Let’s talk washing machines!

Washing machines, Clothes Washers or "That White Spinny thing" whatever you call it, we're here to help explain things to think about before your next purchase.

Front Load Washer vs Top Load Washer, what is the difference?

Asides from the obvious, one has a door in the front, the other on top there are some key factors to consider when purchasing a new washing machine. 

Front Load

Front loading washers clean your clothes using the drum to spin garments to the top of the machine and gravity to drop them back into the water. Most of these machines only require a cold tap as they have in built water heating, instead of using your home hot water system. Another benefit to using less water is needing less washing detergents to clean your laundry, saving you money on multiple fronts.

This type of washer also takes up less space in your laundry, making them ideal for units, townhouses and apartments. The door on the front means they can be fitted underneath a laundry bench, or have a vented dryer mounted on top. In a lot of brands it is now a thing of the past to need to leave the door open between loads to prevent mildew build up.

Generally speaking front loader washing machines are heavier and more expensive to purchase up front. HOWEVER overall they tend to have higher energy and water efficiency, more programs, higher temperature options and faster spin speeds for quicker drying.

Top Load

Top loading washers use a lot more water to fill up the drum to wash your clothes. However these machines have shorter wash cycles, in some cases as little as half an hour for a full load, whereas a front loader may take over 3 hours. Overall top load washing machines are lighter and quicker. Customers I speak with generally choose them for one of two reasons.

The first of which is the door is on top. Whilst this sounds obvious, if you struggle with mobility issues or have a really tight laundry where you don’t have the space to open a door outwards, this feature can be an absolute lifesaver. The second benefit that I often hear customers use as a reason to purchase a top loader is they can be opened at any point. Whereas front loaders can only be opened up until the first wash cycle. Which is great for those who often find extra laundry that needs to go in mid-cycle or have suddenly realised something very important is in a pocket after the load has started.

Generally speaking top loader washing machines use more water, have less washing programs and are less popular overall. HOWEVER they tend to cost less to purchase upfront, and can help people who struggle to get down low maintain their independence.

Size Matters

Once you have decided on whether a top loader or a front loader is the right fit for you it’s time to consider what size you are going to need. Capacity is generally chosen by how many people are in your household, but the measurements in your laundry and dimensions of the washing machine needs to be taken into account as well.

So you’ve decided on the type and capacity of the washer you will need, what’s next?

Budget, brand and b…., b…., um, features.

These are the next things that need to be considered, sometimes your budget will dictate what you can buy. Here at Newton’s Designer Appliances we have three quality brands with affordable prices; Westinghouse, Beko and Haier.  Whilst we cannot have every product of every brand on display we can also help you with; Fisher & Paykel, Electrolux, Asko, Bosch, AEG, LG and Miele to name a few. If you’ve ever joked about feeling like a laundromat we are also a retailer for Speed Queen, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Each brand has its own unique features, with some offering incentives to buy a matching tumble dryer at the same time. With so many options on the market it can be difficult to find the right match for you. Give us a call on (07) 3397 1161 or come see us at 445 Logan Road, Stones Corner for assistance.