I want to buy a front loader to save on water. Whats the cheapest front loader out there?what is quot;High Enddetergent you have to use for them? Why cant you just use regular kindUm anything else would be great.I'm buying a washer today
Well, I'd check warehouse outlets to find the cheapest. I like Whirlpool's appliances. A front loading washer and drying will give you a much better wash (tumble), using half the amount of water compared to a top loading. As for detergent? You can use whatever kind you want. I like the liquid ones best though.
I purchased a front load Kenmore washer from Sears about a year ago. I have been 100% satisfied. The 800rpm spinout leaves bath towel just damp, which reduces dry time. It is much more gentle on clothes. In my experience, you need not change detergents. you will however use less, since you are dissolving it in less water. (think less hot water also) As another respondant already mentioned, the cycle time is a bit longer (45 min versus 30 min), but the throughput seems to be higher because I can wash 3.5 cubic feet of laundry per load. The difference in money up-front ended up being more than worth it. Bottom line, forget top loaders. In (I think) two years, they will no longer be available anyway. Front load is the way to go.
I have one and love it. Bought LG. The panel is on the front so my young kids can reach the controls and like to help do the laundry. It has a metal drum and metal workings inside that is supposed to last longer (had it a year - so that remains to be seen). We kept prices down by buying white and not getting the sanitizing cycle - got large capacity but not extra large (I can wash a queen but not a king comforter in it), but I get tons more per load than my conventional washer that I replaced. The special detergent is lower sudsing and you need less of it. I get it at Walmart in the same aisle as the other stuff and it is not costlier. Overall I think the clothes are cleaner, softer and get less wear and tear with the front loader. Hope this helps.
I sell these for Lowes actually: A front end washer will save water by measuring the load and automatically adjusting the water level. Further more they spin at almost double the RPM of top loaders so the clothes come out almost dry. The downside is that this process takes a bit longer than a top loader due to the way the machine washes clothes. Instead of tumbling them it cradles them by rotating one way a few spins and then back the other way. this reduces wear tear on fabrics. The high efficiency detergent is only for high efficiency washers. Using a regular detergent will over suds and leave residue on your clothes. If you have any questions you can email/IM me.
HE is high efficiency detergent... you don't want a lot of suds in front loaders. I far prefer them... easier to get clothes and especially things like quilts and comforters in and out of, easier on the clothes, much reduced water consumption and the clothes are cleaner and almost ready to hang-dry when they get out of the washer. I have a pair of LGs currently.
