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

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.