A front load washing machine tumbles your clothes through a small amount of water. They look similar to a clothes dryer with the drum on its side and are accessed through a front opening door.
Unlike top loading washing machines, front loaders are made to a standard size and can have a dryer stacked on top of them or you can use the top as a work space or fit the machine into a cupboard.
Because the door on a front loader has to be a water tight seal, usually it cannot be opened during a cycle to add or remove items.
Front loaders are heavier than top loaders and must be positioned on a solid floor or stand and properly levelled to prevent excess vibration.
Front loaders do require bending to access so may cause problems for those with limited mobility, though you can buy stands as add on accessories of from third-parties to raise the height and they often contain extra storage. They can however be accessible to small children, so check the door security or plan on restricting access to the laundry.
- Gentler on clothes
- Use less washing detergent
- More water efficient
- Need only a cold water connection
- More temperature options
- Spin faster than top loaders and so extract more water from clothes
- Fit in a standardized compact space
- A dryer can be stacked on top
- More expensive to buy
- Much longer wash cycles
- Usually cannot open door to interrupt cycle
- Poor rinsing especially towels and large items
- Faster spinning means more crushing of clothes
- More prone to vibration, especially on wooden floors
- Need to bend down to access
- Heavier to move
Feature Front Loader Reviews
Performance
Front loading washing machines gently tumble your clothes through a small amount of sudsy water. Although not as rigorous as a top loader, this action is repeated many times and generally results in a cleaner wash. Front loaders often have a larger capacity than top loaders and do not have any protrusions inside the drum (agitator or impeller) to damage or entangle your wash. They are gentler on clothes and spin faster to remove more water.
Because front loaders do not fully submerge your clothes in water and spin faster than top loading machines they can leave thick textured items, such as towels, hard and scratchy. They can also cause more crushing and creasing of clothes. Some machines may allow you to adjust the spin speed.
Water Efficiency
Front loading washing machines use much less water per wash cycle than top loading machines. They therefore need much less detergent as well, and it must be a low foaming detergent.
Energy Efficiency
Front loading washing machines have much longer washing cycles but are still more energy efficient if you wash in warm or hot water as front loaders only heat the amount of water they need. However, if you frequently wash in cold water, the longer cycle time will use more energy than a top loader. Of course, if you have solar hot water you will not be taking advantage of its benefits.
Because front loaders spin faster and extract more water from your wash, you need less drying time. If you use a clothes dryer, this will save more energy.
Should You Buy A Front Load Washing Machine?
- Front loaders are generally more expensive to buy, but they offer a more effective and gentler wash and are usually cheaper to run.
- The wash cycles are quiet long which can be inconvenient if you need to do several loads, but they spin more water out of the clothes so that they will take less time to dry.
- Although they are gentle on clothes, they sometimes do not rinse as effectively as a top loader and that combined with the faster spin speed can result in rough and scratchy towels and such items.
- Front loading washers are space saving compared to top loaders.
- They can cause more crushing to delicate fabrics, so it’s best to adjust the spin speed lower if the option is available.