There are five main advantages to buying a top load washing machine:
If, for whatever reason, you have difficulty bending down - a top loader is for you. Because the lid is located on top of the machine, you can place your laundry basket beside the machine and easily transfer your laundry to and fro.
Top loader aficionados praise these machines for their short wash cycles. While most front loaders on the market now offer quick wash programs (some as short as 15 minutes!) these are not generally suitable for large loads.
So if you have a lot of laundry to get done in a small space of time, a top loader is a good choice.
Different types of detergents are used for top loaders and front loaders. It's important to remember NEVER to put top load washing detergent in a front loader, or vice versa! Top load detergent is suitable for cold water washes, whereas front load detergent needs to be heated to at least 30°C for the enzymes to work.
Most top load washing machines allow you to lift the lid to add or remove items even after the cycle has started, which is super-convenient if you've left out a stray sock or left something important in a pocket (Some front load washers also give you the option of opening the door within the first few minutes of the cycle, but once the water has risen above the level of the door, it will automatically lock in place for safety reasons).
Although front load washing machines have come down in price in recent times, front loaders still tend to emerge as winners in the price war.
Before you make your decision, we recommend that you read our Front Load Washing Machine Buying Guide to compare and contrast the differences.
And remember, you can call our Customer Support Centre 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Just give us a bell on: 1300 000 500 to speak to an appliance expert.
This table will provide a rough guide to sizing:
| Washing machine capacity | Suits |
|---|---|
| 5.5kg or smaller | 1-2 people |
| 5.5kg-8kg | 3-4 people |
| 8kg or larger | 4+ people |
Before you buy, we strongly recommend that you read the product information closely to make sure that the size of the machine will suit your requirements.
Good question! Before you make a purchase, please:
All washing machines are different - therefore you will always need to measure before you buy.
The following glossary will provide a brief overview of the features to look out for when purchasing a washing machine:
The average cycle time for a top loader is between 1 hour 10 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on the temperature of the water.
Some top load washing machines use an agitator (i.e. that round column of plastic located in the middle of the tub) to get your clothes clean. Although the technology has come a long way, it has been argued that agitators can potentially damage your clothes through tangling and stretching.
Alternatively, some top loaders do away with the agitator altogether - instead using the motion of the tub to get the clothes clean. However, models without an agitator have been known to compromise on efficiency and wash results.
The faster the spin speed, the dryer your clothes will turn out at the end of the wash cycle.
However, it is important to note that high spin speeds are not available on all wash cycles. For example: the delicate cycle will, by default, reduce the spin speed so as not to damage your clothes.
Large washing machines (i.e. anything over 7kg) are great for families, as they will cut down on the number of loads you need to run, saving time and resources.
But if you only have a small household (i.e. 1-2 people) it would not be sensible to buy a large machine, as you will waste resources by not running full loads.
The more stars, the more energy efficient the appliance. While an energy-efficient washer will cost you more to buy upfront, the recouped savings will end up making the initial expense worthwhile.
Similar to the energy rating system, the more stars, the more water efficient your washing machine will be. This is obviously something to look out for, as water is a particularly precious resource in a country like Australia.
A surplus of wash programs is not necessarily a good thing. Too many programs can make your washing machine confusing to operate.
Good programs to look out for include: Delicate, Quick, Heavy, and Wool. What you end up choosing will depend on your specific needs - new parents, for instance, would do well to purchase a machine with a Baby program that is specially designed to get baby clothes hygienically clean. And Anti-Allergy programs are fantastic for anyone who suffers from allergies or asthma.
Some machines use intelligent sensor technology (sometimes referred to as 'Fuzzy Logic') to determine how large your load is, how dirty the clothes are, and how long the cycle needs to be - this takes the hassle out of selecting the correct program.
Always measure before you buy! Not all washing machines are the same size.
Fisher & Paykel washers come out on top
Open a front loader mid-cycle and rescue your mobile phone
Please feel free to contact our customer service team for any queries about top load washing machines. Call us anytime on 1300 000 500.