5 Benefits of Front-Load Washers and Dryers

Consider your kitchen cabinets, for a moment. Are your plates settled side by side or neatly stacked? Unless you have an overabundance of cabinet space (and we've never known anyone with that particular problem), the stacking option allows for some much-needed extra room.

For most of us, this struggle for extra space extends to every area of the home, and just like with your dishes, stackable front-load washer and dryer sets can make a real difference in the battle against household clutter. Stacking your washer and dryer grants you space to store vacuums, cleaning supplies and other household items. Plus, stacking your set brings the washer up to eye level, which makes it that much easier to clean the drum and look for the sock that got away!

Most laundry rooms have some sort of shelving, but they always manage to get filled up with odds and ends that don't seem to fit anywhere else, like batteries, light bulbs and old towels. If you choose not to stack your front-loading set, you still have the added benefit of extra storage space on top of the units, unlike top-load models. This extra room is perfect for the placement of detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets, stain removers and anything else you might need in your laundry room.

Our society is becoming more environmentally conscious, and as a result, manufacturers have started developing more Earth-friendly products. Front-loading washers are the clear choice for anyone looking to cut back on water usage, since regular washing machines use about 40 gallons (151 liters) of water per load. By comparison, front-loading models use only 20 to 25 gallons (94 liters) because the drum only has to be partially filled to wash clothes. It's quite a savings, so even if your old-school, top-loading washer isn't quite on its last legs, it's worth thinking about trading it in for a front-loading machine. If nothing else, you'll see a significantly decreased water bill.

They look sleek, grant you more storage space and are better for the environment, but did you know that using front-loading machines will also save money on your power bill? Front-loading and high-efficiency, top-loading sets that are Energy Star qualified can save you anywhere from $45 to $125 per year on power costs, depending on the model and how often you use it. To qualify for an Energy Star seal, washing machines must use 11 percent less energy than their older counterparts. Also, since energy-efficient models spin faster, they more effectively reduce moisture. This equates to less time spent in the dryer. So unless you enjoy higher power bills, you might want to consider springing for a high-efficiency, front-loading set.

While there's no proven statistics to back up this claim, many people maintain that their clothes hold up better when washed regularly in front-loading machines. This makes sense, as the horizontal axis of a front-load washer means it spins like a dryer, so there's no agitator to move clothes around inside the drum. Because they're not being twisted, pushed and pulled by an agitator, the overall trauma to your garments is reduced. So until someone proves otherwise, consider front-load washers to be the best option for keeping your clothes looking as new as possible!