and dryer.  

South Korea-based LG recently reached a settlement in a similar case involving up to 800,000 front-loaders bought in the U.S. between 2002 and 2006. Owners of the affected machines are eligible for a cash award​ of $35 or a $105 rebate toward the purchase of a new front-end loader. 

The defendants in both cases have denied wrongdoing. Consumers have until October 11 to file a claim against Whirlpool and October 10 in the LG case.

Separately, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CSPC) is investigating reports that some top loaders made by Samsung “exploded” during normal use. According to Consumerist, the agency is working with the South Korean company to address the issue after receiving dozens of complaints.  

The CSPC is advising owners of affected machines, which were made between March 2011 and April 2016, to only use the delicate cycle when washing bedding, water resistant or bulky items.