Can anyone comment on the difference between the current models of HE, large capacity front and top load washing machines? Specifically, are the new, HE, high capacity TOP loading machines nearly identical to the FRONT loading machines? If not, what do you think are the major differences? I'm thinking if the new top loaders are basically the same as the front loaders, I'd rather have a top loader because I have a lot of little kids who would be too intrigued by a front loader and I couldn't realistically leave the door open if I needed to because of the odor issue. There are previous posts on here comparing the two, but none current enough to compare the new HE, high capacity top loaders.
Jo W-- not worried about the kids safety but that they would play with it every time they walked past it. I know I can teach them to leave it alone and it's really not that big of a deal in the long run, just trying to be careful about bringing anything into the house that could be a big source of frustration. I'm probably over thinking it and the kids wouldn't even notice it :) Thanks so much for your response--it makes a lot of sense and is very helpful!
I have front loaders , that I stacked & I LOVE them! I've had mine a little over 2 years & have never had a problem with smell. Have never had to leave the door open.
The front loaders use a lot less water and in my opinion clean better. You cannot defy gravity. So the clothes are going to settle to the bottom of a top loader as is the water. With the tumbling of a front loader the clothes move in and out of the water cleaning more evenly.
I find mine fascinating, it weighs the clothes and then adds the correct amount of water. :)
Not sure why you are afraid to leave the door open. The stories of kids trapped and killed are not true. I can shut mine down and open the door within two seconds at any point in the cycle. It drains the water to the bottom and unlocks the door. It is not like they didn't think of safety when designing them.
Oh if you are thinking of those idiots on youtube that thought it would be funny to put the baby in the washer, they didn't know how the machine works, ya know? I mean come on, they were stupid enough to put a baby in the washer!!
Anyway, mine are up on pedestals anyway cause I am old and I don't like bending over. You would have to be at least three before you could manage to get in it. I would think a three year old would know better.
If you get the front loader and the pedestal it makes for a lot of useful storage space in the drawers under the pedestal. I also find it much easier on my back. I love mine. People tend to keep a washer and dryer for about 20 years (at least the people I know do). So you might be looking at two weeks of the kids playing with the door (before the novelty wears off) vs 20 years of putting up with a top loader.
If you get a front loader and leave the door open teach your children not to touch it. Also helpful hint from lesson learned...check for crayons,markerd and play dough before loading.
I don't like my new front loader washing machine. I hate that I have to leave the door open to air it out. It annoys me that I have to buy detergent to clean the washer once a month. I also don't like that it is energy efficient to save water. I want to use lots of water to clean my clothes:). I end up doing a prewash and an extra rinse and it takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes per load! Ugh! I want my top loader back.
Ladies you DO NOT need to leave your front loader HE washing machine door open. I have had top loaders that stunk to high heaven no matter how often you cleaned it out, left top open etc. The front loader I've had for almost 5 years does not smell, can wash my daughters body pillows, duvet covers, enough towels, wash cloths and hand towels for a family of 5 for a week. My two DILs also bought a different brands of front loader, they also have no smell, do not leave the door open one has a one year old and the other washes for 2 boys that play football.
Use the correct amount of laundry products most people are use to having to use extra detergent to get clothing clean not necessary with newer HE front loaders. The one thing I do and my DIL also does is run the washer on the hottest setting with a third of a cup of bleach(I do it once a month after I wash all the bath rugs and scatter rugs-my DIL does it when she can about every 2-3 months) Wipe the inside of the door and gasket at the same time-had to wipe my top loader around the edge every time. Just let you know been doing laundry for over 50 years and have owned or used at least 15 washers over the years including a front loader we bought in the 70's. As far as the kids go we have never had a problem with them playing with the washer but the newer models have lock out features like the dishwasher features. I'll get off my soap box now happy wash day ladies.
I have a 10 yr old Maytag front looad HE and it has been a good washer. It is on its last legs now and I am in the market for another machine and I WILL NOT purchase Maytag due to the poor experience I had with top of the line Maytag fridge and dishwasher.
This washer has not caused me any trouble. If I have anything nevgative to say about it, it would be that if you forget to throw something in the wash, it is too late because the door locks and you can't open up and throw something in quickly like you can with a top load.
I am on the fence of a top load or front load HE. I do a LOT of laundry and my bedding is a big chore as well.
@Kristin C... what is the make and model of the top load you have now and love? Sounds like a great machine, especially because it is big.
We lived in London for a few years and at the time my kids were 5mos and 3.5yrs until 3.5 yrs and 6.5 yrs old. We had a front loader that was in the kitchen under the counter, so at child height. I never had an issue with them playing with it. One time another little boy was over and he opened it mid-cycle and water got on the floor. When we moved back to the US I got a front loader, I have an LG model and it locks as soon as you start it so unless you push pause and it unlocks then you can't just open it. Mine now is on a pedastal so it's a little higher. But the thing I love is I CAN ask the kids to help. My now 6.5 yr old son loves taking the stuff out of the wash and putting it in the dryer. If I had top loaders he wouldn't be able to reach.
I switched to a front loader and hated it. We moved and the buyers wanted to buy our washer/dryer so I sold and switched back to ge profile Harmony. I like it so much better.
I bought a new washer and dryer two years ago and, after doing a lot of research decided to get the top loader. For tbe front loaders, I read too many user comments about the odor and needing to leave the door open. My laundry room isn't big enough for that. I bought Maytag top loading HE and have been very happy with it and it is huge!
I love both types. My current washer is a HE top loader. There's no center agitator, so it's MASSIVE - easily the largest washer I've ever had. I can wash my king sized sheets, pillow cases, duvet AND duvet cover (we're talking huge amounts of bedding here) in one load - the directions on the duvet cover actually say "take to a commercial washer", but nope, it fits just fine in my enormous washer. But if I want to do a small load, the machine weighs it, senses it and only uses the right amount of water for that load. So, yeah, with the amount of laundry I do, I LOVE this washer.
In the past, I've had HE front-loaders. I loved them, too. I never had an issue with odors or anything like that. They worked great and I have absolutely no complaints.
But this time around, I wanted, quite simply, the largest washer I could find that was still a great washer. And that turned out to be the HE top loader that I ended up purchasing.
