When you are looking to buy a new integrated washing machine the majority of the time you are going to want to get a front loading machine to make sure it is accessible from the cupboard door that will be covering it when you don’t need to access it. However there are significant differences between front and top loading washing machines and you should be aware of them before investing in a new machine for your kitchen. It is one of the any decisions that you should think about carefully before deciding on the final model of washing machine that you would like. You should always take your time with a big investment simply because you will be using it so often for many years to come and you don’t want to make a mistake that could have been avoided with a little bit of research.

Top loaders are exactly what they sound like - you load the clothes into the machine from the top. They are generally more complicated than front loaders, and have the disadvantage that they don’t clean larger items of clothing as well. This is because the larger items tend to float to the top of the machine and hence don’t get as thoroughly washed. Because they are more complicated they tend to be more expensive as well as more likely to break down! For that reason if you have one you should make sure it is properly maintained and is checked over by a professional on a regular basis.

Front loads are loaded from the front - quite obviously - and hence are simpler and in general less likely to break down although there are exceptions. They are also usually less expensive than top loaders although that again depends on the exact model that you buy and where you buy it from. Research comes in very handy to make sure you get the best deal here. The advantages are less water is used, and less detergent is required. They are also much more convenient if you want an integrated washing machine as they open from the front where the door will be.

The down side of a front loader is that in general the wash cycle takes longer than a top loader, although as we’ve mentioned there are some advantages to a front loader too.

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