Top Loaders versus Front Loader Washing Machines

Aunt Bea said:
We have HE front loaders in my apartment complex. IMO these machines are not really suited for use by multiple people. You never know how much or what type of soap the previous person used and the tenants close the doors on the machines when they finish using them so they tend to develop an unpleasant odor if they are not used for a few days. The main reason that I don't like them is because you can't lift the lid and toss in an odd sock or towel once the machine has started! I miss having my own laundry equipment in my apartment.
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I prefer top loaders, they are less expensive initially, have less of the odor problem, and are simpler mechanically.
 

This thread gave me a flashback!

Our neighbors were the kind of folks that always had the newest gadgets when they first hit the market and we were the folks that always waited for the new gadgets to be perfected and for the price to come down!

I remember our neighbors bought a front loading combination washer/dryer, I wonder why those never caught on and replaced the need for two machines.

 
Aunt Bea said:
This thread gave me a flashback!

Our neighbors were the kind of folks that always had the newest gadgets when they first hit the market and we were the folks that always waited for the new gadgets to be perfected and for the price to come down!

I remember our neighbors bought a front loading combination washer/dryer, I wonder why those never caught on and replaced the need for two machines.

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Excellent choice and great point. Desirable but not practical.

Combination anything is a dicey proposition. Sort of like the combination TV Set with a built in VCR. The more features on one item is more that can wrong.

I would not like being the delivery person for that one unit. I think I like the making two trips, one for the washer and another for the dryer.
 

I do not do the laundry. My husband has done it since I started working full time - mid 1990s - and, to be honest, I'm not even sure how to turn the thing on! We have always left all appliances behind when we moved so got new ones when we moved in here - 2007. He has a front loading pair and likes them very much - they do use less water. He DOES leave the washer door open when it is not in use and we have never noticed any smells. Have never had to have them repaired for any reason so all it good.

Our son just bought a front loading pair on Black Friday, for his town house. He needed to stack the dryer on top of the washer to fit in his utility room. So far, like someone else said - as long as you don't try to over-fill it and use the "He" detergent, they work fine.
 
Oakmont Senior Living where I live has free large front loaded washer and dryers for the benefit of residents that wish to do their own laundry. They are large enough to take two large duvets at one time.IMG_0964.jpg
 
We have a front loader. I do not like it, I don't see how the clothes come clean. I put a new pair of jeans into the wash. Still folded from the store. They were still mostly folded an hour and 18 minutes later when I took them out.
 
My sister has a front loader and its more trouble than its worth. I have a basic top loader and is all I need. I can toss more things in before the lid locks. I don't want the complicated appliances. I just want it to wash the clothes and that's all.
 
Just sit there and watch the front loaders in action.

They just tumble the clothes over each other with barely enough water to get them wet.

They do a good job of spinning them dry with soap still in them.

My objection to them is the rinse cycle.
 
terry123 said:
My sister has a front loader and its more trouble than its worth. I have a basic top loader and is all I need. I can toss more things in before the lid locks. I don't want the complicated appliances. I just want it to wash the clothes and that's all.
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And the nice thing about top loaders is that you can select the cycle and just do one thing like rinsing them again.

We always rinsed again with the top loader. We felt the whites stayed whiter.

Cannot do that with the front loader.

Consumer Reports claims the front loaders do a better job.

My clothes always feel "waxy" from our commercial front loaders.
 
I am 100% in "top loader" camp....Primarily because of the ability to fix a top loader, as opposed to the frustrations of keeping a front loader running properly. I've done minor repairs on our top loaders over the years, without much trouble. However, I've had a couple of relatives/neighbors ask me to check their front loaders...and those things are a nightmare to fix, by comparison. I think a top loader does a better job of washing, and if a front loader has anything but a real minor issue, it's almost cheaper to get a new machine.
 
The landlords replaced the top loaders with front loaders. One thing I've noticed is pant legs and sleeves on long-sleeved shirts get all tangled up, and can be difficult to unwind.
Also, I have to get down on the floor to put clothes in and take them out.
These are the only differences I've noticed.
 
I went from owning an old-fashioned top-loading washing machine, to a new modern front-loading washing machine a handful of years ago, and honestly, if I ever need another washing machine again I'll be going back to a standard old-fashioned top-loader.

Just love the old-fashioned better. With my old washing machine there was no electronics involved, unlike my new washing machine.

Loved that I could select the water level, something I can't do with my new washing machine, and leaving the door ajar of my new front-loading machine in order to prevent the seal from developing an off odour, has never appealed to me.

Going back in time (when I was busy mom with babies in the home), I would have been lost without my top-loading washing machine. Was a must have for me. Being able to tip and dump the plastic diaper pail into the washing machine was a blessing.
 
Many many years ago when I was first married I used a twin tub washing machine like this one
The left side was for washing then you manually transferred clothes to the right side for spinning
This was very effective because you could adjust the spin time if needed
images.jpeg
Later I used a front loader and I remember the first time I used it there was suds everywhere
However front loaders do require less washing powder and it did smell and my clothes always smelled soapy
Unknown-1.jpeg
I left this behind when my 1st husband and I divorced and went back to using a twin tub for a few years because my 2nd husband had one in the laundry and it worked well
This eventually died and I had to choose a new washer so I chose a top loader because I have
serious back problems and cannot bend down low enough to transfer washing
My top loader is great and I love it and I get great results from it
It is electronic and has a multitude of different wash cycles to choose from
Yes I find it does not smell like my front loader did and my clothes are not soapy smelling either
images-1.jpeg
 
My latest complaint with the new front loader washers?

I'm getting stains in my pants from bleach.

I don't use bleach. It's an apartment and others use bleach. It seems to remain behind.

It doesn't take much to stain a dark pair of pants.
 
Camper6 said:
My latest complaint with the new front loader washers?

I'm getting stains in my pants from bleach.

I don't use bleach. It's an apartment and others use bleach. It seems to remain behind.

It doesn't take much to stain a dark pair of pants.
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As inconvenient as it may be, I'd be electing to run a hot water cycle through the washing machine (without any articles inside), before running my clothing and things through.

Ruining ones clothes account others is costly.
 
I vote for top loaders, but they are being phased out at the local laundromats. One has done away with them completely. The other only has 4 units. There was a Whirlpool top loader in the house when my parents bought it and who knows how long it was there before that. It stopped working a few years ago, and since then I've been using a top loader in the laundromat. But my biggest concern is leakage from a front loader if the door seal goes. In a top loader the water is less likely to leak out.
 
Aunt Marg said:
As inconvenient as it may be, I'd be electing to run a hot water cycle through the washing machine (without any articles inside), before running my clothing and things through.

Ruining ones clothes account others is costly.
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It's expensive. Each load costs $3.00. But I will run a cleaner through one machine and see how that works out. The bleach stain doesn't happen all the time.
 
Aunt Marg said:
Goodness gracious, is that ever expensive.
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Once a week. We have it figured out now. Do two loads at once and then it only uses one dryer.

So it's $3.00 + $3.00 + $2.00 and we save $2.00 a week which is $104.00 a year.

Also I time the dryer. I use high heat for 30 minutes and then switch to medium heat to finish. The timer is on my cell phone so I don't forget.
 
Camper6 said:
Once a week. We have it figured out now. Do two loads at once and then it only uses one dryer.

So it's $3.00 + $3.00 + $2.00 and we save $2.00 a week which is $104.00 a year.

Also I time the dryer. I use high heat for 30 minutes and then switch to medium heat to finish. The timer is on my cell phone so I don't forget.
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Gee whiz... is the option available to you to have your own washing machine and dryer in your own unit?
 
Aunt Marg said:
I went from owning an old-fashioned top-loading washing machine, to a new modern front-loading washing machine a handful of years ago, and honestly, if I ever need another washing machine again I'll be going back to a standard old-fashioned top-loader.

Just love the old-fashioned better. With my old washing machine there was no electronics involved, unlike my new washing machine.

Loved that I could select the water level, something I can't do with my new washing machine, and leaving the door ajar of my new front-loading machine in order to prevent the seal from developing an off odour, has never appealed to me.

Going back in time (when I was busy mom with babies in the home), I would have been lost without my top-loading washing machine. Was a must have for me. Being able to tip and dump the plastic diaper pail into the washing machine was a blessing.
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The front load machines i've had, self adjusted the water level according to the size of the load.
 
MickaC said:
Have being using a front load washer about 15 years.
Will never go back to a top load machine.
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Micka. What are the controlling pluses that sway you for never going back to a top-loading washing machine?
 

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