Front loading washing machines are very dominant in the UK and with good reason. A front-loading washing machine uses considerably less water (reportedly up to 60% less), it also uses less electricity and less detergent. They tend to wash better these days too, especially after the introduction of the eco-label awards for wash efficiency focussed manufacturer’s attention in this area.
A front loader is essential if it’s required to fit under the worktop. However, as top loaders can be made much slimmer than front loaders, as long as you don’t need to fit it under a worktop – or are prepared to drag it out – and you have a small width restriction it may be the best choice.
Top loaders have historically had a bigger wash capacity which is another reason some might have preferred one but these days front loading washing machines are available with extra large drum capacities of 6 7 or 8Kg and even bigger. ( Related: Looking at how much laundry will fit into larger drum capacity washing machine – 7Kg v 5Kg washing machine drum pictures | 8Kg drum wash load in wash basket and hanging on line )
One of the most common so-called advantages of a top loader is that you can add an item of laundry after it has commenced washing but I fail to see how this is a serious advantage. The idea of leaving items of laundry out of the wash and then desperately needing to add something later being a common problem just doesn’t wash with me (excuse the pun).
Which? don’t appear to be too impressed with top loaders either saying that none of the ones they tested were good enough to be a Best Buy. However, they don’t qualify this by saying how many they tested. ( Reviews of 194 washing machines including 25 top performing Best Buys | Which Best Buy washing machines – 1 month online trial offer available )
At the end of the day some people may just prefer a top loading washing machine but front loading washing machines are likely to remain the number one choice. It’s possible that top loading washing machines may be more reliable in general, they tend to have less electronics and have more basic mechanical parts, but the greater running costs of a top loader are likely to cancel this out.
Finally, as top loaders use much more water (which is bad) a possible advantage to this is that they may rinse more efficiently. If rinsing thoroughly is very important to you (more important than wash efficiency and running costs) then it may be worth looking into a top loader but rinsing would need to be of paramount importance to you ( Why can’t modern washing machines rinse properly? )
Do the front loading washing machines sold in the U.K. have mold problems causing the clothes to smell badly after the wash?
You might find the following article useful, which covers mould, and bad smells in washing machines. I would think the problem can occur with either type of washing machine.
Washing machine smells – causes of grease, slime and black mould inside washing machines
You can use soap powder in a top loader but not in a front loading washing machine, thereby avoiding all the problems of allergic reactions AND no need for any fabric softener!
Hello Keith. Is there a known difference between top loader (and twin tub) detergent compared to front loader detergent with regards to allergies? As far as I know the only difference is that front loader detergent has suppressants in it to prevent excessive foaming.
i have a maytag top loader washing machine please can anyone recommend a wash powder that does not leave a white residue on dark garments. When in America this did not happen at all.
Hello Gamston: White residue or steaks left on laundry can be caused by a number of factors. It’s unlikely to be the detergent itself at fault. Have a look at this article, hope it helps – Residual washing powder after washing
is manual washing is possible in top loading washing machine in case there is a water shortage?
I don’t think so tariq. They have pressure switches to control the water level just like front loading washing machines, so they aren’t likely to wash without the required level of water.
Front loaders win when comparing efficiency. But here is a point to consider, washing machines with more modern features usually break down easily. If we compare durability, i think top loaders still win. The older models of top loaders even last long enough to be passed down to the next generation.
I am sick to death of front loaders. Every front loader I have had suffers the same problem – dirt and mould grows in the door rubber and this gets transferred onto clothes (particularly thin materials such as shirts) from time to time during washing. Scrub as I might I cannot keep the mould and dirt away, and besides I don’t actually want to have to scrub the machine after every wash. A top loader cannot suffer this problem as gravity keeps the washing away from the door.
Hello Michael: You might find this link useful Washing machine smells – causes of grease, slime and black mould inside washing machines
Washerhelp – many many thanks for this link. I’m ordering a new doorseal in the morning and I will follow the link’s advice re preventing the build up of mould in future.
Michael
1. No-one has mentioned the convenience of top-loaders – you don’t have to crouch to load them and it is a lot easier to take the washed laundry out. For anyone over 60 or so this is quite a big plus.
2. There are two types of top-loaders, those with a drum revolving in a vertical plane, and those where the drum is set horizontally. Our machine (Bosch UK) has a vertical drum, which is OK but can get jammed if the machine is inadvertently started with the drum door open. The horizontal kind, which we have used many times in Australia, doesn’t have this proplem, and the lid can be opened while washing, which can sometimes be useful.
Top loaders win hands down for me. I grew up with a Hotpoint top loader.. sadly no longer made in a decent size and moved to a front loader a few years ago. I hate it – nothing is rinsed adequately and the whole system seems to rely on chemicals to get things clean rather than real water. I don’t agree with the ‘energy efficiency’ bs either. A top loader washes a large load in a fraction of the time a front loader takes, thereby using far less electricity. Obviously water usage is important IF you live in a place where that’s an issue – I live in Scotland, we’ve never been short of water here! My next washing machine will be a top loader. My son and husband have eczema and react badly to the poor rinsing in the front loader. I use a fraction of the amount of liquid detergent recommended just to save their skin, but then of course the machine won’t wash things well owing to lack of water. I’m just fed up of small washes taking nearly two hours too.
the rush by manufacturers to front loaders came about simply to satisfy the pressure applied by kitchen suppliers making the new craze for units to fit under work surfaces,including all white goods.Until this desire to have a “modern kitchen arrived kitchens concentrated on simply being efficient.The mnfsbefore this craze”still with us” of building kitchens with every item possible saddled with the need to fit under a work surface ,produced machines that lasted.We still have our top load machine now 30 years old which continues to outwash all front loaders friends and family have.Made by Hotpoint with a load of in excess of 9 kilos it is easy to repair and spares are stil available.
Hi I live in a high-rise apartment building and live on the top floor which has the disadvantage of very low water pressure. I would like to know that does a front load washer require more water pressure in compariosn to a Top load washer or is it the other way round.
If anything Bini, a top loader uses more water so it could be worse. It all depends on whether they have software that sets a certain amount of time for filling and aborts if it detects it’s filling too slow or not. Some top loaders may not be as sophisticated as front loaders but I couldn’t say in this situation which would be better. It can also from model to model and manufacturer to manufacturer.