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Front-loading washing machines use 40 percent less water, 50 percent less energy, and significantly less detergent than traditional top-loading washing machines. Choosing a front-loading washing machine can result in considerable resource savings, as well as substantial cost savings over the lifetime of your washer.[1]

Find it! Front-loading washers

Most manufacturers now have several front-loading washers to choose from. Here are some that sport top water and energy efficiency.[2]

Buying a front-loading washing machines help you go green because…

• They use less water.
• They use less energy.
• They use less detergent.
• They spin more water out of laundry, which means drying time is cut and less energy is used.

Mechanically speaking, top-loading and front-loading washers work differently. Top-loaders, also known as vertical-axis washers, are loaded from the top into a drum with a central agitator.[1] They work by filling the washtub almost to the top with water to cover all the clothing and then swishing the load in detergent.[3]

Front-loaders, technically named horizontal-axis washers, don't have a central agitator. They are loaded through a door on the front of the machine.[1] As a result, these machines can often accommodate loads up to 30 percent larger than conventional top-loading machines, allowing users to wash large items such as sleeping bags and comforters at home.[4] Front-loading washers fill the washtub only partially with water and then tumble clothes in a motion similar to a dryer.[1]

The tumbling action combined with the horizontal orientation of the drum generally requires less water, less electricity, and less detergent, which saves natural resources and cuts greenhouse gas emissions.

Less water

On average, top-loading washers use 30 to 60 gallons of water per load.[5] In contrast, a front-loader uses only 16-25 gallons per load, which can amount to water savings of as much as 7,000 gallons a year.[3]

Less energy

In addition to water savings, front-loaders realize significant energy savings. This is accomplished in two ways. First, the process of spinning clothes on a horizontal axis consumes nearly 50 percent less energy than top-loading machines.[1] In concrete terms, top-loaders use 300-500 watt-hours per load (not including the energy needed to heat water) versus 200 watt-hours per load for front-loaders.[6]

Second, since front-loading washers use less water, they also need less energy to heat the water[3] (although using cold water saves even more energy). Since wash-water heating accounts for 85-90 percent of the electricity needed to do an average load of laundry, using less warm water can result in sizable annual savings.[1]

These two factors combine to provide close to $100 in energy savings per year for the average user.[7]

Choosing a front-loading washer that's also ENERGY STAR compliant will result in even greater water and energy savings.[1]

Less detergent

Since front-loading washers use less water, they require less detergent per load[3] and often get clothes cleaner than their top-loading counterparts.[8] Front-loading machines usually require low-sudsing or high-efficiency (HE) detergents, such as those often used for cold water washing.[5]

Spins out more water

Spin cycles on top-loading machines typically range from 600-700 rotations per minute (rpm). Front-loading washers, on the other hand, spin at 1,600-1,800 rpm. Higher spin speeds extract more water from laundry, so clothes come out already quite dry.

Drying through spinning is 20 times less energy intensive than drying with heat.[9] Therefore, when clothes are taken from a front-loader and put into a dryer ( rather than being air-dried), the overall energy consumption is lower than if they were spun in a top-loader and then dried.[4]

Gentler on clothing

The tumbling action used by front-loading machines is generally gentler on clothes than traditional agitator models, which push and pull or twist and turn garments.[1] As a result, clothes washed in front-loaders experience less wear-and-tear over time and therefore usually last longer.[6]

Other benefits

• Since the door is on the front and not the top, many models come with kits that allow them to be stacked with a dryer.[1] This is especially beneficial for apartment dwellers.[4]
• In many cases, front-loaders are also quieter than top-loading machines.[4]

Controversies

There are some potential drawbacks to choosing a front-loader over a top-loader. First, front-loading washers are low to the ground, which may be a limitation for those with back problems.[4]

In addition, the initial cost of a front-loading machine is often steeper. On average, top-loaders cost $300-$400 less than front-loaders,[4] which range in price from $700 to $1,200.[3] However, if the machine is used for more than a couple of years, these initial costs are generally earned back with substantial energy, water, and detergent savings.[7]

Tax breaks and subsidies

Some states offer tax incentives and rebates to consumers to encourage them to purchase efficient appliances. Front-loading machines often qualify for these rebates. To check which states offer them, go to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.

Glossary

• horizontal axis washing machines: Much like a dryer these models, also known as front-loading washers, have a door in front and tumble clothes. The drum is horizontally oriented instead of a conventional tub with central agitator. The horizontal drum is partially filled with water, and cleaning occurs as the clothes tumble in and out of the pool of water at the bottom of the tub. This action is gentler on clothes than a traditional top-loading washer, which uses an agitator to push and pull garments through a full tub of water.[10]

External links

• California Energy Commission - Consumer Energy Center: Clothes Washers
• Consumer Reports Greener Choices - Washers/Dryers: Buying Guide 6/07
• Grist - Get a Load of This
• GreenPeace - The Green Living Guide: Laundry Room
• Laundry Alternative - High Efficiency Laundry Detergent