The front load (or horizontal axis) washing machine was produced in response to concerns about increasing costs to operate laundry equipment. Efficiency, electrical consumption, and environmental impact were all factors that influenced its development.

With this system clothes do not sit in a tub of water. Rather they tumble through a layer of water as drum rotates. This allows for a tremendous reduction (60% less) of water required. In areas where water is at a premium lower water consumption may be a significant factor for a potential purchaser.

For anyone on a septic system lower water and detergent usage can be an important advantage. Since amount of water being used is so small detergent required is about 25% of a top loader. The fabric softener required is so little that it should be diluted 5 to 1 rather than added full strength.

Another advantage to a front loader is that it can spin very fast. While a top loader only spins at about 600 RPM, horizontal axis washers can spin at up to 1200 RPM.

Increased spin speeds means more water removed from clothing prior to them going into dryer. This means less time in dryer, and a subsequent saving in electrical consumption.

Anyone who purchases a front loader will find they have to do something that seems completely unbelievable to most North Americans. They will have to actually read operating manual.

We all seem to believe we come pre-programmed knowing proper way to operate washing machines. Our mother took five minutes one day to show us proper way to do a washing, therefore we don’t need to learn any more. Wrong! Front loading washing machines are a whole new breed.

The first thing to understand about front loaders is that most require a special detergent to operate properly. It is a low suds detergent, often referred to as “he” detergent. It means high efficiency. Tide produces a HE detergent, as does Gain and Sunlight.

Do not be tempted to use regular detergent. It will produce too much suds for a front loader. Excess suds in a front loader will interfere with its whole washing process.

Suds are basically air bubbles and by themselves do not clean anything. Excess suds in a front loader simply lay on top of water, creating a cushion or barrier between water and clothing.

While its top load cousin submerses clothes in water this machine does not. It works by picking up clothes and then dropping then into water. Excess suds will actually stop clothes from reaching water. Rather than dropping into water clothes will hit suds and not get through to water below. So if clothes rarely touch water a poor wash will result.

Compounding this misunderstanding are sales people. Many are falsely informing customers that a front loader will operate with any type of detergent.

The second consideration is that they seem to work better using a hot or warm wash temperature. A cold rinse is fine, but for wash temperature warm or hot is better.