Top Load or Front Load....?

[bobbi]

There was a comment about front loaders taking much more time than TL. This is true to a degree, but that can be compensated for by choosing a FL with Delay Start and having one load out of the way when one gets up on laundry day. Additionally, modern FL machines have considerably more capacity than traditional TL, which reduces the number of loads.

There was a comment that one's laundry day can be finished much more quickly with a TL. The reality for me is that I can have my laundry completed in 2.5 hours with a FL, whereas my TL water saving laundry setup took 4.5 hours. There are a number of reasons for this. First, delay start gets me a load ahead before I even wake up - I do my worst (longest) load first. Second, my TL machines had much less capacity - now instead of having to break my darks into two loads, they can be done in one load. Third, due to linting in my TL I would have to do my husband's work shirts/hoodies separate from his jeans. With my FL all can be done in a single load. What used to be at least 5 loads is now 3.

Another consideration is water usage. It is a non-issue for some, but not for all (though perhaps it should be?). I have a well, septic, and whole house water softener, so the less water I can use, the better. When I was using TL machines, I was practicing reusing wash and (partially) rinse water between a wringer, TL and Hoover twin tub, but let me tell you...it was quite a spectacle. The FL makes things so much simpler for me, and I can catch up on other chores between loads, even with hanging laundry to dry. All in all, a FL with delay start and on-board water heater just streamlines everything and does it efficiently. I have also seen a couple HE top loaders that worked great too.

There was a comment about an LG Tromm not rinsing well. I am not noticing this with my LG True Balance.

Though I was apprehensive about going back to a FL machine after two FLers that did not perform well, I am pleased with my LG and would not go back to a traditional TL machine as a daily driver. It takes a lot of effort to save my water in my small laundry space, there's too much lint, and they generally are not as good at extraction. Just my experience, though.

 

[johnny42]

Mayken4now

I have read in full post #70. I have conducted similar experiments and have found TL's to produce the most lint. However, I did not notice a difference in cleaning power. I got 2 pair of Levi's , stained them with Tomato ketchup, beetroot and Irn Bru. I put 1 Levi's in Tl machine and the other in a Fl machine. The TL machine finished first. Once the FL machine had finished, I dried the jeans. There was no difference in the cleaning performance. Just more lint with the TL machine. I will still use my TL as it's what I am used to. Especially my wringer washer, which I love using.

 

[brucelucenta]

Unimatic1140

I agree with what you have stated. The reason I use the maximum amount of rinses is so I will have ALL the soap residue out of my clothes. It seems to be working quite well for me adding the additional 3 rinses. One other thing I do is that I do not put bleach in the dispenser, I wait until the wash has washed for several minutes and add diluted bleach to the detergent part of the dispenser and it goes right in. That way I have no bleach smell to white clothes when they come out. Mine is LG made too. It is far better than the modern HE top loaders and easier on clothes. I know it really does use a LOT less water than even the old solid tub machines that rinse once. If there were someone who still made a solid tub washer like Frigidaire did, that would be what I would have. Sadly they don't, so I am using what I think works the best these days. I have to admit, I like being able to wash a really huge king size bed spread or comforter at home and not go to the laundromat.

 

[passatdoc]

When my Frigidaire 2140 was delivered in March 2006, for the first load I ran "clean" clothing, hanging in my closet, which had been washed in my previous GE TL. I ran the load without detergent, and could see suds from residual detergent left in the clothes by my single rinse TL. The 2140 had an extra rinse button, which granted today's FL's no longer have (government mandate), but I did the same test on a load washed by the 2140 and never saw residual suds.

 

[mayken4now]

Agree

With all about the rinsing.  Wonder if the government mandates by the DOE can watch to see what I am turning my Maytag A608 dial to?  Often, we repeat the spray rinse (as Launderess said many years ago) on "gentle action" to slow the spin speed, hence more water saturation with less extraction.  Then let the machine do a second rinse on it's own, back to "regular action"  WHOA, that means it is filling three times instead of twice + spray rinses.  Betta Hide Quick.

 

Hence, you can rewash or rinse as you please without anyone knowing!

 

Okay, John,  on your experiment with the two machines.  I'd bet they are just as clean, only one with more lint in the dryer.  Have experienced all that myself with having the luxury of multiple washers in use at once.

 

Bruce, I'd have overflow rinse in a heartbeat if it were re-created.  

 

`Jim - have done the same thing before.  Actually, when purchased the MAH4000's tried the same thing with "clean" clothes, as per the owners manual.  Results, still suds in the clothing.  

 

 

 

[johnny42]

Mmayken4now

That's absolutely correct sir. !! And the top loader left the most lint when I cleaned the lint filter from the dryer.

 

[rapunzel]

Hi Steve,

I am glad you are enjoying your F&P front loader honeymoon rosy glow and that it gives you many years of satisfaction. However, I think Malcolm hit the nail on the head in reply #56.

As for linting, I put almost everything I wash through the dryer. There is only a lot of lint in the filter when I dry a large load of bath towels. All other laundry produces very little lint residue. I can run the dryer for 3 or 4 loads before I need to clean the lint screen.

 

[washerlover]

Lint, Schimnt!

Thank you Johnny42, for conducting such a scientific experiment! So from an "energy saver" standpoint, which is truly more efficient? Top loaders do not take more than two hours to wash a normal load like front loaders do, however front loaders use much less water. Yet top loaders can finish a normal load in approx 30 mins, vs top loaders at two plus hours. And here in the United States in some/most cases, it takes water to generate electricity, so are we really saving energy? And using a clothes dryer will handle any lint issues unless one prefers to use a clothes line. Just my thoughts on the matter...

 

[rapunzel]

Energy efficiency in laundry is 99% about hot water and has very little to do with the electricity used to actuate the mechanical wash action. If hot water is generated from less expensive and renewable sources the energy efficiency argument falls flat.

Here in Australia fresh water use by households makes up less than 10% of our national water consumption. Something like 98% of all potable water is used by industry, agriculture, businesses and lost through evaporation as well as old plumbing infrastructure. Even if all Ozzie households changed over to front loaders instantly, the savings to our national water resources would be absolutely negligible and not worth the millions of taxpayers' money spent by governments to make consumers buy the products politicians think we should.

 

[dartman]

I like top loaders because that's what I'm used to and most are easy to service and get parts for that usually are cheap.
I bought a new Kenmore 28102 he top loader because the reviews were good and it's a direct drive that Whirlpool makes so again parts are available and cheap. BUT the main reason I bought it is my old direct drive Whirlpool was using a ton of water and was about to need a transmission. My water bill was 306 bucks for 3 month and that was too expensive. New machine is bigger, way quieter, and my water bill and use is much lower, plus clothes get cleaner. If I didn't have a stupid high water bill I probably would have stuck with my old school top loader or a newer version in better shape. So far only problem with the machine is a penny got under the impeller a few months after I got it, pulled it myself, cleared the penny, and put it back together, has run flawlessly since then. Got it in 13 and we'll see how long it lasts but happy so far.

 

[twinniefan]

Hi Olav

Hi Olav, thanks for the response, yeah as I stated very happy with it so far, but maybe 5 months is too short a time to gauge performance accurately, but so far I'm impressed by it.
As I stated on balance I wouldn't change back, but I guess one should never say never.LOL

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Top load for me--My sis has a front load diagonal tub (or drum) herself--Maytag Neptune to be exact--and that has yet to fail...

 

 

-- Dave

 

[helicaldrive]

I agree with Bruce

With a FL you do need 3 extra rinses, and then at that point results are superior to the FL or equal.

Really, 2 Tbl of LCB is ample. If you do a pre-wash, then the detergent enzymes get their chance to work first in the prewash, followed by LCB in the main wash. And the hot water stays hot in the main wash because the clothes and tubs get pre-heated by the prewash hot water.

 

[helicaldrive]

I meant

After 3 extra rinses in the FL, the results are superior or at least equal to the TL. Even if you do 1 or 2 extra rinses in the TL.

 

[hilovane]

I'm going to hedge on this one, and say it's more a matter of opinion based on experience.
In 2000, I bought an Asko pair. Despite their smaller capacity (a full-sized quilt just barely fit into the tumbler), this washing machine was by far, the best, bar none, I ever had. However, it became too costly to repair, and after 11 years, I had to let it go. It was replaced with a Maytag F/L. Bigger capacity; slightly faster spin; and unlike the Asko, which would start tumbling until it was filled with water,. the Maytag was "old school" in the sense that there was motion from start to finish (except, of course, for the pause to change tumbling directions).

Since I moved, and couldn't take the Maytag with me, and didn't have the money to buy another Asko, or a Miele, or even a SQ F/L, I did manage to get a deal on a SQ T/L. Say what you want about energy efficiency, and all. But, for my money, this does the job quite well. I'm happy with it, and as far as I'm concerned, that's all that should matter...along with the fact that it'll easily outlast any HE machine at any price.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I wonder what the capacity of this one Frigidaire front loader would have been like...

It seemed to be real short, the controls were over the door, and if I'd bought it for my late-mom, she would have found it hard to was anything in--and it probably wouldn't give a very long life either...!

Fortunately she left the world w/ her dream Maytag top-loader set...

-- Dave

 

[johnny42]

TL or FL

Well folks, this has been quite a discussion. Thanks for everyone's participation and opinions. This has really helped me a lot.

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

I have always selected the "extra rinse" option any FL washer I use, especially the "newer" machines with even lower water levels.   I also always use the "express wash" cycle on my Kenmore He5t washer, being all water levels are slightly higher.

 

This little Miele washer I recently acquired does 4 rinses by default and no option to add more.  If I press the "rapid wash" button, it eliminates 2 rinses BUT, it does fill 1/3 of the way up the door glass during each of the 2 rinses.   I still feel the 45 minute wash time is more than excessive.  I'm also learning this little 6 kg (13.2 lb) washer holds larger loads than I thought it would.

 

[mrsalvo]

Very lengthy thread and most educational as well as highly opinionated. I think for most Americans, the top load washer will be the choice of most households, even though front load may perform better given the government water restrictions. Sometimes I think that we, in this club, forget that we are a unique group with a fascination for all things laundry, certainly most or all of my extended family and friends DO NOT share this fascination. Yesterday I paid a visit to Lowes and saw that there was a half row of front loaders, only 3 brands, and 4 1/2 rows of top loaders of more brands. If Lowes sold more FL I'm sure there would have been more offered, demand vs. supply. It might have been different had the mold and motherboard issues of the 1st generation FL been resolved much earlier. And this is South Central Texas where, historically, rain can be scarce in some years. Americans, for the most part, have short memories.
I agree, and believe, with previous posters that the supply of clean water is now an issue we ALL are going to have to take into consideration, not only laundry but in other area of daily usage. About 6 years ago we had a sever drought that did not let up for many months, combined with much higher population density in this region, strained private wells and the Edwards Aquafer to the max. The water that was being withdrawn was very murky and had an odor, never had the Aquafer dropped that low. Water is going to be an issue, even if rainfall levels provide normal or flood stages. Again, it's the population of the areas.
As for me, our household is top load, Speed Queen, to be exact. We have low water rates in San Antonio Texas, but I can assure you that if we had high rates or a private well go dry, I would have bought an HE unit. More and more I consider it a luxury to use the 54+ gallons of water it uses on one cycle, but I know things can change quickly and one reason I'm here is to monitor the experiences others are having with HE brands and models in case I HAVE to switch over. Our weather and climate is just weird, and unpredictable, these days. I LOVE the fast cycle times, and doing laundry pretty much the way my mother and grandmother did so many, many, years ago.

 

[petek]

I haven't completely made up my mind.

But it's only been a couple of weeks since I got that free Duet front loader, my first front loader.   But I'm liking it so far. I haven't used all the cycles , just the normal cycle. I like how it really extracts the water and cuts down on the drying time. I like how easy it is to load/unload, it does have the pedestal.  If it didn't have the pedestal and the tilted drum  and I had to stoop over, well that would be a HUGE drawback for me.  And it's quiet compared to the trusty old GE. 

 

Now just yesterday I did a load with some Persil pearls. I bought some just for the heck of it.   When they dispensed into the washer a few of the pearls lodged on the bottom of the door boot and just slightly dissolved, no water was hitting them.  At the end of the cycle when I opened the door they were still there, mushy and I had to wipe them away with a rag before I pulled the clothes out.