Are you wondering about the difference between top-loading
and front-loading washing machines, and which one is right for you? Here are
some key things to consider:
Efficiency
A front-loading washer uses about ¼ of the electricity and ¼ of the water of a
top-loading washer, making it much more energy-efficient.
Less water also requires less detergent, so in addition to
reduced electricity and water costs, you’ll also spend less on laundry soap!
Typically these savings amount to about $150 over the course of a year.
Note that these amounts will depend on the features of your
particular machine, for example if you’re using a steam clean option that uses
a bit more electricity.
Wash Quality
The steam cleaning (sometimes called “sanitary”) cycle
included in some front-loading models gives the best wash quality and will get
your clothes the cleanest they can be.
While here in North America we don’t have a rating system
for cleanability, in Europe they have a four-point system (A, B, C or D) of cleanability.
Machines with steam cleaning are the only ones to achieve the top rating.
You can’t see the difference between an A and B with the
naked eye, only under a microscope. So why bother? What that microscope will
reveal are things you probably don’t want in your clothes – allergens, dander
and bacteria. Steam cleaning gets rid of those and gives you bright clean
clothes, without hard chemicals.
Another advantage to top-loading machines is they cause less
wear and tear on your clothing. In fact a normal cycle on a front-loading
machine will be gentler on your clothes than the delicate cycle of a
top-loading machine.
That’s because front-loading machines have no agitator.
Instead, they clean by lifting and dropping your clothes, tumbling them over
each other through the water, while loosening the dirt. Agitators swish back
and forth much more vigorously, creating more wear and tear on the clothing.
Best of Both Worlds
In the last four or five years, we’ve seen the introduction
of high-efficiency top-loading machines. These models are able to mimic many
features of the front-loading machines, includes low agitation, low water
consumption, efficiency of electricity and low consumption of detergent. Traditional
top loaders fill to the top with water, float the clothes, and then repeatedly
drain and rinse. HE top-loaders, on the other hand, only fill one-quarter to
one-third of the way, then recirculate that water to shower the clothes. It’s a
much gentler process.
Like front-loading machines, HE top-loaders have no
agitator, allowing for larger loads or bulkier items such as queen- or
king-size comforters.
Space and Comfort
Committed to the environment and but can’t decide between a
front-loading machine and a high-efficiency top-loading machine? It really
comes down to appearance, space and comfort.
If you have limited space in your laundry area,
front-loading machines can be stacked on top of a dryer. If you have difficulty
bending, you may find it easier to get your clothes in and out of a top-loading
machine.
Keep these elements in mind as you explore
all your options to find the machine that’s the best match for you.
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