Washers: Top-Load or Front-Load?

Front loaders SMELL, you can't soak anything, and you can't do a king sized comforter in them. I hate mine and hope it breaks soon.

Front loader 100%. Uses less water, clothes are cleaner and come out almost dry - if you use the dryer you will run it much less. If you hang to dry it is much faster. You do need to leave the door open and run a clean cycle periodically or it will get a mildewy odor.

I've had both. I will stick with the top loader. Front loaders get mildew and moldy when you shut the door.

I like being able to just open the top door if I find a sock or towel after the wash has started. There is a point of no return with the front loader where you cannot do that. I hate it.

I would say top!!! I think that with front loaders you put more stress on your back with all the bending a lifting and as a parent you learn to go the easy way. At least I do

i skimmed over the responses and i'm very surprised so many have a smell from the front loaders. i've had mine for 5 years now and never once smelled anything from it. we do it the washer door open and do a quick wipe with a towel on the window on the door and in one small area that pools water- it takes no more than 10 seconds.

we have a frigidaire which was one of the cheapest ones and it's wonderful. and yes we can wash a king size down comforter easily. we can load up a ton and use less detergent.

it's wonderful. i will never go back to a top loader.

We're a top-loader fan. Ruled out front-loaders because they aren't safe with young, curious kids. Will spare you the awful details, but if you want to know more, do a search on front-loader deaths and you will learn more about what has happened.

You can still find Energy Star top-loaders. After a lot of research, we bought a Maytag Centennial last year and have been really happy with it so far. It was middle of the road as far as pricing (want to say around $600?) but had excellent reviews.

My husband works in an industry that involves alot of appliances and he does not want us to own a front loader. He has seen and heard all the problems with them- and its not just one brand. From what he has told me I too prefer a top loader. They make some with really big tubs now. I cant wait til I get a new set- just a few more months :)

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I've used both...Top Loader!!!!!

Loved my front-loader, but had to leave it behind in the divorce :-( The mildew problem comes from using too much detergent. These only need about 1/4 the usual amount of detergent and get clothes much cleaner. I also could wash all my "hand wash" only clothes in it with no worries at all.

We switched from a top load to front load and I wish I never had. I miss my top loader.
We had a Kenmore HE2 (I think that was the model) It was a total piece of GARBAGE! Do not buy it. It was loud, stinky horrible. It broke 4 times in 6 months, once being the motor completely fried. We were able to get a new washer with the appliance lemon law (thank goodness).
We switched to a Samsung. I do like this brand. It works great, we have not had any problems with it, knock on wood. It does get stinky if you shut the door. We have to leave the door open all the time basically. If you have small children, it could be a safety hazard. You hear the stories of kids climbing in them during a game of hide and seek and another kid pushing the button.
My next washer will be a top loader, just my personal preference. :-)

I have a high end Whirlpool front loader. At first, I loved it. It is large. It does get the clothes cleaner. Then when it was 2 years old, it broke and it cost $700 to fix it. OMG - the top loader I had before didn't cost that much new and it lasted 20 years! If I buy again, I will get a top loader.

Well, you already have responses regarding the smell issue. Our whole basement REAKS! No matter how I clean it - bleach, the tablets, vinegar, etc I cannot get the smell out.

I also do not think the clothes get as clean. When I do laundry at my mom's or MIL's while we vacation there, the clothes seem to get cleaner.

We have had ours for about 8 years - they are a Whirlpool brand. There may be better units out there, now, but I really am not impressed with the ones we have.

I have never looked closely at the water bill, but I don't doubt that it is way more effecient. I would definitely do some consumer review research on each brand. I'm sure they are all about comperable in the efficiency department.

If you are aware of the smell issue, you could be more preventative, rather than trying to get rid of the smell and mildew once it's started. I'm sure that is much easier. I leave the door open to mine, and did that in the beginning, but the smell still came. I would also opt for the risers that you can get with them - they bring them up off the floor, so that you don't have to bend over so much. We didn't get them, and I regret it. I'm always on my knees in the laundry room, trying to get clothes from washer into dryer.

Good luck!

Your pump is either leaking or you have a hole in your tub.........

I have a Bosch front loader and love it!!! I can fit my son's whole twin size bedding in it (sheets, mattress pad and quilt) when he would have bed time accidents during potty training. It uses less water than a top loader too. Yes, an average wash cycle can take almost an hr, your drying time is cut way down because of all the water that gets spun out so the time from start to finish is still about the same, maybe even less. My advice is look for one that offers a quick wash cycle too-mine is 25 mins long.

Yes you have to leave the door open but if you think about, you already leave the door open on your top loader right?? What would happen if your kept the lid closed on the top loader all the time?? Same thing, it would start to smell over time too. The instructions with mine say to run a cup of bleach through an empty load once or twice a month but I use either vinegar or powdered lemon aid mix instead which is better for the environment and cheaper than buying those Afresh packs at lowes.

My friend has and LG set that is designed just like a top loader so it takes up less room. I've seen them sold at Home depot. She is really happy with hers too.

Good luck!
S.

UPDATE: I have a king size comforter and can wash it just fine. Mine is a 4 cubic ft and I know there are bigger sizes out there now too since I got mine 3 yrs ago. I also got mine price matched by Lowes which paid for the extended warranty which I've used a few times on the washing machine but nothing major and one of the pedestals. I also only used maybe a tablespoon of HE laundry soap as well per load.

Not only do front loaders get mildewy when you close the door, so do top loaders!! Washers should never just sit there with the door closed - they need to dry/air out.
I think the front loader gets my clothes cleaner, but if you have a second floor laundry be sure to get a model for second floor laundry rooms that won't shake your house apart!!

Front load 100%! The amount of money you will save by having one is amazing and well worth the money you spend. A friend and I (who have similar size families and family structures) compared our water bills. We consistently pay $30-$40 less per month on water than they do. As for best brands, we love our Whirlpool, but my mother in law raves about her Bosch and my mom loves her Samsung. I have heard nothing but good things about all 3 brands. I have been told that GE is not good. We do leave the door open on ours, but since we have an actual laundry room, it is never a problem! Good luck!

We got a front loader last spring and I LOVE it. It is an LG. Yes, you have to leave the door open and periodically run the "tub rinse" to clean it, but it cleans clothes SO much better than our top loader did (which was NOT super old, either). Also, the clothes come out and are not sopping wet so it takes less time to dry them. Ours (and probably most) lock when you start a cycle so a child cannot open it. But if you do forget something you can pause it, hear it click to unlock and add whatever it is that you forgot. Hope that helps!