[Caroline and Dave]

One thing we are still not sure about is whether or not to bring our almost new front loader washing machine over.
We have come to the decision that it depends on the general designs of the kitchens.
In the Uk 95% of washing machines are front loaders and kitchens are designed with under worktop space for washing machines.
I understand (Please correct me if I am wrong ) that the majority of washing machines are top loaders so I would assume that kitchens are designed to take top loaders and therefore a front loader would look out of place.
Also I have read that Diny( I hope you don't mind me mentioning you) prefers a top loader to a front loader but what is the general agreement on this, top loader or front loader?
It really depends on whether our front loader will fit in?



Dave and Caroline

[jubjub]

Most houses have a separate laundry so the type of machine is not an issue.

You find that the dishwasher is generally where a UK house would have its washing machine.

Personally I am soo glad we bought ours with us, we had a top loader for a few weeks and the clothes did not seem to get as clean.

One thing to bear in mind is that you only get Persil here for front loaders (low suds) so the range is very limited! But you do get standard and a sensitive version!

[KerryS]

I prefer my top loader too. Takes a bigger load, and I have no problems in it not getting things clean - although I admit my things aren't really dirty when I wash them, just 'worn'.
I have yet to come across anywhere that has the washing machine in the kitchen - almost all houses have a laundry, and in apartments the washing machine is usually in an alcove in the bathroom.
Kiwis I have spoken to think it unhygenic to take your dirty laundry into the kitchen.

[Karen]

We didn't bring our front loader with us as it was really old and due to be replaced. We looked at buying a top loader as they're quite a bit cheaper over here but...........they can't be programmed to wash at specific temperatures, they just fill from the hot & cold taps and offer either a cold, warm, or hot wash. Also, although in most of NZ water is currently free, there are rumours that soon we'll all be charged for water usage and top loaders use a shed load of water, take about twice the time to complete a regular wash cycle and use more power........we decided that the extra we spent buying a front loader outweighed the hidden extras of long term power and potential future water charges.

Hope this helps a little

Karen

[Smiler]

We bought our year old front loader washer dryer with us. It takes a bigger load than normal machines. The reason I bought it in the first place was it's energy efficient ratings and choice of progs.

While waiting for it to arrive I hired a top loader. Like Sal says it didn't seem to get things clean and although it was a near new top of the range, didn't have much choice on programmes either.

The inlet valve went a couple of months ago and an engineer thought he could lash up a fix, but we sourced one in the UK easily and airmailed it out. :nice1

We've got a laundry room and although there is less room than having front loader in our kitchen, I still prefer mine.

[KerryS]

take about twice the time to complete a regular wash cycle

No way - my top loader is far quicker than any front loader I've ever owned.

In the end though, I think it depends on what you're used to. In my opinion, as long as my clothes are clean, my power bills aren't through the roof, I can get the machine repaired easily if necessary ... then I'm happy.

[Moorf]

Chalk me up as another "I love my top loader" member. It's very quick, easy, quiet and takes a huge load.... I can wash on cold, warm, hot or boil, all the usual delicate etc settings.. no probs.

I guess I think in more Kiwi terms these days.. i.e. it gets my clothes clean....

[olivia]

I know you're all talking about washing machines, but can you tell me what the tumble driers are like. Are they cheap to run? We have a condenser one here but I'm not intending to bring it because it's 4 years old and takes forever to dry a load of washing so it would be too costly to use in NZ.

I know in an ideal world i would hang out all of my washing but with a 1 1/2-year-old boy it's just not going to happen.

Thanks

Olivia

[jubjub]

Dunno how much it costs to run, but our bill leapt from 100 to 250 a month once we got dryer, and the heater on all night in babies room.

We bought a dryer here and it has a front vent, so you need to have an open window nearby (not so good in winter!) but on the plus side you can sit an airer in front of it, and the warm air dries that too!

I dont hang washing out either, just goes on airer, then onto deck if its sunny

[Nicola]

We brought our front loader from the UK and I am glad that we did. It takes a larger load than most of the top loaders here. But the main reason is that I have found top loaders are so much harder on your clothes. My mum used a top loader in the UK for years and years.

The biggest problem is the fact that I can not get a decent washing liquid and have had to use Persil powder for front loaders. But as more and more Kiwis seem to be moving to front loaders then that might change.

Do not worry about the size of kitchens. All houses either have a laundry room or a large laundry cupboard. Most people think doing laundry in the kitchen is really, really unhygenic. Not something I had considered before.