One of the busiest appliances in our home is our washing machine—it seems that just as you finish one load of laundry, there is another pile that mysteriously appears out of nowhere. When shopping for a washing machine, it is important to understand the different kinds of washing machines that are out there in order to choose the one that is right for you and your laundry room. Let’s look at the different types of washers and their advantages and disadvantages.
Front Loading
If you have difficulty with bending and pulling, you may want to consider a washing machine that has a door on the front of it. This type of washing machine is called a front loading machine, due to the design, and they are supposed to clean better and be more efficient. You can find front loading machines with fast spin cycles, which results in less water in your clothing when it is put into the dryer or hung to dry. While other kinds of washing machines fill up with water, the front loading machine uses about half the amount, which is good for your water bill and usage. The disadvantage to a front loading machine is that they tend to vibrate because of the high spin cycles but if your laundry room is away from the living area, that should not be a problem. The other disadvantage is that these types of washers tend to be pretty expensive, so expect to pay more for one of these washers.
Space Saving
This type of washing machine is up to 24 inches in width making it great for small spaces such as in a small condo or apartment. There are a few disadvantages with the space saving machine though, and one of the disadvantages is that this kind of washing machine will not hold a lot of clothing—only up to 12 pounds. If there are only one or two people in the place, this type of washing machine may be a great option, but if you have a family, this type of washing machine probably will not work. You can also pair a space saving washing machine with a space saving dryer and they are easy and simple to stack on each other.
High Energy Efficient Top Loader
These top loading machines are a newer design and technologically advanced to use less water and energy than a regular washing machine. Like the front loading washer, the high energy efficient top loading machine only uses half the water of a regular machine. This means that you can do a lot of loads without worrying about your water and energy bill. The only problem is that some machines have problems with clothing getting tangled because of the higher spin cycles that come on this washer and you can end up with more wrinkles in your clothing. The other disadvantage is that they are more expensive than regular washers.
Top Loader
The top loader washing machine is your basic washing machine and is the least expensive of regular sized washers. While quite dependable, the top loaders can have problems if a load is distributed unevenly, causing a racket to be heard. They also use more water and more energy than the others making them undesirable for people who are focused on green living.