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Top loaders are usually rugged compared to front loaders when it comes to the way they work. They do take pretty large loads, making them good for bulky towels and bedding. Not sure if this is true, but it probably has lesser balancing issues compared to putting a load of towels in a front loader, which could be washer suicide sometimes! I'm thinking back to when I visited relatives in the US a while ago, and their top loading washer was good because you could vary the load for small/medium/large, (which I'd rather have than sloppy auto-half load detectors), it had relativly short wash times, and had no fuss spinning.
I may be a bit obsessed with the microchip controlled washer with massive digital displays, but I wouldn't mind buying a simple top loader (not a horizontal axis one, as that kills the idea of having a top loader) which uses shedloads of water when I want it to, washing a large load, and less when I wash less.
I've put a link for a Whirlpool professional US top loader, it looks great and costs a mint, yet it spins at only 640rpm, plus it is G rated for energy, shocked me actually, as I thought it be at least 1000rpm. Hotpoint did some great top loader machines in its prime in the 80s-90s.
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