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

[jasper]

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?

I think I have a dirty family, zebra - 2 large boys make a lot of washing! Our normal weekly usage is probably 10 full loads, including one of towels.

(I have a Bosch, bottomish of the range, it washes very clean - the drum has slanted blade thingies and everything moves around in the drum all the time, it doesn't just go round and round in a lump. And it's quiet.)

Just realised that top loaders don't provide anywhere near enough entertainment value for small babies, though.

Especially when you wash the cuddly toys. Have pic of DDs age 6 and 3 entranced in front of the washer!

Janh

Zebra, I have mentioned this once or twice I believe (ahem) but I do really like the Dyson. It broke down once and had an electronic fault once, but it was changed without charge the first time (which was my fault for overloading it to be honest) and the electronic thing was just corrected, and isn't a problem with newer models. It takes about 90 minutes to do a hot wash, and does clean well. I had a top with a grease stain on it that had never come out after two years with the previous machine and it washed out immediately with the Dyson. The only possible downside is space, as they're bigger than average, and expense. Good entertainment for babies though, what with the two directions and all

The huge toploaders some of you are talking about aren't the only toploading option (I agree, BTW, with your comments about the low quality of the wash with them). Those are the sort that spin horizontally. There is another sort that spin vertically, so you have to open a hatch in the side of the drum to get the washing in.

We have a Bosch toploader that washes beautifully and very gently. The only problem with it is that this particular model is cold feed only and the wash can take forever - 2h plus!. My parents have a Whirlpool, which is better.

We have ours in the kitchen, not by choice though. My parents have theirs in the utility room and it's so convenient and undisruptive. My dream house will have a utility room - no more washing machines in the kitchen if I can help it!

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Another note of caution from an Anglo-Canadian family - all our Canadian friends/family are switching gleefully to frontloaders now they are coming in over there, as the quality of the wash is apparently so superior. My fake (long story) MIL washes every last thong before heading home whenever she visits, that's how much she likes our style! We have a Bosch maxx, around 20% more capacity than average, makes all the difference, and we are lucky enough to have a second bathroom so all that kit sits in there. I admit it is very nice to be able to shut the door on the laundry.

I have some american friends visiting who bought a european front loader last year and are missing their top loader.

I think that my top loader gets my clothes cleaner than washes I do in a front loader when we are on holiday. Also I seem to have less trouble with bleeding colors in top loader. And I find top loader less harsh on clothes. I use Arial Colour for both whites and colors and it seems to give great results (and isn't too perfumed).

I don't think our top loader needed 30amp spur.

Turquoise, the secret to temperature control is to turn the knobs that control the water coming into the machine, so that you get the warm temperature that you want. Set the machine to a warm wash, put a pencil in the little hole to keep it on while the lid is up and turn down/up the hot water until you get the warm that you want. Hot will still be hot and cold will still be cold.

FIo2 I did get a black fridge freezer - whirlpool with ice dispenser (Sofiaames and others recommended getting one )Was completley seduced by its appearance. Got it online from www.tribaluk.com and love it.

Thanks for all the great stuff on toploaders. WHo would have thought opiniion would be so polarised!
More views please.

Hello Jasper, long time no see. Funnily enough when I saw the title of this thread I though it may be yours, can help mind you!

toploader! love them, no need to bend down and injure your knee or ankle joints plus they seem to fit more!(I do a couple of washes every single day - suffer from OCD-help me someone) grew up with toploaders but had to get a frontloader when living in UK for several years. i would never buy a frontloader again (altho maybe there is 'some' truth to washes being better in frontloaders? dunno.but toploaders are much more practical methinks)we never have them in the kitchen in malaysia, we always put them in a utility room or a courtyard or something. in UK we put it in the boiler room, worked well (for over 10 years).

oh yes, meant to add. the mil keeps hers in the guest bathroom. can anyone top that as the oddest location??