Top loader or front loader

[mel2931]

Hi all,

We have a top loader and DH has been saying we need a front loader to use less water. I think he just likes buying new things!

Seeing as we now do an extra load every second day, is it worth it? I hear they can take a really long time, up to 3 hrs?

Do they save that much more water?

thanks in advance.

[kermi]

Like any timed appliance you can reduce the wash time if you require by changing the cycle required.
Many do have a Quick Wash setting as well.
That said, I don't mind that mine takes 2hr 40mins on a cycle because I find my clothes are much cleaner than my old top loader could do.
Yes, they do use significantly less water per each wash and I find it's more economical to use it for hot washes as it heats it's own water.
There is a new rating system for the level of water use of each machine as per here.
There are however, some rather water efficient top loaders on the market too now though.
HTH.

[Bec259]

I have a new (6mths old) Fisher Paykel Aqua Smart 8kg top loader. It uses 82L per cold load (4 stars). A regular wash takes 50min.
I'm more than happy with it .

[tikki]

It's also important to weigh up the environmental impact of buying a new appliance when the other hasn't reached it's full life cycle against any water saving benefit of a top loader Carbon footprint speaking it's better only to upgrade when necessary if your appliance isn't that old.

[Theresa]

ditto Carmen & Tikki

I quite like that I can set my frontloader to d its 3hr cycle to start at say 4am so its done when I get up.... but it also has cycles from 30m - 1h10 for the shorter cycles.

[Peach_Bums_Mum]

Ive had a front loader for a few years now and I definatley prefer the wash results to the many top loaders I had. I vary the wash time from about 45 mins to 2 1/2 hours depending on what Im washing and how soiled it is. It certainly uses a lot less water than a top loader, however I do find that with washing heavily soiled items, or a big load, I sometimes need to add extra water (mostly just with nappies). I agree with Tikki too, except that if you onsell your current machine, then the carbon imprint is not really relevant, as someone who would have been buying a machine anyway can buy yours I know 2 people with eco-friendly top loaders who dont like them and regret not buying top loaders - but I havnt had any experience with them other than that. Anyway, when you weigh up the benefits and disadvantages, Im really happy with my front loader and wont be buying a top loader again

[Faeml]

Originally Posted by Theresa

ditto Carmen & Tikki

I quite like that I can set my frontloader to d its 3hr cycle to start at say 4am so its done when I get up.... but it also has cycles from 30m - 1h10 for the shorter cycles.

I'll ditto that too. I love my front loader. I love the results with my clothes and it does a good job on the nappies too.

It is certainly a lot more water efficient. After we got our new machine (other one had died) our household water consumption dropped by 20% (compared to the same period the year before) even though we'd had another child and now had two in full time cloth.

Ours has a timer function too. My old top loader still took 45 - 55 minutes for a cycle, my regular cycle on the front loader only takes 10 - 20 minutes more which, to me, is no big deal at all.

[Lis]

there is no way in heck I could use a timing function on our machine if it did have one... the spin cycle makes a high pitched noise (on 800rpm anyway) enough to wake up the whole house (without fail, every person who's been in our house and heard that noise has said "what is THAT?")... sometimes I put it on late afternoon and then hang the next morning though.

we have a front loader, from memory it uses 70L per cycle.
it also has a 30 minute cycle, but I think in the manual it said it was recommended to not fill the machine more than half full for that, so I haven't ever really used it (except for washing some toys, or one sheet, or something like that), cause it seemed wasteful.

I think a lot of it depends on what you're after in a machine rather than just a front loader or a top loader... there are so many settings and different things that some have and others don't.

I do like our front loader, apart from the fact that the time save setting still takes 1hr 49mins.
The only thing I really don't like is not being able to open the door during the cycle... so you can't chuck a couple more things in that you've found to add... and if I'm felting something I can't check it halfway through the cycle, or add anything to the load halfway through like bleach or something... not that I do that often.

As for the carbon footprint issue... if you were giving/selling your machine to someone else that really needed it (for example they didn't have one or their previous machine was dead beyond repair etc).... that would eliminate that issue, right? I mean, it's not like you're buying a new one for the sake of it and chucking the old one out?

[alineanne]

lol lis. we have the same problem. i don't think ours is loud at all, but benji still hears it as soon as it clocks on (and it is miles away from his room).

i now set it to start when i know he'll be awake.

love love love my front loader. no more stretched clothes from. only down side is that i used to get away with less detergent (since the top loader used more water), and only use washing soda. now i use 'proper' detergent (eco friendly of course).

[mel2931]

Thanks guys. Am I allowed to ask people who like their machine what brand they have ??

Yes I agree with not buying one till the old one dies, thats what I told DH. I seem to care a whole lot more about the 'footprint' more than he does, probably as I'm an environmental scientist !