Front Load Vs Top Load Washing Machines and Cloth Fabric
Front load vs top load washing machines
comparison started because of the changing technologies with respect to the
change in the fiber of the fabric manufactured.
The different types of fabrics
available today are Cotton, Terri cotton, Synthetic, Silk, Wool, Lenin,
Polyester, Nylon, Rayon and so on and so forth. The design of the washers needed to be
modified according to the clothes to be washed in the washing machine.
Different clothes needed different soaking time, different water temperatures,
different cycle time, different quality of detergent and also the different
method or strategy of drying.
Traditional and Modern Washing Machine in Brief
If you look into the functionality of
the old washing machines, we found that there were minimum settings on the
switch to operate the washers. For example, hot water temperature setting, cycle
time in minutes similarly in the spin dryer.
But today, we have loads of washing
machines with different settings, not to set the temperature manually but the
machine adjusts the temperature according to the fabric of the garment loaded.
All the machines have inbuilt sensors to sense the temperature of water
and adjust according to the clothes. The water level and detergent required is
automatically adjusted as per pre-program.
We just need to instruct the machine
that a particular type of textile is loaded and it does its job. And we get the
clothes washed and dried in less than one hour of time.
Top Loaded Washing Machine
In the top loaded washing machines the clothes are
fed to the machine from the top vertically. As the drum (Perforated Cylinder
in which clothes are washed) is fitted vertically.
Advantages of Top Load Washing Machines
1 Require less operating and handling space
Wherever there is a space constrain top loaded
washer is the ideal pick. Due to its vertical design it fits in a minimum
possible available space. As the drum in the machine is fitted vertically, this
machine has a vertical design. can be accommodated in the small
space.
2 Good Ergonomic-User Friendly.
Top loading washing machines are easy to operate as the door is fitted on the top uppermost face. It is convenient to load and unload clothes inside the machine from the top and the person does not need to bend to load or unload the machine.
It can be conveniently operated by elderly and the people facing back pain and knee pain.
3 Easy to Top-up Clothes in Mid-Cycle
Tossing up the handkerchief of a pair of socks is possible in top loading washing machines as one can open the door in the middle of the washing cycle and top-up the clothes that are forgotten to wash.
4 Easy Cleaning of Machine
The remainder of excessive detergent or the growing of
mildew on the drum or gaskets due to the left out moisture after wash cycle in
side the machine can stink. The front loaded washer can be easily cleaned as
the water is drained out due to gravity so also the moisture gets easily
evaporated out of unsealed top door.
5 Low Costs
The top load washer is less expensive
compare to front load washer of the same capacity. Because in the top loaded washer
the agitator or the impeller moves at the center of the drum of washing
machine, whereas in the front loaded there is no agitator or impeller here the
entire drum rotates, indulging requirement of more hardware like bearing
housing, high capacity motor, drive belt and so on.
Disadvantages of Top Load Washing Machines
1 Limitation of Spin Speed
The drum on top loading washing machine
spins along the vertical axis. The machine tends to wobble in the horizontal
direction. You must have seen that the machine moves horizontally when the
clothes are in the dryer. Due to this, the top loaded washing machine cannot
achieve high RPM (Rotations per Minute).
The clothes coming out of dryer in top
loaded machines are more moist than the front loaded washing machine as all the
moisture from the clothes cannot be extracted at lower speed.
2. Unpleasant for Clothes
In the top loaded washing machines agitator or impeller rotates inside the drum. There are chances that the clothes get entangled in agitator type on machine. And in the impeller type of machine the impeller rotates and spins the water to swirl which in turn rotates the clothes in washer. Agitator may some time scrub on their clothes. This machine is a little harsh on clothes, reducing the life span and quality of clothes washed.
3 More Water and Energy Consumption
The spin seep achieved is lower compared to the front loading washing machines. More time is required to wash and dry the clothes.
Advantages of Front Load Washing Machines
1 Less Washing and Drying Time
Due to high spin speed, the time required to wash and dry clothes is less than 50% time required in the top load washing machine.
Water is filled vertically to a certain level in top loaded washing machine. Hence more water is consumed for washing cycle and more drying time consumes more electricity.
2 Good Quality of Washed Clothes
Front loading washing machines do not
have impeller or agitator instead the drum rotates and the clothes are washed
in the rotation by knocking clothes against each other. The clothes are
washed gently by maintaining good shine and longer cloth life.
3 Good Cleaning Performance
Due to the tumbling action in the front
loaded washing machines, harsh stains can be easily removed. Front loading
is always out performs top loading in stain removal test.
Washing motion in the front loader is more effective. Use of the best detergents at ideal water temperature front loader gives cleanest result compared to top loader machines because the tumbling action puts gravity to work achieving higher G factor. cleaning is the combination of chemical, mechanical action and water temperature plus time.
4 Sturdy Equipment
In spite of high spin from loader
washers are sturdy as the drum rotates along the horizontal axis, the vibrations
are produced in a vertical direction which is absorbed by the shock absorbers
fitted at the bottom of the machine.
5 Higher Capacity Machines
Unlike top loader washing machines
which comes in small and medium sizes, front loaded washing machines is
manufactured up to 200 kg per hour, capacity used for commercial and Industrial
purpose.
Disadvantages of Front Load Washing Machines
1 Expensive Washing Machine
Front load washing needs more and heavy
gadgets to manufacture these machines like high quality bearing with good
bearing housing, as the drum shaft is mounted in it, higher capacity of
motor to achieve higher G factor and higher RPM, rollers to support the drum
for rotation etc.
2 Top-ups in Mid-Cycle is not Possible
Tossing up the handkerchief of a pair of socks is possible in front loading washing machines is not possible. As one cannot open the door in mid of the washing cycle. The door gets locked to avoid water leakage.
3 Tedious Cleaning of Washer
The remainder of excessive detergent or the growth of mildew in the drum
or gaskets due to the left out moisture after washing cycle inside the machine
can stink. The front loaded washer can be easily cleaned as the water is
drained out due to gravity so also the moisture gets easily evaporated out
of unsealed top door.
The remains of detergent, softeners and water droplets needed to be cleaned regularly to avoid stinking of the machine. Which is a tedious job compare to top loaded washing machine.
Some of the Popular Brands of Washing Machines
Domestic Washing Machines
Commercial and Industrial washing Machines
Milnor washing Machine, Lapauw Washing Machine, Girbau Washing Machines, IFB Washing Machine, Stefab washing Machine, Speed Queen Washing Machine, Maytag washing Machine, Miele Washing Machine, Siemens Washing Machine,