Washing Machines

There are two types of modern washing machines that are in use today, namely the top loader and the front loader washing machines. Top loading washing machines (also described as a V-axis clothes washer) are mostly popular in countries such as Latin America, Canada, Australia and the United States. Front loading washing machines have mostly maintained popularity in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and African countries.

The top loader washing machine allows for clothes to be placed into the machine from the top into a vertically-mounted basket. Top loaders are more complex than front loaders where mechanics are concerned because they incorporate a gearbox and other mechanisms which operate the agitator.

The washing machine’s basket is perforated with a propeller-like agitator at the bottom and contained in a water-retaining drum. When the machine is turned on, the drum containing the basket is filled with water, which then flows into the basket and allows the clothes to be suspended. The agitator begins to rotate and this action pulls the clothes downward in the centre of the basket and pushes them up again along the sides of the basket. The process repeats and the friction it creates allows the clothes to become clean.

The front loader washing machine (also described as an H-axis clothes washer) has the outer drum and the inner basket mounted horizontally and the clothes are loaded into the machine via a door in the front, which often contains a window into the basket. The front loader doesn’t use an agitator such as the top loader and is therefore mechanically less complex.

When the machine is turned on, the basket rotates back and forth allowing clothes to be lifted up by paddles inside the basket and then dropped again. Front loaders are more economic when it comes to water saving because they don’t require the clothes to be suspended in water and only enough water is needed to keep the fabric wet. Because of this they also use less soap and the rotation action of the basket causes the soap to foam more aggressively.

Front loaders fill the drum to a specific low water level. Depending on the amount of fabric in the machine, the water can get soaked up quicker, but the machine will keep refilling the drum with water to maintain the same water level. The washing cycle is typically started with front loaders tumbling the clothing under the influx of water that is filling the drum in order to saturate them quickly.

Overall, though top loaders have faster washing times, front loaders are more economic, saving on water, energy and detergent. In Europe, front loaders have 90% of the market share while top loaders only have 10% of the market share. In the US, 65% of consumers use top loaders, while 35% of consumers use front loaders. Front loaders are typically smaller than top loaders and allow for more efficient placing in kitchens and utility rooms. Ultimately, you have to buy the washing machine that best suits your pocket and your needs.