Washer and moving to new house- Another Question 4-3-23?

Get a top load. You can’t soak/add clothes in a front load. I’m so glad I went back to a top after having a front for many years!

I purchased a front loader about 5 years ago, and could not get rid of it fast enough, 6 months later. The #1 purchase I regret in my adult life.

I was very much anti-front loaders up until I bought one a couple of years ago. I love my new front loader.

My main complaint about front loaders (not that I'd had one since the one we had when I was a kid) is that you couldn't just open it to put in extra items once it was going. But honestly, it's really not that hard to make sure you have all the dirty washing in the machine before you start, and if you do miss something, then put it in the next load. 🤷‍♀️ 

You can actually open a front loader after you've started it, up to a certain point in the cycle.

 
Yes you can. Not that I ever soak clothes in the washing machine, even when I had a top loader. I always soak in the laundry sink.


I've never noticed a smell from my machine.


My front loader has so many more functions than my top loader did. Then again, it was a lot more expensive. Not because front loaders are more expensive, but because my top loader was a basic model.

Really research top loaders if you go that direction. They don’t all have agitators and if you’re short you may not be able to reach the bottom. I am 5 2” and have that struggle.

I use tongs. I am just a bit taller then you. I keep the tongs next to the detergent. Works great.

I prefer top loaders but most do not have agitators now days.  Mine (a Kenmore)I can easily reach and unload the clothes and seems to have a wider drum (or what ever it is called). My friend has one that I can not reach the bottom and would need something to stand on, but the drum/basket part is narrower and deeper.  

It you can check them out in person that is the way to go.  I also went from one having an agitator to one without and it seems like it takes much longer for my new one to wash a load on the normal setting.  I also was only looking for one with basic functions because that is all I use, so it definitely is not the high end and I am sure does not  have all the bells and whistles.

ETA - I am sure that then length of the cycle on the new one is longer because of the energy and water efficiencies.

The other change from my old top loader to my new one where I preferred the old…I use to start the washer and then when there was a little water built up I would put in the detergent and then load the clothes while it continued to fill.  You can no longer do that.  I have to put in the detergent, put in the clothes, and then start the cycle.  I always felt putting in the detergent while there was water in it dispersed the detergent more evenly.  Now I think is senses how much water to use depending on the size of your load, so you just Putin the detergent and then dump in the clothes and then start the cycle.  I have gotten use to that though.

I have a top loader. Our last one didn't have an agitator. Our new one does.

Front loader. I love my LG. I’m short (5’1”) and can not reach anywhere near the bottom of a large capacity top loader. I went to multiple stores and tried to reach into different size capacities in different makes and models. I needed a large capacity because we have queen and king size beds. The comforters and heavy winter blankets are very large. One of my biggest concerns (and I was correct), was how I was going to get those wet blankets out of the top load washer and into the top load dryer. Large blankets and comforters when they are wet weigh too much for me to be able to move them from top load washer to the dryer. (This is especially true if you don’t use the highest spin mode.) Maybe I’m just old and weak. Ha.

This is my third set of front loading machines and my best set ever. I leave the washer door stand open when not in use and have had zero problems with odor.

ETA - My LG has the ability to add clothes at any time. There is a delayed unlock that you have to wait for while the drum stops spinning. My model has a lot of settings, one that includes delayed start and a soaking option. 

I also love that mine has an app that lets me know where the washer and dryer are in their cycles and how much time is left and when it is done. I also get reminders to clean the washer trap and dryer lint filter. I can also check my washer and dryer usage patterns. Right now my washer has four minutes left in the cycle. I’ll get an alert when it’s completed.  This is especially handy because I have a two-story house with a basement. I always know when the washer load is done so I can get it into the dryer. Also when the dryer is done I immediately unload it.  No more for getting wet clothes and leaving them in the washer and no more wrinkled clothes because I can get everything unloaded in a timely manner.

Top loader all the way.

You can go the route of a speed queen which is a top rated washer and I believe they still have some that have agitators or get a top buy from consumer reports.

Ds is 5'4" now but even when he was 5'1" he was easily able to bend over the washer I have and get to the bottom.

I actually prefer non agitator as the clothes seem to last longer as they don't get as roughed up.

It is also easier to was bigger items or do larger loads.

I've also had front loaders since 2002, and I am not sure I would go back to the top load. My current set is from 2007 (we moved in 2006 and left the w/d at that house, but then purchased a new set when we built out house in 2007).

The only thing I regret about mine is that I purhased the drawers they they sit on, so they are taller, and I cannot use the top as a counter. But my current laundry room gets dusty so I am not sure I would fold clothes there anyway. Mine has a soak option but I've never used it. I have a laundry sink tho too. It also has options for extra rinse/spin cycles, and I've used those on bulky things like blankets or coats.

I have a front load and yes, you can add clothes to it.

Get what you like.

Having said that, when I bought a new washer (maybe about 7 years ago?) I wanted a top loader and ended up with a front loader due to a lot of factors beyond my control. I have had no problem at all with odor, and I am able to soak things or to add mid-load through a door-in-door. I would love if we could put it on a pedestal to make it easier to load/unload, but I just bend over and haul stuff directly from the front load washer into the front load dryer, and it's not so awful. Also, I'm short so top loaders are sometimes a pain.

But if you just don't like a front loader, then don't get one. I think they've made so many improvements in general that you can find good choices in both styles.