Are you thinking about replacing your washer? Do your clothes not come out as clean as they used to? No matter the reason, we’ll help guide you to find the washer upgrade that you need.

What is the Difference Between Top-Load and Front-Load Washers?

In a nutshell, top-load washers feature a top lid and a center agitator to wash clothes while a front-load washer has a front-facing door and uses an impeller mechanism to move clothes through a cycle.

How Do Washers Work?

How your washer works and how much water your machine is using depends on the washer type you have:

• Top-loaders use either an agitator with attached propeller-like paddles or an impeller with connected disks at the bottom to move clothes from the top to the bottom to loosen up dirt, grime, and stains. Agitators have been known to be harder on clothes.
• Front-loaders use the force of gravity to rotate clothes through the water and around the drum. This system is gentler on your clothes while still providing that clean you need.

Do Washers Use A Lot of Water?

Water usage depends on whether the design is front- or top-load, and if you have a high-efficiency model.

To put it simply, if you’re worried about your utility bill, consider a front-load washer or high-efficiency top-load washer. Front loaders typically use around 7 gallons of water per load, with the least water-efficient models reaching around 13 gallons. High-efficiency top-loaders on the other hand, will use between 12-17 gallons of water per load.

And if you like the timeless top-load design, just keep in mind that the least water-efficient top-loaders consume around 25-26 gallons of water (improving on old-school models which use up to 40!). However, newer models have improved even more and use around 20 gallons per load (according to Consumer Reports).

What Capacity Do I Need to Fit a King Size Comforter?

Not looking forward to washing your bulky comforter? Don’t head to the laundromat just yet.

To fit a king size comforter, you need a minimum capacity of 4.5 cu. ft., while a 5.2 cu. ft. capacity fits your comforter and the sheets too. For queen size comforters, you need a 3.5 cu. ft. capacity minimum (minus the agitator).

And if you don’t have a bulky comforter to wash and only do laundry once or twice a week, standard 3.1 or 4.0 cu. ft. capacities let you wash 12-16 lbs. of laundry per load. But if the family laundry pile never goes down, consider a 4.2 or 5.0 cu. ft. capacity washer that does 20 lbs. of laundry per load.

Have more questions we didn’t cover, like how to load your washer or whether you can wash more than just dirty laundry? Or wondering how to prevent your clothes from fading or how to clean your washing machine? Consult our washer and dryer buying guide or give us a call—our team is always happy to help!