Help! True or False Quiz RE: Top Load or Front

11 years ago

Old washer kicked the bucket. After hours of research I feel like I'm going in circles. Please help me decide what to buy because my laundry pile is growing! I thought I'd pose this age-old question again as I am not finding current (2012) consensus on some of the controversial issues of the past. So what's the latest on these complaints?

Top-Load/Front-Load True or False?

1. Top-Loaders don't clean as well as FL. Some don't even get wet in the middle

2. TL user manuals state that you have to individually ball up clothes or they won't clean well

3. TL's are harder on clothes

4. TL's tangle up your clothes leaving wrinkles

5. TL's are noisier

6. Front Loaders will have mildew issues if even if you use the right amount of products and leave door open.

7. FL's boots often go bad and are expensive to repair

8. FL's motors need repair more due to stuff falling through the boot.

9. Front loaders are more expensive to repair than HE TL's

I want to spend under $1000. I looked at the new Samsung PowerFoam FL WF405ATPAW on hold but am leary due to their service reputation. Considering Electrolux IQ Touch but am open to Top Loaders. I see that many of you have done far more research than I ever will have time for so your help is appreciated! Hope to buy before the 4th of July sales are over so I'd appreciate your timely responses!

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Comments (8)

dadoes
11 years ago
1. Frontloaders by nature of their horizontal/tumbling action are much better suited to the low-water HE washing process. Both can have a bit of trouble saturating some kinds of loads.

2. Proper loading of HE toploaders is important, but literally rolling each piece of clothing into a ball is an exaggeration.

3. FLs are generally gentler, but both can be more aggressive than expected due to the low volume of water and clothing items rubbing/abrading together.

4. Both types can tangle.

5. No reason for that to be the case. Washing & rinsing is typically quiet. Any washer spinning a load at 1000+ RPM may generate some noise & vibration.

6. TLs can also develop residue and odor if subject to poor usage habits.

7. A FL boot can be damaged (punctured) by foreign objects such as a nail or screw or pen/pencil forgotten in a pocket, but there's no evidence that they spontaneously fail on a frequent basis.

8. No relation between motor failures and boot failures ... and anything falling through a torn boot is unlikely to literally make contact with the machine's drive motor.

9. Pretty much all appliances are expensive for repairs nowadays.
DirtyJeansGal
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you, Dadoes. That was very helpful!
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Paul, I used to live in Secane! :-) Yes, you are correct about the longer wash time. My washer is the first generation (named HE3t), and has shorter wash cycles than the newer versions. The HE3t became the HE4t, then HE5t. The current HE3t based on the same design as the HE5t, and is made in the same German factory, but has fewer cycles, options, and a slower final spin speed...and a lower price too. Did I confuse you? The HE2t is a little bit smaller, made in Mexico, but cycle/option wise is more similar to the HE5t than the HE3t. The HE2t (or Duet Sport HT - Whirlpool's sister model) may be a good option. If you don't want to purchase at Sears that rules out the Kenmore models as they are only sold at Sears. My preference would be for the Whirlpool over LG, but that is based on my good experience with Whirlpool made Kenmore models. I don't think you would regret an LG either. With the preface that my washing machine is conveniently located in my kitchen in direct view of the kitchen table, that I have studied its operation intently, and add in my abnormal fascination with washers, the following is my reasoning for preferring the Whirlpool. Though careful comparison of my good friend's LG and my HE3t, my conclusion is that the Kenmore just operates more gracefully. The spin ramp up and down is smoother and more controlled, and it never even tries to spin with an unbalanced load. The motor controller can sense when a load distribution is unbalanced while still spinning at the slow distribution speed. It is not based on the swaying of the drum, but rather the uneven resistance of slowly spinning an unbalanced load. In comparison, the LG spin ramps up and down over and over on some loads until it gets a balanced distribution. Of course I doubt this would bother most normal people. Some LGs have a recirculating pump which sprays the load with water as it washes and rinses. I do not like that when the pump starts up in the rinse cycle it sprays the left over soapy wash water stored in the hose into the rinse water. I suspect that my reduce rinsing effectiveness. Also, the Whirlpools fill directly into the tub while spinning the clothes, pulling the fresh rinse water though the load as it fills for the rinse. I find this method better than the LG's of filling into the outer tub. The direct fill method also saturates a large dry load during the wash fill faster than the LG method. The holes in the LG drum are larger than in the Whirlpools. Smaller diameter holes are more desirable at high spin speeds. Miele had a honeycomb drum that has extremely tiny holes which is supposed to be the gentlest. I don't think this matters much, but I thought I would mention it. In conclusion, I think you will probably be happy with whatever washer you choose! Joe
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knot2fast
11 years ago
Your T/F questions presuppose a HE toploader versus a HE frontloader and Dadoes' answers are on the money for that assumption.

There are excellent non-HE toploaders on the market, such as Speed Queen, that change the answers to some of your questions (especially #9).
SparklingWater
11 years ago
Following up knot2fast's point, back in May 2012 I purchased a 27" Speed Queen FL ATE50 Stacked Electric W/D. I am very happy with my purchase. If you like top load washers, you may wish to look at SQ's very popular top load washer. I wanted a well built, very basic W/D system with good warranty. So far all has meet my long considered expectations. Unlike my prior Maytag 2000 Neptune stackable which was a workhorse in itself, for the first time in 12 years my dried clothes not rolled into a bundle when removed from the dryer and much more wrinkle free. Hope this helps and good luck.
mara_2008
11 years ago
I am a very satisfied owner of a Maytag Bravos HE TL.

1. My washer cleans my laundry very well. All laundry not only gets wet in the middle, it's saturated. Then it wrings out really fast (on the fastest spin speed) so that it dries quickly.

2. My user manual does not tell users to individually ball up clothes (does any manual really say that?). My washer is very easy to load.

3. My washer is not hard on clothes -- at all. My clothes last much longer now and look great.

4. My washer does not tangle up laundry or leave wrinkles. I never have to iron.

5. My washer is not noisy. It is much quieter than any other washer I've ever owned.

Hope this helps to explode those myths. :)
DirtyJeansGal
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you, Dadoes. That was very helpful!
CharterOps
11 years ago
We have the Electrolux IQ Touch and have been very pleased with the results. I tend to follow instructions on laundry products and never had a problem with residue, mold, etc...

However, I do leave the door open when the washer is not in use and leave the dispenser tray out about 2 inches or so to allow air-flow.

I've also noticed that the Electrolux models rinse much better than other models, specifically Kenmore HE models (I know, I had one).
DirtyJeansGal
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, all of you! I'll take your good information and look for sales. I'm relieved to know that some of what I've heard are not true. Happy washing!

Help! True or False Quiz RE: Top Load or Front

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dadoes

DirtyJeansGal
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Help! True or False Quiz RE: Top Load or Front

Comments (8)

dadoes

DirtyJeansGalOriginal Author

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SparklingWater

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