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Front loading washing machines just seem like an all around more fragile design that is also less usable. I have an HE top loader. It uses just as little water

Front loading washing machines just seem like an all around more fragile design that is also less usable. I have an HE top loader. It uses just as little water, but it can wash a lot more clothes when needed. I can push a button and it stops being HE and can fill its tub up to wash blankets and comforters. Also front loaders just can't clean synthetic fabrics that water beads off of. I've seen fabrics come out of a front loader almost completely dry because the tiny bit of water that is used can't even penetrate the outer layer of fabric. Mostly my Ikea comforters, I put one in a front loader I used to have and after a complete wash cycle it wasn't even damp, and it was still very dirty. Finally, front loaders are mechanically more complex. For one, if that seal fails, well, it leaks. The simplicity of a Top loaders means they can last longer, and in the very least top loaders don't get all gunked up around the door seal. I have seen so many front loaders that smell awful because no one ever cleans the crud out of the seal, ick! Aside from space savings, I really don't get the point of a front loader at all. Maybe the tumbling action is better at some types of cleaning?

kevin_thibedeau 5y ago
The spin cycle dries synthetics to near dry if the machine is lightly loaded. Works the same on top loaders.
bradstewart 5y ago
My wife says front loaders are more gentle, so do less damage to delicate clothes. Maybe due to the lack of the central agitator (do new top loaders still have that)? The big reason I prefer them though: I can put a counter top above them for folding laundry and things. They are an absolute pain in the ass to keep clean and odor free though.
- com2kid 5y ago
  Higher end top loaders don't have the giant doom spiral in the middle that rips fabrics apart. :)
dragonwriter 5y ago
> Also front loaders just can't clean synthetic fabrics that water beads off of. None of the front loaders I’ve used has had a problem with that. Are you sure the one data point you apparently have experience with wasn't just an older and/or relatively low-quality front-loader? > Aside from space savings, I really don't get the point of a front loader at all. They are easier to get stuff out of than a top loader of similar size, particularly for larger ones. I’ve also never seen a top loader with a steam cycle, though I guess its possible they exist.
breakfastduck 5y ago
I've literally never ever seen a washing machine that isn't a 'front loader' here in the UK either in someones house or in a store, I didn't know you could still buy other ones!
- jpindar 5y ago
  Huh. Top loaders are more common than front loaders in the US.
  - antonvs 5y ago
    Not in apartments, where machines are often stacked on top of each other.
- com2kid 5y ago
  UK yeah, you all have those washer/dryer combos that wash tiny loads, and almost set clothes on fire to dry them. (In my experience they also take forever to dry the clothes!) Can't be very good for synthetics, I have clothing that has gotten scorch marks from my American dryer's "medium heat" setting, I can't imagine what would have happened in a UK machine! It should be noted that in many places in the US that hanging clothes outside is either not allowed, or impractical. Also I've had some really bad nights (baby) where I needed to wash and dry all my bedding twice over, so having a, rather fast, dryer was nice. Seriously though, if you need to wash a large comforter, what do you do? I haven't seen a front loader large enough to fit a proper comforter in. Something like http://canyon-sports.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/91YEVCAnwdL._SL1500_.jpg http://canyon-sports.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/91YEVCAn... In America, you can buy top loaders or front loaders. Front loaders are popular in condos and apartments because you can stack them with a dryer.
  - breakfastduck 5y ago
    My washing machine can fit in one of those 'comforters' (duvet as It would seem to other UK folk!) easily with more to boot. Maybe our front loaders are larger than the ones available in the US?
avhception 5y ago
I think it's mostly about being able to stack other appliances on top of them to save space. Especially dryers.
- Levitz 5y ago
  Here in Spain I've never seen anything but front loaders, they are almost always embedded into the distribution of the bathroom or kitchen, kinda like dishwashers. Front loading allows you to use the space above it for the kitchen counter or such, washing machines rarely have their door opened anyway.

kevin_thibedeau 5y ago

The spin cycle dries synthetics to near dry if the machine is lightly loaded. Works the same on top loaders.

bradstewart 5y ago

My wife says front loaders are more gentle, so do less damage to delicate clothes. Maybe due to the lack of the central agitator (do new top loaders still have that)? The big reason I prefer them though: I can put a counter top above them for folding laundry and things. They are an absolute pain in the ass to keep clean and odor free though.

com2kid 5y ago
Higher end top loaders don't have the giant doom spiral in the middle that rips fabrics apart. :)

dragonwriter 5y ago

> Also front loaders just can't clean synthetic fabrics that water beads off of. None of the front loaders I’ve used has had a problem with that. Are you sure the one data point you apparently have experience with wasn't just an older and/or relatively low-quality front-loader? > Aside from space savings, I really don't get the point of a front loader at all. They are easier to get stuff out of than a top loader of similar size, particularly for larger ones. I’ve also never seen a top loader with a steam cycle, though I guess its possible they exist.

breakfastduck 5y ago

I've literally never ever seen a washing machine that isn't a 'front loader' here in the UK either in someones house or in a store, I didn't know you could still buy other ones!

jpindar 5y ago
Huh. Top loaders are more common than front loaders in the US.
- antonvs 5y ago
  Not in apartments, where machines are often stacked on top of each other.
com2kid 5y ago
UK yeah, you all have those washer/dryer combos that wash tiny loads, and almost set clothes on fire to dry them. (In my experience they also take forever to dry the clothes!) Can't be very good for synthetics, I have clothing that has gotten scorch marks from my American dryer's "medium heat" setting, I can't imagine what would have happened in a UK machine! It should be noted that in many places in the US that hanging clothes outside is either not allowed, or impractical. Also I've had some really bad nights (baby) where I needed to wash and dry all my bedding twice over, so having a, rather fast, dryer was nice. Seriously though, if you need to wash a large comforter, what do you do? I haven't seen a front loader large enough to fit a proper comforter in. Something like http://canyon-sports.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/91YEVCAnwdL._SL1500_.jpg http://canyon-sports.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/91YEVCAn... In America, you can buy top loaders or front loaders. Front loaders are popular in condos and apartments because you can stack them with a dryer.
- breakfastduck 5y ago
  My washing machine can fit in one of those 'comforters' (duvet as It would seem to other UK folk!) easily with more to boot. Maybe our front loaders are larger than the ones available in the US?

avhception 5y ago

I think it's mostly about being able to stack other appliances on top of them to save space. Especially dryers.

Levitz 5y ago
Here in Spain I've never seen anything but front loaders, they are almost always embedded into the distribution of the bathroom or kitchen, kinda like dishwashers. Front loading allows you to use the space above it for the kitchen counter or such, washing machines rarely have their door opened anyway.