Top or front loader?

[Calliecake]

I’ve always had top loaders and my next washer will be a top loader. I only use the regular or gentle cycle. I also don’t need one that sings and dances. Too funny Austina!

 

[LilAlex]

Did not read all the posts but never a front-loader -- with all the leaks and mold problems. They are more efficient. I don't mind it in a short-term rental / vacation home but never in our actual home. We got a SpeedQueen not too long ago when we had to replace our old-when-we-bought-it-second-hand avocado green (!) top loader that we then had for two decades.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

We have had front loader washer and dryer by LG for almost 12 years and have only had to replace a part on the washer once. Luckily it was a cheap part and DH watched YouTube to figure out how to replace it.

Funny story, I had an unfortunate circumstance with a top loader. It was right after I had given birth and well you know how breastfeeding adds some oomph (which I didn’t need anyways) and somehow I ended up having the door slam down on one of them

Don’t have that worry with a front loader! The door needing to be left open is a pain but different kind of pain

 

[Diamond Girl 21]

I have a large capacity top loader with a washing plate instead of an agitator, so it's very easy on our clothes. I've had no problems, and really love it.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I'm a top loader person. I've had the same machine for probably 20 years. It works, it doesn't break. It is easy on my back. And I'd prefer to be easier on my back than worry about easy on my clothes. I've never had my top loader damage anything anyway. And it's not an issue for me to reach into it. I'm not super tall, but not really short either. So maybe height impacts preferences. If I had to replace it, I'd buy another top loader. And I buy simple appliances as someone noted above, they break less.

Oh and @Daisys and Diamonds where I live, the older houses have their washers and dryers in the basement. Newer homes tend to have them on the same level as the master bedroom. We don't generally have "utility rooms". But I know what they are because I had one in Florida when I was growing up and there were no basements there.

Our machine is probably getting close to 20 years old
top loader
in its day it cost a lot of money
It was our first really big purchase together
its had a new electronic display and a new agitator and right now it needs a new solenoid but at least its fixable so im doing cold washes
its a fisher & pickle from when they were still made in NZ
I like the idea of the newer ones having no adatator just to fit bedding in better

We have a bit of an issue with an otherwise sweet little girl kitty who wees on the towels
I use white vinigur
I tell you my machine is sparkling and i have never had such white towels

Our house is 1959 vintage
the wash house is just out the back door off the porch

Our old flat was a tiny home before anyone had coined the word
the laundry was behind a bi-fold in the kitchen
i hated it
you couldn't use the cupboard under the tub because the bi fold was in the way
You couldn't watch tv for the noise of the washing machine and there was no room for the dryer so it was out in the garage
which was a pain because as we had a washing line the only time we used the deyer was when it was raining ..
And we got wet going out to the garage to get it

 

[oakleaf]

HI:

LOVE Miele front loader. Pedestals a necessity. I don't like reaching down into the abyss of a top loader.

cheers--Sharon

I also love my Miele front loader as I like an actual hot wash.
Be sure to check the actual wash temps of any washer you purchase if that is important to you.

 

[tyty333]

I dont know which is better but we've always had top loaders and have been happy with them. I'm afraid to change in case
I don't like a front loader...I'll be stuck with it for however long it lasts.

I too prefer those with minimum options. I figure the fewer options the less to break? I hardly ever move the buttons on my
machine.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,
I was thinking about this myself recently. My top loader is near 18 yrs old. Its been great, no repairs. I use a soak cycle and regular cycle. I will get another top loader when the time comes. o THINK IT IS A WHIRLPOOL.
Annette

 

[AprilBaby]

I love my LG front loader washer and dryer on a platform. As I’ve gotten older it’s easier on my back and a top loader was too deep. I’ve had them about 10years and no problem. I love that the wash doesn’t sit in gray water and it’s more water efficient. I use free and clear pods in the wash. I will never go back to top loader.

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

@Austina: Has this helped sway you one way or the other so far?

 

[TooPatient]

Front load as top is hard for me to reach into. Pedestals to raise them up makes loading much easier. Maybe taller people might like top?

The smell is worse on some bands it seems. Our previous had issues. Our current seldom does. One must have for us is an easy to clean filter since they fill quickly with dog/cat fur. With a quick wipe of the gasket after every few loads to keep fur build up from retaining water and smelling, that really helps. When we aren't going to run loads for a few days, I do leave the door open overnight the first night to allow the machine to dry completely.

 

[VRBeauty]

We like our Electrolux front-loader so much that we recently helped my in-laws purchase one - MIL is bed-ridden so a good washing machine is a must. It just cleans better, and with incredibly efficient spin cycles, everything dries faster too. And living in the land of perpetual droughts, having a washing machine that used less water just makes sense.

I will say that my husband insists on purchasing the extended warranty on any major appliance. However the only warranty issue involved the dispenser drawer. It cropped up right away and was easily resolved.

 

[VRBeauty]

FWIW to me, the utility room is usually a room that’s between a home’s back door and the main part of the house. In my 1920’s era home, it’s between the back door and the kitchen - it might have served as a sleeping porch at some point. It originally had a utility sink that - unfortunately - I had to remove to install a side-by-side washer and dryer set. It also has a utility closet that was perfect for storing brooms and mops, but too shallow for most modern vacuums. My hubby’s much more modern home has an integrated and well-designed laundry room, but no utility room.

@Daisys and Diamonds - do your washer and dryer actually have their own building?

 

[lala646]

We have a front load GE space-saver stacking set in our apartment. I love them. I don't think I'll ever go for top load again, as reaching down into the washer feels like the reaching into the abyss.

We had to replace the spider on the washer drum in 2020, which was quite an adventure, as they really don't intend for people to replace those parts, and expect you to just buy a new machine. Well, DH is a tinkerer and we ordered the part from the UK and he took the whole darn thing apart and put it back together and it works a charm! We're hoping to get many more years out of it!

 

[danusia]

My HE top loader is going strong at 13 years. I have a Maytag without the agitator, so I am able to wash comforters easily. I also used Afresh tablets to clean my machine once every 2 months and no funky smells.

 

[victoriangurl96]

Top loader to avoid the mold issue. There's a gentle cycle on mine but I don't use it. We like our clothes "beaten with rocks down by the river" clean.

 

[seaurchin]

I didn't vote because I think which type is better just depends on personal preference. I prefer a no-frills set, which includes a top loading washer, unless something has changed. My reasoning is that a basic machine has fewer parts that can need fixing.

I should have added that the no-frills, top loading machines are also the cheapest lol. I'm used to and happy with only the basic functions so why pay for more.

However, I do have a giant crush on those beautiful, shiny RED washers and dryers, that are front loading and sit on top of a big red box with a drawer in it. Yep, I might pay a lot more for that. It's like jewelry for your utility room!

 

[missy]

I should have added that the no-frills, top loading machines are also the cheapest lol. I'm used to and happy with only the basic functions so why pay for more.

However, I do have a giant crush on those beautiful, shiny RED washers and dryers, that are front loading and sit on top of a red box with a drawer in it. Yep, I might pay a lot more for that. It's like jewelry for your utility room!

This is what I have. And it is very pretty. Also works well.

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

However, I do have a giant crush on those beautiful, shiny RED washers and dryers, that are front loading and sit on top of a red box with a drawer in it. Yep, I might pay a lot more for that. It's like jewelry for your utility room!

This is what I have. And it is very pretty. Also works well.

Yaaaas. The red ones! I really didn't think the color of my laundry machines would matter. But look at em!

 

[Austina]

Thank you ALL so much for taking the time to respond, I really appreciate your thoughts.

@Austina: Has this helped sway you one way or the other so far?

Er……………. NO

So, I’ve just been out to Lowes to look at the top loaders vs front loaders. With regards to the depth of the top loaders, it’s not a problem for me to reach in, so that’s not going to be an issue.

Lost of them have removable agitators, so again any negatives about clothes getting mangled isn’t an issue either.

The ones I’ve looked at have load sensing, so they don’t just fill up to the top wasting water, so again not an issue.

They also have the cycles that I’d use, and size wise, they’re only taller (without pedestals) than a front loader, and the same width. I won’t be having any units above them because even with a front loader, I wouldn‘t be able to reach in to them.

I’ve always had front loaders, so they’re what I’m used to, but I’ve never used all the functions on them, and I’ve had mechanical issues over the years. Prior to moving to my last house, I think I’d had at least 6 front loaders over a 30 year period, and that was just doing washing for 3 people, so not particularly heavy wear.

The cost of washers and dryers here is considerably more than in the UK, so although cost isn’t my primary consideration, I am factoring in.

It seems that those of you that have top loaders have had little to no mechanical issues with them, so another plus.

I think something that may be a factor will be availability, hopefully our house will finally be ready next month, so as soon as we have a move in date, we’ll see what we can get.

 

[canuk-gal]

I also love my Miele front loader as I like an actual hot wash.
Be sure to check the actual wash temps of any washer you purchase if that is important to you.

And short cycles. Like for my dishwasher having a "short" cycle is very important to me.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

FWIW to me, the utility room is usually a room that’s between a home’s back door and the main part of the house. In my 1920’s era home, it’s between the back door and the kitchen - it might have served as a sleeping porch at some point. It originally had a utility sink that - unfortunately - I had to remove to install a side-by-side washer and dryer set. It also has a utility closet that was perfect for storing brooms and mops, but too shallow for most modern vacuums. My hubby’s much more modern home has an integrated and well-designed laundry room, but no utility room.

@Daisys and Diamonds - do your washer and dryer actually have their own building?

Whats a sleeping porch ?

When i was little my bestie's mum's wash house was out the backdoor and a few steps away under a covered porch in its own building that included a toilet room and a wood shed

our wash house is part of the house - irs just behind the bath wall but you access it from a small back porch out the kitchen door
its litterly one step out and one step in
id take a picture but the wildish stray kitty ive been trying to get friendly for 3 years is asleep out there. (Its night time)
We must have been the very last of the houses built with a cooper -
long gone now but between the laundry and the linnen cupboard in the hall is an old chimney all blocked off
The linnen cupboard has a vent in the back that would have made it nice and warm
to be honest ive never seen a copper
by the time i came along grandma had had one of those old wringer washing machines for years
come to think of it her 1930s bungalo had the wash house and the loo off the back porch too but grandad had long ago closed it all in
(Our loo is next to our bathroom off the hall defiantly inside)

Gary has made noises about opening it all up
Id just like the laundry door coming off the kitchen by extending the kitchen into the porch
- he spent 20 years building for a plumner so he has made some lovelly bathrooms
He wants to have one roomy
- laundry, bathroom and loo all in one room but my mother had that at our holiday home
It was a pain doing laundry if someone wanted to go to the loo or have a shower

 

[rainydaze]

Oh! Your last post @Austina reminds me, there was something about Speed Queen's design (top-load) that made it stand out from the rest in terms of being gentler on clothes, as well as better at cleaning. I think there is plenty out there on this subject, if you're up for googling and going down that rabbit hole.

I have certainly had experience with top-loaders where I found that they mangled or caught my clothes. I have not found that to be the case with the Speed Queen. I forget what that design feature was, that they came up with to address & prevent this, but it works!

A quick blurb I came across from Consumer Reports:

The Speed Queen TR7 does have a few positive performance highlights. This top-load agitator washer completes a cycle in a brisk 40 minutes, making it one of the fastest among agitator washers. And it's gentle on fabrics, scoring an Excellent in that test, which is unusual for an agitator model.

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

Austina, I've been following your build story and am sorry you've suffered unusual delays in the process but it is still an exciting time. I love the smell of new wood and construction, I should have been a builder.

That said, I absolutely love my top load Speed Queen washer and dryer made in Ripon, Wisconsin. I needed to replace my former set after a move and am personally more interested in performance than anything. We entered the appliance store and were distracted by the cooktop dept. when a sales associate approached, asked if he could help us. Told him we were in the market for a new washer and dryer and he said he could help us and began walking through the very busy store that day to the front loading, HE washers and dryers. I explained I was considering a Speed Queen after reading reviews. He quickly turned around and quietly told me they are the best washers out there and he wouldn't own anything else. We purchased the set that met our needs that day 7 years ago and haven't looked back. What a great purchase for us and I have to confess, I love the look of the old fashion washer/dryers versus the new space grabbing appliances. I selected the large tub and medium range options available. But we all have different needs and tastes and whatever you choose, enjoy it in your new home.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I wish i hadn't been following this thread
My washing machine just threw up a fault call for service message and it won't spin
Financially very bad timming
And i don't have a clean or dry shirt for work now

Ive hung everything on the line dripping wet
Hoping for a breeze in the night

Ive never used a laundromat but im going to have to - there is one 20 min walk away

 

[icy_jade]

@Austina @Ally T

Read this today and thought of both of you:

The best room in your home? It's the laundry room

Don't laugh: These days, a laundry room isn't something to hide — it's a place to show off. Here's how to make yours shine.

cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com

 

[Ally T]

@Austina @Ally T

Read this today and thought of both of you:

The best room in your home? It's the laundry room

Don't laugh: These days, a laundry room isn't something to hide — it's a place to show off. Here's how to make yours shine.

cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com

I am definitely a front loader kind of girl!

I'm excited for the utility room at the new house because it's larger than my current kitchen And we are future proofing & having a doggy shower area added, as they have been asking if we can get a dog for years but I've resisted. I always used to tell them that if we were lucky enough to move to a bigger house one day, then we would. Backed myself into a coner!

 

[CMN]

6 front loaders….ugh what a waste. No wonder you are disheartened. For what it is worth I have a Miele front loader, going on 18 years - love it.

 

[Austina]

Thanks for the article @icy_jade. Originally I was thinking of high gloss navy blue units for the utility room, and GE do a navy blue washer and dryer. Now that the house is nearing completion, I’m beginning to think the blue will be too dark in a windowless room, and in reality, the GE washer/dryer are a larger capacity that I actually need.

I’m now thinking of going with high gloss flat fronted white units, and a grey stone countertop, I will be having a sink, as I think it’s so useful to have in a utility room. We have deliberately chosen very plain tiles everywhere, as we could only view them via a Zoom call with the design centre, so the tiled floors are all dark grey, and the wall tiles in the guest bathrooms are a lighter, slightly veined grey tile.

We rushed up to the house last Sunday as the tiles had been delivered and we wanted to see them before installation, and fortunately, they were fine.

Thanks @Sunrises Sunsets, it’s certainly been a rollercoaster!

Ugh noooo @Daisys and Diamonds, I really hope it’s not going to be too expensive to fix, these things always come at the worst possible time.

 

[Gussie]

A top loader (no agitator) ESPECIALLY IN TEXAS. The humidity is high (even in Austin) and the top loaders begin to stink quickly due to mildew. I also suggest never using any detergent that has fragrance. I speak from experience!