[toby/lisa]

Thinking about getting a top loader but not sure what make to get.

The only name i know is a samsung on washing machines so far, so am not sure on other makes and models.

Is there any make/model to stay away from?

Would like to get any recommendations on types before buying. Economical one would be great.

[pinkpiggy]

Hi we've just bought a Simpsons top loader for our rental that we move into next week. They use them in the motel where we're staying and they seem to be quite a good NZ name.

[Cardy]

Hi Simpson is really electrolux so quite a good brand!!:yes
But we got the front loader

cheers cardy:cheers

[Lupin]

Front loaders tend to be better on water and energy usage. Once we started comparing the water and energy usage on them we had to buy a front loader really because we'll be on rain water tanks. Also, unless it's a top notch top loader I'm not sure they clean as well, but perhaps that's my experience with poor ones.

[Sam B]

Honestly I would never recommend a toploader to anyone, I completely regret buying mine. We bought an expensive good brand one (whirlpool) 3 months ago, and I hardly have any clothes left, there are holes in everything. It uses tonnes of water, it wrecks anything fluffy and spreads fluff all over the other items. It's just wrecked another top tonight (fluff everywhere). They are really tough on clothes, not just delicates, everything. Buy a front loader. Yeah, and they don't clean as well.

[Lupin]

They are really tough on clothes

That's another thing the lovely man in the shop said about them. He recommended we buy second hand front loader rather than new top loader, so we did. $400.

[zardell]

Thinking about getting a top loader .



Well, sit down, have a cup of tea and wait 'til the thought goes away !!! :laugh

Get a front loader - more expensive initially I know, but so much better.

Julie

xx

[Sam B]

ha ha ha - good advice Julie!!

[toby/lisa]

point taken we just have to have a really good look round.

thanks all :clap

[jubjub]

Im with the others, used a top loader for about 6 wks... holes in clothes, things not so clean etc...

There is a Fisher and Paykel machine just come out thats a top loader, but with a front loader drum (if that makes sense) but as its new I suspect its more pricey than a normal front loader anyway!

I am soooo glad we shipped ours.

[Patricia]

My DIL has had top loaders and now has a front loader her advice was don't touch em I have just bought a Zanuzzi front loader to take with us

patricia

[Jo Jo]

I've often wondered why in the UK all our washing machines are frontloaders but in the US, Australia and New Zealand toploaders are more common, and have been meaning to find out for a while whether there were any real differences between the types of machines or whether it was just a cultural thing. (Now, there's a sentence I never thought I'd see myself typing!)

I just found this this guide (http://www.consumer.org.nz/topic.asp?docid=1116&category=Appliances&subcategory=Laundry%20%26%20cleaning&topic=Washing%20machines&title=Checklist&contenttype=buyers%20guide) on Consumer.org.nz and we will definitely be getting a front loader now.

[sizzlingbadger]

We've used a top loader for 2 years now and have to say despite everything said on here we've not had one problem with it.

To us it's not worn out clothes, definitely not had the holes in tops, fluff everywhere, better touch wood just in case :)

We find it cleans better than our old front loader and we can get more in one load than we could with a front loader. To us that's better as we're not using as much detergent and power. We used to have our front loader on at least 3/4 times a week (2 cycles whites and colours) with the top loader it's now down to 1/2 loads a week (still 2 cylces whites and colours).

Ours is a Fischer and Paykel model, one up from the basic but not the Intuitive. We used an Intuitive in a holiday rental and didn't like it, couldn't find a way of doing a short wash, probably just me though :D and it was a case of too many buttons and functions that could go wrong.

If you're do decide to go for a front loader then definitely look at the Bosch. We were highly recommended them and never had a problem with it, MIL has now had her's six years and had no problems.

[willowshouse]

I've often wondered why in the UK all our washing machines are frontloaders but in the US, Australia and New Zealand toploaders are more common, and have been meaning to find out for a while whether there were any real differences between the types of machines or whether it was just a cultural thing. (Now, there's a sentence I never thought I'd see myself typing!)


Not sure about it being a cultural thing but it does occur to me that in USA, NZ and Aus most people have a dedicated laundry space which is not a common thing to have in the UK. It is much easier to load a top loader and it does hold more clothes but it is a lot more intrusive than a front loader which fits under a worktop in a kitchen ..

That aside .. I have used 2 top loaders and would agree that they can be very hard on your clothes .. they work in an entirely different way with that central agitater and I think I would prefer a machine which top loads but works in the same way as a front loader .. anybody want to invent this machine?

IMHO, the machine does very little of the cleaning .. it's the powder that makes the difference. Washing is the bain of my life .. I must have spent a small fortune trying this product and that one, bleach and pre-wash .. I get really fed up with their over-optimistic claims because most of them are rubbish! I now use Napi-san for soaking which is quite good and I use Bicarb of Soda to get out grease spots which works a treat but my best tip is for anything tomato-based .. like pasta sauce - just stick it in the sunshine for a few hours after washing and watch it fade before your eyes!

Anyway .. waffle over

Dawn

[Jo Jo]

Not sure about it being a cultural thing but it does occur to me that in USA, NZ and Aus most people have a dedicated laundry space which is not a common thing to have in the UK. It is much easier to load a top loader and it does hold more clothes but it is a lot more intrusive than a front loader which fits under a worktop in a kitchen ..


Yup - that's what I meant; when I was discussing this with my Kiwi boyfriend, I did wonder if it was a space issue (what fascinating conversations we have! :D )

[Lupin]

I think I would prefer a machine which top loads but works in the same way as a front loader .. anybody want to invent this machine?

Already been done I believe, but no doubt the price tag is huge!

[nippa&pippa]

:wah point taken we just have to have a really good look round.

thanks all :clap

Bet you wish you did research before you come out??? I did, and save big money buy front loader in UK as whiteware in UK is cheaper than NZ. I now wish I brought dryer at the same time as my washer :wah but might get away without dryer, see how this winter goes...but my OH pointed out that with new baby coming, and if this baby also got reflux (FC hope not!), then I will need dryer!

[Moorf]

We've had our F&P top loader for nearly 3 yrs now and I'm still wearing clothes I bought with me and they're not wrecked at all, no probs with them at all here....!! I love mine for all the reasons Sizz said (sounds like we have the same model!).

[Cardy]

Honestly I would never recommend a toploader to anyone, I completely regret buying mine. We bought an expensive good brand one (whirlpool) 3 months ago, and I hardly have any clothes left, there are holes in everything. It uses tonnes of water, it wrecks anything fluffy and spreads fluff all over the other items. It's just wrecked another top tonight (fluff everywhere). They are really tough on clothes, not just delicates, everything. Buy a front loader. Yeah, and they don't clean as well.

Hi sam you will have to come and buty a front loader from my store

[Ana&Steve]

Top loaders IMO are the most common in the States. I have never had the machine eat up my clothes or make holes, but I've heard lots of people complain of it happening in NZ. I'm forming a theory, and I'm curious if it's valid...all the machines in NZ I've seen and used (all top loaders w/agitators) were MUCH smaller than US ones. I wonder if a larger tub allows the clothes to escape the worst of the agitator? Hmmmmm....
Ana

[Sam B]

Do you know what Cardy, I might well just do that, because I hate my beast. I wish I'd asked for advice on here before I bought it. I yearn for a frontloader.

[Sam B]

Ana and Steve - my machine is a really big one, I think it's a US make anyway, it's not because it's small, it's because it is an evil beast!!

[toby/lisa]

:wah

Bet you wish you did research before you come out??? I did, and save big money buy front loader in UK as whiteware in UK is cheaper than NZ. I now wish I brought dryer at the same time as my washer :wah but might get away without dryer, see how this winter goes...but my OH pointed out that with new baby coming, and if this baby also got reflux (FC hope not!), then I will need dryer!

We thought about bringing our 8 yr old washing machine to nz but because of the age and if it did break down how much hassle it would be for getting replacement parts etc :D

[zardell]

Sam.....

Stick 'The Beast' on TradeMe and go and treat yourself - it'll be cheaper than replacing all your sweaters !!

Julie

xx

[nippa&pippa]

Even our machine was ten years old and about to pack up too, so we look into buying new one to take with us from UK as cheaper. So we brought bosch front loader, they are FAB :nice1
There is only place in christchurch sell Bosch washing machine if you are interesting, they are found at 'Kitchen Things' on Moorhouse Ave, (near to Hagley park side of moorhouse ave). I went there recently about bosch dryer, and they were very helpful.
http://www.kitchenthings.net.nz/

[Sam B]

Julie - you know what, I'm going to! Dammit, I am!

[jen]

If you're do decide to go for a front loader then definitely look at the Bosch. We were highly recommended them and never had a problem with it, MIL has now had her's six years and had no problems.

Very glad to hear that as we've just bought one for our new house - haven't tried it out yet. Coming from the US I've always had top loaders with no problems at all, but there was a bosch front-loader on clearance and the water savings looked impressive so we went for it.

I dunno Sam - maybe you could find somebody to perform an exorcism? Begone foul laundry demons etc.?

Jen

[neilw71]

We've had our F&P top loader for nearly 3 yrs now and I'm still wearing clothes I bought with me and they're not wrecked at all, no probs with them at all here....!! I love mine for all the reasons Sizz said (sounds like we have the same model!).

We've been using an LG top loader for over a year now and not had one single problem! My wife just shouted "much better than that bloody front loader we brought with us" :) :)

Neil

[nippa&pippa]

there was a bosch front-loader on clearance and the water savings looked impressive so we went for it.



:yes yep, washing machine somehow know how much water it need against amount of washing!!! How??? Bygone the days when I used to see lots of water against amount of washing, now I hardly see much water in the machine, I did worried at first whether washing would be clean with less water but did great job! Also you will know for sure when washing machine will be finish in how many minutes left! (only top range bosch machines got that :o )

[jaycee]

There is a Fisher and Paykel machine just come out thats a top loader, but with a front loader drum (if that makes sense) but as its new I suspect its more pricey than a normal front loader anyway!
Have you seen the TV ad for that? Am I the only one that wants to scream at that woman who's complaining about her frontloader - "put the ******* laundry basket on the floor, not on the benchtop, then there's no problem getting your washing in and out!"

[Sam B]

Ha ha, no you're not the only one!

[katandbob]

We've had our F&P top loader for nearly 3 yrs now and I'm still wearing clothes I bought with me and they're not wrecked at all, no probs with them at all here....!! I love mine for all the reasons Sizz said (sounds like we have the same model!).
ditto!

mines nearly a year old now and other than a problem with the water flow - due to us being on tank water - it would take hours - and stop and beep at me because it was taking forever to fill up! So I rang Selectrix, who we bought it off, they came out from Ingill (16km) fitted new valves to it on thursday and its been working a treat all weekend :raebanana and the cost - Nada! on the house!:nice1

It also has a facility to re fill itself if you save the water from the wash - to re-use - But I haven't ever got to where the water was that low! and it sounds too much hassle!

Kat

[jubjub]

Have you seen the TV ad for that? Am I the only one that wants to scream at that woman who's complaining about her frontloader - "put the ******* laundry basket on the floor, not on the benchtop, then there's no problem getting your washing in and out!"

Bugs the heck out of me too! Stoopid woman...:roll

Maybe we should list the bad clothes eating top loaders that we have used?? Ours was a rental Simpson (pretty basic model).

[jen]

I just completely freaked out because I went downstairs to see how my first wash in the new front loader is doing, and there are bubbles oozing out of the detergent drawer down the side of the machine. It's only then that I look at my box of detergent and read where it says "not suitable for front loading machines - use Surf front loader for best results" Learn something new every day :roll

There's not actually any clothes in the machine since the directions in the manual said to run a short empty cycle first time. So hopefully I just need to buy special front-loader soap to use from now on and it will be OK??

Jen

[sizzlingbadger]

:laugh

Sorry but couldn't help but laugh at that Jen. Yep you can buy big backs of front loader powder in the big red shed should be no problems then.

It's happened once before to me with a front loader but that was back in the UK, bubbles all over the kitchen floor :uhoh

[hball]

Realise I'm in the minority here but I love my top loader! Perhaps because it is so forgiving when I lift the lid mid cycle to drop in that sock which somehow got away the first time. But what I really appreciate is being able to load things like sheets, tea towels, etc fill midway with hot water and powder then leave to soak overnight. In the morning add more water and other bits and pieces of washing and set the whole thing to go. Two washes for the price of one!!

[Ana&Steve]

Ana and Steve - my machine is a really big one, I think it's a US make anyway, it's not because it's small, it's because it is an evil beast!!

Eh, there goes my theory. Probably won't pursue a career as a scientist, now.:D
Ana
/wait wait maybe the gravitational pull of the Earth effects the washers in the Southern Hemisphere! Pulitzer Prize here I come!