There are three types of Washing Machines available at Winning Appliances: the Front Loader, the Top Loader and the Washer Dryer Combo.
Each has their own advantages, depending on your circumstances. In this Buyer’s Guide, we’ll run through the varieties on offer to help you determine your new best friend in the laundry.
Front-Loaders | Top-Loaders | Washer/Dryer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Very affordable. Heavy duty options are also available at a higher price. | Cheapest option in many cases. | Need to spend a little more for the best washer/dryers. |
| Performance | Most efficient and powerfully effective. | Good efficiency and performance. | Can be compromised on washing and drying effectiveness. |
| Clothes Care | Offers the best clothes care. | Good but clothes can get wrapped around central agitator. | Excellent on more expensive models. |
| Primary advantage(s) | Performance/efficiency/clothes care. | Easier to load and add/remove clothes mid-cycle. | All-in-one solution that’s ideal for small laundries & apartments. |
Front Load Washing Machines
Front loaders have a host of advantages that make them an increasingly popular choice in modern domestic laundries. There’s also a reason why commercial laundries use front loaders: they are a dynamic and powerful option able to handle big laundry loads with ease.
Here are the multiple advantages of these outstanding products:
1. Efficiency
As a general rule, front load washing machines use much less water and energy to run.
Now while the most outstanding front loaders may cost you a little more, the long-terms savings to be enjoyed on an efficient washer (a particular appliance which, of course, you’ll be required to use very regularly) will make that investment worth it.
2. Clothes care
Front loading machines work by turning your clothes over in a tumbling action that is simultaneously cleansing, gentle and efficient.
Manufacturers have also enhanced this clothes care with advances in features such as drum design. Miele’s “Honeycomb” drum, for example, is designed to create a thin cushion of water that protects delicate fabrics perfectly.
They are considered superior in this respect to Top Load Washing Machines. Top Loaders often use an agitator - the plastic column at the centre of the tub, to spin clothes through wash cycles - around which your clothes can become tangled, snagged or stretched.
True, some top loaders do away with the agitator altogether, however this invariably compromises the efficiency of your machine.
3. Compact and convenient
Front loaders are good for laundries that are short on space (particularly apartments). Not only are they compact but, with the front-opening door, they can be fit under benches. You also have the option installing them in a stacking arrangement with a clothes dryer on top.
4. Higher spin speeds
Front loaders provide higher spin speeds - and are therefore able to extract more water from clothes during the cycle. That ultimately means a saving, either on the time your clothes need to spend line-drying ... or on the money you pay operating your dryer!
5. Less detergent is needed
Since front loaders use less water, less detergent is therefore required - you can adjust the amount you put in, depending on how soiled your clothes are.
At the forefront of Front Loading
We have a number of outstanding Front Loader Washing Machines at Winning Appliances, including the Miele 8kg Front Load Washing Machine WKB130. Boasting an excellent 4.5 star WELS rating, it features Miele’s patent honeycomb drum to deliver a gentle, thorough wash.
Bosch, meanwhile, have produced this outstanding 8kg Front Load Washing Machine WAW28460AU which matches a large capacity to sophisticated capabilities, including Bosch’s ActiveWater Plus water management system, which is able to add the perfect amount (no more, no less) to ensure an excellent wash.
Lastly, the Siemens 8kg Front Load Washing Machine WM14W440AU delivers a superb 5 star water rating - and if you’re in a hurry, the SpeedPerfect function is able to deliver a brilliant wash in 50% of the time.
Top Loading Washing Machines
Top Loading Washing Machines are the original domestic clothes-washing appliance and still a firm favourite for a number of reasons. Despite the increasing popularity of Front Loading models, the Top Loading alternative is a reliable and effective option with definite advantages depending on your circumstances.
Here are some good reasons that Top Loaders may still have a place in your laundry.
1. Easier to load
A prime reason for choosing a top loader: it can be much easier if you don’t have to stoop down to load your washer. If you have back problems, this is a great option.
2. Wash cycles are shorter
Top loaders, as a rule, have quicker wash times than front loaders - the average wash time is about between one and one-and-a-half hours, while front loaders can take anywhere between one to three hours.
That said, many front load washers feature a “fast program” - designed to deliver an effective and powerful wash in a fraction of the time (while, it must be said, greatly increasing energy and water usage.)
3. Add/remove items mid-cycle
While some front loading machines can be paused mid-cycle, it’s much easier to add or remove items from a top loader, once started. Hear some loose change or even - gasp - your mobile phone rolling around in the wash? No problem - just lift the lid and remove the offending items.
4. Cost
As a general rule, top loading washers will be cheaper than their front loading equivalents. Of course, this should be balanced against the savings you will make in the long run with front loaders, because of their greater water and energy efficiency.
5. Weight
Top loaders are often lighter than front loaders, making them easier to move about - although, this can also mean a compromise on sturdiness.
Top of the Top Loaders
This Fisher & Paykel 8.5kg Top Load Washing Machine WA8560G1 is a superb example of this brand’s approach to quality appliances, delivering short cycle times and a 1000rpm spin speed.
Meanwhile, the Speed Queen Top Load Washing Machine AWNA62 delivers a commercial grade performance, with a 92 litre stainless steel tub, heavy-duty all-metal Eversmooth transmission and full-metal base for stability and noise suppression.
Lastly, the 8.5kg FabricSmart Top Load Washing Machine WA8560P1 from Fisher & Paykel is one of the most efficient of its kind on the market, with the Eco-Active Wash proven to boost soil removal, kill bacteria and offer considerable energy savings.
Washer/Dryer Combos
Washer/Dryer Combos combine the benefits of a front-load washer with a condenser dryer. In theory, these products give you the chance to achieve freshly washed and dried clothes from the one appliance.
That said, it is often the case that they take a long time to wash your clothes, then use a lot of power trying to dry them. We should also note that the drying capacities are usually far lower than the washing capacities, so you’ll have to remove clothes before beginning your drying cycle.
As a rule, most people still prefer to use separate washer and dryers, particularly if they’re looking to get through large wash loads frequently.
Technology is improving, however, and if you are extremely short of room and have a little more money to spend, then a washer/dryer combo may be a good option.
Here are a few outstanding examples from Winning Appliances:
The AEG 9kg ProTex Series 9 Front Load Washer Dryer Combo L99699HWD is able to deliver best in class efficiency, reducing running costs without compromising on results.
This 8kg Washer 4kg Dryer Combo WVH28490AU is manufactured with Bosch’s typical quality, featuring an EcoSilence Drive motor and AntiVibration Design providing stable and durable performance.
Lastly, the Samsung 7.5kg Washer 4kg Dryer Combo WD75J5410AW offers innovative and reliable performance thanks to features such as EcoBubble technology, backed by the superior performance of the Digital Inverter Motor.
For more information on any of these outstanding products, please contact one of our Product Experts or visit your nearest Winning Appliances store.
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