In Brief: Top Load vs Front Load Washing Machines
The choice of front load or top load is mostly upon buyer preferences. While the front load is packed with new technologies and features, the top load is far more economical and cheap. Also, Top-load has the semi-automatic option, which is not available in front-load machines.
The whole point of using the washing machine is to remove tough stains and clean the fabric without any human labour and assistance, which both of them flawlessly execute.
In this War of the new era of technologies, home appliances are making massive progress day to day by launching new mind baffling technologies.
The enormous market of home-appliances consists of many foremost products such as Refrigerator, Television, etc. but today we are going to put the limelight on one of the most essential must-have products in every household i.e. Washing Machines.
Washing Machines play a crucial role in every Indian household and since the availability of numerous products in the market today, you might need some research before choosing the perfect one as per your needs.
Let’s discuss them one by one.
Front Load Washing Machines
Front-Load washing machines have a door on the front side instead of being on the top as the name suggests.
How do front-load washing machines work?
An automatic front load washer consists of an inner tumbling barrel made of stainless steel, an automatic motor control, and a drainage pump system for draining the dirty water easily.
A front load washer works by filling the horizontal barrel with a small amount of water and using its motor-powered dynamic rotations to clean the fabric off the dirt.
This horizontal rotation lifts the clothes in and out of the water hence providing a ‘mechanical scrub’ thoroughly.
In this washing system, clothes are not required to be submerged in water constantly, which is why a front-load machine uses much less water and low concentration of detergent compared to other machines available in the market.
Front Load systems are also known to be gentle on woolen and cotton fabrics which are widely used in India and are also considered for states who face water crises like Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
Advantages of front load washing machines
Front Load machines have many major advantages which makes them one step ahead of all the other competitors in the Indian market.
Front-load washers consume 45% less water than top load washers as it uses about 75 litres of water per load while a top load washer uses about 150 litres per load.
This results in saving approximately 26,500 litres of water per year.
In India, people tend to suffer a lot from yellow curry stains and normal washers fail to remove them on the first attempt.
Well, that’s not true when it comes to front-load washers.
A front load washer effortlessly removes all the adamant stains due to their longer washing cycle and horizontal barrel design while being gentle on the fabric at the same time.
The energy consumption on front load washers is much less compared to top load washers which makes them pocket-friendly as well.
This is why the product is highly recommended for middle-class Indian families.
Limitations of front load washing machines
Front-load washer does include some limitations –
Front-load washers might have low energy consumption but the overall product is expensive in terms of cost in the Indian market.
Front-load washer turns out to be heavier and bulkier when compared to top load washers and it also takes up more space. The machine needs to be fixed in one place and cannot be moved around easily after installation which might not be suitable for some Indian households.
While Indians prefer to live in a joint family, the load capacity of the front load washer is very small which might not be suitable for such families.
The water pressure required for the front load washer is also greater than the top load washer.
Who should buy front load washing machines?
If you’re planning to buy one of these, you must make sure to have
- Big space with a fixed water connection
- Uninterrupted electricity throughout the day, frequent power cuts might damage the machine.
- A small family as it does not have much capacity.
Top Load Washing Machines
Top load washing machines are one of the oldest and traditional washing machines and it’s trusted by many of the buyers in India.
How top-loading washing machines work?
Standard top load washers consist of a stainless steel washing barrel moving in a horizontal direction, an advanced high powered motor, a drainage system, and an impeller agitator which agitates the fabric and removes those tough stains easily.
These machines don’t have any front door or opening, they have a liftable top lid instead.
Unlike front loaders, the clothes are completely submerged in the water and float in the barrel until the agitator starts to move to remove the dirt by friction.
Due to the high water requirement, the machine demands a high concentration of chemical detergents which might be harmful to some natural fabrics.
The top load washing system is also suitable for places in India where people experience frequent power cuts as the dynamic machine is less likely to get damaged by them.
Advantages of top load washing machines
Top load washing systems have some merits which are suitable for Indian households.
One big advantage is that top-load machines also come in the semi-automatic variant. This not only makes them cheap but also suitable for places where water supplies may not be continuous.
Top load machines are in high demand due to its cheap price and inexpensive maintenance cost. It is easy to perform self-maintenance in this machine as it does not include any complex parts.
A direct or fixed water connection is not needed. The amount of water can be regulated manually fulfilling our needs, so water is not wasted if there are fewer clothes in the machine.
Top load machines have a lightweight and non-bulky body which makes it easy to install and accommodate if needed.
As we know that Indians are obsessed with varieties, It makes top load machines a perfect choice for them since the market is flooded with different types of automatic top load washers.
Top load washing machines come in a variety of capacities – from 6 kg to as high as 14 kgs! A huge clothes capacity makes this machine suitable for an ideal Indian household. It can wash a large number of clothes simultaneously which makes it time-efficient.
Limitations of top-loading washing machines
Top-load machines may be dynamic and economically efficient but they do have some downfalls just like every other machine.
- Top load machines tend to consume much more electricity than the front load models which might be a burn in a pocket for some middle-class families.
- Top load washers (the semi-automatic ones) include manual intervention and it includes fewer features when compared to the front load washers.
Who should top load washing machines?
If you’re planning to buy one of these, make sure you have
- Proper earthing in the house
- Suitable for any family size
- Looking for cheaper options
Conclusion
Front-load or Top load, both of them are one of the best washers available in the market today. While the front load is packed with new technologies and features, the top load is far more economical and cheap.
The choice is completely upon the buyers and their preferences. The whole point of using the washing machine is to remove tough stains and clean the fabric without any human labour and assistance, which both of them flawlessly execute.