Front-load washers are generally considered to be better at cleaning clothing than top-load washers, and with less wear and tear. Front-load washers also use less water than standard top-load washers
The best front-load washers in Consumer Reports’ tests deliver excellent cleaning as well as superb water and energy efficiency, outperforming the best top-load washers in our tests.
But in recent years, sales of front-loaders have declined. Only 27 percent of washers shipped to stores in 2019 were front-loaders, down from 38 percent in 2009, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.
There are certainly similarities between top-loading and front-loading washers. Both use a stainless steel inner drum as well as an outer washtub, a motor, control system, drain pump, and rotational spinning to remove water from the clothes; and there the similarities end.
Front-load washers work by filling the bottom of the inner tub with a small amount of water and using the rotation of the tub and gravity to move the clothes through the water. The rotation action is similar to the tumbling action found in a clothes dryer. The side paddles on the inside drum lift the clothes and move them in and out of the water. This provides the mechanical action (scrubbing) needed to remove soil from fabric.
This type of mechanical wash action does not require that the clothes be surrounded by water at all times, which is why front load washers use so much less water than a standard top loader. And, of course, with less water, you should use less detergent and one formulated to produce less foaming and fewer bubbles to prevent over-sudsing and residue left in clothes.
Water Usage
Front load washers cut water use by about 50 percent. A standard top-loading washer uses about 26 gallons of water for each full load. A full-size front load washer uses only around 13 gallons. For the average household, that means saving thousands of gallons of water a year. That also translates into energy savings and reduced expenses for operation.1
Front-load washers always fill at the same low water level during the wash cycle no matter how many clothes are loaded into the washer. If the load is larger and absorbs much of the wash water, causing the level to drop, more water is added to maintain the pre-set water level. The water on most models is added to the drum during the tumbling action of the clothes to rapidly saturate the clothes so that less additional water must be added.
Components
The internal components of a front load washer are more simple than a top load washer. The motor is most often connected to the drum by a pulley belt and wheel. There are no gears or a clutch like a top load washer. The machine has a flexible bellows system (usually rubber) to keep the clothes, and the water, inside the drum during the cycles. It is essential to keep this system in top working order or small items can slip between the inner basket and tub causing clogs in the drainage system or jamming the rotational motion of the inner basket. Because it is flexible and usually has many folds that flex while the washer is in use, the bellows can also trap water and cause odors from mildew or mold to form. Regular cleaning and maintenance of a front load washer is a must.
While some models will allow you to open the door during a cycle to add extra clothes, the door latch/lock system must perform flawlessly to prevent leaks and accidents.
While the mechanical internal components are more simple, the electronic control system is not. Today’s front loaders do not offer a simple dial control to select the cycles according to load size and soil level. The electronics are controlled by minicomputer components and are built so that the entire unit must be replaced if one component fails.
If you are handy, many repairs can be done yourself like clearing a clog in the drain or blockage of the water pump. If you need a user or repair manual for a front load washer, most are available online.
