Can someone explain please why the top-loader washers are so popular in the US? I don't know for sure, but it seems to me they outnumber the front-loaders by at least 5:1 if not even more. The front-loaders are in general more energy/water efficient, and they just wash better.

When I asked a someone they told me people prefer the top-loaders it is easier to put laundry in a top-loader vs a front-loader. That might be true, especially for older people with arthritis or for overweight people. But, aren't all the driers front-loaders? In fact, I have never seen a top-loader drier. So you still have to bend you knees to put the clothes in the drier. I think there must be another reason.

Just a thought, but one other little thing related to the "easier" aspect of top versus front, is that it is easier not to get wet when adding something to the washer after it's started. With a top loader you just open it up and toss in the item. With a front loader, you have to turn it off and wait until the water settles before you open the door. Not a big thing certainly (I have a front loader and speak from experience), but it is something to consider.

As for your second point, when I grew up my parents had a top loading dryer. Actually, it was a top loading combination washer and dryer from Sears. I agree though, you rarely see them anymore.

In general, aren't top loaders significantly less expensive to purchase?

When my top loader failed I replaced it with a front loader. Didn't purchase the stand to raise it up, so I consider my bending to load and unload the front loader part of my built-in "life fitness" program.

Another example of this personal fitness program is (when I borrow a car) to park far away from other cars in parking lots and walk the extra distance back and forth. Perhaps an even better example is that I gave away my car last year, and commute by bicycle and bus these days.

Getting back to washing machines: I hang my clothes to dry. The front loaders seem to spin much more water out of the clothes, so the clothes dry faster.

Todd's keyboard

Top loaders are cheaper to manufacture and many of them have larger capacities than the frontloaders.

In the latest Consumer Reports they mention that new energy efficiency rules had to be adopted by both top and front loaders. The result being that the top loaders don't clean well at all anymore and are getting more expensive.

dad

There is no explanation that I'm aware of. I was told that the top loaders were illegal in Germany because they are so inefficient. Don't know if that is true or not. I doubt it.

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ztirffritz
There is no explanation that I'm aware of. I was told that the top loaders were illegal in Germany because they are so inefficient. Don't know if that is true or not. I doubt it.

I could easily check that out. I work for a German company, and of course, there are lots of Germans around. I even try to learn some German, I got to the point where I understand a lot, but I cannot speak properly... I had a hard time learning English ten years ago...

I seem to remember that some of the very first washers were front loaders - my mother had an old one that I think was by Westinghouse. I'm talking many moons ago! Top loaders gained in popularity, and now we have the swing back.

From what I've been able to determine, front loaders are much more energy efficient, they're easier on items being washed (because they're not beaten around by an agitator), and, yes, clothes do come out drier, which has the added benefit of shorter drying time. That's even better in terms of energy conservation if clothes are dried in a dryer. If clothes are dried on a line, they'll dry faster, too, but that's usually not a big issue unless you're draping stuff all over light fixtures inside the house. For those of us who use outdoor lines, it's not a big deal.

Obviously, some people, like me, are going to weigh the pros and cons of switching from a top loader to a front loader. Since I do so little laundry, it doesn't make economic sense for me to replace a perfectly good top loader, because it would take forever to recoup my investment. However, I would strongly encourage anyone who is younger, and particular those who hasve a family, to spring for the additional cost of a front loader; I would.

1- Top loaders are easier to make.
2- Top loaders weighed less (front loaders used to require huge steel weights to counterbalance the loads)
3- Most US appliance makers stopped making front end loaders in like the 1960's.

Do also note that front end loaders were a 'new' concept- the original washing machines were top load laundry tubs that had an agitation arm, and were actually open at the top. You dropped your clothes into the wash tub, turned it on, it swooshed the clothes around for a while. Then you drained the tub, filled it with rinse water, swooshed the clothes around again. Then you drained the tub and ran the clothes through the wringer on top of the machine. (My grandma had one of these- I used to use it when 'helping out' summers as a kid).

The wringer was fun- you could flatten out all KINDS of neat things. (playdough, bread, cheese sandwiches, etc..)

We used to have a front end Westinghouse that my father in law and I rebuilt- it was circa 1962. Ran great for about 20 more years before succumbing to bearing failure and rust.

It's pretty much reason #3 that caused the US to be full of top loaders. The 'spin dry' factor is accurate also. Our rebuilt front loader used to finish with the clothes pretty damp. Line dry took a long time. When it died we replaced it (1990) with a top loader that pretty much wrings the suckers dry,. Essentially the top loader is easier to get spinning because the torque just twists the machine . The torque on front loaders actually tried to flip the machine over.

Better designs and controls have made most of these issues obsolete. When our current washer breaks all the way (I've rebuilt the transmission twice now), it's going to be replaced with a front loader. Pity I can't find one that is made in this country...

Simple thing: It's easier to soak and add clothes later in a top-loader - it's a great convenience that we miss with our front-loader now that we have a baby. But then we got our front-loader for less than the price of a top-loader thanks to Pasadena's generous Energy Star rebates and we love the low water and energy use.

My mom recently replaced her washer (top load) with another top load washer. The reason being is that she is a quilter. she likes to soak her quilts, especially the old ones, before she starts the washer (30 min presoak). Can't do that so well on a front loader. However, this is an isolated incident, depends on what you want to do with the machine

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cbelt3
1- Top loaders are easier to make.
2- Top loaders weighed less (front loaders used to require huge steel weights to counterbalance the loads)
3- Most US appliance makers stopped making front end loaders in like the 1960's.

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It's pretty much reason #3 that caused the US to be full of top loaders. The 'spin dry' factor is accurate also. Our rebuilt front loader used to finish with the clothes pretty damp. Line dry took a long time. When it died we replaced it (1990) with a top loader that pretty much wrings the suckers dry,. Essentially the top loader is easier to get spinning because the torque just twists the machine . The torque on front loaders actually tried to flip the machine over.

Actually this is not the case - nowadays front loaders spin at a higher rate and get clothes dryer than top loaders. You (and possibly I) are seeing the difference that 20 to 30 years of advances in washers can get you, not a limitation of either technology.

I don't know what it's like right now, but about three years ago when I was shopping for a washer, front loaders cost at least twice as much as top loaders.

As cbelt3 mentioned, the reason top loaders are popular in the US is basically...because top-loaders are cheaper to make, so that's what appliance makers produced.

Top-loaders are cheaper to purchase initially, especially for a large-capacity one. My front-loader was billed as "large capacity" but it's not. It's fine for our household, but for a family with a lot of kids that would be a problem.

I think most purchasers buy top loaders just because that's what they're used to. The combination of purchase price and "it's different" keeps people from switching.

My favorite feature on the front-loader is how little soap it uses. A box of soap lasts at least a year, instead of a few months. We haven't bought a bottle of fabric softener in years. That adds up over the life of the machine!

My parents had a front loading Maytag when I was a wee toddler & I enjoyed watching the clothes wash (we only had 2 TV stations back then). It was replaced by a Kenmore in lovely harvest gold when I was in the 5th or 6th grade.

The next one I buy will be a front-loader but I have no complaints with the used Ultra-high Capacity Kenmore duo I bought for $300 (delivered & setup) when I moved into my house. I use about half of the recommended amount of liquid detergent & only wash in cold water & rarely ever sort the clothes.

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No one ever seems to mention it, but the first thing I noticed about our front loader when we got it 3 years ago is that it is basically silent when "agitating" the clothes, as compared to our previous toploader. But, it is rather loud when it spins the clothes to get out the water. It agitates for 50 minutes per cycle and spins for maybe 10 minutes per cycle. Our washer is close to our family room, where our TV is located, which accentuates the noise problem.

LyleH

wow, lots of different points of view, and everyone is open to discussion and very friendly, I wish most discussions on the forum would be like this one.

Thanks everyone for participating.

just shut up you @#$%&! You and the washing machine you rode in on!

front loader, all the way...for reasons mentioned previously.

kiva

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Mr. Bush uses a top loader; Mr. Gore uses a front loader. That ought to take care of any undue civility.

My parents had a Westinghouse front loader that sat beside their mangle iron in the basement - that was over 50 years ago. Front loaders became less available and more costly after that. Now that they're back I'd highly recommend them.

Commercial laundromats are switching over to the tune of 10 fronts for every 1 top.

Best top loader ever made was a GM pulsating agitator, cleaned as well as any front loader but was too noisy to become the success it could have.

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