Getting a Washer & Dryer...Top vs. Front Loading ???

leeland

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2000
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well looking getting a new W&D....looking at maytag line....some are kinda pricy...but wanted to know the pro's and con's...to the front vs top loading.

thanks
leeland
 

leeland

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2000
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thanks Rossman, for the sites, i haven't gotten home yet to look at Consumer reports...will look at the sites and see what the reviews have to say
 

JC

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2000
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by 'special detergent' they mean 'low-sudsing'.....I think you can use less of the regular stuff too.

The front-loaders tend to wear out your clothes less, and use less water. They also cost more, you've already noticed that! The Maytag Neptune is quite a washer, tho....
Avoid the Atlantis top-loaders....they've had problems. If you go top-loader, just get the Performas, they're cheaper, and proven.

Other machines you may like are the Fisher-Paykel top-loader, the Whirlpool Calypso top-loader, and the Whirlpool Duet front-loader (more $$ tho)

If it sounds like I install these things, I do ;)

JC
 

leeland

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2000
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thanks for the tips, JC....i have some research to do...but that will narrow it down a little


leeland
 

Murpheeee

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Apr 30, 2000
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with a front loader you can wash bigger things like comforters....my next one will be a front loader
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
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front use much less water and get clothes cleaner


the catch is that for a front loader with decent capactity, they are WAY more expensive

if you have the $ , get the front loader

if you don't, be sure to get one with a porcelain covered steel basket

DON'T BUY A CHEAP WASHER WITH A PLASTIC BASKET!!!!!
 

dakata24

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2000
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front loaders.. have the 1st generation maytag neptunes.. no agitator so less wear while washing clothes..

we use regular detergent.. doesnt seem to affect cleaning or anything..


edit: doesnt kenmore (or another company) make a front loading washer that's cheaper than the maytags? like $600-700 i think..
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
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<< i am sorry, what do you mean by special detergent ? >>



Nah, that's just marketing. That "high efficiency" stuff is just an excuse to charge you more for less concentrated detergent. It may not foam as much, but it's nothing you can't do by using about 1/3 the detergent you normally use.

Front loaders rock, but they're so expensive.
 
Feb 10, 2000
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My dad has a front-loading Neptune washer that drives me crazy, since you can't put more items in once the cycle has started. I don't doubt all of the benefits people mention above, but frankly I have never felt that agitation harmed my clothes, and they always seem plenty clean in a normal washer. I would have a tough time ponying up the big bucks for a front-loader, personally.
 

evergreen96

Senior member
Sep 2, 2000
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Personally., I would choose the front load washer...

1. It uses less electricity
2. Spins out more water => less dry time (more $$$ saved)
3. Uses less water
4. Larger capitiacy (sp?) than it cousins
5. Time (if you need to due a couple of loads.... eg whites Vs color)
6. Gentle on clothes





<< Nah, that's just marketing. That "high efficiency" stuff is just an excuse to charge you more for less concentrated detergent. It may not foam as much, but it's nothing you can't do by using about 1/3 the detergent you normally use. >>




Special soap.... I think it marketing .... Just use 1/2 of the deteregent you would in top-loading washer.. (Generally rule Consumer Reports)

In the end...., I think it would cost less in the long run if you get the maytag.... you know there ads.. lasts almost forever....

Frankly you can't go wrong if you choose a front load washer from Maytag, GE, Whirlpool, Kennmore (all others are just rebranded)




 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
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Front loaders are finally catching on in the US, after being the norm in on the other side of the world for decades. Top loaders were cheaper and easier to manufacture, but they have no other advantages that I know of.

I'll have a front loader in my home for sure.
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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"Front loaders are finally catching on in the US, after being the norm in on the other side of the world for decades."

Um, take a look in any laundromat in the US and tell me what type of machines you see. As expensive as front loaders are, the manufacturers still have to cut corners to get them down to a price point that consumers will pay. There's just too much bang for the buck in a cheap top loader for most US consumers to pass up.

Speaking of the other side of the world. Our washer is from New Zealand! :Q

All the advantages of a front loader, yet it's a top loader. America's most energy efficient washer! Quite a bargain at only $699.00 instead of $1,299.00
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
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<< Speaking of the other side of the world. Our washer is from New Zealand! :Q >>


Does it spin backwards???
 

JC

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2000
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<< My dad has a front-loading Neptune washer that drives me crazy, since you can't put more items in once the cycle has started. >>



Not true! Yes, the door does lock at some points in the cycle. With the earlier models (like the MAH3000) you have to stop the machine and wait up to 2 minutes for the door to unlock, but the newer ones (MAH5500) unlock the door almost right away after stopping.

JC
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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"Does it spin backwards???"

Har, it does more than that! Picture this:
  • Windings are located in the motor stator rather than on the rotor. The rotor turns around the outside of a centrally mounted stator rather than inside it. This configuration allows for the rotor to be attached to the shaft driving the washer's spin and agitator movements or wash profile.

    The DC magnetic motor is coupled directly to the agitator by a single stainless steel shaft. The SmartDrive System incorporates no belts, pulley's, or transmission, and as these are the first things to wear down and break in a conventional washer...
It can be programmed (by the manufacturer) to spin clockwise 4 revolutions at 20RPM, then backward 3 revolutions at 100RPM, then forward 5 revolutions at 25RPM, then backward 100 revolutions at 100RPM... anything your imagination can dream up! Of course, the cycles are preset for certain fabrics and such, but the possibilities are unlimited. At the end, it spins the clothes 1000RPM till they're nearly dry.

5 years parts warranty, 2 years labor warranty (after registering). I never would have imagined buying a major appliance from New Zealand, but there it is!
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
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From the washers I've come into contact with in my lifetime (and yes, I've seen quite a few), the difference boils down to capacity
 

Farmall

Senior member
Jul 16, 2000
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The Maytag Neptune line is very good. We've had ours for almost three years and my wife would never buy the top load washers again. Get the gas dryer also, it was a bit more but it is also more efficient then the electric.

You don't need to buy the special soap and you don't need to use very much of the regular stuff. With the way the washer works (open basket design) your clothes will actually be cleaner then top load washers while using far less soap.
 

Tripleshot

Elite Member
Jan 29, 2000
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Front loaders are so much better than top loaders, We will never go back. We not only use less water, less soap,and less drying time with the gas dryer that matches our washer,our clothes are cleaner and do not use hot water for rthe cleaning. 45 years of washing clothes, I think I have finally found a winner. My front loader is a keeper. I paid more for it, but it was worth every cent. And yes, it goes forward and backwards. I purchased at sears. I recomeend gettibng the extra warrenty policy with it. The parts and labor can be very expensive if any thing goes wrong. I had my kids break the switch lock by opening while it was running,and the switch alone price was more than the warrenty price.