What is a top loading washing machine?
Most washing machines you will come across have the door on the front. This is called a front loading machine. A top loading washer has the door on the top, making it easier for you to load and unload your laundry.
In addition to the location of the door, there are a number of differences between top loading and front loading washers. The size is one example. Top loaders are slightly taller, but also a lot narrower than regular washing machines. This also means that they have a relatively small drum. They have a width of 40cm and a height of 90cm. A front loader is about 60 cm wide and 85 cm high. As a result, the top loader takes up very little space in your home.
Top loaders are slightly taller than front loaders. This difference seems small, but for people with back problems, this can make a lot of difference! Because the door is at the top of the washer, you won’t have to bend down as much to get your laundry out of the drum.
You should note that because the door is at the top of the washer, you can’t put your dryer on top of a top loading washer.
Best top loading washing machine of 2023
If you are looking for the best top loading washing machine on the market right now, you have come to the right place! In the following list, you’ll find the best top loading washing machine models of 2023, carefully selected by us. In making this selection, we have compared several top loading models based on factors such as the speed, noise level of spinning, energy class, all different wash modes and customer reviews. These top loading models came out best in the test. Miele and AEG are known as two expert brands when it comes to washing machines, so a guaranteed success! Is your new washing machine among them?
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Best top loading washing machine
Affordable and efficient, the Whirlpool WTW5000DW is a top load washer that delivers. The 4.3 cu. ft. maximum capacity is enough to fit in large items like bedding, comforters or jackets. The measurements are 27 inches deep, 42 inches high and 27.5 inches wide and weights just 135 lbs. It’s compact so it will fit in the smallest laundry spaces and closets. The Smooth Wave stainless steel wash basket gently guides clothes and helps protect fabrics from fraying and snags. It consumes at little as 179kWh or energy per year while delivering great cleaning load after load.
Enjoy the 12 different wash cycle options. Wash any type of laundry from delicates to bulky items and ensure that they are getting the clean and care they need. The Quick Wash cycle can wash small loads in as little as 28 minutes, using the washing machine’s maximum spin speed of up to 660 RPM to remove excess moisture on fabric so your clothes can spend less time in the dryer or hanging in the clothesline. Fight deep-seated dirt with the Deep Water Wash cycle which adds even more water in the drum to help break down stains and improve the ability to rinse away soils. The Presoak option lets you do away with soaking outside of the washer. It adds time before the cycle to let your clothes soak and starts washing when the timer is done. The Whirlpool WTW5000DW features the Clean Washer Cycle with AFFRESH® Washer Cleaner. This cycle fills your washing machine with water enough to reach areas that aren’t normally reached by everyday cycles and cleans every nook and cranny to ensure your washing machine is squeaky clean. Add the AFFRESH® Washer Cleaner tablet to the Clean Washer cycle for best results, but a bleach solution will also work fine.
The Whirlpool WTW5000DW does not come with any accessories.
General Electronics brings you the GE GTW465ASNWW top load washer. With a large maximum capacity of 4.5 cu. ft., enough to fit in bulky items like beddings, comforters and jackets and allowing you to do more laundry in less loads. It weighs just 147 lbs., with measurements of 27 inches deep, 44 inches high and 27 inches wide. The compact measurement ensures it will fit in most smaller laundry spaces or closets.
It delivers a maximum spin speed of up to 750 revolutions per minute (RPM) while consuming only 284kWh of energy per year. The 750 RPM draws out excess moisture from your clothes at the end of the cycle, so the clothes dry faster in the tumble dryer or the clothesline.
You have the freedom of choice with 14 different wash cycles. Wash every type of laundry from delicates to jeans, to towels and sheets. Enjoy total control and customization of your water levels with a touch of a button. Add just a little extra water or fill the tub, it’s up to you. Take out the guesswork with PreciseFill which lets you have the option to automatically set the right water level. Wash your laundry your way with 6 different water temperature options. The Deep Clean Cycle allows you to achieve the ultimate clean for your toughest laundry loads, delivering up to 67% more cleaning power than regular cycles. Use the Speed Wash cycle when you are in a hurry to wash lightly soiled items. Deep Rinse ensures that clothes are cleaned from detergent, fabric softener and other chemicals. If that isn’t enough, enjoy 2nd Rinse to further ensure the removal of additives like bleach. The Autosoak option let’s you set a timer from 15 minutes to 2 hours before the cycle begins so you can loosen stains for optimal cleaning. The GE GTW465ASNWW features a dual-action agitator which enables a reversing powerful wash action. Discover all these GE features and more.
The GE GTW465ASNWW comes with a power cord.
The Maytag MVWC565FW is better built for the most powerful cleaning in its class. This top load washer features a large total maximum capacity of 4.2 cu. ft., allowing you to freely wash larger loads and bulky items like comforters, beddings and jackets. Fit it in smaller laundry spaces with measurements of 28 inches deep, 42.75 inches high and 27.25 inches wide. This machine weighs only 152 lbs.
Take care of stubborn stains and dirt while consuming just 281kWh or energy per year. The maximum spin speed of 660 RPM, removes excess moisture on fabrics so your clothes come out dryer at the end of the cycle and spend less time hanging outside in the clothesline or your tumble dryer. A total of 11 different wash cycles are available to choose from, giving you the freedom to wash all sorts of laundry from delicates to bulky items.
The PowerWash cycle gives this washer the most powerful cleaning in its class, combining different wash actions and heated water to drive powerful cleaning. Paired with the PowerWash agitator, clean any load size thoroughly and efficiently, removing stubborn stains. Add more water to the load with the Deep Water Wash option. The extra water works with the PowerWash agitator to effectively break down crusted on dirt. The Auto Sensing option adjusts the water level automatically to match the load size, providing more effective and concentrated cleaning. Wash away excess detergent, fabric softener, and other laundry chemicals with the Deep Rinse option. Additional features include the cycle status indicator which lets you know when the cycle has ended, the late add (pause) feature which allows you to add more clothes in the middle of the cycle, and a stainless-steel drum which makes your washer rust-resistant and more low maintenance.
The Maytag MVWC565FW includes hoses and a power cord.
General Electronics brings you the GE GTW335ASNWW top load washer. With a large maximum capacity of 4.2 cu. ft., it’s enough to fit in bulky items like beddings, comforters and jackets and allow you to do more laundry in less loads. It weighs just 147 lbs., with measurements of 27 inches deep, 44 inches high and 27 inches wide. The compact measurement ensures it will fit in most smaller laundry spaces or closets.
It delivers a maximum spin speed of up to 700 revolutions per minute (RPM) while consuming only 187kWh of energy per year. The 700 RPM draws out excess moisture from your clothes at the end of the cycle, so the clothes dry faster in the tumble dryer or the clothesline.
You have the freedom of choice with 11 different wash cycles. Wash every type of laundry from delicates to jeans, to towels and sheets. Enjoy total control and customization of your water levels with a touch of a button. Add just a little extra water (low) or fill the tub (max), it’s up to you. If you prefer, take out the guesswork with PreciseFill which lets you have the option to automatically set the right water level. Wash your laundry your way with 6 different water temperature options. The Deep Clean Cycle allows you to achieve the ultimate clean for your toughest laundry loads, delivering up to 67% more cleaning power than regular cycles. Deep Rinse ensures that clothes are cleaned from detergent, fabric softener and other chemicals. The GE GTW335ASNWW features a heavy-duty agitator which enables a powerful washing motion to ensure your clothes are cleaned thoroughly. The stainless-steel basket is long-lasting, durable and low maintenance as it resists rust, chipping or peeling, plus it wouldn’t snag your clothes. Improve washing results with the Built-in bleach and fabric softener dispensers that automatically releases the right amount at the optimal point during the wash cycle. Discover all these GE features and more.
The GE GTW335ASNWW comes with hoses and a power cord.
The Hotpoint brand appliances work as hard as you. The same is true with the Hotpoint HTW240ASKWS, a compact top load washer, which comes at a fantastic price point. It comes with a 3.8 cu. ft. total capacity which is plenty to handle your everyday laundry needs. Weighing just 138 lbs., with measurements of 27 inches deep, 47 inches high and 27 inches wide, this washer is the perfect size for many smaller laundry spaces.
Consuming as little as 187kWh or energy per year, this washing machine is built to last for the long-haul, your family will use it for years and years to come. The maximum spin speed of 700 RPM guarantees that excess moisture is removed from the fabrics at the end of the cycle, so you spend less time drying clothes and more time doing what you love. The sensible 10 wash cycle options give you plenty of choices without overcomplicating things. Wash different types of fabrics from your delicates to your bedding.
Delivering amazing washing performance with its heavy-duty agitator, this washing machine guarantees thorough, effective cleaning of all your clothes. The stainless-steel basket is long-lasting, low maintenance, resists rust and won’t chip or peel and furthermore protects your clothes from snags. PreciseFill automatically fills the perfect water level for your load size or select your preferred water level from 4 different choices. Choose Deep Rinse to remove leftover detergent, fabric softener and stubborn dirt. The bleach dispenser automatically mixes bleach with the wash water for optimal dilution and whitening action. The rotary electronic controls with cycle status lights lets you know the progress of the wash cycle with just a quick glance.
Proudly made in the United States of America, this machine is simple and no-nonsense but gets the work done.
The Hotpoint HTW240ASKWS does not come with accessories.
Buying a top loading washing machine; what to look for
There are far fewer top loading washing machines available than front loading ones. Therefore, your choice in these is not very large. Nevertheless, there are always a number of models on the market that you have to choose from. What exactly is important when choosing the right top loading washing machine for your household?
Fill weight
The more fill weight a washing machine has, the more laundry it can fit into the drum. For this reason, the fill weight is also known as the washing capacity of the washing machine. Because top loading models are a lot narrower, they also have a small drum. Most top loaders have a 6kg capacity. Some top loading machines have a 7kg capacity. How much fill weight you need depends on several factors. In general, it is recommended that a 1 or 2 person household should have a 6 or 7kg capacity. Are you considering a top loading machine, but your household is larger than 2 people? Then we recommend that you look at front loading washing machines, as these often have a capacity of over 7kg. It is important that the amount of fill weight corresponds to the size of your household, otherwise you will be using your washing machines very frequently and this will consume unnecessary water and energy.
Energy Rating
Energy rating is also known as energy label. This indicates how economically a washing machine uses electricity. To be considered an ‘energy efficient washing machine’, the appliance must have energy class A, B or C. Unfortunately, most top loading models have energy class D or F. However, for the environmentally conscious people and the people who like to keep their energy bills low, there are top loading machines on the market that have energy class C, but the prices of these machines are slightly higher. However, you will often pay this off in the long run, as these energy efficient washing machines will cost you much less in consumption.
RPM
The RPM of a washing machine tells you how many rounds the drum spins per minute while it is spinning. The faster the spin is, the drier your laundry will come out of the washer. If you want your laundry to be as dry as possible, you need a 1600 rpm washing machine. However, there is no top loading washing machine that can reach this RPM. Most top loading models make 1200 rpm (rounds per minute), and some 1300 rpm. At 1200 rpm your laundry will be dry enough for you to hang it up. At 1300 rpm it will be slightly drier.
Split RPM Noise Level
The spin on a washing machine can be quite noisy. If you want to know how loud your new washing machine is, look at its noise level. This tells you, in decibels (dB), how much noise the top loading washer produces when it is at its loudest – when the spin cycle is on. 78 dB or more is considered loud, 74 dB to 77 dB is considered normal, 72 dB and 73 dB is considered quiet, and 71 dB and below is considered extra quiet. A top loading washing machine can fall under any noise level.
Ease of Use
Washers seem to be offering more and more options by the day to make it easier for us to wash. For a top loading washing machine, think about features such as a load sensor, residual time indicator, start delay and add laundry in between. Would these features help you in your laundry?
Wash programs
There are an increasing number of different wash programs for all kinds of items and laundry. Depending on what is hanging in your wardrobe, you may need such specific wash programs. For example, special wash programs for down, jeans, shirts, sportswear or because of allergies.
Benefits and drawbacks top loading washing machines
For some people a top loading machine is perfect, but for others there are some drawbacks. We have covered all the pros and cons of top loading models in this article. In conclusion, we would like to summarize it again for you in the following two rows.
Advantages top loading washer
- A top loading washer is a small washer and takes up less space. They are only 40cm wide.
- The top loading model is taller and the fill opening is at the top, making it easier to reach the drum and less bending over.
- Top loading models have a 6kg or 7kg fill weight, making them perfect for a small household with 1 or 2 people.
Disadvantages top loading washing machine
- Most washing machines sold are front loaders. This gives you fewer options if you have your sights set on a top loading washer.
- You will have fewer options in terms of fill weight, the wash capacity of this type of washer is a maximum of 7kg.
- Because the fill opening is on top, you will not be able to fit a dryer on it.
- Top loading models often have a lower speed, usually only 1200 rpm, sometimes 1300 rpm.
- Top loading models are not the most energy efficient. Energy class A and B do not exist, energy class C does.
