Is A Front-Loading Or Top-Loading Washing Machine Better? Laundry Experts Weigh In.

When you’re looking to buy a top-loading or front-loading washing machine, there are some not-so-obvious pros and cons to be aware of. Beyond the location of the door, these machines can vary by efficiency, capacity, cleaning cycles and more.

“There are several factors to consider before setting your heart on one model,” said Ian Palmer-Smith, an appliance expert at Domestic & General, an appliance care company headquartered in London. Consider your priorities: energy savings, space or affordability, Palmer-Smith said.

We asked experts to weigh in on the differences between top-loading and front-loading washers, which they prefer, and how to decide which one is best for you.

Front-loaders can conserve space.

One of the biggest perks of a front-loading washer besides its “sleek aesthetic”: It can be stacked on top of a dryer, pointed out Morgan LaLonde, laundry brand manager at Whirlpool.

“You can squeeze [them] into a much smaller space, which is a huge pro because a lot of people have a closet where their washer and dryer fit,” Patric Richardson, known as The Laundry Evangelist , told HuffPost. “Even if you have the luxury of space, stacking your washer and dryer gives you the extra space for a laundry sink, a folding station or a hanging bar. To me, it’s just so worth it.”

While some top-loaders save space with a smaller footprint, most can’t be stacked on top of a dryer, Palmer-Smith noted.

Top-loaders are less likely to develop an odor.

“Front-load washers … have a rubber gasket to help keep water inside during a wash cycle, but they can prevent the empty tub from drying properly when the door is closed,” LaLonde explained.

This can cause the growth of bacteria and mold and lead to a mildewy smell. The fix?