Washing Machine Buying Guide
When you're buying a new washer, you have a choice of three different types of machines: regular top-loaders with center-post
agitators, top-loaders without center post agitators (also known as high-efficiency top-loaders), and front-loaders. There
are benefits and drawbacks to each.
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Types
Before you buy a new washer, learn about the different types of washing machines on the market. While one type of washer might have features that appeal to you, it might not fit your budget or your lifestyle.
Regular top-loading washers
These models fill their tubs with water, and an agitator swirls the laundry.
Pros:Regular top-loaders are the least expensive overall. Loading these models or adding items in mid-cycle is easier than in machines
without an agitator.
Cons:They performed least impressively as a group. They hold only about 12 to 16 pounds of laundry and use the most water. Most
are relatively noisy, and their loads can become unbalanced.
Unconventional top-loading washers
These use a variety of methods to lift and tumble the laundry. They fill only partly, so they use less water, and they spin at very high speeds. They work best with low-foaming, high-efficiency detergent.
Pros:Some high-efficiency top-loaders hold more laundry than regular top-loaders (up to 20 pounds) and they typically wash better.
The high spin speed reduces drying time—and, thus, energy consumption.
Cons:The high-speed spin can tangle and wrinkle clothing.
Front-loading washers
These also fill only partly with water. They clean clothes by lifting them to the top of the tub and dropping them back into the water. They work best with low-foaming, high-efficiency detergent.
Pros:The best front-loaders clean better and more efficiently than the best high-efficiency top-loaders, without necessarily costing
more. Most can handle a 12- to 20-pound load. Better moisture extraction in the spin cycle reduces drying time and energy
consumption. As a group, front-loaders tend to be very quiet (as are some top-loaders). Many can be stacked with a dryer to
save floor space.
Cons:A front-loader's high spin speeds might vibrate too much in living areas.
Space-saving washers
These compact models are typically 24 inches wide or less, compared with 27 inches for full-sized models.
Pros:You can store some compacts in a closet and roll them out to the kitchen sink for water. And you can stack space-saving front-loaders
and dryers.
Cons:Space-savers can handle only an 8- to-12-pound load.
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