When comparing a front loader washer to top loader as it relates to spinning the clothes much faster in the front loader. Does this wear out the clothes faster? The front loaders use much less water and clothes dry much faster. It is hard on the knees from bending down to get clothes out of front loader. I would love to hear your experiences.
By Steve White from Dryden, NY
I don't believe that spinning the clothes has anything to do with wearing them out. What would wear them out is the agitation. A top loader washing machine has a center agitator, whereas a front loader spins the clothes while they are washing and has no agitator inside the wash drum.
But when you compare the prices of a top loader to a front loader you pay a lot more money for a front loader washing machine. The salesman won't tell you the problems that you will have down the road when the rubber seal starts to deteriorate. You will end of with water on your floor, because it will leak.
Also, when you have to get it serviced you will pay more to get it fixed than you would with a top loader. If I were you I'd buy a top loader, and if you have any large quilts that you have to wash, take it to a laundromat.
Not too long ago I submitted a post on ThriftyFun along with a photo of my washer and dryer that we purchased at a used appliance store. The top loader washer, electric dryer, and delivery cost us $415.00. (06/08/2009)
By Marjorie
I've had top load for most of my life and got my front load about 5 years ago. I love them, but can see some negatives. I can't soak things in a tub of water, for instance. I can't just open the door and toss in the forgotten sock. I do like that the washer spins out drier and needs less dryer time because of it. I haven't had them going enough to encounter the problems MCW described. I hope it never happens. As for wearing out the clothes, can't tell any difference. (06/08/2009)
By Judi
No, the clothes do not wear out faster. I put more in the gentle cycle like lesser quality cotton t-shirts that I like. I've had mine for about 4 years.
For me these benefits outweigh the toploader:
I don't like:
The front loader needs to have the door left open to dry out the interior. Do you have enough room to do this or is your laundry set up in a narrow hallway? Also, if the hinges on the front loader are not exceptionally sturdy, they will break because those doors are so heavy, the detergent is the HE type, and quite expensive. (06/09/2009)
By Holly
I can't stand front loaders. You're not able to soak clothes before a wash cycle (which means you have to soak them in the sink first, then wring them out and then transfer to the washer. Lord forbid, if you don't have a sink in your laundry room and/or if it happens to be a bulky item and/or you have carpal tunnel or arthritis. You also can't open the door to toss something in once the cycle has begun.
My experience has also been that as long as you load a top load washer evenly it doesn't make a bit of difference as to the amount of moisture left in the clothing after the spin cycle.
(06/10/2009)
By Deeli
Fisher and Paykel have top loading washers that are extremely high-efficiency. They are rated better than most front loading washers and have the convenience of being the size of a standard washer, which was important to me because of the size of my utility room. (06/10/2009)
By susan
You will not get the wear and tear like you would with a top loader. The front loaders are more gentle and get the clothes cleaner with less detergent and less water. I have well and septic so this is great for me. I have a Whirlpool front loader, bought it about 5 years ago. I absolutely love it. You can soak for 35 minutes. If I need to soak it longer I'll use a bucket or whatever is handy this way I won't tie up the the washer from doing more wash (oh joy).
When you are done with the last load just keep the door open and take out the dispensers to air dry overnight. On top loaders you also have to keep the lid open so it doesn't get smelly and moldy. Also, you don't have to wait for your washer to fill up with water, mine starts the water and wash cycle at the same time so shorter wash cycle and definitely spins the clothes dryer, or not all there are so many options. I have a large capacity one and I can fill it with almost double amount of clothes so wash day is shorter, if you overfill it, when the wash is done I do check behind the gasket for a lost sock sometimes. Go to a scratch and dent store to buy it cheaper. Also if you have to wash your favorite jeans for that special day out you won't feel guilty washing them. (06/10/2009)
By Oksana
I just bought a top loader 2 months ago. Love it. It is a GE and it is one they have just come out with. It runs so quietly and it is gentle on clothes. It does get your clothes clean. I was unsure at first, but would not trade it for anything now. I think front loaders would be hard on your back and knees. (06/11/2009)
By Teresa Tart
I have a Fisher and Paykel top load washer and dryer that are great. The washer uses a lot less water, but still gets the clothes very clean. The dryer does not get really hot therefore saving damage and shrinkage to clothing. (06/12/2009)
By Sue
I love the front-loading washer at the laundromat. I can put all of the clothes from my hamper into a medium-sized front loading washer with 2 cups of detergent and maybe 1/4 cup of OxyClean (if the clothes were particularly dirty that week) and they all come out clean. The cost is around $4.25. Then I put the same batch of clothes (a full hamper's worth) into the dryer and set it for an hour, which runs around another $4.00. Altogether, $8.25 is not a bad cost opposed to a full $10.00 in my complex's top-loading washer and traditional dryer that uses $10.00 to wash and dry the same 4 loads of laundry. (06/20/2009)
By Jenni
I am European and have always used front loaded machines, until I was an exchange student in Iceland. They import a lot of stuff from America and my landlord had top loaded washing machines (White and Westinghouse).
Wow, they are bad. Not only can you only choose from only three different temperatures on the water, they use a lot more water too. And thus more detergent. I have to say they do not clean the clothes nearly as good as front loaders do. You can tell the machine is just "swirling" the clothes around a little, whereas a front loaded machine really works the laundry because of gravitation. A huge difference. So many of my clothes had stains that did not come out the whole time I was using the top loaded machines in Iceland, and the first wash I did at home, they were finally clean again.
My own front loaded machine at home has 5 different temperatures (centigrade) to choose from, and it has a soaking function, too. It is also about half the size of a big bulky top loaded washer. Plus it being front loaded means I can put something on top of it. In my case, a dryer! (06/27/2009)
By Anna H
Wow, haushinka, the place you lived in Iceland must have had an ancient top loader model because I haven't seen such a simple one here in America since I was a kid in the 50s and 60s.
Top loaders nowdays have more than three temperature choices and load size/amount of water choices. As for not getting clothes as clean with a top loader, it also makes a difference of what kind of water you have (hard/soft, well/city) and whether the top loader uses an agitator or an impeller. (06/27/2009)
By Deeli
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