Front loading washing machines are very dominant in the UK and with good reason. Historically our kitchens have been small. Sometimes very small. We tend to prefer having our washing machines in the kitchen under a worktop. Things are slowly changing as more modern homes have a separate laundry room, but front loaders are firmly established as the number one choice in the UK.
At the time of writing, front-loading washing machines use considerably less water (reportedly up to 60% less). They also use 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 focused manufacturer’s attention in this area.
But if you have only a small space and restricted width requirements then top loaders can be 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 – then in such circumstances a top loader may be the best choice.
Bigger wash capacity
Historically, top loaders have had much larger drums and a bigger wash capacity, which is another reason some might have preferred one.
These days though, front loading washing machines are available with extra large drum capacities of 6, 7 or 8Kg and bigger. (Related: Looking at how much laundry will fit into larger drum capacity washing machine – washing machine drum sizes – pros & cons.
Adding laundry
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).
Wash efficiency
In the reviews I’ve seen, consumer group Which? don’t appear to be too impressed with top loaders. They said 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.
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 for most people. 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 may well cancel this out.
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Summary
Top loaders use much more water (which is bad), but a possible advantage to this is that they may rinse more efficiently (Why can’t modern washing machines rinse properly?). 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 because overall a front loading washing machine is likely to be best for most people.
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Hello Michael: You might find this link useful Washing machine smells
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.
Only 2 top-loader brands seem available in UK (Bosch seemingly having given up). Why? In CH I have just walked past a shop window displaying: Miele W144; Miele softronic; Elecrolux; Brandt which also could act as a dryer. Inside shop were a variety of front-loaders too.
This choice should be available in the UK. why isn’t it?
Further to my reply “Oct 11 2011″
Our Hotpoint 9605 electronic de-lux,”washing away in the laundry room as I write”,dous everything better than all front loaders.2 major reasons are, it uses more water in all the programmes ( other than spinning) and the action really moves the clothes backwards and forwards washing the dirt out fully.I tried asking Hotpoint why they had dropped them all those years ago,despite the fact that spares are still available,But no-one available knew that they used to manufacture a top-loader! The supplier I have used for spares told me some 5-6 years back that this type of machine would probably retail at around £1000 now (circa 2005-7) Is this the more likely reason top loaders of my 9605 vintage became unavailable?
Marian & geoff: The answer to your questions is UK kitchens. Traditionally most UK kitchens are very small and our houses often not big enough for laundry rooms. Therefore most people required their washing machine to fit under a work surface in the kitchen. Because of that top loaders were always relatively rare purchases and economies of scale meant they just became increasingly expensive compared to front loaders.