Burning Question: It’s A Wash?
When it comes to your dream laundry scenario, do you prefer sleek front loaders for the countertop space that they provide or the stackable option that they afford? Or would you rather have one of those new larger high-tech top-loading washer and dryers? What about a steam washer? Or a set that comes in bright red or robin’s egg blue?
We’re itching to hear where you stand on the issue. In fact, we whipped up this handy little poll to keep everything tabulated:
[poll id="14"]
We’d love to hear more about why you voted the way you did, so feel free to comment away with more details.
Image courtesy of Hampton Design.
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I voted for front-loaders because I like to install a counter top over the set. However, I do have a bad back, like so many others, and it’s not easy on the back to bend down for many of our home appliances, i.e. washer/dryer, dishwasher, oven, fridge freezer or bottom drawers in the fridge.
We have a front loader and we bought it when they were really becoming “trendy”. Now I wish I’d done the top loader because I’ve learned some mistakes the hard way. #1 if you put non-HE detergent in your front loader it will leave a mildew/mold residue that WILL NOT go away! Also, they spin the clothe so hard that many of my bras/spaghetti strap tanks have broken. The tight spinning also makes the clothes really wrinkled. All that to say, my next machine will be a top loader!
Hey guys! I love your blog and had a few random questions but didn’t know where to ask them but here…:)
Sherry when did you become a full-time blogger? when did you guys decide to stick to a post schedule? for example two posts per day and i have noticed on tuesday you tend to blog about your current big project.
Hey Elizabeth,
This post (along with the comments) and this post (along with the comments) should help to explain how our blog baby has grown. And as for the post schedule, it just sort of evolved. We used to just write one post a day but we upped it to two a while back and have happily been able to sustain that pace. Our advice to other bloggers is always to try a few things out, go with your gut, and do what works best and feels the most natural for you!
xo,
s
I love my front loaders. They are so much more efficient than my old washer and dryer. While I would love to have them in a snazzy colour, they are tucked away in a very small laundry room and I prefer to spend my decor dollars on my more important priorities!!
I would love a front loading washer to have more cabinet space. Actually, I would love any washer/dryer set that was newer than 1985 and came in a laundry room instead of a closet..ah the joys of apartment life!
I used to have a top-loading washer (15 yrs) and currently have had a front loader for 2 yrs now and have found things that I like and dislike about both. I like the energy/water saving aspect of the front loader but can’t say that I have actually seen any difference in our bills. I like the counterspace over the top of the front loader and I like the fact that it does not get off-balance like a top-loader can.
Things I prefer about the top-loader are: I found it easier to actually load and unload the top loader. I sort my laundry into different hampers and I used to be able to just “dump” the hamper in the top. Now with a front loader I have to squat down or bend over and handle all the laundry again to get it in the front. Also the top-loader seemed better to me at removing things such as grass clippings or pet hair. The old machine had a seive-like tray that it filtered the water thru several times during wasing and removed the larger particles from the laundry. My front loader seems to just aggitate the particles around with the laundry and so I can never really get the pet hair off blankets and such. The pet hair issue is probably the biggest complaint I have with my front loader. There is also the issue that you can’t throw something in the washer once the cycle starts.
I like my front loaders okay, but all-in-all, knowing what I do now, I probably would have just gotten a really good top-loader again instead of the more trendy and more expensive front loader. Especially as stacking was never a priority for me.
i was just staying at a friends house and did several loads of laundry in her front loader, i will keep my old top loader forever! did not like it at all. ours are nothing special but i think they work as good as any fancy thing!
I have front loaders that we splurged on a few months ago – and I ADORE them! They are the best! Save so much on water, and they clean like a dream! LG Front Loaders are the best!
We had front loaders for a very short time. I had to get rid of them…
I found that they didn’t wash cloth diapers very well due to their “water saving” quality. The diapers didn’t smell as fresh as they did with the top loaders.
Also, I like the fact that, with my top loader, I can open it and pop in an extra item if needed.
Fortunately, my mother in law had a fairly new set of top loaders, and she was gracious enough to trade.
And I talked to my Maytag man and he said that, if you do a lot of laundry, front loaders won’t last as long. The axel has to work too hard on its side.
I’m curious…you guys have front loaders, right? How do you feel about how it cleans your diapers?
Hey Heather,
We don’t anticipate any problems since a family member of ours has the same Whirlpool washer and dryer and also is a cloth diaper user. Clara isn’t big enough for ours yet so we haven’t gotten to take them for a spin (or a wash) just yet… but we can’t wait!
xo,
s
In our last house we had expensive Bosch front loaders and HATED them, smelly mildew in the washer and they took forever to wash and dry. The slightest thing would cause the washer to stop due to being “off balance”. Now in our new house we have very traditional older washer & dryer and the only thing I miss is the ability to have a counter above the front-loader. I’m not sure I have the guts to try them again, but maybe a different brand would be better.
I have a front loader and love it, but let me preface it by saying that i do dearly miss my “soaking” option with the traditional top loading machines.
ps – we used bumGenius exclusively for over two years and our GE front loader washed them like a champ!
We have front loaders. Our tiny laundry room is also my darkroom so front loaders were the only way we could accommodate my darkroom sink (it is above the washer&dryer and also doubles as a laundry folding area.)
I did have a little bit of the mildew smell at the beginning, but we switched detergents & now add vinegar to the rinse and that solved the problem, along with keeping the door ajar.
Now that I’m nearly 8 months pregnant I don’t love bending over to put things in, but that is a temporary discomfort. We’ll be using cloth diapers and I’m planning on doing a cold rinse and then wash on hot with an extra rinse – from some forums I’ve read that sounds like a wash routine that works well for many people. We’ll see how it goes!
I prefer front loaders for their performance, and, to save money over having a counter installed, I love the new work surfaces they have come up with to place on top of the washer/dryer (whirlpool makes a great surface).
I’m so tired of my top loader. I’ve had so many clothes ruined from getting wrapped around the spinner :-/
My wife and I are on our 5th washing machine in 3 years. Through these trials and tribulations I have learned that an analog dial top load washing machine gets the job done best, is least likely to break, and the cheapest to repair when it does. Also don’t wire a 220 line to a 110 outlet like the crazy old man that owned the house before my wife.
We randomly got a coupon from Best Buy for a Samsung Steam frontloading washer and dryer for 50% off!!!! We couldn’t pass it up- plus we’d been wanting to get stackables to save space- we LOVE them! They are so quiet, energy efficient and I can use the steam/wrinkle reducing setting and don’t even have to iron my work pants!! They’re amazing!!!!