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Washing at Home | Drying at Home | Washers | Dryers
Laundry Care Products | Dry Cleaning | Ironing | Laundromat
 Residential Washing Machines - Top Loaders
The Old Standard
For people who haven't used the big Laundromat machines, top loaders may be the only washing machines they are familiar with. These machines aren't as environmentally friendly as front loading machines, but they get clothes clean.
 Understanding the Settings
The machine's setting options are the first feature to attend to. They are there for many reasons and determine all the variables that make the difference between ruined clothes and spotless laundry. Cycle lengths are determined by the principal dial: the timer. The descriptions on this knob, or series of buttons often lists the appropriate articles for a particular cycle e.g., delicates for a short run, heavy clothes for a long one.
The other dials or buttons determine water level, water temperature, and intensity of spinning cycles. To a novice, these may appear to be merely details, but as a user observes the conditions of particular laundry articles over time, it becomes self evident that some wear and tear can be avoided. When work clothes are not coming clean, sweaters have shrunk up a size or two, or lingerie is tearing and you've sorted categories correctly, check the settings.
 Pre Soaking with a Top Loader
For top loading machines, powder or liquid can be added as water begins to fill the tub. If the tub fills 1/8 to ¼ full and is shut off, this concentrated solution is a great soak for particularly grimy items like athletic uniforms or work socks. Another trick is for the initial water to be relatively hot, and after soaking, resume filling with water set to the desired temperature for the whole load.
 Lint and Pocket Contents
To ensure optimum performance, use the lint trap if the machine is designed with one. They catch lots of fuzz, say nothing about scraps of paper, books of matches, pine needles, and leaves.
 The Hazards of Overloading
Don't over load the machine; this is really crucial. Water, motion and detergent are what clean clothes, so stuffing the machine jams up the flow. The agitator in the center of the machine pivots about a ¾ revolution, which pushes clothes on the top towards the bottom of the tub as they swish back and forth. Overloading prevents articles from coming clean because there isn't much room to move, and it also adds unnecessary wear ant tear to the machine's belts and motors.
Overview of how top loaders work: http://www.repairclinic.com/0088_11_3.asp
Residential Washing Machines - Front Loaders
New and Improved!
The best kept secret in the laundry world is the availability of residential use front loading washing machines. Commercial Laundromats have used these machines to their best advantage for years, but only recently have their attributes been applied to home use.
 Environmentally Friendly
Top loading clothes washers have always been the norm for domestic use, but economic and environmental issues are highlighting different features these days. On average, front loaders use 40 to 50 percent less water and 50 to 65 percent less electricity than top loading machines. These are big numbers that can make a significant difference over a year or two.
How They Work
The basic reason for the dramatic resource usage between the two systems has to do with vertical versus horizontal washing action. Top loaders swish clothes around an agitator in the center of the tub, so there has to be enough water to cover everything. Front loaders tumble clothes in and out of water with the same action used in clothes dryers, so in this system the tub doesn't fill completely with water. Gravity also works in favor of a front loader because the spin cycles wring more water from a load, shortening time and energy needed to dry clothes, whether on the line or in a clothes dryer.
Use Less Detergent
Because less water is involved in cleaning clothes, less detergent is needed. This is especially important to stay on top of because most laundry soap is super concentrated these days. (Click here for more info)
Check it Out
There are significant advantages to using front-loading machines instead of top loading ones, but according to Consumer Report "top-loading washing machines still account for about 90% of models sold in the U.S. "This may be due to consumer's unfamiliarity with the operation of front loading machines. However, the benefits so outweigh the annoyance of changing to a new procedure, it's worth finding a friend or neighbor who already uses one and asking her or him to offer a test run and chat about their own experience with the switch. Possibly the only reason to stay with a top loading machine would be for the convenience of folks who have difficulty bending down to put in and take out a load of wash.
 The Wave of the Future
At this point, the purchase price of a front-loading machine is greater than that of most top-loaders, but just like cell phones and microwave ovens, prices will fall as more are sold. However, up front price is only one economic consideration. Front loading machines lessen considerably the amount of electricity needed for optimal household efficiency, as well as our impact on quality and quantity of available fresh water, and stress on septic or sewer systems. When these economic and environmental considerations for electricity and water are factored in, the costs balance out pretty quickly for an average American household
 Buying a Washing Machine
The apt tagline under the Energy Star usually reads "Money Isn't All You're Saving". Discovering the water and energy efficiency of washing machines on the market is easy these days because the EPA and Department of Energy have teamed up to rate machines with the Energy Star. This efficiency rating also translates into financial rewards beyond water and energy savings because sometimes a less expensive machine has a higher Energy Star rating.
400 Loads on Average
Manufacturers producing superior designs earn the best ratings in this voluntary labeling program. Since 400 loads of laundry are washed annually in a typical household, the water savings between a conventional machine that uses about 40 gallons per load, and a full sized Energy Star, which uses 18-25 gallons per load could save 7,000 or more gallons of water a year!
 Look for This Sticker
Each machine is affixed with a large yellow sticker that includes an energy guide indicating that particular model's kilowatt per year usage based on standard US government tests. The Federal Trade Commission label also designates estimated costs for heating water with gas or electric.
Built to Last
Buying a new washing machine is a major purchase for most households, so dedicating a little time for fact-finding can pay off in numerous ways for years to come.
The Energy Star web site sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Energy that provides detailed information about Front-Loading and Top-Loading clothes washing machines. http://www.energystar.gov/products/clotheswashers/
Savings calculator to determine water, energy, and money savings based on local utility rates and daily usage: http://www.energystar.gov/products/clotheswashers/calculator.asp
More information on the Energy Guide label: http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/consumer_information/energyguide.html
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