Conscious Choice: Front-Loading Washers

May 2000 | Sensible Home

Front-Loading Washers

by James Dulley

Dear Jim: I need a new clothes washer. I have heard about quiet, efficient front-loader models, but since they use less water, I worry about allergies from ineffective rinsing. Do they really wash and rinse well? — Peg J.

Dear Peg: Front-loading washers (horizontal axis) are superior in most ways to top-loading ones that are most popular in the U.S. In Europe and most of the world, efficient front-loaders are predominantly used. Front-loaders typically are designed with very high-quality materials for a longer life.

A front-loader design allows the washer and dryer to be stacked on top of one another to save floor space. Also, the ease of access to a front-loader for the physically impaired is a serious consideration for our aging population.

By design, front-loaders wash more effectively than top-loaders. By using less water, less detergent, and less energy to heat the water, the annual savings of operating a front-loader can be as much as $100. Also, the gentle washing action minimizes damage and fading of your clothes.

Instead of filling a tub with water and using a plastic agitator to move the water, a front-loader uses gravity. As the tub spins on a horizontal axis, the clothes gently tumble through the sudsy water. An automatic sensor determines the proper water level for the size of the load.

As the tub is only partially filled with water, the clothes actually fall through the air from the top of the tub as it spins. This allows them to fan out before they reach the water and swish through it again. There is very little clumping of clothes, which allows for more thorough cleaning.

Many of the models have built-in adjustable water heater elements that can raise the wash water to as high as 200 degrees. This improves cleaning and is ideal for washing children’s clothes. The hotter temperatures can also kill the bacteria and viruses that are so common during cold and flu seasons.

With a horizontal axis and no agitator, a front-loader spins several times faster (up to 1,600 rpm) than a top-loader. This improves rinsing. An electronic brain senses if the load is unbalanced. If so, the tub automatically stops, rotates back and forth to even it out the weight, and spins again.

For effective rinsing, some models use a suds sensor. If too much soap is present, it automatically runs additional rinse cycles until the water is clear. You can also select models with manual settings of up to seven rinses.

Combination space-saving front-loader washer/dryers do both the washing and drying in the same unit from start to finish. You put in the dirty clothes and take out clean dry clothes. Portable models are available on casters that have small built-in water heaters so only cold water is needed.

Write for (or instantly download) Update Bulletin No. 866, buyer’s guide of twelve front-loader and combination washer/dryers, capacities, speeds, cycles, and features. Please include $3 and a business-size SASE. James Dulley, Conscious Choice, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244

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