Customer Reviews for LG 29 in. 1 cu. ft. SideKick Pedestal Front Load Washer in Graphite Steel TWINWash System Compatibility and NeveRust Drum

I love the ability to wash small loads using less water! The only complaint is the plastic handle. It broke, but only after almost 5 years of careful use. Glad I had the warranty! Also I leave it open to avoid mold, so it has to be kept pulled out.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Great pedestal matches my dryer and is the perfect height for my matching dryer to set a laundry basket right under the door to put fresh clean laundry in a basket rather than getting a arm load of laundry and getting it in the floor and has decent space to put my detergent and other household cleaners in out of sight out of mind

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] When I first bought this I was in disbelief that I would never use it and was having second thought on why I paid so much for a baby washer lol, but turns out it’s used more than I ever thought it would be it’s great for just a load of socks since it’s only 1 cubic foot but it’s versatile to do mini loads of every day laundry for me as I’m single and live alone

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Our previous washer went kaput and we need a heavy duty, large capacity washer. This machine does that and more! With the additional Pedastal Washer we get more laundry done. We shall see if this machine holds up over time (our last one lasted 8 years, used daily in that time). We have had this machine about a month and so far it has not dissappointed!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] We updated to the new LG washer and dryer and went the extra cost of washer as a pedestal. We really enjoy the advantage of the second washer. Used for any item that calls for hand wash as well as in a hurry single item.

I can't even explain how excited I was to be able to purchase the side kick. I had my eye on this for some time, but truth be told it seemed an extravagant purchase that really wasn't a necessity in my eyes. Low and behold Home Depot has a SUPER 4th of July Sale this year and I was able to get the WASHER, DRYER, SIDEKICK & PEDESTAL for $300 less than what I paid for a Washer & Dryer at another website. Although the experience with the other website was horrific the silver lining is that I was able to cancel my order with them and place a new order with Home Depot and receive my order within 3 days!!! My order with the other website was over 30 days and still no washer & dryer so I will definitely look to Home Depot before anyone else going forward! Anyway, the best part about the sidekick is that it can be used for delicates, or just small loads as needed. Now laundry does not need to pile up waiting for large loads. I honestly don't remember what life was like without it! LOL... I love it!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I bought this when I did a remodel in my house and read all the reviews. Many people complained about it filling with water but I was talked into getting it. This is a horribly designed product. I’ve had my installer out and then LG was out. The repair guy was incredibly rude. Admitted that people complained about this issue and said LG hasn’t addressed it. when I run my regular washer, the side kick fills with water. His solution was leave it open so it doesn’t get moldy. That defeats the purpose to have this open in the middle of my laundry room. Buyer beware!!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This is more a question than a review. Is there supposed to be something in the handle part (the space that the control panel occupies on the washer sidekick)? If not, is there something that should be where the screw holes are? It looks very unfinished the way it is. I’m wondering of something was left out with the installation since the washer sidekick was missing the measuring cup.

Works great for me! So happy I got this little washer in addition to my larger 29" LG WM8100HVA & DLEX8100V set. I got the WDP5V pedestal drawer for under the dryer to match. This comes in super handy for small loads or delicate items. I use it quite often for some specialty items that I have to wash separately. I also use it to wash small loads so I don't get stuck waiting around to get it all done. It was a great addition to my laundry room! It makes my life a whole lot easier being able to throw that smaller load in while the larger load is going in main washer at the same time. No more letting stuff set around waiting to be washed because I didn't have a large enough load. Only thing I can say is be careful with how much soap you use, this is quite a small unit so go with their recommendations on how much soap it can handle otherwise they say you could clog it up by overdoing it on the soap. I have used two pods without issue, but I don't do it all the time to ensure it rinses out properly. All in all, I highly recommend this gem! Best invention ever! Note: Just sharing this tidbit in hopes it helps others… if you hear a water noise when you move the drum around, this is normal. This is considered a top loader unit, so there is salt water around the drum unit for spin balancing. We originally thought we had water not draining and the store ended up replacing the unit because they thought it had a bad water pump. Even the install company thought it was defective so they had it replaced. I ended up getting a hold of someone at LG myself because the new one had the same issue with water sloshing around when you moved the drum around. That’s when he told us that it was considered a top loader, and all LG top loaders have a salt water solution around the drum for spin balance. Whoops! Shocked whoever Home Depot called at LG didn't catch this. I continued to use it and monitored it and it's been completely fine. Haven't had any issues with it at all, no leaks, balance is good, and works just fine in just over 6 months now.

This is a great addition to your standard washer and dryer purchase. Looks great and works great. Perfect for small loads.

Awesome idea. A 1 Cu ft mini washer under your main washer! Same size as a basic pedestal. Matches pedestal on dryer. Clearly written instructions make install with the washer fairly easy. Includes accessories needed to connect with a washer, such as T fittings to branch off another hose line from the main hose, and 2 short hose lengths for connecting the Ts to. Comes with a very small rubber cup that is easy to toss aside, but keep it to use as a measuring cup for the detergent. The instructions tells you to not put too much detergent in it, which is where the measuring cup comes in. My wife loves it. Great for small loads and delicates. Quiet. Does a good job cleaning. Drains efficiently.

The concept of a "mini washing machine" under the regular washing machine is an ingenious concept. Saves space and allows for a smaller load with different wash requirements (i.e., delicates, etc.) to be washed concurrently with the regular wash. This "Side Kick" pedestal washer works well. It has basic wash features (normal, delicates, etc.) and can be operated remotely with a special remote control that can be purchased separately. Some things to keep in mind before getting this: (1) it needs to be plugged into an outlet so make sure you have an outlet for it; (2) it has its own drain hose, which means that unless your regular washing machine drains into a utility sink, your drain pipe needs to be wide enough to accommodate both drain hoses (your regular washing machine and the Side Kick washing pedestal). My drain pipe is 2 inches, but you really need at least a 3 inch drain pipe for the two drain hoses. One more thing to keep in mind is that it comes with its own detergent measuring cup, which is just this tiny little silicone cup. Don't lose it, because it is needed to measure the proper amount of detergent to use (don't want to use too much!). Until I find out how much volume it is, I will not be able to find a suitable replacement in case I lost this measuring cup.

I upgrade to a new LG Front Load Washing Machine and decided to also obtain the 27 in. 1.0 cu. ft. Sidekick Pedestal Washer. This is probably the most innovative washing machine combination I have ever seen. It looks like a storage pedestal, but pulls out to reveal the mini-washer complete with its own control panel and stainless steel tub. It’s designed to wash delicate items, while the larger front load washer handles the bulk of the laundry at the same time. The LG SideKick Washer is something I never knew I needed, but now I can’t imagine doing laundry without it. It’s also compatible with almost all LG Front Load Washing Machines.

We recently placed an order for the 4.5 cu. ft. LG Ultra Large Capacity front load washer. As part of that order we also got the 27 in. 1.0 cu. ft. Sidekick Pedestal / Washer with TWINWash System. The 1.0 cu. ft. sidekick pedestal washer is ideal for very small delicate laundry loads and has been a very nice surprise as we no longer feel the need to wait for a full load of laundry to wash a few small items. We now save time and money due to the efficiency of this small washer. It works extremely well. The main reason we ordered the sidekick pedestal / washer was to elevate the main front load washer to a convenient height for loading and un-loading the unit, It serves this purpose very well. The sidekick pedestal / washer is white, matching the main unit and is at a perfect height so we are not stooping or bending while loading and unloading the main washing machine. The pedestal / washer is very well built and opens and closes very smoothly and is extremely simple to operate. The sidekick / pedestal washer is not a must have item, but we are very glad we ordered it as it is both extremely functional for washing smaller delicate loads and provides an ideal ergonomic height. See the pictures below. We are very glad we received the pedestal / washer, and in my opinion it is definitely worth it.

I had never seen a pedestal washer until this but it is actually pretty useful. It is great for running small loads, especially delicate loads. Plus, it all works seamlessly together. I got the complete set with washer and dryer, and pedestals for both. The whole group is an awesome set. And this is a great use of the space taken up by the washer pedestal.

The LG 27" 1.0 cu ft sidekick pedestal washer with TwinWash is a GREAT upgrade to your clothes washing routine & options. 1.0 cu ft. is just enough for those last minute light loads when the big Washer is already in use. Works well when you don't have enough of a load to justify using the large unit. Its a great option when you want to keep certain items or delicate separate.. This unit comes with a VERY helpful quick start guide. As well as a small dispenser cup to help you ensure you use just the right TINY amount of detergent in this unit. all in all i highly recommend this little gem. works well for my household of 6 where the main washer is almost always in use when you realize that something needs to be washed NOW.

27 in. 1.0 cu. ft. SideKick Pedestal Washer with TWINWash System Wow, I'm super impressed with this LG pedestal washer. It is so convenient to use for a small wash load so you don't have to use the larger clothes washer or you can use both washers to do two loads at the same time to cut down how long it takes to do your laundry. That's a great time saver. It's also very quiet. The washer pedestal cabinet is 27" wide X 27" deep and 14" tall. You mount your front load washer on top of it at each corner with the supplied screws. The stainless steel drum is 6" deep and 20" round. There are six wash modes plus a child safety lock feature. The washer very smoothly pulls out on roller bearing drawer slides. The only weak point I can find on this washer is the latch under the handle for the lid is a plastic type part so you have to be gentle when opening and closing the lid. If done correctly it should last years but if you are rough on your appliances you should go ahead and order a few replacement latches for the future. Shush, Don't tell my wife but I love this LG sidekick pedestal washer so much I might just start to do the laundry myself. I truly, highly recommend this pedestal washer it's wonderful.

Just when I thought I've seen everything, this LG Sidekick pedestal washer surprised me. I thought it was just a storage drawer. No, it is a mini washing machine that sits below the large capacity washer above it. It is there to do small loads or delicate items that are not right for the big machine. The two washers can also work simultaneously. Imagine not having to wait until one is finished. The sidekick does not take up any additional space in the room. Just sits below large machine.

I purchased brand new LG washer (Model WM4270HWA) & dryer (Model DLEX4270W), with a pedestal for the dryer and the LG Sidekick Model WD100CW for under the washing machine, for a new home. I’ve had these for over two (2) years. The sidekick is the handiest little washer, EVER! I admit to using it a bit more than the full size washer, as it’s SUPER convenient for small loads, washing delicates & woolens in cold water & on gentle cycle, and for getting pesky stains out of stinky items that one would not want to put in with a full load. Most women’s clothing and delicates have an EXTENDED LIFE because of the Sidekick! (Cha-Ching $$$!) It has run quietly and efficiently, and saved us water, time and frustration. When we were housetraining our new puppy, we would wash the pup’s male wraps (“Belly bands”) in this godsend of an amazing piece of technology. Unfortunately, after less than two years, the door’s hinges somehow shattered/broke, rendering the door and Sidekick temporarily unusable. It has been out of operation for several months. I understand I must replace the ENTIRE door, which is costly. As I no longer have coverage on these appliances, I must do this myself, which is quite disappointing. I shaved off one star because of the breakable PLASTIC door hinges, which, I believe, need to be completely tweaked on the Sidekick. This is a definite design flaw. This retracting pedestal washing machine’s door must ALWAYS be gingerly and carefully closed, and handled like a delicate flower, lest the washer be pushed into place with the door slightly unsealed, causing the door’s hinges to break. By the way, it is important to leave the Sidekick open, to air dry between uses, and to wipe down the seal to avoid mildew. Now, mind you, pushing the Sidekick into place under the full washer, while the door was open is NOT what occured in my house. One day I simply noticed small, odd pieces of dark plastic on the floor, and assumed the cat had batted something into the laundry room. Much to my dismay, these plastic pieces turned out to be the Sidekick’s door hinges desintegrating! This washer is far too expensive to have such delicate and breakable door hinges!!!! How utterly ridiculous! However, I conditionally recommend the Sidekick pedestal washer...especially for people/families with kids and/or pets and/or involvement with sweaty sports, or residing in a climate that is hot, like The Entire South in USA. What initially felt like an extravagant luxury turned out to be a wise decision in optimal laundry managment. Despite the hassle and great expense of the door replacement issue, the Sidekick saved us time, money, water and our sanity! I would suggest not buying the Sidekick until LG redesigns the very breakable, plastic Sidekick door parts, though. -Happy Laundering!!

Use this all the time it’s quiet and handy. I can wash a larg dark load and with this a small white load and dry them together.

The side kick is perfect for us. We all wear uniforms to work so frequent small loads are common. Dont forget to get a socket splitter so you can plug it in along side your washer.

Not a necessity but very useful for small loads. My stepson visits every other weekend and we use it to wash the school outfit he came in. This is perfect for his small load. It does not take up room, is useful as a pedestal and is attractive.

We selected this to go with our larger WM5000HVA LG washer and is a very sleek looking, high tech addition to the laundry room. It handles those small laundry loads very easily, and is super easy to use. To me the most useful setting, aside of being able to wash smaller laundry loads, is the 'Hand Wash' setting which means you can put wool and delicate items in this washer to clean them rather than having to do them by hand. With the drought here in California that has impacted the cost of water and the need to conserve it, it is also good to know that we use less water on those smaller or last minute laundry loads. The Sidekick can be used under any post 2009 LG washer or dryer and there is a larger 29" wide version available if you have a wider LG washer or dryer that you want to use it with. It has a smaller set of cycle settings than the larger LG washer that we have on top of it - a good range of pre-set functions for normal cotton clothes, delicates, hand wash, rinse and spin and active wear etc. that are easily selected from the push buttons on the top front edge of the washer drawer. When you start the load, the washer spins the contents momentarily and then displays a countdown to let you know how long it will take to wash that particular load. This is a good water saving feature as the washer customizes the cycle to the size of the load. When the wash cycle ends, it plays a pleasant musical tone as an additional reminder like the LG washer does. This washer requires the High Efficiency style low suds laundry detergent. If you don't use this type of detergent it can cause the washer to throw out error codes and not work properly. You also cannot use bleach in this washer. If you want to use fabric softener, the washer chimes when it gets to the final rinse cycle, allowing you to pause the wash, open the drawer and add the fabric softener before it finishes the wash cycle. You can use the touch buttons to modify the pre-set settings including water temperature and rinse cycles. There is also a 'Clean Tub' setting which allows you to add a 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach to a quart of water and clean the interior of the tub out periodically if it gets that musty odor from not being used with moisture still in the system. For anyone with small children, there is also a useful child lock feature which stops the dryer settings being changed and/or the door being opened. You just press the button for 3 seconds to activate it. Installing the washer is pretty straightforward however you will need to buy a set of hot/cold washer hoses as these are not included. We mounted it under an LG washer it looks fantastic next the matching LG dryer and pedestal drawer. The washer weighs about 100 lbs so it is a two person job to lift it into place. You just need a bubble level to make sure that it is level and built in adjustable feet make leveling the unit quite easy. Plumbing in is pretty simple using the included hoses and drain tubing however if you have a washer, pedestal washer and the steam dryer, there is quite a mess of tubes and drain pipes behind the washer when all is plumbed in. The Sidekick comes with an adapter that allows the water drain from the Sidekick and the existing main washing machine water drain tube to share the same drain downpipe. It also has the Smart Diagnosis feature that allows you to hold your phone near a logo on the washing machine while it plays back a series of tones that can be played back to a special phone number to diagnose any problems with the washer. The washer comes with a 12 month parts and labor warranty and a 10 year warranty on the direct drive drum motor and a lifetime warranty on the stainless steel drum. As already mentioned, the Smart Diagnosis feature can be used to troubleshoot problems with the washer without having to call in the service specialist and incur an unnecessary call out charge. We've owned this washer for three months now and had no issues with it as has been the case for our other LG washer which has given us several years of trouble free service.

I received this sidekick pedestal washer along with my LG High-Efficiency Front Load TurboWash Washer about three months ago and I've really enjoyed using it. Once the Sidekick is attached to the regular washer, the entire thing looks space-aged! Very eye catching! Love the color of the finish and overall shape/design because it looks high-end. My washers were delivered and installed by HomeDepot services and I am very glad that I did not have to unpack, connect, and move this into position myself. The full-sized washer must be carefully lifted onto this sidekick pedestal and positioned/connected in place, and once that is done, it is quite heavy. There are a lot of hoses... water hoses with splitters so that water can flow to the sidekick washer in addition to flowing to the dryer for its steam-fresh cycle. While not impossible to figure out, I was happy that the installers did that for me and all I had to do was watch! You need two outlets available because the Sidekick has a plug and the regular washer has its own plug. You need to be sure you zip tie the drain hoses to one of the water hoses at the wall to ensure the pressure from the water draining doesn't pop the drain hose out. The drain hose is actually a splitter as well, because you need to drain from the Sidekick as well as the regular washer. Finally, once the two washers are put together, it was recommended to my by the installer that they not be taken back apart... move them together as a unit and keep all the hoses attached as much as possible for easier reinstallation at another location. The location of my washer/dryer is in the garage on top of a concrete ledge and they barely fit on the ledge... the front feet are quite close to the edge, because the washers require some space behind them to accommodate the hoses. Measure your space carefully to ensure it will fit front to back and confirm you will be able to freely open the Sidekick washer. Something to note... you cannot place the washer on a washer tray because you won't be able to open the Sidekick. Same goes for if your laundry closet has an integrated lip and drain... any type of obstruction in front of the washer means you can't open the Sidekick because it sits close to the ground. Now, on to the features of this Sidekick washer. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It holds a small load of laundry, which to me is three days of lightweight workout clothes or 6 delicate wash blouses. The Sidekick is also excellent for laundering just one outfit that you need quickly. What tickles me the most about the Sidekick is the ability to run two loads of laundry at once. I put my larger load in the regular washer and then I put my smaller load of delicates in the Sidekick and they run at the same time! Too cool. The Sidekick comes with a small blue rubber measuring cup that ensures you don't use too much liquid detergent. I use a powdered detergent and instead of the usual one tablespoon, I only need one teaspoon of detergent to wash a Sidekick load. You cannot use bleach in the Sidekick and there's not a dispenser for softener, but it is preset to stop the washer at the softener cycle and beep at you to put in the softener. However, the volume of the beeps is not really loud enough for me to hear it in the house, so I disabled the softener alert and just use a dryer sheet instead. The buttons on the Sidekick are very clear and when you select your cycle you can see exactly how long the cycle will last. Minimum time is about 25 minutes. I find I have to rest my finger on the selection button a bit longer than I expected; not sure if it's because my hands are dry or cold? There are five wash cycles and a Tub Clean cycle that you should run every month to keep it from mildewing. You can also deselect warm water and use cold instead, and you can add an extra rinse. Once you start a cycle, the tub door will lock. To pause the cycle, press the start/pause button and then wait a moment until you hear the click of the tub unlocking. Con: it's a challenge to dry it out completely, which is why it has a Tub Clean cycle. if you want to dry out the tub, it has to remain almost fully open for about 48 hours or more. Even after leaving it open that length of time and then closing it, sometimes a few days later I would see that it had a sheen of moisture inside. Pros: easy to use, energy efficient method of washing smaller loads, can be run at the same time as the full-sized washer, nice selection of wash cycles, has a tub clean cycle I highly recommend this Sidekick Pedestal washer as a great addition to your laundry room. Being able to wash small loads economically, along with being able to wash two loads of laundry at once, makes this product well worth the price!

Wanna talk about innovation? LG has done it again with this LG Sidekick Pedestal Washer! This washer sits underneath the matching WM5000HVA Washer and serves two purposes: First, it acts as the matching pedestal to the dryer base, making the washer and dryer be at the same height. Second, it's a small 1 cubic foot washer for small loads, creating a new generation of green thinking that could ripple into other resource saving devices. The controls are easily accessed by the front panel. Just pull it out and add your clothes like normal. I've used this for my gym clothes, since they are usually washed differently from my other cotton clothes. I prefer them to be done at a gentler pace. The main thing for me is that I don't always have a full load of clothes to wash, and since I wash towels on a different setting, having this small washer is super handy. It's quiet...too quiet. At first I didn't think it was on... once I turned down my music, I could hear the hum of it working. It's very quiet! So, if you are going to get a second pedestal for your set, maybe think about getting this Sidekick washer to compliment your main washer. It's really a choice for me to have an economic, green machine to help me with keeping my clothes clean, all while using the least amount of resources I can.

Note: This review posting was delayed a month because I wanted to investigate the problems associated with the LG Smart Laundry app. I finally figured it out by myself; LG was absolutely no help. ====First Impressions==== This pedestal washer is part of the Twin Wash series of appliances. For that family, gone is the old porthole look that all the other so-called stylish front-loading appliances have. That’s in the dust now with these units. Incorporating the controls in the door and going full width was a genius out-of-the-box approach. These appliances have a spectacular appearance. But the stainless-looking finish is painted over plastic or metal. There is no actual stainless steel on the outside. ====Installation==== The washer or dryer is installed atop this pedestal washer with 4 screws on each side. I did get a partial installation with my delivery. I was very relieved for the partial install, as the washer and Sidekick are extremely heavy when combined. It took me a day and a half to finish the installation, mostly because I did several modifications to make access to the rear of the units easier in the future. The water supply and drain lines can be shared with any nearby existing washer. An adapter hose kit and power cord are included. This unit operates completely separate from any other appliance. You could even use it totally alone or use two (one under washer and another under dryer for example). The delivery folks neglected to install a cover atop the Sidekick unit after removing a Styrofoam shipping block from within the Sidekick. The cover was shipped loose, laying on top, and was supposed to be installed after the block was removed. I later noticed it when looking inside the washer from the back with a rear panel removed. If not for that, it would have gone undetected and would possibly have excessively rusted the bottom of the washer and the top of the Sidekick unit. Fortunately it was not difficult to install even with the washer already mounted atop it. Remove a washer back panel, put the loose Sidekick cover in place,install the screws, and reinstall the washer rear panel. My screws were missing so I had to improvise. ====Operation==== The Darth Vader look (ok…maybe R2D2…) is fantastic, streamlined, and fee of clutter. The drawer slides open easily and it will stay in any position in which it is left. The control buttons are soft-touch but respond a bit slowly. There are not dispensers for detergent or anything else. The selections available are just a few. You can have cold or warm water. You also can have extra rinse(s) but I do not understand the operation of the selector for that function. When you first touch it, it displays "2". Subsequent touches show "3", "4", "5" and then off. Continued touches show "1", "2", "3' "4", "5", and then off again, etc, etc.... I could not find an explanation in the manual for those numbers. I assume they are minutes but they might be extra cycles (?). As usual, LG customer phone support was no help and they did not know about what I was talking. Operation is very easy for most modes. Slide out the drawer. Press the power button, load clothes, drop in a tablespoon or two of detergent, select a wash mode, and press start. When the appliance starts, it will show the time remaining for a few seconds. If the drawer is not pushed back unto the housing, there will be a series of beeps and the display will show an error code dE1 or dE2, meaning "drawer error". Just push it back in and the code disappears and the load cycle starts. There is no default setting (all are lit), you must select one of 5 wash cycles. A 6th selection is for tub cleaning. When pausing the mode cycle with the pause button, wait for the audible click of the drawer lock opening and the red drawer Lock indicator going off. Only then can the drawer be opened. If the washer is left in pause mode for several minutes, the load cycle will be cancelled and the tub will be emptied. This is for child safety reasons. There is also a child-lockout mode setting that you can use to lock out the controls temporarily The “melody” sound that indicates the end of a load cycle is nowhere near loud enough to be heard from outside the room. Another tune sounds when the final rinse is about to start. That lets you know when to add fabric softener if desired. Important: There can be a problem with the water temperature not being warm enough. If your water heater is more than maybe 15 feet away from the appliance, you may not get the water as hot as expected. That is because the water in the line to the water heater will usually be cold, and this washer uses so little of it that most (if not all) of the water from the hot water line will not be hot at all. You can get used to the water being colder, move the water heater and/or washer closer, or get a point-of-use supplemental water heater to put right at the washer. I noticed that after changing from a cold water wash to a warm one, the water temperature went up only a few degrees. My water heater is at least 25 feet from this washer. This washer is fairly quiet, I assume because it is only 1 cubic foot capacity. ====Value==== I do not think the features of the Sidekick justify it's cost. Unless you are short on space, it makes more sense to buy another similarly priced small washer separately. That one will have far more features, capacity, and convenience. Also, the parts would be easier to find when needed and the unit may be less expensive overall. If you subtract the cost of a plain storage drawer pedestal at $279, you are left with about $375 left to spend, and that can buy a perfectly good new 3.5 cubic foot top loader washer. I can find several at that price or lower now. If you are like me, and very short of space, this unit will work well for you. At least until it breaks. ====Guarantee===== I understand that the direct drive motor is guaranteed for 10 years, but I don't know if that includes a service call and the labor to change it out. Even so, I have been in the electronics field for almost 50 years and know that direct drive motors very rarely fail. But the electronic driver modules for those motors fail all the time. I wonder if that module is contained within this motor. =======The bad news: LG Smart Laundry smartphone app====== The “LG Smart Laundry & DW” app, is a big miss. It claims to do everything, but falls way short in so many ways. When you are ready for the product registration step, choose Appliance, not Smart Appliance. Phones without NFC capability will cause the app to crash if you select Smart Appliance even though the large washer and dryer DO NOT USE IT! My 2-year old LG L90 phone (no NFC) crashes (with a tiny “Error” indication) when trying to register any smart appliance (like these). I have read this complaint many, many times on various online forums and reviews. For weeks I tried to find the answer. I called LG support 3 times and each time eventually received the same answer: “I don’t know, but I will get back to you”. They never “got back”, so I guessed we were on our own to find the answer. Since I received these appliances for free, I thought: Why not spend some money to find out? I suspected that the missing NFC capability had something to do with this failure, so, I bought a used Samsung Galaxy Light phone with NFC for $30 and guess what? It worked! No kidding, LG can’t write an app that is compatible with its own phone! How Disappointing! However, you can use the non-NFC equipped phones with this app after the appliances are registered on your network. After registration, the device will work until you may have to re-register the appliances again. The Sidekick washer uses only the Smart Diagnosis part of the app. It does not use WiFi or any form of notifications. The Smart Diagnosis feature allows you to see any error indications from the appliance. Within the app, you are instructed to place the phone next to the Smart Diagnosis logo on the front and then push a button for 3 seconds. That causes the appliance to issue a series of tones for several seconds (like an old modem), while the phone “listens” and interprets them as text. Unfortunately, the Smart Diagnosis feature misdiagnosed my Sidekick of having “the water hoses reversed” because it said the clothes were too warm at the end of the rinse cycle. Such was not the case. I even double checked the hoses and found them to be correctly attached and delivering the correct temperature water. For what it’s worth, the Sidekick can display the same basic information in a code on the front panel without using any app. ======Summary====== This is a good (basic) appliance with some serious flaws in the Smart Diagnosis app, which will not work properly on some smart phones. Very easy-to-use control panel, but very few selections are available. No dispensers; detergents and fabric softeners must be added manually. Quiet operation. Uses a simple water supply and drain configuration. Expensive for the limited level of functionality.

Adding a second, smaller washer in the pedestal of a standard set is a brilliant idea, and LG has executed it beautifully. It looks so natural that it almost makes you wonder why no one thought of it before. It’s very sleek and the controls are intuitive and viewable even when the machine is closed. As for functionality, I think everybody will use this washer differently. For me, I’ve found the addition of a smaller washer most beneficial for running small loads of items that I need to wear more frequently than the rest of my wardrobe – sports uniforms, distance running gear, etc. It allows me to wash the handful of items I need when I need them without feeling like I should wait for a full load. And while that convenience is by far my favorite, I’ve also enjoyed the added capacity when doing full loads of laundry – the dryer is more than large enough to handle loads from both washers at once, so I regularly run both simultaneously to reduce the total number of loads. I’ve used almost all the settings on this washer, running everything from nice sweaters to jeans to workout gear through it, and everything has come out in great shape. This washer is the quietest I’ve ever used – if you’re in the next room you wouldn’t even know it was running aside from the chimes. For what it is and how I use it, this washer has been a fabulous addition to my laundry room. However, there is one improvement that I think could be made – an automatic detergent and fabric softener dispenser. I understand why it’s not practical on this machine, but I do miss that functionality. Using the included measuring cup for detergent is a little tedious, and I’m very rarely in a position to hear the mid-wash chime in order to add fabric softener. Obviously it’s not a deal breaker, and I use this washer regularly in spite of that minor drawback, but I do think it’s worth mentioning. Overall, it’s probably the best use of a pedestal you could possibly make. Having the ability to increase your load size and/or run small individual loads is a great convenience for any homeowner – two thumbs up!

This Sidekick washer is a pretty cool idea, and I think LG executed the concept well. I've had sets of clothes from dirty yard work that ended up sitting in the laundry room for a week before, since they were too gross to put in with the rest of the laundry, and it seemed like a waste to do a full load for just one set of clothes. The Sidekick offers a great solution to the above predicament, or in other situations with small loads or items that need special care. The simple design of the mini-washer requires detergent to be applied directly on top of laundry, without a separate dispenser. There are five main settings: Normal, Intimates, Hand Wash, Active Wear, and Rinse + Spin, along with a Tub Clean mode. There's also an extra rinse option, and a warm water option. The washer can also be set with a child lock that disables all functions except for the power button. The Sidekick washer pulls out from under the main washer smoothly, and the lid locks open in the upright position for loading laundry. When turned on, it plays a happy little melody, as well as when it's done with a laundry load, and when it's turned off. Unlike the main washer, this feature cannot be silenced on the Sidekick. Other than it's electronic "singing", the mini-washer with its direct drive motor is pretty quiet and well balanced. It must be placed in the stowed position to start a load though, as the cantilevered drawer would not be able to handle the oscillating forces at full extension. To ensure this, the Sidekick locks in place underneath the main washer while it's running. The time remaining is displayed in the bright LED panel that's still visible even when the Sidekick is stowed underneath the main washer too. Overall, this is a great little washer that really helps with productivity. I find we use it probably 20-25% of the time we run a load of laundry. The price seems a bit high for a smaller, reduced functionality washer, but don't forget the plain storage pedestals are about half the price of the Sidekick. So you're only paying the price of another normal pedestal for the additional capability of a second washing machine.

We really like this small washing machine. It's great for small loads, and we particularly like it for delicates. Sweaters washed on the gentle cycle spin out well and keep their shape in the tub - better, I felt, than in a full size front loader. My family doesn't go through a lot of whites, so we have even used this Sidekick to wash the whites while a full load of darks is going in the full-size washer. They get done around the same time and both can go right in the dryer. It has helped make things a little more efficient in the wash room. Setting it up was a trick. There is a second set of hoses and "Y" hoses required to get water to the Sidekick. It's not a huge deal, but it takes a little more space and the drain pipe has to fit two drain hoses (one from the large washer, and one from the Sidekick). If you want to use fabric softener, you have to open the Sidekick up midcycle to put it in. It can be a little bit of a headache. Also, you have to leave it open to let it dry out. Otherwise, it will stay wet and get mildewy inside.

Since the beginning of time, washing machines have had only one job: to wash clothes. They need to get that basic function right. Everything else is just bells and whistles. With this surprisingly effective miniature version of a full sized washer, LG has once again hit the ball out of the park. GENERAL First off, this series of LG machines in Graphite Steel are absolutely gorgeous. They are tall, shapely, and even though they take up lots of space due to their capacity, they make washing & drying your laundry much easier than ever before. I've never owned a laundry setup that made use of the pedestals. The ability to move a load from the basket directly up into the washer, then over to the dryer with negligible bending, and finally back down into the basket is human ingenuity at its best. The ease and convenience of doing laundry with this kind of setup means that i won't ever go back to the old top-load waist-high setup ever again. FUNCTIONALITY When i throw in a load of laundry, i expect it to be clean in an acceptable period of time. I'm happy to say that this washer has all of the setting you could need for a small load of laundry. Nothing fancy here; just the basics. So why would one need a mini-washer in addition to the full-sized fully-functional deal? In short: continence and efficiency. Convenience in the way that one always has more whites than darks or vice-versa. Many times, this excess minuscule load doesn't warrant a wash of it's own and ends up decaying at the bottom of your laundry basket waiting for enough of their same-colored brethren to accumulate before becoming worthy of a load of their own. Result: stinky laundry in your basket. And Efficiency. If i have two or three sweaters, a handful of dedicates, or perhaps even one tiny three-year-old's peed-through outfit that doesn't justify a full load of laundry, what should i do? The answer is to use this amazingly effective pedestal washer, of course! So how does she fare? Well, despite having a slim selection of only 5 different cycles, this washing machine successfully washes during each and every one of them. A normal load takes 37 minutes, with an intimate load taking up to 47. Very reasonable. One thing that may or may not be obvious is the size of this unit. It is small. Very small. Of course it has to be, as it is simply taking the place of a standard pedestal. I found that the 1.0 cubic foot capacity maxes out at just about 4 large-sized sweaters. Plenty for a load of intimates, or a smaller load of an off-color. Now of course this begs the question: Why would one even bother with a full sized washer if one could have, say, a stack of 2 or 3 of these amazing pedestal washers? Say you lived alone and didn't have much laundry. Why would you bother saving enough for a full load if you could wash whites, colors, and darks all separately and all at the same time? You could effective do 3 loads of laundry in the space on one load. I wonder if this will change the way laundry is done in the future... NOTABLE FEATURES So obviously the main attraction of this washer is the ability to do a second wash at the same time as the first. This ability can't be understated. With the dryer capacity (7.4 cu.ft.) much larger than the main washer capacity (4.5 cu.ft.) in this model line, there is more than enough space to dry both the main load and this mini load at the same time in the dryer. This can potentially cut your laundry time in half! However, keep in mind that you may be tempted to do multiple DIFFERENT loads at the same time. This means that you can be washing all of your darks in the main unit, and perhaps some intimates in this mini pedestal washer. The problem you will run into is that the dryer can only dry at one setting, and that setting might not be appropriate for both loads. So plan accordingly. The pedestal washer doesn't have much room to do it's thing. That means that there are far less features available in this unit than in the main one. Most notably are the lack of interior lighting, separate detergent bins, chime options, and WIFI. I'm happy to say that these don't at ALL affect the prime directive of this machine, which is to clean small loads of clothes. The operation of this pedestal washer is WHISPER quiet. It is barely noticeable while running, and without a doubt drowned out by it's bigger sibling above. The spinning of the drum is seriously barely audible. The loudest part of the cycle is the draining, and that's only because you can hear the water dumping through the drain pipe in the wall. And finally the warranty. LG provides two warranties for this washer. The first warranty is a standard manufacturers warranty you would expect with a new appliance: 1 year parts and labor. But a second warranty is quite unheard of. LG offers a TEN YEAR warranty for the replacement of the washing machine's direct-drive motor. A new car doesn't even offer that kind of guarantee! This means if the main motor of the washer (essentially THE machine itself) goes bad, LG will replace the motor with a new one for more-or-less the usable lifetime of this mini-washing machine. Now that's something to feel good about when considering this purchase. SUMMARY Stout and easy on the eyes, this LG washer/dryer set converts any laundry room into a marvelous technological gallery. The implementation of the pedestals greatly easy the laundry process, an reduce the amount of bending over. The pedestal mini-washer adds an incredible amount of flexibility and efficiency to your washing machine load possibilities, likely cutting your laundry time in half. There are only 5 usable settings, but all do an excellent job of washing your laundry. Excellent warranty. Overall, this pedestal washer does its job of washing small loads of laundry as advertised, and looks great doing it.