Front load vs Top load washer?

[Anonymous]

I could not be happier with my LG front loader. It is fantastic. The key to avoiding mildew is to leave the door WIDE open, not just slightly ajar. If this is a problem for you, get a top loader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I could not be happier with my LG front loader. It is fantastic. The key to avoiding mildew is to leave the door WIDE open, not just slightly ajar. If this is a problem for you, get a top loader.

Do your clothes pill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I could not be happier with my LG front loader. It is fantastic. The key to avoiding mildew is to leave the door WIDE open, not just slightly ajar. If this is a problem for you, get a top loader.

Do your clothes pill?

Not PP but I also have an LG front loader and no pilling.

If you look at consumer reports, one of their Cons regarding top loaders is that they aren’t gentle on fabrics. With it without the agitator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 5’4” and literally cannot reach the bottom of my sister’s top load washing machine. Drives me nuts. I don’t want to need a step stool to do laundry.

yep. I am 5'1" . No way.

I posted earlier about being happy we went back to a top load. I am 5-7 and DH is taller, so reaching the bottom isn’t an issue for us. But friends who are shorter than I am have made the same comments about having difficulty reaching all the way in.

[Anonymous]

I currently have both, and have had other versions of both.

IME, HE top loaders (without an agitator) don’t clean clothes well (at all really). I had an almost new HE top loader hauled away, and replaced it with a Speed Queen that works great for every day laundry.

I also have an Electrolux front loader that I really like. I keep the door and detergent drawer open when not in use and have no issues with mold. I do agree that once you get mold, it’s almost impossible to get rid of. I moved into a house with a GE front loader, and the previous owner left the door shut, and I worked hard at getting rid of the mold, and never really succeeded.

The Electrolux front loader is MUCH better at removing stains, washing bulky items, and is gentler on clothes. I’ve washed stained items in the Speed Queen (with all kinds of treatment), with no luck, only to have the Electrolux stain cycle remove the stain completely.

I’ve thought about this, and if I could only have one, I’d keep the Electrolux front loader. My kids are grown, though — if I had a lot more laundry to do, I might go with the Speed Queen, because it’s faster.

[Anonymous]

Very happy with my LG top loader. It’s big enough for comforters and cleans well. I never had a front loader after hearing about so many issues with mold and mildew.

I’m only 5’1” but can reach most of the clothes. I keep a pair of tongs in the laundry room and use them to grab the socks and underwear that are inevitably at the bottom and otherwise unreachable for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have had front load washers for almost 15 years with some issues and looking to purchase a new washer. I was curious to see what folks thought of the top load vs front load. Any opinions are appreciated!

Top

[Anonymous]

When we moved into our home, we had a front loader that tended to smell even though I always left the door open. After a couple of years we bought a Samsung front loader, which has a self-clean function. After five years, I've never had an issue with mildew or a smell using the Samsung and doing the self-cleaning cycle regularly. Yes, you have to clean the detergent dish occasionally but that's not a big deal.

When we were having our home renovated, the rental had a top loader and I HATED it. I am short (5'2") and it was a huge pain to use. It was also on a raised platform (???) so even with a stool I had to basically lean into the washer itself to get things from the bottom. My MIL now has a top loader and I have trouble with that one too even though it's nicer. If I had a choice I would always choose the front loader.

[Anonymous]

My lower back would kill for a top loader!

[Anonymous]

Back in 2008 our top-loader, the traditional Whirlpool kind, got moldy inside. We replaced it with a front-loader. Wouldn't want to go back. Front-loader cleans so much better.

[Anonymous]

Top loader - no agitator and very efficient on water use. Old school top loaders filled the tub with many gallons of water, which isn't needed!

We have a Whirlpool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have used both, prefer top loader:

Front loaders make my clothes pill. The clothes tumble and rub on each other for 1hr plus. This is the case even if I wash just two items at one time.

Because of how little water they use, have to wash very small loads at a time on front loaders.

Cycles take forever. Time adds up and is inconvenient when you are a busy working mom.

A properly working front loader saturates the load with water even if it's big. With the right amount of detergent the clothes should be slippery so they don't pill.

I'm not familiar with the current regulatory environment. But in the early teens there were big direct-to-manufacturer tax credits that perhaps over-incentivized water savings and resulted in bad experiences with the machines sold then.

[Anonymous]

Top loader with agitator. Speed Queen. Love it!!

[Anonymous]

I got a top loader with an agitator (GE) a few years back. It doesn't say HE but doesn't seem to use much water. Our son who took 30 minute showers is out of the house and we don't water the lawn so I thought I could spring for this one. It didn't cost much and has worked well. A load takes 20-25 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I currently have both, and have had other versions of both.

IME, HE top loaders (without an agitator) don’t clean clothes well (at all really). I had an almost new HE top loader hauled away, and replaced it with a Speed Queen that works great for every day laundry.

I also have an Electrolux front loader that I really like. I keep the door and detergent drawer open when not in use and have no issues with mold. I do agree that once you get mold, it’s almost impossible to get rid of. I moved into a house with a GE front loader, and the previous owner left the door shut, and I worked hard at getting rid of the mold, and never really succeeded.

The Electrolux front loader is MUCH better at removing stains, washing bulky items, and is gentler on clothes. I’ve washed stained items in the Speed Queen (with all kinds of treatment), with no luck, only to have the Electrolux stain cycle remove the stain completely.

I’ve thought about this, and if I could only have one, I’d keep the Electrolux front loader. My kids are grown, though — if I had a lot more laundry to do, I might go with the Speed Queen, because it’s faster.

This is good information, if I'd seen it a couple of months ago I'd be sold on Electrolux, which we strongly considered. We ended up with LG and I like it. I also strongly considered Speed Queen having had one before, but that would have been a mistake, I do think they underperform while using too much water. Plus they're significantly more expensive. Great that you could do a direct comparison. I was never dissatisfied with the performance of our last SQ, but I didn't notice anything extraordinary about it. Reviews certainly say they are much harder on clothes, which I'd believe. The LG seems very gentle, even without the delicate settings.