255
I have never been so go***mn excited to do laundry. Got these babies installed yesterday
(lemmy.world)
this post was submitted on 11 Oct 2026
255 points (88.3% liked)
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Top loader, interesting choice. I didn't know they still made those.
Did you go for that because of space constraints in regards to a door?
Top loaders:
A. Tend to last longer.
B. Have less mechanical issues.
C. Able to handle larger loads (like quilts).
D. Cheaper to repair if needed.
E. MOST IMPORTANTLY: They drain completely so every load doesn't smell like shit.
Most of these are complete fabrications.
A. They all have very similar failure rates (about 1/3 will have problems within 5 years). They are expected to be in use around 5-7 years by the manufacturers.
B. At best this comparison could be made to the extremely cheap top load washers, as they have less features and therefore less to break. They also have smaller capacity drums so they have room for larger motors and transmissions, but that only works out for you if you don't need the capacity. If you would be filling up a front loader once a week, you are doing 3-4 loads in the small top loader per week, so even if the machine's simplicity makes it last for three times as many loads, you are still breaking down in about the same amount of time passing. C. This is completely backwards. Capacity may look similar based on advertised cubic feet capacity, but front load will still edge out top load even in this figure. When you take it a step further and realize that you can use much more of the listed capacity in a front loader (or dig deep enough to find the capacity listed by weight instead of volume), front loaders take a big win. Basically every single full size front load washer you can buy right now will wash a king size comforter, and only about 25% of top load washers will.
D. Maybe an argument could be made that you are more likely to be able to do the work yourself on a top loader, but if you are paying a repair guy to do the work you are likely spending very similar money to repair modern washers regardless of type.
E. The smell has nothing to do with how much water drains out and how much doesn't. They all will still have some water in them at the end of a cycle (not that you can see). The biggest factor in the smell is actually using too much soap and fabric softener, and not cleaning the machine basically ever. Historically, top loaders used a lot more water so these problems were not as noticeable, but as the HE mandate has significantly reduced water usage even for top loaders, people are starting to run into smell problems in poorly maintained top loaders now too. If you leave a front loader's door cracked after a cycle so it can dry (because it has a water tight seal, this is needed for direct comparison to a top loader), and compare it to a top loader after similar use they will smell the same.
Well I don't know much more dull than arguing about washing machine models. I'll be to try not to fall asleep during this one. I did keep the original one short a sweet to make sure it was dull enough.
A: AKA when the cost/time to repair is not worth it. . The most common fault in a top loading washing machine is the suspension rod sticky wears out. If you don't mind getting messy its a few $ fix. The most common fault in a front end loader is the door seal, belt or like my 4 year old LG that the motor burned out after the bearings failed.
B: When comparing the two you really have to ignore the difference in model type and focus on the difference in the mechanics. Vertical drums have less load and stress to turn than a horizontal drum. I've never personally seen any issues with the belts etc of a top end loader. See my above LG experience for the front end loader.
C: I said handle not capacity - Just because you can physically stuff a kings sized comforter into the machine doesn't mean that the machine can get it clean. When it comes to oversized loads, you can't replace the dilution factor of MORE water. Top load machines use more water hence they handle maximum capacity loads better.
D: See above for the most common issues that is unique to a top-end vs. front end. Of course we are doing the repair ourselves.
E: The funky smell: Where does the smell come from? Bacteria and fungi breaking down dead skin, body oils etc.. as part of the bio-products of decomposition are aromatic and volatile compounds (the funky smell). These microbes are located in biofilms coating undisturbed surfaces. A biofilm is a polysaccharide matrix that firmly attaches itself to any surface it can They includes many different species of symbiotic microbes. Biofilms grow best in temperatures between 15-30C with an alternating application of a nutrient bath & air. Biofilms go dormant when they dry out but reactivate quickly when conditions are appropriate. Conditions in front end loading washing machine are much more conducive to maximum biofilm growth than a top-loader. Mainly due the rapid wet/dry action and 100% water coverage of the interior of the drum on every load. The additional water retained in the door seal and the greater surface area wetted = MORE WATER REMAINS IN THE MACHINE at the end of the cycle. It's physically not much to us, but to a microbe, a few more hours of water can mean several more generations of growth.
They are partly correct that the newer detergents are to blame for smelly machines. In order to break down a biofilm you need some more caustic soap to break it down. The newer detergents are soft and full of enzymes that can't penetrate the biofilm. However to be fair the most common way these biofilms traditionally have been broken down is with bleach. Bleach with enough concentration, time, and temperature can break down these biofilms and clear out the stink. It still works exceptionally well in a top-end loading machine but not so much for a front-end loader. Why: The bleach cycle in a top-end loader is a fully submerged for the length of the wash cycle. Combined with agitation this gives the bleach time, temperature, and concentration to break down the biofilm and remove the stink generating bacteria. A combination of more surface area to attack for the same concentration of bleach and less direct contact time means that the bleaches efficacy is reduced on a front-end loader. Add in some nice hiding spots for the bacteria in the door seal and the funk is back after just a few regular washes.
Wait what makes front loaders so popular then?
E. Keep the door open on front loaders so it doesn't seal the moisture in and allow mould to grow.
Yah, I'm going to dispute C. I had toploaders all my life and then got a front. Now I can get sleeping bags and comforters in it whereas the top loader would just tear them up if I dared to put them in.
And honestly, the rest of your issues haven't seemed to have cropped up in the ten years I've had my front loader. But you may be right statistically. And if you leave the door open between loads, front loaders smell fine.
you can get top loaders with no central agitator
Which doesn't meaningfully change their wash capacity at all...
Those are impeller style washers you’re talking about.
Hmm, that's changed, probably for the reason I didn't like them. Any that I ever had you couldn't. Good to know.
He's gonna miss that fresh mildew smell
Not OP, but less maintenance because fewer parts. Easier to unload for tall people. I have a hard time bending over, and squatting down to reach into the back of the dryer. Bending over to reach into the washer is easier.
That’s why you get a washtower. Machines are comfortable height, pull put shelves for your laundry basket and lots of extra storage space
I've got a similar space and have been considering ripping the shelf out, doing stacked appliances, and then like... different shelves that are easier to reach.