Top load or front load washer/dryer?

[lauracitawita]

I will be buying a new washer and dryer in the next few months. I have been reading reviews and there seem to be a lot of complaints with front load washers and dryers.

I was just wondering what the people of the dis prefer!

Thanks!

 

[tvguy]

I will be buying a new washer and dryer in the next few months. I have been reading reviews and there seem to be a lot of complaints with front load washers and dryers.

I was just wondering what the people of the dis prefer!

Thanks!

We just made the switch in October, from top loader to front loader. Our experience so far:

Advantages:
1) Clothes are cleaner
2) Uses less water
3) Uses less soap
4) Computer programs the wash to right time, water level and soap

Disadvantages:
1) You HAVE to drain and clean the motor filter once a month (or you will ruin the motor) and put the plug back in and make sure it doesn't leak.
2) They are a whole lot more expensive to buy.

So far, we are glad we made the switch.

 

[barkley]

we had to replace both our washer and dryer about a year ago. I had always said I would never do a front load washer but ended up getting one (along with the matching front load dryer). I love them. we got the stands for both of them so the height is ideal for loading and unloading, and since we got the largest size I can actually do my king sized blankets and comforters in no time

I went with LG brand and so far it's been fantastic-I credit the sensors in it (that determine how much water to use/how long to dry) with decreasing our utility bills a good deal.

 

[minnie mum]

Disadvantages:
1) You HAVE to drain and clean the motor filter once a month (or you will ruin the motor) and put the plug back in and make sure it doesn't leak.
2) They are a whole lot more expensive to buy.

So far, we are glad we made the switch.

Perhaps this is brand dependant. I've been using a front loader for 10 years and have never had to do this. But I have had friends with other brands who have maintenance issues with their machines.

I love my front loader for all the reasons tvguy listed. Have never had a problem with mine and would never go back to a top loader. I find that it is also kinder to my fabrics. Stuff just doesn't seem to fade or wear as much.

 

[bcla]

I'd like to get one, but it's a little hard to justify right now. In particular, they're good for bulky items like blankets or sleeping bags, since there's no agitator.

And as far as I can tell, matching dryers only come in electric. My laundry room doesn't currently have the 220V needed for an electric dryer. We've got a gas dryer, which is cheaper to run and needs only 110-120V. It also doesn't match the washer, but I'm sort of thinking into the future.

 

[Hillbeans]

I love my old top load machines - I more often than not want to sneak clothes in after the cycle starts and can't do that with the front loaders. I also hear they don't get clothing very clean and leave detergent streaks unless you use them on the max water settings.

 

[minnie mum]

I love my old top load machines - I more often than not want to sneak clothes in after the cycle starts and can't do that with the front loaders. I also hear they don't get clothing very clean and leave detergent streaks unless you use them on the max water settings.

Most of the newer generation of machines have multiple settings and sensors that determine water levels. Overloading the machines will adversely affect the outcome of the wash, however. The only times I have ever had less than clean clothes or detergent staining (those yucky Tide pods I got on trial) was when i crammed too much stuff into the washer.

 

[bcla]

I love my old top load machines - I more often than not want to sneak clothes in after the cycle starts and can't do that with the front loaders. I also hear they don't get clothing very clean and leave detergent streaks unless you use them on the max water settings.

The main issue is that people don't use the proper detergent. It requires a detergent without added sudsing agents and with dispersants the keep stuff from redepositing back on the articles. Suds are pretty much useless when it comes to washing machines. They've been traditional as a marketing tool to show that it's supposedly doing something, even though it's just a dog and pony show. If there are too many suds in an HE machine, they won't get properly rinsed off.

I don't have an HE machine, but I do typically use HE detergent. If I accidentally add too much, it doesn't come foaming out of the top. The dispersants are a good thing, even if it isn't an HE machine.

 

[usd2bmd]

We replaced ours about a year and a half ago. We bought another top loader but this one has no agitator. It has a huge capacity and does get the clothes cleaner and uses less water, but it senses the weight of the clotehs and that's how it determines how much water to use, so if the clothes are light but there are alot I sometimes have to add some water before closing the lid to make sure there are no detergent streaks.

 

[MouseMomx2]

We have had two front-load washers and we will not be buying another. Front-loaders do not last as long as top-loaders because of the stress on the drum. Most last only 7-8 years. Top-loaders last much longer.

As far of the cleanliness of our clothes, I really don't see much of a difference...not enough of one, anyway, to justify the more expensive front-loader.

Next time we will purchase a top-loader with no agitator.

 

[jodifla]

I bought an old-fashioned washer with an agitator, a Speed Queen commercial grade, 1 year ago today. It is FABULOUS!

 

[tvguy]

Perhaps this is brand dependant. I've been using a front loader for 10 years and have never had to do this. But I have had friends with other brands who have maintenance issues with their machines.

I love my front loader for all the reasons tvguy listed. Have never had a problem with mine and would never go back to a top loader. I find that it is also kinder to my fabrics. Stuff just doesn't seem to fade or wear as much.

What brand do you have? It is on the LGs for sure. And a quick google check shows GE, Maytag and every major brand with one
http://myfrugaladventures.com/2013/07/how-to-clean-a-front-load-washing-machine/

 

[scrapquitler]

I bought a new washer one year ago this month. I went to Home Depot and bought an Admiral Brand regular top loader with the thing in the middle, and I have been VERY pleased with it. It cost me $299 vs. $800 or more for a front loader. The one I got is made by Whirlpool in the good old USA, and the lady at Home Dept said that they sell more of this washer than anything else, and this washer NEVER gets returned by an an unsatisifed customer, but that they get lots of top loaders back.

I figured I could buy three of these for about the same price as a front loader would cost me.

 

[Monykalyn]

Have had my LG front loaders for 10 years-love them! Previous house had them stacked (had a laundry "closet" more than a "room") and this house DH built me a custom platform to put them on so they are the perfect height for me.
Have to be sure to use HE detergent-but I find I use less detergent overall.
I do leave the washer door open after loads and wipe the seals down after the last load I do for the day to keep moisture down-keeps the "sour" smell from happening. Mine has the "steam" option both as a wash and as a "freshen up". With a family of 5 who generates a ton of laundry I love the larger capacity of these machines.

 

[minnie mum]

What brand do you have? It is on the LGs for sure. And a quick google check shows GE, Maytag and every major brand with one

Your post made me dig out my washer manual (Kenmore). There is no mention anywhere in my manual of this. But as I stated earlier, I've been using my machine for a lot of years, so it's an older model. I know that the machine I had before this one didn't have an accessible pump filter either. I just assume since there is no mention in the manual that this is a necessary and frequent cleaning/maintenance procedure, that there's no reason for me to now start tearing the kickplate off my machine every month.

 

[bcla]

Your post made me dig out my washer manual (Kenmore). There is no mention anywhere in my manual of this. But as I stated earlier, I've been using my machine for a lot of years, so it's an older model. I know that the machine I had before this one didn't have an accessible pump filter either. I just assume since there is no mention in the manual that this is a necessary and frequent cleaning/maintenance procedure, that there's no reason for me to now start tearing the kickplate off my machine every month.

Kenmore is only a brand and not a manufacturer. If there's a standard design for a manufacturer, it could be for any one of a half-dozen manufacturers. I bought a Kenmore refrigerator once, and I determined it was made by Whirlpool. It had a sticker indicating that it contained technology that won some efficiency contest, and I remember that contest was won by Whirlpool.

Sears doesn't really make anything. My mom used to work for a company that made Sears brand household detergents and paints. She got special deals to get tons of dishwashing and laundry detergent. When a friend needed to repaint, she could get a deal on WeatherBeater paint straight from the factory where she did the books.

 

[bjscheel]

I like top load in general, though I'm not thrilled with my current one. I really liked my Fisher Paykel I got used on Craigslist. It had an agitator. Earlier this year it had a problem- DH thought he had it fixed and then it flooded the laundry room. So then he insisted on getting a new washer. Later he figured out he didn't have a hose on right, so I suspect my FP might work fine after all. But it's in the shed and this LG top loader is in my laundry room. I'm not impressed with it. It seems to take a long time to do a whole lot of nothing. Leaves lint in creases like it doesn't use enough water unless I do extra rinse. DH's really dirty work clothes I have to put on heavy duty-hot-extra rinse to get them decent and that takes up to 2 hours.

Next time we'll get another Fisher Paykel. DH may eventually hook ours up in the basement where it can't hurt anything and see if it works again.

 

[MSLRAC]

We have had two front-load washers and we will not be buying another. Front-loaders do not last as long as top-loaders because of the stress on the drum. Most last only 7-8 years. Top-loaders last much longer.

As far of the cleanliness of our clothes, I really don't see much of a difference...not enough of one, anyway, to justify the more expensive front-loader.

Next time we will purchase a top-loader with no agitator.

I feel the same way about front loaders. We just replaced our Kenmore front loader set with a Maytag Bravos XL top loader set. The washer doesn't have an agitator and I love it. It holds a ton, uses very little water and has lots of cycles and features. Our front loader was great at first but once we started having problems with it, it was one thing after another.

 

[AnAmericanInDisney]

My front loader broke in no time. The arm holding the stainless steel drum was not made of stainless. It would have been an easy fix, but the part is proprietary and only available to authorized repair people. I probably could have had the neighbor rig up a part, but I just bought a top loader instead. Works great. Couldn't be happier.

 

[tvguy]

Your post made me dig out my washer manual (Kenmore). There is no mention anywhere in my manual of this. But as I stated earlier, I've been using my machine for a lot of years, so it's an older model. I know that the machine I had before this one didn't have an accessible pump filter either. I just assume since there is no mention in the manual that this is a necessary and frequent cleaning/maintenance procedure, that there's no reason for me to now start tearing the kickplate off my machine every month.

Seems to me the salesman said they put those drains in because the filters were getting clogged and stuff was damaging the pumps.

The link to the front loader repair guide is generic, and seems to indicate that in some models the drain is not easily accessible.