Top or front loader

[Kazzo]

My machine just died and I can't go more then a day without one and of course Monday is my main washing day so I have a fair bit to do.

Looking around online.
I have always had top loaders.

What is the benefit of a front loader? I have no idea what size ours was. What do people with a large family have? I was thinking 8.5kgs?

Any reccomendations.

TIA

[RainbowRiver]

We have a front loader and tbh, it sucks with a big family! Give me a top loader any day.

Front loaders usually use less water.

[Amity]

Front loaders are gentler on clothes, use less water and less electricity.

Complete generality

I grew up with a top loader. Bought a front loader 6 years ago. Will never go back.

[little_mrs]

Top loader all the way I reckon, coz there's always a sock you need to put in once you've pressed go!

[Rowellen]

I used to have top loaders. Changed to a front loader. Wouldn't go back. I reckon the missed sock can wait for the next load. As inevitably there will always be another load ! I have heard there is one that has a 15 minute cycle. When ours dies, I want that one lol. Ours is 7.5kg and I find that to be about right for us. Two loads fills our clothesline exactly.

[toomanyshoes]

We have a 6.5kg Bosch front loader, love it and as others have said wouldn't go back to a top loader.

It has a 15 min cycle I use for smaller loads and "easy care" which is 50 mins for a full load, I can fit a fluffy queen Donna in no worries. There's a heap of cycles, woollens, gentle, Eco etc and you can change the water temp and spin speed for each cycle, do a second spin and lots of other things.

There's four of us and even with both kids at school and both of us working I could easily wash every second day and fit it all in with room spare.

[tellytubby]

I bought a front loader a year ago. Regret it!! It has a 30 minute load option - but the clothes don't smell clean if I use it. Which means I'm left with cotton or cotton quick load - which takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours per load. I don't have time for that!

I say, if you decide to go a front loader, look into cycle times. I feel like ours is always going. I'm hoping to revert back to a top loader as soon as we can afford it.

[JLeigh29]

I always had a top loader until ours died a few years ago. Front loader is great! Uses hardly any detergent (or you get bubbles all over the floor, lol), less water, better wash. But it did take some getting used to the fact you can't open it again to put that lost sock in! Check cycle length too, as PP said - ours has a 30 min option, but I generally use the 1 hour option. I also use the timer so I can put the load on the night before. Remember, it's the agitation that cleans, not the detergent, so you need a decent cycle length.

Ours is 7kg I think. Does 4 big towels, two bath mats, two hand towels and washers easily.

There aren't many top loaders around nowadays....

[Kazzo]

Thanks ladies.
So I have had a look around.

I found one. It is a front loader, well known brand, 8.5kgs has a 15 minute rapid cycle, 6th sense intelligence , Extra wash features - Prewash, Eco, Easy Ironing, Intensive rinse and Favourites, Variable temperature selection are some of the features.
Good enerygy and water efficiency ratings.
Sounds good to me but the price has me wondering. It seems to be a fair bit cheaper then most and when I read descriptions I can't really see any major differences.

Might have to try and hold out till Wednesday when the girls are at school and go looking.

[Jaycee]

That sounds good Kazzo!

What the heck is 6th sense intelligence??

[miraclebabies]

i love our front loader, id never got back to top loader and i reckon we fit more in that our old top loader

[Kazzo]

That sounds good Kazzo!

What the heck is 6th sense intelligence??

I have no idea but if Bruce Willis came with it I would not be complaining

[~Phoenix~]

My 7kg Samung front loader died last month. I ended up with 10kg Samsung since they had $250 cash back on it. I love it - has 15min cycle, daily wash which is 50mins, has the delay timer which when I'm organised will put on at night to be ready in morning plus it is super quiet I barely hear it running even when spinning.

[Sorka]

We got the samsung 10kg front loader about a month ago too. Works great for the 7 of us and love how quiet it is

[Early Kids]

Our front loader is crap at cleaning DHs clothes. The machine does use less water and is gentler on the clothes, but TBH being gentler has made it crappier for actually washing the clothes. I usually have to put DHs through twice with extra rinse cycles, when I didn't have to with the top loader. Also another down side is if you find something else once you've started it you can't add it. I wish I had of gotten another top loader and when this one dies I will be.

[Kazzo]

Hmmm, I have found a top loader and a front loader I like so will go on Wednesday and see how I go. I really need something that washes really well because DH works with animals, we have animals here and the girls spend most days outside in the dirt and mud. The top loader I have was origanally my dads and he gave to to me about 6 years ago and he had it for about 6 years. Never had a problem until today.

Your answers have helped and confused me even more

Have noticed though that some went to FL after having TL and wish they had stuck with TL but no one has gone from FL to TL and wished they had stuck with FL.

[toomanyshoes]

DH worked at a mechanics for 5 months and our front loader did the job perfectly fine, also DD and her clothes are constantly covered in dirt, glitter, glue, sand, paint etc and it washes her clothes perfectly as well.

I think it comes down to what you get, as with everything there will be good ones and bad ones, good brands and not so good brands.

[Ginger]

I had a front loader and we kept having problems so dh replaced it and insisted on getting a top loader. I don't think that the top loader cleans the clothes as well. It fits more in it and I like that you can keep adding but I feel like some clothes come out not washed properly. I will insist that my next washing machine is a very well known brand front loader...