I would buy a frontloader if I needed a new washer.

It depends on the machine and what type of things you have to clean. I have a pre 2018 SQ but in 2018 they completely redesigned it. It is a shell of its former self. There are a couple of machines that are suggested to replace it. I like this type of machine because we have a lot of allergies so need good deep rinses. It has an old fashioned agitator vs the plate agitator found in most top loaders now. I also wash fibers and vintage fabrics with a modified hand wash in my machine but most people arnt doing that. You can get the wash really hot. Mine does not have too many electronics so I can make the machine do what I want to. My old machine had preprogrammed cycles. We also have at least 10 we use in our business because we need a lot of water to our product clean. It is just about waterproof so no flow through the fabric. We also have hot water next to it and can get the wash temp over 165F

If I were buying a front loader, I would definitely want an onboard heater.

With any machine, you have to understand what each cycle does rather than relying on a label.

it isn't really one or the other is better. There are good and bad on either.

I am never going back to a top loader again! I love front loaders -- I find they clean better, are gentler on my clothes, and my clothes come out less wet (so drying is faster and gentler). I just replaced my 11.5 year old LG stacked pair with a Gorenje pair.....the LG washer didn't give me a lick of trouble until it did; I'm not unhappy of 11.25 years of trouble-free operation. The Gorenje is new in Canada, so I hope my decision turns out to be a good one.

Had both. Love the front loaders. Such a difference in how they clean and ease of use.

I wish I could get the top loading LG dryer, then I’d be happy. Top load washers just seem roomier to me, but that’s probably an optical illusion.

I have a top loader here and a front loader at our mountain house. I hate that I can’t throw something else in once the load has started and I dislike having to remember to leave the door cracked on the washer to avoid mold.

"Annette Holbrook: I wish I could get the top loading LG dryer, ..."

LG offers a top-loading dryer? Do you have a reference for the model?

Top load washers do seem roomier but they can't beat a front loader in cleaning performance and gentleness. You may be able to easily fit in one load a king size comforter as well as the sheets in a large top-loading machine but they are just going to end up floating in the water and not get thoroughly clean like they would in a front-loader.

There are some very large 5+ cubic foot front-load washers available from LG and Samsung but I'd personally avoid buying any Samsung appliances as they aren't built to last. You can save a lot of money and just get a standard 4.5 cubic foot capacity front-loading machine which fits about 3 baskets worth of laundry.

And any washer, top or front-loading, needs to be left open to avoid mildew/mold.

"LittleGreeny" And any washer, top or front-loading, needs to be left open to avoid mildew/mold."

Absolutely correct ... and also used correctly -- proper detergent dosage (too little is as bad as too much), avoid excess fabric softener, avoid cold-water washes, etc.

Here's a pic of someone's gnasty toploader (not mine) that I ran across recently.

This video explains the differences between top loaders and front loaders:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyVIudw2N9A

Here’s Why I will never go back to TL washer again!

it’s been awhile since I’ve had to use a TL and my recent usage only emphasizes the difference from FL washers.

I used to have a mid-1980s heavy duty large capacity TL washer by Kenmore, which is the same that my sister has.

I’ve been here for almost 2 months helping her while she’s undergoing cancer treatments, so lots of laundry.

I didn’t remember how little the TL capability was, even though the dimensions of both type of machines are 27” wide, almost 3.8 cubic ft.

The TL Kenmore probably is maxed out at 10.0 lbs - adding more laundry and it’s incapable to thoroughly clean it and rips them up.

It uses about 50 gallons of water per load (25 gal wash, 25 gal rinse) but if you’re like my sister and need to do a 2nd-rinse to ensure detergent residue is gone then it uses about 75 gallons per load of 10.0 lbs laundry, which really isn’t that much - about 8 large bath towels (30” x 60”), or 3 queen-size bed sheets (2 loose, 1 fitted) with 2 pillow cases.

For bulky items, it’s even more restricted. I could only fit a light full-sized comforter.

I currently have a 2009 Bosch Nexxt 500 plus and its’ capacity is also 3.8 cu ft. It is rated at 8kg, so just under 18 lbs.

It uses 13.5 gallons of water per load (4.5 gal wash, 4.5 gal 1st rinse, 4.5 gal 2nd rinse). I’ll do a 3rd-rinse so that brings the total to 18 gallons of water per load of 18 lbs of laundry.

18 lbs laundry is about 15 large bath towels, or 3 queen-sized bed sheet sets (3 loose, 3 fitted, 6 pillow cases).

WATER USED (for 18lbs of laundry):

TL - 150 gallons = 75 gallons per load x 2

FL - 18 gallons

DETERGENT USED:

TL - 250 ml for 18 lbs of laundry (125 mL per 10 lbs load)

FL - 22.5 ml per 18 lbs load

TIME USED:

TL - 220+ minutes to do same 18 lb load; 110+ minutes for full wash cycle and additional 2nd rinse that requires user to be there to reset machine for the added rinse

x 2

FL - 110 minutes for full wash cycle and additional 3rd rinse that can be programmed at start of wash

In my instance, my FL will use 1/8 water; 1/11 detergent; 1/2 time

I had a Frigidaire front loader for almost 10 years in my last house. My clothes were always spotless with either Persil or Tide. I also never had to pretreat any stains. My drying time was maybe cut down from the high speed spin. This new complex has Speed Queen HE top loaders. My clothes are wearing out faster and some stains need to be scrubbed or they bake on in the dryer. Clothes come out tangled and my sneakers look dingy when I wash them. I would kill for my front loaders back!