washing machine - top load or front load?

[ez]

Our washer died last night and we need to go pick out a new one today. Which do you prefer top load or front load...thanks!

 

[bellebud]

I love my front loader... much less water, much less detergent, way more gentle on the clothes (I put hand-wash only items in there all the time, even dry clean only items).

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My sister said she saw a reduction in her bills from her front loader.

 

[NewCrew42]

I really dislike my front loader. It's an LG. Yes, it uses less water but my kids clothes do not get clean. So I end up washes items multiple times or soaking them in my laundry sink. These are items that when I had my top loader, I just washes normally and they would be clean.

If you have kids who get spots on their clothes, play sports, or someone in your family who gets dirty, I would recommend a top loader.

If you are basically washing stainfree, clean clothes, then a front loader will get the job done.

 

[dejr_8]

We absolutely HATE HATE HATE our side-by-side refrigerator!

Oh, wait that's for another appliance thread.

We have a front loader and love it because of the low water usage and capacity. When this one is done we will purchase another.

 

[MM27]

I love my front load washer. You just have to remember to let it dry out by keeping the door slightly open after doing a load so that it doesn't get a musty smell.

 

[tvguy]

I love my front loader... much less water, much less detergent, way more gentle on the clothes (I put hand-wash only items in there all the time, even dry clean only items).

Interesting. This is another appliance we went back, a very expensive Maytag front loader. Cost over $1,000.
All our clothing came out twisted up, ruined one of my wife's nice blouses.
Took it back to Lowes, got the $400 top loader, no more problems.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Had a front loader now for 2 years--would never, ever get another washer with an agitator.
The front load uses far less water, gets the clothes just as clean, has cycles for delicates, etc , and actually drys the clothes out much better due to the higher spin speed.
Just keep the door open to air it out and from time to time, run the "clean" cycle with bleach.

 

[debster812]

We have a top loader that behaves like a front loader. We have a Fisher-Paykel and love it!!! Water saver, energy saver, energy star rated. Spins so well that the clothes are barely damp when they go into the dryer.

 

[mom2grace]

We have a top loader that behaves like a front loader. We have a Fisher-Paykel and love it!!! Water saver, energy saver, energy star rated. Spins so well that the clothes are barely damp when they go into the dryer.

Me too! Fisher-Paykel all the way!!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hey TVguy, I believe that the MayTags, especially some of the frontloaders, really had some problems.

Still don't think I would want a MayTag.

We had a Whirlpool... and really liked it, except for a couple of 'Whirlpool' issues... The one that made us get rid of it was the LOUD water pump the Whirlpool has used... I didn't have any problems with the machine/spin being too loud, vibration/walking, etc... And I loved loved the smart, user-friendly, intuitive, controls... Loved the 'Clean Washer' cycle...

Last year, we changed to a new Bosch...
Good in some respects... But when it comes to the 'feel' of the machine... It was like going from a nice mid-range sedan to stripped import. I don't believe it has a 'Clean Washer' cycle.... (which I LOVED on my Whirlpool) The controls do NOT work nicely, and I think the the washer has even disfunctioned and 'hung-up' due to glitches in the electronics in the controls. We will actually be calling for warantee service because it did it again to me. It's just little things in the controls that would take too long to type out and go into... but, for example, when you hit the button to 'Pause' the cycle... It doesn't just pause... when you hit to re-start, it goes back to the beginning of whatever segment of the cycle it was on.

About dryers...
One of the reasons I decided to go with Bosch, in addition to the fact that I thought Bosch had a reputation for better products... (not quite so) was the fact that it is one of the ONLY makers who uses a FULL drum in their dryer... Not just the outer sides that rotate while the front and back panels remain stationary. And, a nice stainless drum at that...

My Whirlpool dryer had the type of drum where just the sides rotate... After a year or two of use, this set up a situation where the constant friction between the fabrics and the front and back panels was wearing off the finish down to the primer. Not Good.... Most all makers CONTINUE to make their dryers this way...

I don't know what maker I would buy today... I would look at Whirlpool and LG.... But, I would, if at all possible, get a dryer with a full drum, where the whole drum turns....

PS: My frontloader gets my clothes SO clean that I have not purchased spray-n-wash since we bought our first front-loader. TIP... they are NOT designed to use enough water... I ADD water till I actually can see the water and suds in the bottom of the door window.... then always run another rinse to rinse out all detergent residue and add softener.... A hassle, YES... but my laundry is cleaner than one would believe.

 

[stm61]

I bought a Whirlpool front loader 4 years ago. For what I paid for it, I swore it would be the last washer I ever bought lol. It died last month. We had problems with vibrations from day one. They replaced something, can't remember exactly what, but it had to do with how the drum moved. The vibrations never got any better, the clothes were just as wet as they were with the top loader we had before, and they didn't seem to be as clean. It finally died when the bearings went last month. The repairman has the same washer in his house and his is having the same issues mine had.

I bought a top loader with no agitator. I now have no vibrations, it weighs half what the front loader does, and the clothes look cleaner.

 

[sharlon]

I really, really HATE my front load washer. I have a friend who worked for the original company who developed the FL washer, and he gave me some tips to keep it working well. Things like leaving the door open, so it doesn't mildew. Even with everything I do, it still gets a musty smell. We don't have the pedastal, so when I clean out the filter, which is at the very bottom, water gets EVERYWHERE because there is not way to put anything underneath it. BTW, I have to do this every couple of months.
DH pointed out today that his white golf shirt is not getting clean. Since it's the same detergent we always have used, I can only assume it's the washer. I am hoping the thing will die an early death, so I can get a new one.

 

[asta]

One thing to keep in mind is that due to new mandates, not even top loaders work like they used to. Both top and front loaders are made to work with much less water than older top loading machines used. I have a Bosch front loader and I do have to deal with the smell occasionally, especially if the door is left closed. I try to always leave it open when not in use and every three months or so I run a cycle with Whirl-Out whirlpool cleaner.

 

[msmayor]

I'm a fan of the top loader myself, but even if I really wanted a front loader I couldn't get one...it won't fit in the space my washer occupies.

My neighbor bought one and they didn't even take it off the truck. As soon as the delivery man saw where it had to go, he said "Ma'm, there's no way you will be able to fit that washer there and be able to use it." Between the extra depth required for the door that 'bubbled' out a bit as well as the need to swing the door outward, there simply wasn't enough space to be able to have it work.

 

[jelo]

I have a Fridgidaire front loader and I chose them because they stack...which is great.
Apparently you save $ on your water bill, I can't compare that as we bought it for our new home.
What you do save on water, you spend on more expensive detergent, fabric softeners, bleach and washing machine cleaner.
My kids clothes don't really get clean unless I use Tide and pretreat.
My kitchen towels, bibs load, still smell when they are done. I can smell them when I wet them for their first use...it wafts up...gross! I don't use bleach on them, I paid alot for the colour to match my kitchen! I've been trying Ammonia, it's a bit better.
If I had to choose again, I'd get the top loader.

 

[Hoodie]

We just got a top loader that uses the same electric and water as a front loader. Everyone I know with a front loader has had issues and regret spending the extra money on a front loader. I had a front loader once. It was an older stackable model, but it leaked horribly and used to eat clothes.

So far the new one is pretty good.

 

[eliza61]

Our washer died last night and we need to go pick out a new one today. Which do you prefer top load or front load...thanks!

First I went with a top loader because of people saying the front loaders had mildew issues but we purchased a GE G131 and HATED IT
It had absolutely no agitation. It was like putting my clothes in a bath tub and swishing them around. After a month we weont back to lowes to have it exchanged. I took a 100 hit on restocking fee but I did not care. No way could I live with that machine. Jeans came out dingy and linty, blacks were pitiful.

We got a samsung front loader 1000% better.