queenie

Front loading washers are more expensive over here. They are just becoming more popular due to their efficient water consumption (water is metered). I paid $1200 for a washer that Currys sell for GBP268. I think they are far more gentle on the clothes too but don't agree that they wash better.

Aussie dislike the 2.5 hour cycle, compared to 30 minute top loader, but the spin speed of top loaders is only about 400 compared to about 1000 for a front loader, so drying time is less.

Any thoughts?

Queenie

Mumto4

I agree that Aussies seem to like their top loaders but they are so harsh on the clothes I think. When I first moved dh had a top loader (being an Aussie) but I insisted as soon as we started a family we would get a front loader. I got my Whirlpool (5kgs) in 1997 it has a short cycle of 30 minutes or a longer one of 1 hour and spins at 1200rpm. I wouldn't be without it even though I do 2 loads a day now with 4 children. I'll have to upgrade to a 7kg one soon. With every house having a laundry it gives you more space to have an individual dryer as well which we still occasionally have to use - like today !!!!

queenie

Does this mean you have had 4 kids in 5 years?

Ouch

Queenie

shorrock

Could have been 2 twins and a single

Kieron

tinaj

The main downside with front loaders is capacity, they hardly hold anything. A top loader holds at least twice the quantity of clothes. There are a few front loaders that hold 7KG, but this still is not near what the top loaders hold.

When you have 5 + people in the household and a huge pile of washing you just want to chuck the whole lot in at once! That is where toploaders have an advantage.

Dyson make an excellent front loader over here, but it is £700 -yes Pounds! I don't believe they are available in OZ. I was thinking of buying one and bringing it with me, but I wouldn't be able o get spares etc out there.

I for one am looking forward to buying the biggext capacity machine and chucking the whole lot of clothes in at once!!

Mumto4

Nearly right!

I had first daughter in Nov 1997, then first son in May 1999 (18 months a part) then went for the third in 2001 and ended up with two - twins! Another daughter and son. They are 7 months old now. At one stage I had 4 under 5 - lot's of fun!!!!!!!!!!!! Although the twins was a bit of a shock finding out at the 20 week scan, I wouldn't be without them ahhhh!!!

Mumto4

I had to be careful what I put in the top loader though, as most of my things came out nearly torn. Hubby's shorts that he wears with the drawstrings would always get tangled around the agitator and I'd get really annoyed. I prefer the safety of knowing I can put my more delicates in without worrying about having to replace them in a few months or hand washing them. Just a thought!!!

By the way my husbands machine was quite an old one, so not sure what the top loaders are like these days, may be better? Also top loaders are more popular here as they have more space to put them (in laundry's), were as in the UK you have to get a front loader to stick under your benchtop.

Jaykay

I'm questioning whether to bring my Bosch Washing Machine & Dryer to Oz, taking into account how much they cost in Oz.

I'm in Melbourne on holiday at the moment and using my Mums top loader is great if you're in a hurry and need the clothes washed quickly (30 minute cycle) but I agree that it is much harsher on the clothes.

I'm just looking at a sales brochure that came in the mail today from a leading Electrical Shop and they are selling Whirlpool 5kg Front Loading Washing Machines for $677.00. Not sure what the price is in UK for one of these though.

PS: My washing dried on the line in about an hour today! Weather was very humid (but overcast) and got to about 29 degrees. Think it's going to be a muggy night so ceiling fan is on, and all blankets have been pushed to bottom of bed...(top sheet only I think).

dotty

Because most parts of Oz are that hot, spinning at 1200 revs or whatever is not needed. Best bit about top leaders is you can chuck in bits you forgot through the wash. Front loaders are also very very expensive to get fixed here, usually nobody has much of a clue about them and like most european things here it costs the earth. Buy a big old fashioned Aussie top loader and you get years out of them.

Mumto4

Watch out for the cheaper models as they don't have a very high rpm, usually only about 800. Mine is 1200 and gets the clothes virtually dry before I put them out. I know it doesn't really matter too much here but on those rainy days when you want to put them in the dryer, they are not wringing wet putting them in. The front loaders do still do a quick wash - mine is a 30 minute cycle.
Mine cost around $1200 in 1997 before the GST came in. Since GST the prices have come down a bit.

We had rain here in NSW (mid north coast). I know we need it but not when I'm picking my daughter up from kindy with twin pram and little boy in tow - can't cope with an umberella as well!!!!

Jaykay

My Bosch Front Loader in the UK doesn't have a quick cycle....well it says "short wash" but it still takes about 1 1/4 hours to do a cycle. Perhaps it's better to sell it in the UK an consider buying a front loader in Oz when we arrive.

I'm off to town tomorrow and it's going to rain (well that's what the forecast said) so I'll probably just spend the day in all the shops (buying any end of sale clothes that I can take back to the UK for the summer) and popping my head into the Casino to make sure that the poker machines are still there ))....oh and also letting my 4 year old daughter ride on a tram or two (she'll just love it!). Must also remember to pick up a Grand Prix Program for my friend in UK!

heading downunder 2002

I have bought a top loader without an agitator and it holds 7.5kg. Spins things well as well. They tend to wash things out here on a cold wash but I found this no good and now use a hot wash.

Sorry to you men out there this must appear very boring to you
Still I suppose it makes a change from talking about cars and motorbikes

yafm

[QUOTE]Originally posted by heading downunder 2002
I have bought a top loader without an agitator and it holds 7.5kg. Spins things well as well. They tend to wash things out here on a cold wash but I found this no good and now use a hot wash.

When staying in oz we have used their top loaders but find it has ruined a few items as they get so tangled up and when they spin it screws the items up which then need a lot more ironing. More electricity and I HATE IRONING:scared:

Even if you have a lot of space in your laundry a front loader is not taking any extra space in fact you can put things on top - therefore a spacew saver I have a BOSCH which has several different programmes and I can do a hot quick wash in 40 minutes with a 1200 spin so I am looking to take it with me or buy a similar version in oz - try www.goodguys.com.au

wizzywozza

My husband just bought at LG front loader for his house for $799 and it holds a whopping 7.5 kg - washes his stuff just perfectly. I paid the same for a 5kg Simpson front loader - it hardly uses any water. Aussies tend to use cold water for all their washing.

Oh I had a Fisher & Paykel Smart Drive top loader before and had nothing but problems with it.

Simpson are one of the better makes here and the top loaders they make are manufactured in Adelaide. I would avoid the whizz band electronic models and go for the good old fashioned ones with knobs and buttons.

r.bartlett

best washing m/c by far (quality wise)

miele (15 year g.tee on bearings metal door etc)

then aeg bosch (still fairly well made)

dyson are all show and poor quality -how many fell for their hoovers and found they fell to bits not too long after...?

the rest are basically real shite -"you pays your money...."

wash wise I'm not commenting on...

my view anyway..