American washing machines

[isabellerossignol]

Does anyone know why American houses tend to have top loading washing machines whilst we have front loading?

Is it to do with water pressure/efficiency/energy use?

It doesn't matter to me obviously, I'm just intrigued!

[AliceLittle]

I think it because they use less power. In America the mains is 120v and Uk is 230v.

[mindutopia]

Also, Americans don't tend to put washing machines in the kitchen (I'm American, though have lived in the UK a long time now). So they have no need for front loading machines that can fit under counters in the say way we do. They tend to be in utility rooms or in a closet in the hall or in the basement, so top loading is easier.

[isabellerossignol]

Interesting! I'd love one of those American laundry rooms. And I'd love my kitchen cupboards to go right up to the ceiling...

Can you tell that I've spent the morning on YouTube?

[Lunde]

I moved into a house with a top loading machine and I hated it. The drum lock could be very difficult to open, and then it started chewing up my clothes - t-shirts and workout clothes would come out with rips.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Houses tend to be bigger, so don't need to put under a counter.

[HoldMyLobster]

Top loaders tend to be cheaper and more reliable, and have shorter cycles. They're not as good IMO but the new ones are much better than they used to be.

[isabellerossignol]

I now have follow up questions about American houses!

Do they not have extractor fans in the kitchen? I've been watching YouTube and most people seem to have a microwave above their cooker. I don't think building control regs would allow that here, would they?

[Aquamarine1029]

The microwaves above the cookers have a built in extraction can which is vented to the outside.

[Aquamarine1029]

*fan

[isabellerossignol]

Really? That's genius! Wonder why we don't have that here...

[LookImAHooman]

Plenty do!

[LookImAHooman]

Not me but friends in nice new huge kitchens, usually with double ovens not bitter

[isabellerossignol]

Really? You can get an extractor fan combined with a microwave? Why did I not know this? I'm off to Google for my dream kitchen

[DontCallMeShitley]

I looked at top loaders when I needed a new machine. They use more water but have a larger capacity and many people have changed to front loaders and complained that they don't work as well.

Would love a machine that actually rinses the soap out but we don't get them here, only a couple available and that was a few years ago.

[FromEden]

Front loading machines are becoming the norm in the US now I think. I have a front loading washer and dryer in my new home but they are way bigger than the ones in the UK/Ireland, almost as tall as I am and can fit a king size duvet with no problem. Love it!

[Starrynights86]

I hate my front loader, top loaders are much more common in the country where I live and they have much shorter cycles and do a better job of cleaning the clothes too I think.

[Venger]

Front loading machines are becoming the norm in the US now I think. I have a front loading washer and dryer in my new home but they are way bigger than the ones in the UK/Ireland, almost as tall as I am and can fit a king size duvet with no problem. Love it!

I have a 12kg front loading washing machine that fits my king size duvet, it fits under my kitchen counter.

[DontCallMeShitley]

I have seen many complaints about the front loading machines in the US, not rinsing properly and producing hard towels and scratchy cottons, like we get here and owners wishing they had kept their old top loaders.

It isn't the way they open that is the problem it is the reduced water consumption.

[TonTonMacoute]

On top loaders the drum is fixed onto the machine on both sides, on a front loader it is only fixed at the back. This makes them more stable when they are spinning, so more efficient at spinning and they tend to last longer.

Most of the holiday houses I have rented in France have had a top loading washing machine too, usually in the garage.

[dreichwinter]

We have a top loader in our rented USA house it is large but the cleaning power is terrible.

[Pottedtree]

And they do 12kg in 25 minutes....Tis bliss.

[ohwheniknow]

I'm surprised people saying they clean better because we always had problems getting anything genuinely dirty clean again when we were in the US and I've heard the same from others.

[DontCallMeShitley]

You can buy a 10kg front loader in the UK, but if you buy it from AO they may not bother with fitting it as they won't have the adaptors for certain makes and will offer to leave it in the middle of your kitchen or take it back.

[DontCallMeShitley]

My machines have mostly been 9kg which takes a king duvet.

I can also use a variety of settings to make it into a 30 -45 min. cycle. However none of the new eco machines rinse properly so I tend to wash on a shorter cycle and then again with no detergent to get the soap out. If there was enough water in the first wash this wouldn't be necessary and would use less electricity. Eco doesn't work when you are forced to adjust what is pushed onto you.

[666onmyhead]

@isabellerossignol please don't go for a micro above your cooker unless you and anyone else who cooks is at least 6'7" ! As far as I know a cooker needs a gap of 760mm above it so the micro would be dangerously high to use.