Comparison of Topload vs Frontload Washing Machines

Tub material: The three most commonly used tub materials used are porcelain-coated, plastic, and stainless steel. Porcelain can deteriorate if it chips. Many of the higher-end models will use a plastic tub, which generally lasts the life of the machine. The very best models will use a stainless steel tub. Water levels: Washing machines have water level settings. Many of the higher end models will offer many more levels to control the amount of water in a machine. A washer using the ideal level of water will be more efficient. Manufacturers recommend using only enough water to cover the clothes.

Cycles: There are many cycles available on a washing machine. Choose a machine that will offer all the cycles you will need. Choose from cycles such as permanent press, sanitize, delicate, and extra rinses. Make sure to get a unit with all the cycles your clothes will need. Different wash/spin speed combinations allow you to wash more types of clothing in ways that are safest for the fabric. Water temperature: Your garments will look better and last longer by using proper water temperature. Detergents, bleaches, and fabric softeners require specific water temperatures to work their best.

Many of your choices of washers will include several wash and rinse temperature options. A washing machine with automatic temperature regulators will make sure that the water entering the machine will be the proper temperature. For example, on a frigid day in Chicago, the water entering a standard washer set to “warm” may not get the temperature desired. Temperature regulators will add more hot water as needed to make sure the desired temperature is met. To kill even the toughest germs, a machine will be required to run at an even higher temperature. Look for a washer that offers a temperature boost or sanitize cycle.

Noise level: Is your washer going to be in your basement or in the garage? If so, you may not be concerned with noise level. If your washer is near a living area you may want a unit that has more insulation and reinforced frames to reduce operation noise. Safety: While it’s possible to stop a front-loading machine and add that missing sock, it does have an automatic lock feature on the unit that will prevent the door from opening while the drum is spinning. Controls: Digital controls and displays will allow you to program different cycle settings. Just program your favorite settings and access them with the push of one button.

For an easier wash process, choose a machine with a dial or push buttons. Bleach and fabric softener dispensers: The chemicals (detergent, bleach, fabric softener) you use are a key part of garment care. Dispensers will automatically disperse them at the correct time. Energy Star rating: The Energy Star label – conferred by the U. S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency – indicates that a washing machine uses 35 percent to 50 percent less water and 50 percent less energy than a non-labeled machine. That makes the machine better for the environment and saves you money…

There are many differences between a front loading and top loading washing machine. Most people still have the traditional top loading machine. They are less expensive than front loading machines, though in the end, top loaders may cost you more money in energy and water costs. There are trade offs with each type of washing machine, and plenty of things to consider if you’re planning on purchasing a new machine. A top loading washing machine is most familiar to people, though they may have seen front loading machines in laundromats or increasingly in appliance stores.

These machines use an agitator which spins the soapy clothes to help get out dirt. The washer drains, adds more water to rinse and then spins the clothes to wring out excess water. Clothes are placed into the spinning basket via the top of the machine, and you can open the machine at any time to add something else. A front loading washing machine uses less energy and does not have an agitator. A front loading machine is a gentler method, because it uses gravity to spin the clothes, which helps save energy and may extend life of clothing.

These machines use less water and detergent, which may be a great savings on water costs, and they can usually be filled with more clothes. You cannot open these machines while they are running, so your days of adding a forgotten sock to a batch being washed are over if you choose a front loading washing machine. Front loaders vary in size but many can take up less space than top loaders. It’s often possible to stack a dryer on top of a front loading machine, but you will usually only find this feature in top loaders that are very small and won’t accommodate large batches.

A front loader may be a better choice if you need to save on space but still want a fairly good sized washing machine There is nevertheless some advantage to the top loading washing machine if you have back, knee or neck problems. It can be awkward to bend down to load and unload clothes, but usually no more so than using front loading dryers. If you have to do lots of laundry, you may prefer a front loader to avoid frequent bending to get clothes in and out of a machine. You do give up greater efficiency, savings in energy and water costs, use of less water, and potentially longer life of clothing when you use a top loading washing machine.

However you also may benefit in the short run because they are significantly less expensive. For people who can afford the front loader and who don’t have issues with the way clothes are loaded, this may be your best bet. In some states and countries you may even qualify for an energy rebate if you purchase a front loading machine. The main difference between a top loading and front loading washing machine is how the clothes are placed inside. A top loading washing machine has a hinged lid on top, allowing the clothes to be placed inside a horizontally-oriented watertight tub.

In the center of this tub is a device called an agitator. The agitator’s job is to swirl the clothes through the soapy water. A front loading washing machine has no central agitator, but uses gravity and side-mounted paddles to agitate clothes. Once the front door is closed, it remains locked mechanically until the washing cycle is complete. One advantage of a front loading washing machine is an increased capacity. Since there is no central agitator, the horizontally-oriented drum can hold at least 20 to 30% more clothing per load.

For a large family, this could mean running only three loads in a front loading washing machine compared to five in a top loader. Fewer loads often translates to savings in utility bills and water usage. A front loading washing machine is also gentler on clothes and generally quieter to operate. Instead of a centralized agitator literally grabbing clothes and thrashing them, the blades of a front loading washing machine gently pick up the clothes and allow them to drop into the soapy water. The soil is still removed by an agitating action, but gravity does most of the work.

Gentler agitation can extend the lifep of clothes significantly. As top loading washing machines age, they tend to become noisier and more likely to become unbalanced. A front loading washing machine rarely becomes unbalanced from the weight of heavy items. Another advantage of a front loading washing machine is less water and detergent usage. A top loading washer must use enough water to cover the highest level of the clothes. A front loading washing machine, on the other hand, only uses enough water to cover approximately the lower third of the tub at most. The clothes are drawn through the water, not the water through the clothes.

Detergents designed for front loading washing machines use a lower sudsing formula, and are meant to release different cleansing agents at different water temperatures. In fact, a front loading washing machine often contains its own heating element to keep the water at an ideal temperature for washing. Many consumers also find that a front loading washing machine removes more water during the final spin cycle. This often translates into shorter drying times, which equals savings on electricity. In addition, a front loading washing machine can work in conjunction with a stackable dryer to save space in the laundry room.

A standard top loading washing machine cannot be stacked with a standard electric dryer. Manufacturers’ attempts at a stacked top loading combination often limit the washer lid’s range of motion. No such design problem exists with a front loading washing machine. Front Loader (Main Advantages) 1. Wash quality  –  you can get a better wash quality than any top loaders (however, not as good as God-made washing machines  – our hands). 2. Water/Detergent consumption  –  you can do a cycle of washing with comparatively less water and detergent compared to top loaders.

That means less water left in the laundry, which in turn gives you a shorter drying time, saving energy there, too. Space: Most front-loading washers can be stacked with a companion dryer, an impossible feat for standard top-loaders, except for a mere few models. If floor space is important to you, a front-loading washer is the better choice. Clothing life: There’s no question that agitators are tough on your clothes. Because only gravity is at work in a front-loading machine, you’ll save a lot of wear and tear on your laundry, extending the life of your clothes and linens.

Cost: In this department, the front-loading washer is at a significant disadvantage. Typically, they cost a minimum of several hundred dollars more than their top-loading counterparts. This initial outlay will be recouped, of course, in energy costs over the long run, but if you can only budget $500 or less for a washer, you’ll have to go with the traditional top-loading model. Ergonomics: If bending or kneeling is difficult for you, stay with a top-loading machine. You’ll need to kneel or bend to load the clothes as well as remove the wet load from a front-loading washer.

When the machines are stacked, the washer goes on the bottom, so there’s no relief there, either. Last-minute lid-flipping: We’ve all run back to the washing machine to toss in a just-found pair of socks or T-shirt after the machine has started. But with a front-loading machine, there’s no turning back once you push the start button. The door locks until the cycle has ended. There are however, a few models that allow a few seconds to add a garment, but once that light or time has elapsed, your clothing has to wait for the next load. Detergents:

Although you can use any kind of laundry detergent in a top-loader, your detergent selection may be a bit limited with a front-loading machine, depending on the manufacturer. Most manufacturers of front-loading washers recommend using an HE low-sudsing detergent; these are becoming more widely available all the time. In the conservation department, the front-loading machine is a clear winner, saving water, energy and, of course, money over the life of the machine. The major detractor for most consumers is the larger initial cash outlay; front-loaders often cost $800 or more compared with around $350 for a good top-loader.