You can open most top loaders during a load to add to it but you can't do that with a front loader. edited because I forgot this , front loaders can be situated under a work surface or can have a tumble dryer stacked on top but top loaders have to have the area above them clear.
Dpend on if you want to bend then reach or just reach
There are pros and cons for both. You will need to decide which one you like the best. Front loaders use less water, but you can't open them while they are being used. Front loaders have one less moving part, that being the agitator, but can leak from the front seal as they get older. You can add clothing or soap to top loaders while they are running, but front loaders you cannot. You will have to bend over more using a front loader, where you will not using a top loader. I would say that the only advantage of the front loader, is that is requires less water. All other pros point to the top loader. Having water in the top loader at the same exact time of an emergency, is highly unlikely.
Several things to consider here. 1. If the seal goes bad on a front loader, you got a mess in the floor! 2. You CAN open the top loader to add that sock you missed or more detergent. 3 The top loader can serve as an emergency water supply for clean ups, etc during an emergency Edited to add: People unfamiliar with using the washer as an emergency water supply are evidently not aware of the precautions taken during an approaching hurricane! LOL
