I saw that. Seems the reviewers are a bit suspect. There's reference to the Whites cycle running an "improperly timed hot rinse" that they think may have set-in protein stains on their test load. Seriously? A hot rinse? And the video clip shows liquid detergent being poured into the softener dispenser.

@dadoes...yeah. Why did they pour detergent into the liquid fabric softener dispenser?

Maybe that's why it didn't wash well?

Been sayin... they aren't cutting it there by objective standards. We do a lot better crowd sourcing here IMO.

And the amount of detergent they used...takes dosing to a whole new level.

I prefer to think that the detergent pour was done for the video, and the actual test was done correctly. Did anyone expect cleaning results on par with front-loaders?

I had a TL up until recently...I did have clean clothes. As do many others here.

The only reason for adding detergent to the softener cup is if using a soak cycle that advances to wash but has a spin, fresh wash fill then the detergent would be emptied from dispenser. Not sure the newer machines do that like the older ones did.

I truely believe now, the old school conventional TL is dead and a thing of the past. This review only reinforces it.

Also no heater on the front loaders is a big issue. Would have considered one if it had a heater.

I agree DerrickL. I can not recommend either any longer.

I could not imagine using a FL without a heater. Wouldn't that be like washing everything on warm.

I never thought I'd buy another top loader until recently. Ended up getting the Speed Queen top loader because nothing else I wanted would fit in the laundry room without significant modifications. One thing I can say is that the wash cycles are nice and short.

Kim..do you like short wash cycles? IMO TL'ers don't have a long enough wash time which is why I always shut mine off mid way for a soak time, as do many others here.

I have a TL SQ. Heavily soiled, grungy loads get a long soak, 2 hours to overnight. We have tiered electrical rates so I will often fill the washer and let it agitate for a minute or so, then stop it and leave to soak. Finish up during off-peak hours. Works great using even MOL detergents.

I almost always pre-soak the whites load, too. With lightly soiled stuff, towels, sheets, etc., I don't usually bother with the soak.

@Rococo...100% agree. Besides from a few impoverished Asian countries, I do not know anywhere else that has top loaders.

Besides the amount of water used, top loaders spin at maybe 400-700rpm, whereas most frontloaders will spin clothes at 1000-1600rpm. I just cannot imagine those heavy, soddened towels after a top load spin and then going into the dryer!! :-O

For what it's worth, Top Loaders somehow manage to leave the smell of Detergent in clothes. Some people would buy for that alone ;)

Like people who'd use April Fresh Downy or Fab Toss-Ins. Or Original Scent Tide :)

I've seen others reviews by this site, they are universally poor.

We've never had stains remain on clothes with our SQ TL. We have never had clothes get tangled in the agitator. When it says 27 minutes to wash, it is 27 minutes.

Are they complaining that a heavy duty wash or one with extra spin cycles (or whatever) takes longer? Yes, it is not a time machine, sorry.

Spin speed is 710 I think (from memory) - the one downside to our old F&P TL (which was a great machine also) which was 1000 or 1100. That is a negative, but the other complaints from this useless review are without merit as best I can tell.

Many of us don't like FL, or HE TL, I would not have either type of machine, it's an agitator TL or nuthin'.......

Well, I don't think this review is unfair. I have used Speed Queen and Iglis TL washers several times this past year. They do an okay job of washing clothes, as long as you properly use them. (Overfilling them prevents the load from being properly turned over inside the machine, which leads to poorly washed items.) Overall, I feel that my old Asko and new LG FL washers have done a better job of washing my family's clothes than the old-fashioned TL washers I have used.

I have a speed queen washer/dryer just over 3 years old and still washing and drying without a hiccup.Great machines. Top loaders have worked very well for decades. Give the TLvs. FL debate a rest folks. America pioneered the automatic washer and the first fully automatic washer was from Bendix and it was a FLer

I find top loaders to clean better, but then again I never used a fl washer with a heater,..so I am open to a fl washer in the future with a heater

Both can clean very well and do clean very well. It's really nice to have a choice.

I've used both...a heater makes a HUGE difference. Many moons ago it was common to have water tanks turned up to even 160 or more...run a TL with water that hot and you would see temperature makes a differance

I was also thinking of what hot water used to go into top loaders. This installation document was on Speed Queen's site in December 2008, and recommends hot water supply of 140 to 150 Fahrenheit:

http://web.archive.org/web/20061231191427/http://www.speedqueen.com/sq_con_tech_pdf/201471en.pdf

Now they say a maximum of 125F.

Remember, though, that some of the most enthusiastic SQ TL buyers are on the rebound from a bad FL experience. Some members of this forum and automaticwasher.org put the blame squarely on user error, but I don't believe that's always the case.