Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Anyone got a Top Loader?Anyone keep their washing machine NOT in the kitchen?

37 replies

jasper · 11/07/2004 01:30

I know this has been discussed in the past but I am keen to hear your views again, particularly which make/model you have and whether you would recommend it.

Been thinking about getting one and puting it in a big cupboard where the boiler lives so as to get it out of the kitchen and free up some space there. Have heard they use lots more electricity.Is this true?

OP posts:

SofiaAmes · 11/07/2004 02:43

I have a top loader and keep it in my garage. I find this english idea of putting your washer in your kitchen really odd. The kitchen is the last place I would want either dirty or clean clothes.

I'd be surprised if a top loader used more electricity as it doesn't heat the water (needs a hot water feed) so the water is heated with gas by the boiler.

The top loaders take twice the size of load that the normal front loaders do (20 pounds vs. 10) and they also only take 1/2 hour to do a load. If you do get one, I would recommend getting slightly above the bottom model and making sure you get one that gives you 5 choices of hot/warm/cold water combos and a delicate or hand wash cycle too.

Chandra · 11/07/2004 03:33

Oh, how I miss those things, specially being able to wash a load in half an hour, sadly have no space at all to place it, not even in the kitchen, but if you do... go ahead with it, they are a blessing.

Turquoise · 11/07/2004 04:36

I have to say I disagree - but maybe it's just the model I have. We've relocated to the States and now have a huge toploader, and the blessing is in the enormous amount you can put in, but in my opinion the quality of the wash is nowhere near as good. As for temperature, mine is supposed to have several options but the reality is : extremely hot, barely lukewarm, or stone cold.
It is nice and quick though.

JJ · 11/07/2004 05:07

Turquoise, it's the detergent here. Phosphates have been banned, I think, and they're required to get clothes clean (or my sons' clothes at least!).

I have here (in the US) what SofiaAmes recommends: a slightly above bottom model in a trustworthy brand. It's an Estate by Whirlpool and hasn't needed anything yet, although it's still relatively new (3 years).

bloss · 11/07/2004 05:21

Message withdrawn

eidsvold · 11/07/2004 06:09

oh yes bloss - I love being back in Australia and having my separate laundry room - downstairs.... I too found it very strange that people had washers and sometimes dryers in their kitchens - must say though - I am a top loader lover ...The new one we have is brilliant - uses less water and electricity as a front loader same size... no problem with things being pulled out of shape.

takes very little time to do a load and the little alarm lets me know when it is finished....

must jus tbe lucky with the brand!!

Fio2 · 11/07/2004 10:07

washing mschine in your kitchen...odd? I love this thread. I would love to have a laundry room! When we were growing up my mum had a top loader in the 'utility room' People used to think we were posh because we didnt have a washer in the kitchen

Jasper what fridge did you buy in the end? My dh wants a black one now..... (it was you wasnt it?)

katierocket · 11/07/2004 10:20

our washing machine is in the cellar, one advantage is that DS can't switch it off halfway through a cycle

beetroot · 11/07/2004 10:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mrsjingles · 11/07/2004 11:24

our washing machine is in the cupboard under the stairs, fits well, not so noisy as you can shut the door on it, and gives more space in the kitchen.

Janh · 11/07/2004 13:01

We have a big bathroom with a 4'6 x 3'6 cupboard in the corner and that has front-loader, dryer (on shelf) and boiler in it. Bathroom floor is great for sorting, and the clean stuff out of the dryer gets flung on the nearest bed for folding.

Having to carry wet washing downstairs to hang on the line is the only (slight) problem with this arrnagement.

Sofia, not sure I would want my clean clothes in the garage any more than the kitchen!

eidsvold · 11/07/2004 13:26

also loving - being here in winter and still able to hang clothes on the line abd bring them in dry a few hours later having said that it is the warmest late jun/early jul for years apparently.... 28 degrees yesterday!!

zebra · 11/07/2004 13:32

SodfiaAmes has one,I think a Whirlpool. She raves about it.
Says she who has trawled thru W'Machine threads, lately.
May I add 2 questions? How much would you spend on a newmachine, how manyloads/week do you do?

We are thinking £400 max., 3-4 loads/week (family of 5 w/ baby in cloth naps)

SoupDragon · 11/07/2004 13:33

Front loader in the utility room along with the matching drier. Washer has a child lock on it so DSs can't turn it off or on at whim!

zebra · 11/07/2004 13:33

Dur, didn't see SA had replied!

soapbox · 11/07/2004 13:37

We have a Maytag combo - washer drier, which is a toploader with a drying unit on the top. I love it. We can get all our washing for the week, washed or dried in the space of one evening. Takes bigger loads and takes a loss less time to wash.

It does seem a little harsher on the clothes but what a good excuse for having to shop for more

Janh · 11/07/2004 13:37

zebra, 3-4 loads a WEEK? Are you serious? With new baby?

Your family must be very neat! (In the clean-and-tidy sense!)

wilbur · 11/07/2004 13:38

I was just about to post a similar thread so this is great. We've been offered the chance to buy a US washer and dryer (Maytag, I think) that are currently in the house we are buying and I can't decide what to do. I grew up with US toploaders (Canadian mother refused anything else!) and love the big size and quick wash, but I have found that the tumbling action of frontloaders does seem to clean clothes better. However, I am assuming that advances in technology mean that the toploaders are better now too. Also the other thing I was told was that Americans tend to add non-chlorine bleach (like ACE) to most of their washes to help with the cleaning. Is this true?

Bloss - what is the make of your enormous frontloader?

soapbox · 11/07/2004 13:38

Forgot to say - it is in our utility room. Also you need a 30amp electricity supply which cost about £100 for an electrician to fit.

tamum · 11/07/2004 13:41

We do 3-4 loads a week too, I do it all at weekends. We can get quite a lot into ours (Dyson), and it's quite fast. Used to have an American one that was fast but didn't clean properly. We have a kind of upstairs utility room with washer and drier in.

Any more questions?

soapbox · 11/07/2004 13:41

Wilbur - we have no problem at all with the quality of the wash from out Maytag. We use Persil non-bio for whites and light colours and Persil colour for the coloured ( as the black clothes were losing their dye and going a bit greyish).

My children are not the cleanest in the land either!

Janh · 11/07/2004 13:41

20 mule team borax!!!!

They add that - I remember the adverts!

Janh · 11/07/2004 13:43

A new friend for coddy - The Queen of Clean!

zebra · 11/07/2004 13:54

Am serious, Janh. I have trouble filling the 4.5 kg drum, too. Maybe because I only run full loads... ?is that v. unusual?

zebra · 11/07/2004 13:55

Ooh!! Tamum, how do you like your Dyson? Does it get your clothes really clean? I think I'd pay for that...

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread