Washer and Dryer - Top Load vs Front Load?

[CashMan]

Never buy front load. The "gook" stays all over.

Google front load and dirt and bacteria etc.

100% agree, mold/mildew will grow and at some point, it just wont come off.

 

[jobberone]

Have had both and got a front loader 5 years ago. No comparison as regards getting dirty stuff clean. Never had a problem with mildew or smell but then I am in a dry climate and they dry off real quick. GE front loader and have never had a problem with it; be it seal or smell or anything else.

They do clean better. I don't have one for various reasons mostly I don't need it now. Small volumes just me and wife, wife has supernatural abilities to clean clothes with simple measures that appear better than all the latest greatest store bought stuff, and my old machine works fine.

If I were younger in a new home and planned on being there a long time then I'd consider the front loader esp if I had kids now.

 

[Nova]

One thing that I didn't see mentioned while skimming through was that, with a front loader you can't have that "Oh crap I forgot to throw this in" moment. Once the cycle has started, you can't simply open the door and throw something in.

But that's more operator error than anything.

 

[RastaRocket]

Top load washer, front load dryer.

 

[WoodysGirl]

One thing that I didn't see mentioned while skimming through was that, with a front loader you can't have that "Oh crap I forgot to throw this in" moment. Once the cycle has started, you can't simply open the door and throw something in.

But that's more operator error than anything.

So what do you do when that happens? Because I often find myself tossing stuff in long after the cycle has started.

 

[Nova]

So what do you do when that happens? Because I often find myself tossing stuff in long after the cycle has started.

No idea. I've only lived with someone temporarily who had one. It was a Samsung model and it locked after you started the cycle. I'm not sure there's a way to open it once that happens. I always just had to wait until the cycle was over.

 

[trickblue]

So what do you do when that happens? Because I often find myself tossing stuff in long after the cycle has started.

You put it in the next load... ain't no going back...

 

[Hoofbite]

I had a front loader a couple years ago. If I had to chose again I'd got with the front loader. Used less water, was quieter, rarely had to rebalance any loads because it pretty much handles that itself.

 

[Hoofbite]

One thing that I didn't see mentioned while skimming through was that, with a front loader you can't have that "Oh crap I forgot to throw this in" moment. Once the cycle has started, you can't simply open the door and throw something in.

But that's more operator error than anything.

The model I had would allow you to stop the cycle and open the door. I don't know for how long you can do that but I would guess at least a few minutes. On the model I had the drum was angled, maybe 15 degrees or something. Not totally horizontal so a decent amount of water could fill the machine but it wouldn't fill to amount where it would pour out if the door was opened.

 

[dcdallaschick]

My Samsung front loader will let you pause the cycle, put something in, then restart, so no problem there. Ditto on leaving the door open to air dry. I've had the washer for 3yrs without doing special cleaning (just not closing the door all the way between loads) and have had no issues whatsoever with mildew or mold. I think the newer models addressed a lot of the issues people had with them early on.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

My Samsung front loader will let you pause the cycle, put something in, then restart, so no problem there. Ditto on leaving the door open to air dry. I've had the washer for 3yrs without doing special cleaning (just not closing the door all the way between loads) and have had no issues whatsoever with mildew or mold. I think the newer models addressed a lot of the issues people had with them early on.

Yep. My Samsung has the same option.

Also Hoofbite made a great point that I had forgotten... Front-loaders make much less noise. I had forgotten how noisy our top-loader was.

 

[CF74]

Here is a cleaner used for washing front load washers. Funny thing is it's really only made for front load machines because top loads don't have that problem.

http://www.affresh.com/our_products/affresh_washer_cleaner

And then sometimes customers have trouble getting it to dissolve because front loads use less water. The issue with odor in front loads is because they use less water in the first place. In fact even the new top loads have this issue, it's mainly the "HE" machines. Stupid environmental protection stuff. Use less water, less electricity, etc but then you are forced to wash smaller loads and therefore have to do more loads. One would think since you are doing more loads you end up using more water and more electricity. And of course it takes longer.

Anywho front load washers breakdown far more often than top loads and also another thing is brand. If you purchased a new off brand like LG or Samsung and then several years down the road it broke down, and it will, good luck getting parts and someone to fix it. In that scenario I would recommend Whirlpool/Maytag because they are the easiest to fix and get parts for. Having said that I still recommend Speed Queen because they still make the old style mechanical washers that last 20 years...

 

[Hoofbite]

Yep. My Samsung has the same option.

Also Hoofbite made a great point that I had forgotten... Front-loaders make much less noise. I had forgotten how noisy our top-loader was.

It really was quite shocking how little noise mine made. Didn't really hear much sloshing around at all, likely because it uses less water. Just kind of tumbles everything through the water instead of agitating it around.

 

[Bigdog]

I have a top loading washing machine. It is GE HE and the tub is pretty big. The sprout in the middle is extremely small and you use less water. My wife and I were thinking about the front loader but we were concern about leakage as we read that is the biggest complaint and cost. This one works great with the water softner we have. I have no complaints.

 

[WoodysGirl]

So after doing some quick research, I'm leaning towards the top load for budgetary reasons. It's hard for me to consider paying $2k or more on a washer and dryer. I haven't fully fleshed out a budget, but just having a cursory look at the front load machines make my eyes pop. lol

 

[CyberB0b]

My front load takes forever for a normal wash and dry cycle. Something like 30 minutes to wash and 45 minutes to dry.

 

[CF74]

One of the biggest reasons HE machines start to smell bad is because people use way to much soap. There is animal fat in the detergent and it builds up inside your machine coupled with the fact that u run less water to flush it out, yuck...

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I've owned Front Loaders for about 12 years now. I will never go back to a top loader machine. Heck, my Wife would divorce me, take half (if I'm lucky) of everything I have and use that money to buy a brand new, top of the line Front Loader.

Besides, I no longer have to wash the little dog. Now, I just pop him in the front loader for about 10 and then immediately transfer him to the dryer and he's spic and span in no time. The Cat is a little tougher but as they say, "It all comes out in the Wash."

;-)

 

[burmafrd]

So after doing some quick research, I'm leaning towards the top load for budgetary reasons. It's hard for me to consider paying $2k or more on a washer and dryer. I haven't fully fleshed out a budget, but just having a cursory look at the front load machines make my eyes pop. lol

Wow that is expensive; I got mine for about half of that 3 years ago. GE front load washer and dryer. Look at places like Lowes, etc. They often have sales on their appliances more than most other stores.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Wow that is expensive; I got mine for about half of that 3 years ago. GE front load washer and dryer. Look at places like Lowes, etc. They often have sales on their appliances more than most other stores.

Yeah, most washers I'm seeing start at $800-900. Dryers cost the same, so yeah, it's pricey. I'm gonna keep looking, but even top loaders are kinda pricey, but at least I can get a set in the $1000 range. I'm trying not to let my inner cheapness takeover.