I have a question first...by king size bedding do you mean sheets and bedspread or filled comforter?

What are your other load sizes like?

If it's just the comforter, I'd be inclined to take it to the dry cleaner periodically, if you prefer a regular washer. I'd imagine retrieving clothes from a top-loader is much more difficult than a front-loader, though.

There are only 2 of us in the house, but I have king size washable bedspreads and blankets.

If its not a filled comforter a 4.3cf may work...remember though a front loader works best when they have full loads. If you only have small loads you may want to reconsider buying a machine just to wash an occasional filled comforter.

So if I have small loads I should go with top load?

FWIW - My wife is 5'1" and has no problems getting cloths out of our Speed Queen TL. I find bending over to reach in to get cloths out of the dryer more bothersome. I imagine pedestals for a FL would help with that if you go that route.

I'm 5'3" and I know that 3" can make a big difference. I've gone to the store and looked at top loaders and the only one I think I'd struggle with was a 5 cu ft Kenmore. I reached down in and could reach the bottom, but I could see it being difficult to get a sock or something. The 4.3 cu ft I've looked at have been fine. My sister has a 3.6 cu ft Maytag Bravos TL and can fit her king bedding in it easily. From what I've read, the 4.3 are no problem. Even the 4.3 with an agitator has reviews saying a king comforter fits fine. I can't imagine one fitting in a 3.6 with an agitator, though.

If I was recommending a washer to my DDIL, who's 5'. I'd recommend a front loader with heater, large enough for a king sized quilt. I would suggest she set them side by side, without pedestals. I would steer clear of top loader without an agitator. The TL without agitators reportedly don't clean very well. Many on the forum believe their front loaders clean better then top loaders.

I would totally go with a front loader. It can handle king size and it has a drum that would be very easy for someone short to deal with. I'm tall and always hated bending into top loaders.

I have a 4.5 FL

King bedding comes in many forms..king sheets, king mattress cover, king bedspread all fit fine..a king *filled with down or other fill would never wash properly in my machine.

I also can't imagine a king filled fitting in any top loader it sure won't fit in a SQ TL'er..not if you expect it to be clean.

Re king, I do a quilted king blanket cover in my compact f/l. It also handles the king bed pad -- but I have extra water programmed in. Any 4.2 or larger should handle all but the puffiest king pieces (though perhaps not all at once).

Here is an article that might be helpful: How to Buy the Best Front Load Washing Machine

@mamapinky was a die-hard top loader who bought a front loader and seems totally converted in less than a year.

I think that article is so helpful.

That was a great article! A brilliant person must have written it. And yet again, Im left to somewhat rue the day I settled for the SQ stack and didn't pay for Miele when I redid my tiny laundry room. I would dearly love an onboard heater, and the Miele would have fit even better. Oh, well! I can always ship my yellow sheets to Mama with a return label. LOL.

I've enjoyed my front-loader washer, but I don't think I'll buy another one. It doesn't seem to be holding up as well as washers I've had in the past, and it is a space hog (it's deeper than standard machines). Having said that, here are a few observations:

- RococoGirl's article was, indeed, excellent. Anyone who's considering a new style of washer would do well to read it carefully. One point that bears repeating: Read your manual; for example, if you run the cleaning cycle every month as per instructions, you'll avoid that mildew problem that front-loader people complain of ... but if you don't do it from the very beginning, it won't help. And I was disappointed to see that the article says a washer today is only intended to last 8-12 years ... for the cost of a modern washer, you should receive more service.

- I have the Whirlpool Duet, and when I was out shopping with my adult daughter for a machine for her, the salesman told me that 9 out of every 10 washers he sells is a Whirlpool Duet. Ironically, everyone I know who has a front loader (not that I've discussed washers with ALL my friends) has a Whirlpool Duet. It also received a nice close-up in the article:

The one thing I dislike about my Whirlpool Duet is that the handles have broken off /been replaced multiple times ... and now I've given up and just turn the piece of metal that sticks out. I do note that this (newer) model has different handles than mine does. Perhaps this problem has been fixed.

- If you're considering stacking machines, think about how you're going to access the back of your dryer for cleaning. You don't want to skip cleaning your dryer duct and risk a fire.

- I do not think my front-loader cleans any better than other washers I've used ... but it is nice not to have to adjust water level, and the spin cycle is so much more efficient that the dryer doesn't have to work so hard.

- Supposedly it's a money-saver, but I have seen no difference in my water or electrical bills ... but it's hard to know when everything's bunched together on the bill.

- I have no problem reaching to the back of my machine. My mother is mid-70s and has the same machine. I know she loves her machine. By the way, my mom and I are pretty much shorter than everyone.

- I was going to say the same thing someone else said above: If the ONLY issue you'd have with king sheets is a comforter, consider taking that one item to the dry cleaners. Alternately, consider buying a duvet cover so that the comforter itself doesn't need washing so often.

To me it does not make sense to buy a machine so you can wash one large item. Are all of your other loads going to be similarly large? It doesn't sound like it. I really dislike many of the modern top loaders they are simply too big, If you have a lot of people in your household or if you weigh 300-400 pounds then yes the whole normal week's worth of laundry will fit but if you're a normal weight person, you really don't need a machine that big. In fact you should make sure that the large machine can effectively run smaller loads because that's what you would normally have with just two people in the household. In addition, you really will have to stand on a stool to reach the bottom and that's a ridiculous situation. I would opt for a smaller machine and a different cover on the bed, a duvet makes sense.

My daughter is 5 foot, barely, she was able to reach into my TL SQ.

The advice of a duvet cover is good advice indeed. Than you only need to take the comforter to the laundramat every 3/4 months. I tried a king alternative down comforter in my 4.5 Duet...didn't work so well, I ended up taking it to the laundramat.

For two people unless you have tons of very large things I would not go larger than a 4.5 cf FL'er that is assuming you sort your laundry, not everyone does.

I got my new washer today. I had an LG front loader and I'm pretty sure the drain pump died, which would be an easy fix (we may fix and sell), but I've been ready to get rid of that thing since I got it. I've had dirty clothes for years. Anyway, I got the Maytag Bravos 4.3 TL. I just did a load of two sets of twin sheets and two matress pads. Now I've got two bulky twin comforters in and they fit easily. I'm pretty shocked at how much water it uses, which I'm happy about. I like water. And the rinse water is crystal clear which I never had with my FL. Although it may be because it's a new machine? I don't know. I've got high hopes right now. I know they may be dashed, so I'm only cautiously optimistic.

Like I said, I'm 5'3" and this is sitting up on a 2.5" platform in my basement. No trouble reaching the bottom at all. I was worried. My ten year old who is about 4'10" reached in easily and got out the last pillowcase.

I guess what I said was misleading. My bed covers are more like quilts than comforters. My down comforters I do take to the dry cleaner. I also have a washable down blanket and king size mattress pad. I like what I have, so for now I won't be changing it. Today we looked at the LG WM4370 HWA. I liked the fact that it had a hand wash cycle. Anyone have any experience with this model?

Stu..what is the cubic foot size?

Tracie congrats.wishing you years of clean clothes.

It's 4.5 cu ft.

@stu2900, this may sound strange, but you could take your quilt or whatever with you while looking and see if it will fit. One thing, I would steer clear of anything Samsung. And if you get a HE TL, be extremely careful when washing anything waterproof.

I've only had front loaders for 14 years and have loved them!... my daughter has a top loader without the agitator. I am 5.6" and I can barely get things out of the bottom of her washer, I have to stand on my tip toes and really lean in and it hurts my ribs on the to of the machine. If you are short, you might fall in and get stuck!....

I am bare 5' 1" and top loaders are a pain to reach into and pull clothes up and out of, especially heavy loads.

I have been a front load convert for 15+ years and will never go back. A front loader on a pedestal put the height at a perfectly ergonomic reach in between knees and shoulders.

Watchmelol..what brand do you have now and age?

Well we bought the Kenmore Elite washer and dryer, 5.2 cu ft. I think it's too big, but DH thinks it's great. It does have a small load feature on it, so hopefully I won't have a problem. It gets delivered today. Thanks for all the advice! Now I just have to learn how to use it!

I have a Lg not the model you looked at mine is a year old. I wash my king comforter in it, I just use the bulky cycle and use the add water button to make sure it fills up well. I also added a small load cycle to mine, how to do this is in the manual. I'm only 5'1 so I agree with the ease of a front loader.