OT front loading washers

go for it!

much better on all fronts! front loaders are the norm here and with reason!

I've had my front loader for almost 8 years and I really do love it. Washes huge loads, spins the water out really well so drying doesn't take forever, nice water bills ;-)

What it doesn't do is soak, as in fill up with water and sit there because they don't fill like a top loader. So, if you are a pre-soaker you need to adjust. If you do hand dyeing or somesuch where you need the ability to soak the fabric then you might consider the new high efficiency top loaders or if you have a large sink use that instead.

marcella

Things I like/find useful:

BIG door, for getting duvets and quilts in and out

Large load capacity (cheaper to was one large load than several smaller ones! I usually have at least two dark loads each week!)

'A' rated for water/electricity consumption

Hot and cold fill (gas is cheaper than electricity)

Half load, light soiling and extra rinse options

Boil wash and 'hand wash' programs

Prewash option for very dirty things

Been looking at LGS: will never house another Whirlpool appliance as long as I get the choice.

Love mine. Wouldn't trade for another top loader on a bet. Only drawback is I now bleach fabric in a bucket. It's not really a problem as I typically don't bleach out color for more than a yard or two at a time.

Sunny

I know front loaders are water efficient but I like to be able to "control" my wash.

I have been looking at the top loaders that don't have a central agitator. They are just as water efficient (my old one washed in equiv half a bucket of water for a small load) and very gentle on the clothes. Didn't tangle anything and got everything clean including REALLY grotty gardening gear. And I could lift the lid and check on things if I wanted to.

I like a top loader because I can lay a quilt around the bowl and gently spin dry to MY requirements, not just consign things to what the wash cycle tells me is appropriate. And I can shorten a cycle more easily. Most front loaders I have seen here have long cycles and some are so automated that they cannot be shortened - some, not all.

I live in a VERY dry area and I will look for a water efficient top loader next time around.

You'd think my top-loader was really old if I told you it has a treadle. So, naturally, I'm watching this discussion with great interest. Tell me. Why must you bleach in a bucket and why can't you soak if the mood strikes? I'm not in control of much around here but the washer better do what I say or else. Polly

Taria-

I've had my Kenmore front loader for about 5 years. I'll never go back. What I especially like is the fast/slow spin. The fast spin takes nearly all the moisture out of the clothes so they dry quickly. We don't have water issues here in MO., so I use the extra rinse cycle with every load. I can stop a load that's started to add more clothes and I like that, too. It has different cycles for delicates, permanent press, etc. and even a "delayed start" so I can put in a load and wash it overnight- saves on using energy during those peak hours. It uses about 1/4 the amount of laundry soap, bleach and liquid softener than the recommended "dose" on the containers- saves a lot of money that way, too. I can wash a king sized quilt with no trouble- if you can shove it into the washer you can wash it and it will get clean. I have Kenmore's base front loader model and don't feel that I need the "extras" offered on their TOL model. Good luck with your search for a new washer!

Leslie & The Furbabies > Time to upgrade my washing machine. Water going up 29% and I need to

I love my front loading machine. It uses less water and detergent, spins things almost dry and is gentler on the fabric too. I also purchased the matching gas dryer (updated the pair after 15yrs) which is so much more efficient. Towels & sheets are dry in less than 25 minutes and fluffy too. Mine are LG. YMMV, Linda in Tx

My daughter really likes her LG. She had a Fisher-Paykel in her old house; that's an energy efficient top loader that uses much less water than a conventional top loader. As a bonus, both also spin much drier than a conventional top loader so clothes dry much faster. Look for the Energy Star designation. Some utility companies give you a rebate for buying Energy Star appliances.

Julia in MN

all the more time to shop :-)

soaking can be done btw... just fill the machine with water and turn it off for as long as you want then turn it on again and bob's your uncle but to be honest - front loaders clean so well you don't need to soak the wash to get it clean. I use to wash my ex's chefs whites - grease stains, tomato paste stains etc. all nice and dried in , smeared on etc. he is a chef in an Italian restaurant. I never once soaked the whites to get them white: I just did them on boil, added cup of bleach in the prewash cycle and the usual detergent for a front loader for the normal wash cycle and they came out white every time. I will refrain from saying that he can't get his whites as white as I used to

I'm finding all this info very interesting.....my Maytag washer is 25 years old and has been making some weird noises when it stops agitating and starts to spin.

I know exactly what you're hearing, Bonnie. Mine sounds like a B-29 revving up her motors for takeoff. Polly