Top Load or Front Load....?

[chrisbsuk]

Hey Johnny...
I've recently bought a top loader as I do a shed load of laundry because of some air b and b places I have. I also run a front loader alongside it, so a few months in, I have a better understanding of them both!

I'd say I much prefer the top loader for washing towels, sheets and other "robust" items of clothing. The top loader washes these really well, and even when I use the 6 minute "light" programme the results are great! However, I would say it is let down my its poor spinning performance, so I do run them through the front loader before drying.

The front loader is 100% better for washing more delicate items of clothing, or dark clothes that would need rinsed very well - despite the huge amount of water the machine uses, it doesn't rinse as well as a front loader - end of! I've used the hand wash programme in the top loader too and it is useless - again, the front loader does this programme much better.

Here are some pictures now of my set up - I have all three machines on the go at the moment!

 

[chrisbsuk]

filling up - 16 min cycle (towels are filthy!)

 

[chrisbsuk]

and the front loader

 

[chrisbsuk]

this cycle is due to take nearly 4 hrs! I have put three extra rinses on though, but even so, the top loader would have done about 8 loads in this time!

 

[rolls_rapide]

Front Loaders - but with a tilted drum!

Front loaders, for the sheer practicality of siting the machine below counter tops.

Though I have to confess that the new machines with looooong cycle times are doing my head in!

If the load is out of balance, inter-rinse spinning is skipped, so rinsing is poor.

Autocare sensor programme: quite speedy - but defaults to two rinses. Extra rinse not allowed, but machine "might" add one depending on sensor feedback (I'm presuming if a sudslock is detected...?). Spin maximum is locked at 1400rpm.

Rinses, by default on speedier programmes, are only two. An extra rinse can be activated - on some programmes.

Skin care programme has 3 rinses, and an option to add a fourth - but the final spin maximum speed is locked at 1200rpm. Arrrgh!!!

Final spin predicted to take about 10 minutes - ends up taking half a bloody hour!

I have actually had more success with front loaders with a tilted drum. When they distribute the load, the laundry tends to fall towards the back wall of the drum. Spinning has been far better than a purely horizontal drum.

 

[rapunzel]

Chris,

Your top loader doesn't have good spin efficiency and difficulty cleaning delicate clothes. In Australia most top loaders spin at 800 rpm and higher and there is no issue with decent water extraction. My SQ washer spins at 700 rpm, but I've got the matching dryer which will dry a full load of regular clothes in a little under an hour. There is absolutely no problem with getting hand washables clean on the delicate cycle.

 

[norgeway]

I would take a front loader

IF IT WERE A BENDIX OR WESTINGHOUSE that actually washed your clothes, the modern ones are just about like beating your clothes on a rock, and they don't rinse worth a darn, and a front loader should turn continuously in one direction, when the new ones stop to reverse they are NOT washing!!!LOL...But you all know I hate anything new and most especially anything digital!

 

[washerlover]

Thank you Norgeway! I totally agree and think these newfangled front-loading "energy savers" do nothing but. How could a 2-3 hour cycle be efficient? And as I pointed out earlier, folded handkerchiefs thrown into the front-loader are still folded after the entire cycle. Nice for some who don't like to fold, but is that really clean? Top loaders are the best in cleaning! Just call me Norma Desmond, loving to live in the efficient past..!

 

[abcomatic]

Top loader and here and wringer machines for sure.
happy washing, Gary

 

[launderess]

Again

Only reason modern domestic H-Axis washing machines take hours to do wash is due to government/energy mandates.

Commercial/industrial machines complete an entire "Normal/Cottons/Linens" cycle in < 45 minutes. Those machines however use more water and aren't bothered by having "profile" washes and or time for various stain treatments and or enzymes to work. Though the programmable units can be made to do so I suppose.

Same with automatic dishwashers. Forced by government interference to use less water it now takes two, three or more hours to wash a load of dishes.

 

[e2l-arry]

Funny thing about rinsing . . .

When I first got my front loader, Sears Kenmore in 2005. I noticed it almost oversuds in every load when I 1st got it. I was using HE detergent and the correct amount so I didn't know what the problem was. Later, after everything had gone through 1 wash in the front loaded the oversudsing thing stopped. So I came to the conclusion that my old top loader was leaving a lot of detergent residue in my clothes in the rinse cycle. Conclusion: Front Loaders do a much better job of rinsing that the Top Loader. If they're better at rinsing it stands to reason they're better at washing.

These days the rinsing is up to me as I only use my Maytag wringer washer.

 

[johnny42]

Top load or front load

Chrisbsuk.

Hey man, I love your laundry set up. What make is your Top loader?

Johnny.

 

[firedome]

old

and TOP load:

 

[norgeway]

I would rather

Use a good Maytag or Lady Kenmore wringer than a new HE machine ....then I would know my clothes were clean!

 

[launderess]

Rinsing: Top Loading vs. Side

Sadly when the switch was made from semi-automatic top loaders (wringers, twin tubs, etc...) washing machines to fully the ability to rinse often as required went as well. Some top loaders late as the 1970's or so did offer two rinses, but one assumes much of that went by the boards in way of energy/water savings. This is sad because often it takes more than one or even two rinses to get all detergent/soil residue out of textiles.

Thus it comes as no surprise that those who switched from top loading to H-Axis washers found there often was enough "soap" left in their clothing for one or more loads. *LOL*

 

[brucelucenta]

Just one more reason I am happy with having my front loader. I can automatically rinse 3 additional times and still not use as much water as a traditional top loader that rinses once. The only reason I can see for having an SQ top loader would be to get a lot of laundry done quickly. I have no such need and do not mind it taking longer. I have also gotten used to my dishwasher taking a long long time too. No need to be in a hurry. Haste makes waste

 

[kb0nes]

Finally read through this thread today, pretty much the discussion I expected. A lot of religious dogma based on opinion vs facts.

I'll bet that no top loader fans were convinced of the superiority of front loading machines

 

[mrb627]

I Like Both

And find that when I wash in a FL machine, I wish for a TL.
Other times, when I washed in a TL, I have wished for a FL.

No happy medium, LOL!

Malcolm

 

[rapunzel]

I bet that none of the front loader demagogues could ever bring themselves to concede that top loaders are superior to front loaders in their own way. They are too invested in their own delusions of superiority. So they preach to and berate everyone, using manipulative militant environmentalist populism, propaganda, exaggerations and falsehoods, to justify their demagoguery; and in spite of established facts.

Down with front loader oppression, fanaticism and firebranding![this post was last edited: 4/3/2017-20:29]

 

[rapunzel]

What?! Just one up-tick? Can't believe it. Bloody useless lot you are. Us top loader aficionados must stick together. The front loader brigade has its sights set on world domination and we must stop them. Maybe we can get Trump to abolish efficiency regulations on appliances. Front loaders, like efficiency standards, are un-American and they don't wash and rinse our knickers the way we like it.

Europeans only shower once or twice a week. They've got something against using water. Does it then come as a surprise that they also don't like getting their clothes wet when doing laundry? Do we really want to emulate this kind or behaviour? If we do we might as well not change our undies more than once a week and lets forget about using deodorant altogether, yes?