On its face, Whirlpool Corp.’s newest washing machine, with its modern muted veneer, looks nicer than its old ones. And for $100 more, it should be. But behind the scenes, the century-old US appliance ...

The front-loading washing machine was meant to be the panacea of laundry. Launched with a big push in the late ’90s, the machines were supposed to use less water than the old top loaders and be easier ...