It's the "gotta have it" appliance in laundry rooms across the country, those fancy front loading washing machines.
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It's the "gotta have it" appliance in laundry rooms across the country, those fancy front loading washing machines.
But are they all they're cracked up to be, especially considering the price?
"I'm really not a laundry person," says Donna Rawdon, who owns a front loading washing machine.
When it comes to front loading washing machines, donna rawdon was a skeptic.
"Honestly, when they first come out on the market, I was like I would never use anything like that," she said, especially because of the price.
There is a big difference. At Best Buy, you can get a traditional top loader for as little as $300. The lowest priced front loader is $600, going all the way up to $2,500.
"Most of the front loaders are going to last you at least 10 to 15 years, so you're gonna see that money back," says reginald Burwell of Best Buy.
Energy guide labels show how efficient front loaders are. One model uses 152 kilowatt hours of power a year, while a top loader takes nearly triple that. Front loaders are also stingy with water, using about 10 gallons per load. A top loader can gulp more than 50.
"The water bill was usually ran $70 tp $80, it's $45 to $50 now," says Donna.
For her, it all adds up to at least $300 a year in savings. A lot of people with front loaders have complained that after a while, they start to smell bad. The problem is caused by standing water, but now manufacturers have come up with products to keep your front loader smelling fresh.
"There can be some mildew build up," says Burwell.
Front loaders usually need a deeper space than top loaders, so they don't always fit. But a front loader actually solved donna's space problem.
"They're stackable, if you're short on space like we were," says Rawdon.
The agitator in top loaders takes up valuable space. But front loaders don't need one. So they generally hold more than top loaders.
"Probably 15 to 20 towels," says Rawdon.
But the biggest question is this, "Do your clothes get as clean?"
"Oh, absolutely," says Rawdon.
Donna's front loader even turned her into a laundry person.
"It's so much fun now. I love it," she says.
-Courtesy Brian Curtis, NBC News.
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