Maintaining the condition of your clothing is important. You need to consider how to properly store and hang your clothing along with what the best way to wash your clothing is. With that being said, figuring out which type of washing machine you’ll need can be a difficult choice. There are several factors to consider, and all of them have their pros and cons. Depending on your family’s needs, you may favour a certain type of washing machine, but neither is straight-up superior to the others. It’s important to know the pros and cons of each, so you’ll be able to make an informed decision when you are purchasing one.
Front-loading
Pros:
- Allows for best usage of space, as it’s stackable.
- It has a large capacity, and it doesn’t sacrifice performance when dealing with bulkier clothing.
- When compared to the other washing machines, the front-loading machine almost always has the best performance.
- Most front-loading washing machines let you add steam, so you’ll have an easier time removing stains.
- Drying time is significantly reduced due to its high spin speed because a lot of the moisture is removed during the process.
Cons
- A front-loading washing machine can be quite difficult to purchase, since it uses advanced technology and has special features.
- It almost always has significantly longer washing cycles than the other washing machine types by at least 30 minutes.
- Can cause slight damage to the floor if it’s not reinforced, as the machine tends to vibrate during washing cycles.
If you do laundry several times a week, and generally deal with dirty laundry, then the front-loader might be the correct choice.
Traditional Top-Loading
Pros
- No need to bend that when you’re putting in clothes.
- In some models, you can add laundry even after the cycle has started.
- It has the shortest washing cycles.
- Almost no vibration.
- It doesn’t leave any odours or unpleasant smell after washing
- The control panel is easy and intuitive to use
- Cheapest spare washing machine parts available easily from sites such as Spares2you.
Cons
- The cleaning performance can be significantly lower with heavier loads.
- Doesn’t have a large capacity as the front-loader.
- Not stackable.
- Fewer options to specify the washing cycle.
- Water often remains in the wet load after the spin cycle, so clothes may take longer to dry.
If you don’t think you’ll fine-tune the washing setting, and want to go for a cheaper variant, then consider the traditional top-loader.
High-Efficiency Top Loader
Pros
- It has more space than a regular top loader and can fit bulkier loads.
- Has comparable cleaning efficiency to a regular front-loader.
- Since it uses less water to accommodate for the load to tumble, it uses less power and has increased energy savings.
- Musty odours are also not present in this type.
- It can have plenty of features and settings, but there are plenty of variants that can be affordable.
- Top of the line technology, and high-tech design.
Cons
- Can have really lengthy washing cycles.
- They aren’t stackable.
- Can be the most expensive to repair.
- Are generally the most expensive type of washing machine.
While a bit more expensive, if you prefer the convenience of a top-loader but the efficiency of a front-loader, the definitely opt for this type.
In the end, it comes down to personal choice, but choosing the proper washing machine can work wonders, especially since they’re not a one-size-fits-all type of machine.