Front load vs Top load washer?

[Anonymous]

I live in a condo building, and our laundry room has all top loaders and one front loader. I find the front loader cleans better.

I’m currently house-sitting for someone with a top loader w/o agitator (LG) and unfortunately now know what scrud is. It’s disgusting and super hard to clean—I’ve done at least 8 clean cycles over the weekend (with various types of cleaners) and it’s still not totally clean.

[Anonymous]

If your clothes pill, it’s because they’re made of cheap fabric.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

PP with both here — I also looked at LG, and decided on Electrolux only because it had a larger capacity. From what I could tell, LG and Electrolux were the most highly recommended.

[Anonymous]

we just switched to front load and I am so happy. Do not get an oversized frontloader - they are terrible. Miele, bosch or electrolux

[Anonymous]

What sealed the deal for me was that we don’t have the clearance to comfortably keep a front load door open constantly. (Necessary for 5 people who all do their own laundry on their own schedule.) Something about it also reminds me of an open cabinet door—looks cluttered to my eye in a way that the top load open door doesn’t.

Our top load LG has been great. Capacity for king bedding, perfectly adequate cleaning ability (3 kids), it’s a little stretch to reach but I’m 5’3” and manage w/o a stool.

[Anonymous]

We just bought a new build and the builder threw in a crappy Whirlpool top load. I hate it. I have to use a pair of tongs to reach the clothes at the bottom. I am 5'2".

I can't wait to sell it and go buy a front loader.