Front Load Washers

The front load washer works without an agitator and is used in many Laundromats. It uses less water, does larger loads and saves energy as well as time by having to do less loads of laundry.

Advantages

•    Because there is no agitator to deal with, you can gain up to 30% more room, making it easier to wash things like rugs and bedspreads or even sleeping bags. The front loader will spin much faster than agitator-type washers. This reduces the drying time because the clothes come out of the washer drier to begin with, thus saving energy. Clothes will last longer because there is no agitator. The lack of an agitator means that the wash cycle is much gentler.

•    The front loader is quieter – all you will really hear is the spin cycle. It also cleans much better. Because the washer opens from the front, some models can be stacked to save space. The front load washer uses half as much water as a top loader and 68% less electricity. It also uses less detergent.

•    Front load washers work great in a finished kitchen setting. They will easily fit under a countertop. They are also great for small homes or apartments because of space limitations and the fact that they can be stacked..

•    Many front loaders can be stopped during the wash cycle if you need to add extra items to the wash or to remove items. This is possible because the water level is kept low and below the door level. 

•    It is easier to load or unload laundry from the machine due to the level of the door and not having to stoop.

Tips for Proper and Safe Usage

•    It is important to use the proper detergent on a front loading machine.  A low suds detergent works best (this is also sometimes referred to as “he” or high efficiency).  This detergent can be found where regular laundry detergent is sold – just look for the “he” symbol.  The use of regular detergent will make for excess suds and excess suds are not really necessary to clean the wash load.  Also, because the water level is so low, it would use less detergent than a top loader would.  The washer works best when you are using hot or warm water for the wash and cold water for the rinse.

•    It is best not to leave wet clothes in the washer over night. This can cause an odor.  Leaving the door cracked slightly will allow the washer to dry out and again, prevent an odor. For safety's sake, do not leave the door cracked any longer than necessary when small children are present. An hour or two of leaving the door ajar is normally sufficient time for the washer to dry out completely.