Various manufacturers like Whirlpool, LG, GE, and Maytag are coming out with front load washers and dryers with innovative features that not only save you money, but make your life easier. Front load washers use far less water than their top loading counterparts. This saves you money in two ways. Besides the obvious cost of water savings, they also use less power to dry your clothes because they spin at higher rpms and dont have to wring out as much water. Most front loaders spin at speeds of 900 to 1300 rpms, whereas top load models have spin speed of 300 500 rpms.
Front load washers are constantly evolving and ushering in huge advancements in laundry technology. Standard top load washers usually come with only a handful of wash cycles, like heavy-duty, delicate, normal, and permanent press. Some of the new front loaders, however, have as many as a dozen wash cycles. These extra cycles, like antibacterial, rinse and spin, express wash, stains, baby care, steam, and bedding will definitely come in handy. Several models utilize steam features that allow you bypass the dry cleaner & their harsh chemicals.
Besides the digital controls that most front loaders utilize there are several other new technological advancements that give you more precise control over your laundry. Some units come with data cables that connect the washer & dryer so that once you transfer your clothes the dryer already knows the weight of the clothes, what type of wash cycle they were on, and how long they need to dry.
One of the most useful new features is the pedestals that font load washers and dryers sit on top of. Although sold separately, these pedestals provide several functions. Firstly, they lift the washer & dryer off the ground making them easier to load/unload. Secondly, they give you more storage for things like dryer sheets, detergents, & stain removers. But, the most impressive benefit these pedestals afford you is detergent storage tanks. Although only available from select manufacturers, they give you the ability to store months worth of detergent & fabric softener so that all you have to do is put your clothes in and hit start! The washer is connected to the storage tank via a series of tubes and instantly knows how much detergent to release and at what time depending on your cycle settings.
With more and more front loading units coming to market and their features constantly evolving, top loading washers and dryers might become a thing of the past. Besides the obvious technological advances that make your life (and chores!) easier, these new front load washers and dryers are ushering in a new era of energy conservation & savings.
