Nerine

I looked at the prices when I was totting up the value of our stuff for shipping insurance. They're not cheap by any means, but if you write off the cost over say 10-20 years they start to look more reasonable.

CAN2NZ

We have a front loader, a Bosch. I really like it. It uses a third of the water of a top loader and heats its own water. It spins at up to 120 rpm. The polar fleeces are practically dry when I take them out to the line. It is a 6.5 kg machine and seems to be big enough for us and our three kids between 6 and 11. I do the laundry regularly all week long, so the size doesn't get in the way.

Nerine

The little (about the size of a small fridge) NEC top loader we rented used 110 litres of water per wash. No wonder there are water shortages here!

lardyl

ours spins at 78rpm and plays Glenn Miller.......

luvwelly

I agree - I got worse results in Europe with front loaders because I used to overload them all the time whereas my top loader is so big I almost never overfill it.

How old the machine is may make a difference too. The one in my rental is a newish F&P. My only real objection to them is the lack of a child safety lock.

OR maybe we all go round looking like we are wearing rags and no-one has had the heart to tell me????

cappuccino

I've bought a new Bosh front loader to bring to NZ and my 3 year old Hoover washing machine was going to a friend who now, with only 4 days to shipping day, tells me that she no longer needs it! Shall I take a chance and disguise it as a dishwasher and ship it (to sell)?

luvwelly

Why do you need to disguise it? You'd probably be able to sell it on Trademe.

cappuccino

Cos I thought you could only bring 1 of each large item... won't customs try to charge me GST or something daft if they think I will bring in stuff to sell?

luvwelly

No idea - mine was a corporate move - we were allowed to bring whatever we liked bar the pine cones on the artificial Christmas Tree!

The only thing I had to pay extra tax on was some brand new flatpacked furniture - I thought you could put any used goods you liked in your container. Someone else will know.

JoB

I have had a bosch washer for 5 years now and wouldn't part with it.

The difference between front loaders and top are:-

the top loader holds the dirt at the bottom of the machine, as it spins vertically and dirt is heavy it sinks to the bottom so the lower lot of clothes are basically washed in dirtier water.

The front loader circulates horizontally therefore the dirt from the clothes is evenly distributed, in addition the drum is also slightly higher then the lowest level of the water so any 'heavier dirt' doesn't/shouldn't touch the clothes in the same way a top loader does.

I researched and subscribed to 'which.com' when i bought mine and bosch came out the best albeit that was 5 years ago.

yep top loader = 'loader' (load of)wet dirty clothes

Hope this helps, good luck but also consider how much spare parts may cost if you need them but if you get a good make with a good guarantee you should be ok.

Jo

BEVS

Bring it.

bourbon-biscuit

Front loader every time- you only need to start comparing the water usage of the top and front and electric consumption to see which is best. Also I found top loaders didn't so much wash as rinse clothes.

cappuccino

LOL Anybody wanna buy a 3 year old Hoover front loader?

Jerseygirl

Agreed. I used a top loader for 2 yrs when we first moved to the US. I swore when we moved out of the rental I would never buy one. They don't clean the clothes anywhere like a top loader does. Also the agitator ruins clothes...I had loads of lint on the clothes...something I have never experienced using a front loader.

My best friend in the UK bought a top loader a few years ago...she now agrees it's one of the worst purchases she's ever made.

brussels_sprout

I like the toploader, so far. No more bending down , important for tall people !
I haven't noticed any problems with clothes, seems to be same quality of wash