Front-Load vs Top-Load Washer?

[Marshay]

So my washing machine is leaking water. DH tried to fix it and it still leaked out...it also rumbles like a train. It's an older model (1994?) so we got plenty of life in it. Now looking to buy a new one.

Top Load -- cheaper, less time, less care to clean

Front Load -- less costs to use but more care to clean (mold?), less detergent and longer to wash


I'm sure I'm missing other Pro/Cons ... can you help me decide what to get?

Also, which specific brand/model do you recommend?

MANY thanks!!!

 

[marlynnp]

fyi, there are top-loading HE machines

 

[Marshay]

fyi, there are top-loading HE machines

thanks! As I'm doing research, I'm finding there are so many choices. Going to the library now to look up Consumer Reports and will go with their top picks for each category. Then head off to stores to see what deals I can get.

 

[Anthony1971]

Places like Lowes and HD will have 10-20% off energey star at times
State and sometimes FED offer rebates but only for VERY specific energy uses few quailfy
We have an energy star top load it works well but make sure you read the instructions as certain things like opening the top to add something will cause the machine to use a lot more water...
did not see any difference in our watr usage or electric in the end but that is because it likely offset the increase for the year or weekly is it now
Lowes and HD will laos price match and have free delivery.. if they have a special sign up for the movers club coupon for both 10% off.. it takes around 3-4 days to get in general...
do a search for movers club lowes or home depot

 

[jemmouse]

LOVE my front loader...I have the Samsung VRT. I chose this one because my laundry room is on the second floor. They do vibrate during rinse cycle, maybe a mere 2-5 minutes. This model eliminates some of that. I also went to Farm and Fleet which was a distance from me and bought a Cow Mat. It's a really thick piece of rubber that goes under washer and dryer unit. Look into it. This city girl got a kick out of going to the country. anyway at the time I bought mine the main rivals were the Whirlpool. My SIL has that one and to me it was just so loud it sounded like a small jet taking off. This was 3 years ago of course.

But with the mold...you rinse out the inner seal after each wash which takes a minute or two then every few weeks you do a rinse with I bought the Clorox cleaner for HE washers. It really is quite simple. Just stay on top of the cleaning and you will be fine.

I truly believe that my clothes are so much cleaner with the front loader. I really like mine, well as much as one can, it is laundry after all .

 

[eliza61]

So we just purchased a new machine.

The first one we brought was a GE top loading machine. We purchased it due to the great price, under 500 bucks. We promptly took it back after 4 weeks. It was a piece of crap.
Inside it had this tiny agitator that did not move a sock. I mean literally it was like putting your clothes in a bath tub and letting them simply lie there. I think I posted a review.
I went back to lowes and was able to exchange it. It cost me a $75 restocking fee but no way could I have lived with that washer. Blacks came out with lint and dirt streaks all over them. whites were horrible.

Now since all the top loaders seem to have those runt nose agitators, I went with a front loader. I have a samsung 4.3 cu inch job. does a great job.

Love it.

 

[Nicolepa]

When my washer died I couldn't justify the cost of a front loader so I bought another top loader. Fast forward a year. We are on vacation in Colorado @ my grandpa's house. The baby gets rotovirus and was up puking all night. After the 3rd round I was out of clothes & sheets for him so I started a load of wash. I have to tell the clothes were sparkling. And the best part was the washing machine was clear of all debris. My washer I would have had to take a rag and get the "chunks" out. (Gross I know.) That right there sold me. When my washer dies I am getting a front loader, I don't care how much it costs!

 

[jmartinez1895]

I have a front loaders and i love them. Mine takes half the time to was ha load than my top loaders did, uses so much less water and power and I make my own laundry soap and I don't have to use very much of it in my front loader. I have never had any trouble with mold or any odors. Maybe I'm just lucky, but so far I have done no extra cleaning to my machines as I did with my top loader.

 

[Sarahlovy]

We have had a front loader for 8 months or so now- we are just sure to run the drain cycle on our washer every once in a while and leave the door open when we are not running it, and we have not had any mold issues (except for the time we left it closed for a week!). I use the Tide washer cleaner every few months.

 

[Marshay]

thanks everyone! Sorry I can't respond directly...just got back from the library, measured my space and off to negotiate!!

 

[jemmouse]

LOVE my front loader...I have the Samsung VRT. I chose this one because my laundry room is on the second floor. They do vibrate during rinse cycle, maybe a mere 2-5 minutes. This model eliminates some of that. I also went to Farm and Fleet which was a distance from me and bought a Cow Mat. It's a really thick piece of rubber that goes under washer and dryer unit. Look into it. This city girl got a kick out of going to the country. anyway at the time I bought mine the main rivals were the Whirlpool. My SIL has that one and to me it was just so loud it sounded like a small jet taking off. This was 3 years ago of course.

But with the mold...you rinse out the inner seal after each wash which takes a minute or two then every few weeks you do a rinse with I bought the Clorox cleaner for HE washers. It really is quite simple. Just stay on top of the cleaning and you will be fine.

I truly believe that my clothes are so much cleaner with the front loader. I really like mine, well as much as one can, it is laundry after all .

 

[cjnix29]

I have a maytag bravos...which is an HE top load. I LOVE IT!! I have had a front load before, and really hated it. I can fit so much more in this than I have been able to with any other machine. washes in 42min, dries in 42 minutes! Good luck with your purchase!

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

Not for sure if you have a Best Buy around you but yesterday they had a nice white Samsung set priced at $424 for each piece. Around $900 for both. They had really good reviews. I almost pulled the trigger myself. Good luck!

 

[Lucille1963]

I love reading everyones opinions. Our washer broke and we're in the market for a new one.

The front loaders sound so wonderful, but I soak a lot of my items and it isn't an option in a front loader.

 

[Marshay]

OP here.

We ended up going with hhgregg. I had purchased from them previously (dishwasher) and was very satisfied.

Before signing the papers, I went to Bray & Scarff, Sears, Best Buy and Lowes so had a good idea of what the price should be and what other machines were comparable. hhgregg actually came in lower than I expected, too!! I was really impressed ... but even so we pretended we didn't like the price and got them to go down even lower!

I ended up with Samsung 331 front-loader HE with pedestals. Time will tell if it's a good one or not. It's not on Consumer Reports but is JD Powers, NSF, Energy Star.

They are coming today (tues) to install, deliver and take-away for free, too! Now I have to go out and purchase some HE detergent.

My 2nd choice was going to be Whirlpool Duet 9470, but it was coming in more expensive.

Thank you everyone!

 

[sherry7]

We bought a new set of GE's about 3 years ago (front loader and dryer). I really like them. Our clothes get a lot cleaner, and it seems like there is less wear & tear on the clothes as well. I initially thought that I would miss the option of letting a load of clothes soak in the washer. But the washer cleans so well, I've never needed it.

The washer does take longer than a traditional top-loader, the the dryer is a lot faster since the clothes aren't very wet when they come out of the washer.

We initially had a mold problem, because I was shutting the door to the washer. I now leave it open for a few hours after using it, and don't have that problem. I don't do any type of special cleaning, wiping, etc.

Unless you're really flexible and limber, be sure to buy the pedestals.

 

[mhsjax]

I have a front loader. NEVER AGAIN. I get more wrinkles that I have ever gotten in my life.

I went to to DSIL's house and she has a new top loader that is HE. I did my laundry and noticed that when the clothes came out of the washing machine, they were much more wet than when I do them at home. (However, they didn't' really take too much longer to dry) They didn't come out wrinkled at all. DBIL said that when they went to buy a new machine, the salesman told them that front loaders do this because they spin out so much water that the wrinkles set in.

I tried adjusting mine down, but then it is too slow. I can't wait until the darn thing dies and it will be back to a top loader again.

Plus, once it starts you can't just open it up and throw something in, without getting water everywhere.

 

[Took]

Love my HE front loading washer by Kenmore. Part of that love is the "HE" part. I've never tried a top-loading HE machine. I will say our water bills dropped noticably within our first month of using the HE.

 

[Marshay]

Love my HE front loading washer by Kenmore. Part of that love is the "HE" part. I've never tried a top-loading HE machine. I will say our water bills dropped noticably within our first month of using the HE.

The biggest reason we switched to HE front-loading was for the potential money savings in our utilities. I sure hope we see it.

My parents bought a highly rated GE HE set and they have not seen any $$ difference in their bills. I'm guessing that's b/c it's just the 2 of them and they don't do as much laundry as we do (family of 4 with 2 small kids).

 

[dd50]

I have a front loader. NEVER AGAIN. I get more wrinkles that I have ever gotten in my life.

I went to to DSIL's house and she has a new top loader that is HE. I did my laundry and noticed that when the clothes came out of the washing machine, they were much more wet than when I do them at home. (However, they didn't' really take too much longer to dry) They didn't come out wrinkled at all. DBIL said that when they went to buy a new machine, the salesman told them that front loaders do this because they spin out so much water that the wrinkles set in.

I tried adjusting mine down, but then it is too slow. I can't wait until the darn thing dies and it will be back to a top loader again.

Plus, once it starts you can't just open it up and throw something in, without getting water everywhere.

I never had a problem with things coming out wrinkled and have had my FL for about 1 1/2 years.